Prince William middle school students awarded $23,000 GrantThis grant was made possible through the Haymarket Fund, a donor advised fund at the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. This fund supports families and children with an emphasis on health, education, community development and improvement, and arts and culture.
The after-school program kicked off last week with a special program at George Mason University’s Science and Technology campus in Manassas. Organized by Jeff Girvan, Supervisor of History and Social Sciences for Prince William County Public Schools, the students heard from Virginia Delegate Richard Anderson, enjoyed a reenactment by LeCount Holmes about the life of Frederick Douglass, and learned about a life of service from Colonel Richard Camp, USMC, Retired.
Their learning will continue with workshops and sessions in which they will identify a problem to study, gather information, examine solutions, develop a public policy, and create an action plan to influence the appropriate government or governmental agency to adopt the proposed policy.
In February, the students will take a field trip to Richmond for a tour of the state capital with Delegate Anderson. The program will culminate in June with final presentations to government officials or agencies responsible for implementing the new policy.
“We funded this new Civic Engagement Program in Prince William County Public Schools because we believe it will both teach and encourage active citizen engagement with all levels of government,” said Eileen Ellsworth, President of the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. “It is a terrific opportunity for these middle school students to acquire a much deeper understanding and appreciation of the role of government in our society and their capacity to influence the course of events.”
Cub Scout Pack 501 ‘rocked out’ at Santa’s Lake Ridge Parade on December 12.
The pack won the “Best in Parade” trophy this year for their ‘rock n’ roll’ themed Christmas float.
The float featured an over-sized Santa sleigh packed with over-sized toys – including a 10-foot electric guitar.
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Newly elected public officials who will serve Prince William County will be sworn in next week.
Here's more in a county press release:
On Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, there will be a Swearing-In Ceremony for the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, as well as the Clerk of the Circuit, Commonwealth's Attorney and Sheriff.
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A large pothole formed on Interstate 95 south today prompting emergency repair roadwork.
The work is slated to begin at 8 p.m., at I-95 and the Route 17 overpass in south Stafford.
The roadwork comes as I-95 south in Stafford saw a crash Wednesday afternoon that blocked two lanes of traffic near Courthouse Road. At 7 p.m. the entire stretch of the highway in Stafford County was experiencing delays.
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On Friday January 8, 2016 from 10 -11 a.m., ’s Pre-K Volunteer Program, Aquia Christian Serves, will serve the Stafford County based nonprofit organization, S.E.R.V.E.
S.E.R.V.E. is an emergency assistance food pantry that provides assistance to families one time a month, a Community Pharmacy, and Emergency Financial Assistance for residents of Stafford County. Our Pre-K Students (3 and 4 year olds) will be traveling to the facility and sorting/packaging canned food items for the organization.
There will also be a Service Learning aspect incorporated into our academic curriculum for our students so that they may begin to understand the community service they are committing as well as the impact. The need for Aquia Christian Serves was determined because volunteering is essential to youth’s development and personal growth.
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The 2016, 60-day session of the Virginia General Assembly gavels in on January 13.
The legislature will craft a two-year budget, which will be Governor McAuliffe’s first chance to put his stamp on the state’s finances. While Virginia’s economy lags behind the national average, revenue is up more than average for the first time since I was elected in 2009 and there are many unmet needs worthy of funding.
Supporting our schools and colleges
Virginia is currently funding secondary education on a per pupil, inflation-adjusted basis at levels below funding in 2007. The Governor has requested a billion dollar increase, new teacher positions, teacher pay raises and full funding for “Cost to Compete,” a program that supplements salaries for Northern Virginia school employees.
We are likely to vote on a state constitutional amendment granting the State Board of Education authority to establish charter schools instead of locally-elected school boards. Bills to opening high school athletics to home-schooled children will be at issue again.
Higher education is also starved. Virginia currently funds higher education at 2006 levels and only funds one-third of actual in-state student cost. Tuition rates have risen over 30 percent in the last four years, financial aid demand has skyrocketed and the average Virginia college graduate now has an average of $20,000 in student loan debt. We must make higher education a higher priority.
Governor McAuliffe has proposed a $2.4 billion bond package for new higher education facilities focused on research and workforce development. The package also includes $250 million in modernizations at the Port of Virginia.
Healthcare
A partisan gulf remains on health care, in the shadow of a near shutdown of the government two years ago because the majority refused to accept $2 billion per year in federal Medicaid funds. Virginia still has over 6,000 families waiting for services for intellectually and developmentally disabled adults also called the ID/DD waiver program. If Virginia does not make significant progress on this backlog, we will be subject to court sanctions.
