The Brentsville District High School Softball Team is definitely a force to be reckoned with.

Lead by one senior, five juniors, five sophomores, and three freshman, the team definitely brings it on the field. Heading into the district games as the number one seed this season. The juniors on the team which include the team’s three captain’ and make up majority of the infield are a diversified group.

Makenzie Bailey, or Mac for short, which is the team’s third baseman, started her freshman year catching for the Tigers. Mac, one of the teams big hitters came through this year big time in a conference game against Kettle Run High School.  With two outs in the bottom of the 7th, Mac hit a walk off home run to win the game. 

Kayla Nadeau the teams shortstop, brings another dynamic to the Tigers. Kayla, the leadoff hitter, is a lefty slapper that knows her game. With a batting average of 465 and 66 at bats this season, she gets the job done.

Kayla started her freshman year at 1st base and also backed up Panone in the pitchers circle and played the outfield when needed. A true utility.

Christa Panone play’s 2nd base for the Tigers. Another lefty slapper that brings a lot of diversity to the team. Panone started out in the pitchers circle for the tigers her freshman year. Christa can always be heard from the stands and has a positive energy that radiates through the team.

Lexi Mcgruder who has been the teams number one cheerleader from the dugout this season. After an ACL injury this fall she has been out to recover.

Lexi’s started her freshman year as a center fielder and then moved to right field. Her bat has definitely been missed this season. Lexi has been there for every game to cheer on her team.

Chelsea Hugh One of the teams flex players continues to be a positive influence from the dugout. Cheering her team on and stepping up to fill in spots in the outfield when needed.

All together these girls have played ball together through school and travel for more than 10 years. They show leadership, true sportsmanship and a dedication to each other and their team.

Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) is expanding its shelter operations in locations throughout Northern Virginia, and will be holding two job fairs at the end of May for interested human service professionals. All new positions are scheduled to begin mid-June 2015. NVFS is now seeking qualified individuals for the following positions:

• Shelter Director
• Housing Locator
• Case Managers
• Employment Specialist (Part-Time)
• Residential Coordinator
• Resident Assistants
• Volunteer Coordinator (Part-Time)

The job fairs will be held in Manassas on Thursday, May 28 and in Oakton on Saturday, May 30. Both are free and open to the community. Please dress professionally, bring your resume, and be prepared for brief on-the-spot interviews.

Job Fair Times and Locations:

• Thursday, May 28, 2015 from 4-5:30 p.m.
  SERVE Shelter
  10056 Dean Drive
  Manassas, VA 20110
• Saturday, May 30, 2015 from 9-10:30 a.m.
  NVFS Administrative Offices
  10455 White Granite Drive, Main Floor
  Oakton, VA 22124

Position descriptions are also posted online at www.nvfs.org/careers. For questions, please contact Gwen McQueeney at [email protected] at 571.748.2604.

The monthly social provides an opportunity for local business owners in our community to participate in professional development, fellowship, network, guest speaker opportunities, and support local businesses.

The May Networking Social was held at the new Hilton Garden Inn – Woodbridge. Participants were given a tour of the hotel, and had the opportunity to discuss usage of their conference facilities with their Social Sales Coordinator, Ms. Anna Allen.

The Prince William County Minority Business Network was joined by George Harbin, of Prince William County’s Department of Economic Development. He provided a wealth of resources for existing businesses, and was on hand to provide direction in registering as a vendor with the county, provided information on responding to County RFP’s, and shared excellent tips business owners!

Tips for new businesses:
1. Know your market.
2. Know how to market your business.
3. Know your product.
4. Know that you are not alone.

Upcoming Events:
June 18th: Join us for the June Networking Social at Irie Restaurant

September 12th: Join us for our Annual Awards Reception. Tickets are currently on sale, nominations are open for a limited time! 

Early Bird Ticket Sales end on May 30th!

