Prince William

The Town of Occoquan has shared news of the recent deaths of three residents in its monthly newsletter, the Town of Occoquan reported. Melissa Hollis was found deceased in her home on June 28, John Grace was killed in a pedestrian-vehicle crash outside of town on July 10, and Bobbie Frank passed away at Westminster on July 26.

Bobbie Frank was a longtime Occoquan resident who previously served on the town council, directed the town’s Craft Show, and was a board member and supporter of the Occoquan Historical Society. Details on services were not immediately available; Frank is expected to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in a private ceremony, with a celebration of life planned later.


Prince William

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority has awarded $65 million toward construction of a railroad overpass on Route 15 in Haymarket, state Sen. Danica Roem told the Haymarket Town Council on Aug. 3.

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Event

Dreaming about your next vacation? Join Cruise Planners Beth Borrego and Rod Rodriguez for an inspiring day devoted to ocean and river cruises, guided tours, luxury travel and unforgettable destinations!

Meet representatives from AmaWaterways, Collette, Oceania Cruises and Premier World Discovery. Hear informative presentations, ask questions, explore exciting vacation possibilities and discover which travel experience may be the perfect fit for you.


Traffic

According to a Prince William County press release, the county partnered with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles on July 31 to kick off Traffic Awareness Month with a dramatic 54-foot ladder display at the Prince William County Fairgrounds in Manassas.

The ladder, part of the DMV’s award-winning “Speed Has an Impact” campaign, illustrates that the force of a 40 mph crash equals falling 54 feet while a 10 mph impact matches a three-foot drop; it was on view through Aug. 2 during the county fair at 10624 Dumfries Road.


Traffic

OmniRide is marking 40 years of service this August with community open houses and other events. The public is invited to tours from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, at the OmniRide Transit Center, 14700 Potomac Mills Road in Woodbridge, and from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Western Maintenance Facility, 7850 Doane Drive in Manassas. Guests can explore buses, meet staff, enjoy food trucks, and enter raffles.

Operated by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission, the agency has grown from its 1986 roots into a regional network with free local bus, microtransit, and paratransit service extended through June 2027. Ridership hit 2.5 million trips in Fiscal Year 2026. Details on the planned time capsule and contests were not included in the release. More information is available at OmniRide.com.


Features

Local police and sheriff’s departments across Northern Virginia are hosting National Night Out gatherings on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, inviting residents to connect with officers, enjoy family activities, and strengthen community partnerships. Details from Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William County, Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania follow below; Stafford County’s event is scheduled later in the season.

The Town of Dumfries Police Department is hosting National Night Out for an evening of fun, food, family, and community. Residents can meet local officers, explore police vehicles and equipment, enjoy activities for all ages, and connect with neighbors. More information from the Town of Dumfries Police Department.


Fredericksburg

Goolrick’s, the downtown Fredericksburg landmark home to what it calls America’s longest-running soda fountain, reopens Friday, Aug. 7, after a four-year restoration of the 1808 building at 901 Caroline Street. Jarrell Properties Inc. will host a ribbon-cutting before doors open at 11 a.m., with the first 50 guests in line receiving free merchandise. Regular hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The lunch counter returns with restored original tin ceilings, hand-laid tile, and classic menu items such as chicken salad, egg salad, and grilled cheese sandwiches, plus hand-mixed sodas, milkshakes, and malts. Executive Chef D’Andre Sykes, who previously worked at Michelin-starred Elske in Chicago and other notable restaurants, will lead the kitchen.


Traffic

“The Prince William County Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the city of Manassas, hosted the first community meeting on the $93 million Clover Hill-Parkway interchange project at the Washington Manassas Airport July 30,” InsideNoVA reported. Proposed plans include a diverging diamond interchange at Prince William Parkway and Clover Hill Road plus a single-lane roundabout at Clover Hill Road and Godwin Drive, along with an ADA-compliant shared-use path, to reduce congestion, improve safety and support expected growth from Washington Manassas Airport expansion. The project is about 15% designed and roughly 30% funded, with public comments accepted through Aug. 12.

Officials said full funding would lead to roughly five years of remaining work. A nearby Clover Hill Road homeowner described the existing four-way stop as highly dangerous due to frequent speeding and crashes, expressing support for the planned safety upgrades.


Weather

A warm front will lift north through the region tonight, bringing increasing chances of showers and thunderstorms along with a potential for localized urban flooding. Dry conditions are expected for most of the area today before the front advances. Tropical moisture will return, supporting high rain rates in any storms that develop.