Transportation
On transportation, we must correct an oversight in our 2013 transportation legislation and place a floor on our regional transportation gas tax dedicated to transit. Due to declining gas prices, millions of dollars have been lost. This shortfall means that Metro maintenance funding is at risk, Prince William County bus service could be cut by 40 percent and Stafford County may drop road-widening projects.
The legislature will also debate tolls on I-66 and changes to fine collection practices in HOT lanes. We will consider many car title lending bills to address the ever-expanding scourge on Route 1. We have targeted several loopholes and will try to restrict the number of lenders in an area and prohibit locating lenders near casinos or military bases.
Social issues
We are likely to see bills raising contentious social issues, such as making it easier to obtain firearms and concealed weapons permits along with bills to restrict firearm purchases.
Legislation has already been introduced to reauthorize the Confederate flag on vehicle license plates. I also expect to see legislation to allow businesses to refuse business to LGBT families, to limit school boards’ ability to accommodate LGBT students, to restricting refugee resettlement and bills to limit reproductive choice.
On energy, the solar industry will make a major push to put Virginia’s energy laws on an equal footing with neighboring states so that Virginia’s solar industry can operate on an equal playing field. We will address coal ash dumps at power plants. Southwest Virginia legislators have already introduced legislation to thwart President Obama’s Clean Power Plan.
Finally, Virginia still has over 20 open judgepositions that need funding. Fairfax County has two vacancies and Prince William County is short one. These vacancies impact Northern Virginians’ ability to have important legal matters heard, such as child support, child custody, personal injuries or contract disputes.
And filling a vacant state Supreme Court position is still in dispute with the majority still vowing to remove the first judge from Fairfax County to sit on an appellate court in over 20 years.
Next week, I will focus on my legislative agenda. I look forward to hearing from you at [email protected].
Virginia State Senator-elect Scott Surovell serves southeastern Fairfax, eastern Prince William, and northern Stafford counties.
A read-a-thon to celebrate the 129th birthday of legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold will be held on Sunday, January 10, at 2:30 p.m., at the Villages of Piedmont at Leopold’s Preserve in Haymarket.
Hear public figures, students, local conservationists, and community members read excerpts from “A Sand County Almanac,” one of Leopold’s best known books.
The event is free to attend, and light refreshments will be served. The event is sponsored by the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust.
The read-a-thon is at the community clubhouse, located at 6770 Pinchot Lane, Haymarket. This new development includes seven miles of trails and 380 acres of permanent conservation land, and is named for Aldo Leopold.
The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust is a nonprofit land trust that helps communities and individuals protect natural and working lands, waters, and special places across the region. The Trust has conserved nearly 6,500 acres.
Volunteer Prince William successfully wrapped up its annual "UnTrim-A-Tree" fundraiser for 2015.
The Manassas-based charity collected toys and gifts for 5,400 children as well as needy seniors in our area, said Director Mary Foley.
UnTrim-A-Tree was able to serve about 400 more children this year than last year thanks to donations from the community.
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After all the holiday hoopla is complete, give your Christmas tree, wreath and other cut greenery a fitting final resting place. Simply remove all ornaments, decorations, tinsel, nails and the tree stand and take the greenery to one of locations listed below to be recycled or repurposed.
The Prince William County Landfill at 14811 Dumfries Road in Manassas. Monday – Saturday, 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.;
Sunday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The facility is closed New Year’s Day. 703-792-4670
The Balls Ford Road Compost Facility located at 13000 Balls Ford Road in Manassas. Monday – Saturday, 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The facility is closed New Year’s Day. 703-792-4670
Leesylvania State Park located at 2001 Daniel K. Ludwig Drive in Woodbridge (off Neabsco Road). Trees may be dropped off at Shelter 2 and will be used for habitat.
Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) located at 5399 Wellington Branch Road in Gainesville. Dec. 28 – Jan. 10. The drop off area is located in the front parking lot in the area outlined with the orange safety cones. NOVEC will deliver the wood-chip mulch to interested customer-owners at no charge, visit www.novec.com/mulch. For more information contact NOVEC vegetation management at 703-392-1661 or 888-335-0500 ext. 1661 or [email protected].
The Occoquan District Boy Scouts have partnered with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to help provide gifts to the community.
According to Ken Eggers, a member of the district Boy Scouts, Toys for Tots has declared December 19 ‘Scout Day’ at their Dumfries warehouse at 17001 Interstate Drive.
Local scouts will volunteer at the warehouse for the day, helping to take donations and organize them for children in need this holiday season and begin distribution, according to Eggers.
The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is also asking for volunteers from the community December 18 through the 22, to help with final preparations for the donations. For more information on the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation’s work in our area, visit their website.
For more information on the Occoquan district Boy Scouts, visit their website.