Underserved girls in our community, ages 11-17, will benefit from a new home that is being constructed by HomeAid Northern Virginia and Builder Captain Stanley Martin Homes. The organization broke ground today on the new 5,000 square foot home for Youth For Tomorrow (YFT) Residential Treatment Services.

The new home will allow YFT to expand on-campus residential services for up to 36 more girls every year who are pregnant, young mothers, homeless, runaways or survivors of sex trafficking.

“We are profoundly grateful that HomeAid has stepped forward to help us meet the increased demand from girls in Northern Virginia who are seeking our comprehensive services,” said Dr. Gary Jones, CEO of Youth for Tomorrow. “We are only one of two facilities in the Mid-Atlantic region, and the only one in the Commonwealth, that offers personalized therapy, family counseling, individual counseling, and special education services from a nationally accredited secondary school.”

The home will be built on YFT’s 215-acre campus in Bristow, Va. The construction will result in an estimated $750,000 investment in the community, and, through its Builder Captain and trade partners, HomeAid will obtain over 50 percent in cost savings off the total retail construction costs. The savings will allow YFT to invest more money in the programs and services that will make a lasting difference in the lives of the young people in its care.

“This new home will provide young girls in crisis a chance to access the services they need to plan their futures,” said Christy Eaton, executive director, HomeAid Northern Virginia. “We are honored to be part of such an important community initiative.”

The home, which will be constructed by local and national manufacturers and suppliers, will be high performance, which will give it strong ratings for energy efficiency. In addition, there will be an emphasis on using US-made products throughout the home.

The project is expected to be completed this fall.

As the Memorial Day weekend approaches, Stafford officials urge all visitors to the Rappahannock River to use extreme caution.

More than 80 individuals have drowned in the Rappahannock River since 1972.  Public safety officials are especially concerned over the next few days because the river is a popular gathering place for many people over the Memorial Day holiday. But visitors should take precautions at the river year round. Conditions could quickly become dangerous at the river with strong currents, underwater debris such as trees and rocks, and sharp drop-offs into deep water. 

The beach at the Historic Port of Falmouth Park opens for the season on Friday, May 22, 2015. Attendants from the Stafford Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will be at the park during its summer operating hours of Monday – Sunday, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. However, the attendants at the park are not lifeguards. They will provide safety information to all visitors. In addition, there are signs posted on the banks of the river that contain lifesaving river safety information, such as drawings that will quickly alert people to the warnings and risks associated with their water activities. Everyone visiting the park should obey all posted signs and follow the directions of the park attendants. 

Individuals can also visit the pools at Curtis Park and Woodlands. For information on the operating hours at both pools, please visitwww.staffordparks.com or call Woodlands Pool at 540-658-4241 or Curtis Park 540-658-5114.

In addition, public safety officials recommend that individuals follow these water safety tips from the American Red Cross:

In Case of a Water Emergency

Call 9-1-1 immediately.

No additional people should enter the water to lend assistance to those in distress.  Remember:  “Reach or throw,  don’t go.”

Call 9-1-1 and identify the location of the emergency with as much information as possible.

General Water Safety

Learn to swim.  The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim.  Always swim with a friend; never swim alone.

Swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard.

Read and obey all rules and posted signs.

Set water safety rules for the whole family based on swimming abilities (for example, inexperienced swimmers should stay in water less than chest deep).

Learn CPR and insist that babysitters, grandparents, and others who care for your child know CPR. 

River Safety

Be aware!  The river bottom is uneven and may drop off suddenly.  Strong tides and currents can turn an event that began as fun into a tragedy.

Wear shoes – there may be broken glass on the bottom.

Do not dive into the water.  Too many swimmers are seriously injured every year by entering headfirst into water that is too shallow. A feet-first entry is much safer than diving.

If you are going to swim, wear a life jacket at all times.

Beach Safety

Protect your skin from the sun. Sunlight increases the risk of skin cancer, skin aging, and other skin diseases.

Drink plenty of water regularly and often, even if you do not feel thirsty.  Your body needs water to keep cool. 

Watch for signs of heat stroke.  Heat stroke is life threatening.

Home Pool Safety

Never leave a child unobserved around water.  Your eyes must be on the child at all times.  Adult supervision is always recommended.

Post CPR instructions and 9-1-1 or your local emergency number in the pool area.

To celebrate Father’s Day and encourage dads to spend more time with their children, the Prince William County Fatherhood Initiative is hosting “Dad’s Play Day”, a free event that will include games and lunch. The event will take place on Saturday, June 13 at 11am at the A.J. Ferlazzo Building in Woodbridge (15941 Donald Curtis Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22191). “Dad’s Play Day” includes a free lunch and fun activities for dads and their children, including games like basketball, wiffle ball, an obstacle course, ping pong, and water balloon toss, as well as activities like face-painting and arts and crafts.

When fathers are involved in the lives of their children, especially their education, kids learn more, perform better in school, and exhibit healthier behavior, according to the White House’s National Fatherhood Clearinghouse. Children in father-absent homes are almost four times more likely to live in poverty, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Although approximately one of out every three children in America lives in a home without their dad, the active involvement of a father, even if they don’t live with their child, can have a lasting and positive impact.

To help the organizers prepare food, the Initiative is asking interested attendees to RSVP by June 5 by emailing or calling Tonya Blair at [email protected] or 703-792-7590. Businesses and individuals are also being asked to support the Initiative and the “Dad’s Play Day” event by making in-kind or monetary donations. Interested businesses and individuals should contact Prince William Department of Social Services Chief-of-Services Phyllis Jennings-Holt at 703-792-7500.

Although the event focuses on fathers and their children, mothers are welcome to attend with their children also.

Under the oversight of Social Services Director Courtney Tierney and Deputy County Executive Elijah Johnson, the Prince William County Fatherhood Initiative’s mission is to empower fathers to do what is in the best interest of their children. The Initiative is led by a Steering Committee made up of social service professionals and community partners to administer programs that engage parents with their children. The Initiative’s primary program is an 8-week long support group for men who desire to be better parents.

The Prince William County Fatherhood Initiative Steering Committee is led by Ms. Jennings-Holt and social worker Robert Rios. Other members of the Committee include: County employees Devina Martin, Barbara Nye, Angela Davis, Ebonie Williams, Shelby Holley, Milenka St-Clair and community advocates Derwin Overton (OAR Farifax), Jessica Dunn (Change In Action) D.J. Jordan (Virginia Board of Social Services), Kaffa Goda (Northern Virginia Family Service) and Raheem Turane (Youth For Tomorrow).

Price Rite and Snyder’s Lance join Feed the Children and Operation Homefront to lend a hand to Woodbridge-area military families on Thursday, May 21, at 10 AM. At the event, a total of 800 families will receive food and essentials filling two Feed the Children trailers at the Price Rite of Woodbridge located at Opitz Crossing (2042 Daniel Stuart Square). Additional local community partners will be on hand to help address families’ long term needs by providing information and resources for a brighter future. 

At Thursday’s event, pre-identified families will each receive a 25-pound box of food and a 10-pound box of much-needed essentials like shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and personal care items. Families will also receive an additional food donation from Price Rite which will include: lettuce, celery, carrots, canned spaghetti, meatballs, chicken noodle soup, corn flakes, and canned corn. Volunteers from Price Rite and Operation Homefront will be on site to help distribute these items to military families.

“Low- to mid-rank military families often struggle because of the high cost of living in this region,” said Rosanne Coleman, Operation Homefront Mid-Atlantic Program Director. “Operation Homefront receives requests for food assistance from military families regularly and this partnership allows us to serve military families and demonstrate that the community supports them as well. Thanks to this partnership between Operation Homefront, Feed the Children, and Price Rite, we will serve 800 military families with the greatest need in the region.”

The event is one of many that Feed the Children has planned across the country. Instead of worrying about having enough to eat, thousands of kids can just be kids this year. In Prince William County alone, nearly 7 percent of families live below the poverty line. Often, these children are unsure where they will find their next meal.

“We at Price Rite are privileged to partner with Feed the Children and Operation Homefront and participate in this important event, helping to provide meals to the children and families in need in our community,” said Jim Dorey, Executive Vice President for Price Rite.

“We are a food company and at Price Rite, the focus of our charitable giving has always been helping to feed the hungry in the communities served by our stores. Through partnerships with local food banks and pantries, and events such as this, we are working to alleviate the effects of hunger in underserved areas.  Our business is focused on helping our customers feed their families for less and it is an honor to help the families of the women and men that are serving our country.”

“We believe in a world where no child goes to bed hungry—a world in which kids grow up wide-eyed, curious, playful, eager to learn, strong, joyful, and full of dreams,” said Kevin Hagan, Feed the Children President and CEO. “Today Price Rite and Operation Homefront are doing so much more than giving food and essentials. They are helping kids be kids.”

On Friday, May 15, approximately 150 area bicyclists participated in Bike to Work Day 2015 at the Merrifield W&OD Trail Pit Stop, sponsored by the 495 and 95 Express Lanes.  Affiliated with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association and Commuter Connections, Bike to Work Day is a yearly event that supports the area’s bike commuters and promotes Virginia’s overall mission for sustainable transportation.  

Area bicyclists who stopped by the Merrifield W&OD Trail Pit Stop enjoyed free refreshments, bike tune-ups and giveaways from local Merrifield businesses including Gold’s Gym, Panda Express, ACE Physical Therapy, Orangetheory Fitness, Performance Bicycle and many more. 

A rabid cat was found in Prince William County, according to the county’s health department.

Here’s more in a press release:

A cat found Wednesday, May 13 near the intersection of Sudley Road and Shelter Lane has tested positive for rabies.

The young cat had gray fur with a tan or white spot located over its left eye. PWHD asks anyone who may have come in contact with cat acting abnormal in or around this area to call the health district at 703-792-5363 or the Prince William Animal Control Division at 703-792-6500.

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. Rabies can be prevented in cats, dogs, ferrets and some livestock with a rabies vaccination. Rabies kills almost any mammal or human that gets sick from it.

The rabies virus is mainly in the saliva and brain tissue of rabid animals. It can be transmitted through a bite or by getting saliva or brain tissue in a wound or in the eye or mouth.

Steps to the spread of Rabies:

To protect pets and their owners from rabies, Virginia law requires that all dogs and cats four months of age and older be vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian, and that vaccinations be kept current.

The Prince William Health District is reminding the public to avoid contact with bats, feral cats, stray dogs and wild animals, particularly in the area where the sick cat was found.

Additional Steps to Protect Against Rabies Exposure:

— Do not feed stray animals. Avoid wild animals, especially raccoons, bats, foxes and skunks. Feed your pets indoors and do not let them wander.

— Make sure your pets are vaccinated against rabies and their shots are up-to-date. By law, all dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies.

— Teach children to avoid contact with wild animals and pets they are not familiar with.

— Do not handle sick, injured or dead animals.

— Keep wild animals out of homes by capping chimneys with screens and blocking openings in attics, cellars and porches. Ensure trash cans have tight fitting lids.

— If you observe any stray animals in the area, please contact the Prince William County Animal Control Division for assistance at 703-792-6500. Please do not try to trap or handle stray and wild animals.

— If a bat is found indoors and may have had contact with someone, do not release it. Call the Prince William County Animal Control Division at 703-792-6500, to determine if the animal should be picked up and tested for rabies.

— If you are bitten by a wild or stray animal, wash the wound(s) thoroughly with warm soapy water. Contact animal control, your doctor or the Prince William Health District for further recommendations.