Dumfries is home to one of the nation’s top McDonald’s restaurant managers.
Jason Thomas recently received the Ray Kroc Award, an annual performance-based award that recognizes the top performing McDonald’s restaurant managers in the country. Â
Named after McDonald’s Corporation founder Ray Kroc, the award was established fourteen years ago in 1999 to honor hardworking managers in both corporate owned and independently owned and operated restaurants – those who make Ray Kroc’s vision of excellence come to life in restaurants and for customers each day.
A select 142 managers were chosen this year to receive the Ray Kroc Award, an honor that comes with a cash prize, a Ray Kroc award trophy, ring and pin and atrip to Chicago for an awards gala in March hosted by McDonald’s USA President, Mike Andres.
Ray Kroc built the McDonald’s business on the belief that greatness can onlybe achieved through the dedication and support of a company’s people. The award was named after him based on his commitment to people and recognizing their contributions to the organization he helped establish. Each year, this prestigious award is given to the top 1 percent of U.S. general managers from both independently owned and operated and company owned restaurants to recognize their superior performance and achievement.
“Jason being honored with the coveted Ray Kroc Award is a true testament to his leadership, being a part of the community he serves and taking care of our customers’ needs each and every day,” said Bill Boston, Owner/Operator of the Dumfries McDonald’s.  “We are truly proud to have Jason as part of our McDonald’s family and commend him on this truly amazing accolade.”
Winners of the Ray Kroc Award run high performing and profitable restaurants that meet McDonald’s critical customer standards of Quality, Service and Cleanliness.  They have strong business knowledge and achieve superior results in restaurant operations, people management and building the business.
As a recognized leader in the restaurant, they develop a restaurant team focused on ensuring customers get a fast, accurate and friendly experience every visit.
McDonald’s owner/operators or regional staff nominate restaurant managers for the Ray Kroc Award to recognize their hard work, dedication and commitment to McDonald’s.  From there, a selection committee of representatives from McDonald’s Operations, Training and Human Resources select the top 1 percent of General Managers for the Ray Kroc Award. Â
The Department of Parks & Recreation will hold three summer job fairs during the month of February. Parks & Recreation have 500 seasonal job opportunities available for 14 locations across the county.
“Seasonal job opportunities offer flexible hours in both indoor and outdoor working environments,” said Lisa Frankel, Human Resources Specialist at Parks & Recreation. “We have open positions for life guards, camp counselors, food & beverage concessions and grounds maintenance technicians.” The Department of Parks & Recreation is the largest employer of youth in the county.Â
Applicants must complete an online employment application at  www.pwcgov.org/jobs
and bring a hard copy of the completed form with them to the job fairs.Â
- Lifeguard Job Fair will be held on Sunday, February 8th, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Chinn Aquatics & Fitness Center, 13025 Chinn Park Drive, Prince William, VA. Applicants must bring a swimsuit to change into for the required swimming test.  Hiring managers from community pools, Waterworks, SplashDown, Veterans Memorial Park, Chinn Aquatics & Fitness Center and Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center pools will be in attendance.Â
- SplashDown Waterpark Job Fair will be held on Saturday, February 7th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Stonewall Jackson High School, 8820 Rixlew Lane, 2nd floor, Manassas, VA. Hiring managers will be present to interview for all open positions at SplashDown Waterpark. Â
- Parks & Recreation Seasonal Job Fair will be held on Saturday, February 21st, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center, 14300 Minnieville Road, Dale City, VA.  This job fair is for summer positions at all Parks & Recreation locations. Applicants will have the opportunity to meet with hiring managers for life guards, concessions, marina attendants, batting cage, camps, rangers and park services.
For more information about the 2015 summer job fairs, call Lisa Frankel, Human Resources Specialist, at (703) 792-4263.  Prince William County Parks & Recreation is an EEO/AA Employer.
When you say “Boy Scout” the iconic image of scarf-clad young men helping the elderly across a busy intersection comes to mind for many. But few know that one program in the Boy Scouts of America is actually open to teenage young men and women. This lesser known program is called “Venturing,” and the Scouts who participate in Venturing work with fellow members in Crews to set and achieve lofty goals and learn ideals which will last them for a lifetime.
Like other Scouting programs, Venturing has a system of awards that the Scout can work to earn, the highest level of which is known as the “Silver Award.” (The Boy Scouts of America recently announced that the Silver Award will be renamed to be known as the “Summit Award.”) Among other requirements, the Silver Award requires a teenager to set personal growth goals, learn First Aid and CPR, participate in a leadership skills course, learn and lead a forum on ethics, and serve as a leader in their home Crew. Additionally the Scout must receive three letters of recommendation from community leaders, educators, or members of the clergy.
The most recent BSA statistics show that only about 0.34% of all Venturing Scouts earn the Silver Award. Which makes the achievement of three local Scouts that much more significant. Royce Picot, Mary Kate Thornburg and Dacotah McGaffic, all of whom are members of Venturing Crew 617 in Manassas, each earned the Silver Award. Despite all being from the same Crew, each Scout worked on their award program independently. Each Scout coordinated with an adult advisor to help them devise attainable goals and how to follow through and achieve those goals.
Venturing Crew 617 was started in Manassas in 2010 as a partnership between the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the Park West Lions Club of Manassas. Since that time four Venturing Scouts in the Crew have earned the Eagle Scout award, and with these three awards being earned, the number of Venturing Scouts in the Crew who have earned the Silver Award also equals four. Each of these Scouts will be hosting a special Court of Honor to commemorate the achievement in the next few weeks.
About Venturing Crew 617
Venturing is the “new” older youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age. Spun off from the Exploring program in 1998, Venturing’s purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Young people in Venturing learn leadership skills and participate in challenging outdoor activities that help develop self-confidence. Nationwide, there are approximately 200,000 Venturing youth, and in the National Capital Area Council, there are approximately 1,150.
Venturing Crew 617 was formed in 2010 to create a unique and dynamic relationship between the youth of Prince William County, adult leaders, and the Park-West Lions Club. The result has become a program of exciting and meaningful activities that helps our youth members pursue their special interests, grow, develop leadership skills, and become good citizens.
The Prince William County Minority Business Network held its Open House on Thursday, January 15, the Bungalow Ale House off of Prince William Parkway.
Their monthly socials provide an opportunity for local business owners in our community to learn from one another, fellowship, network, and hear from the monthly featured speaker. The Open House featured Ms. Cydny A. Neville, owner of the Neville Empowerment Network, Inc., under which the PWC Minority Business Network was established.
Ms. Neville’s presentation shared the beginnings of the organization, from its initial vision to fruition, and the critical need for such an organization in Prince William County. Emphasis was placed on the need for business owners to collaborate, and work cohesively with one another in order to grow our businesses, and to tackle issues in our communities.
“In order for each of us to grow, it is imperative that we find a medium, where we can all come together and support one another. Divided, we will limit our abilities, as well as our growth. Together, we move!”-Ms. Neville
During the Open House, representatives from a variety of service areas we able to connect and establish partnerships to grow their businesses. Fields such as: photography, videography, travel, real estate, accounting, youth services, consulting, legal aid, education, physical therapy, and more were represented by the talented business owners in our communities who attended the event!
The organization will be holding its 1st Annual Awards Reception on Saturday, July 27, 2015, at “The Landing at Occoquan Harbour Marina Restaurant!” Tickets will go on sale in early March, details for the event-to include nominations for awards, will be made available during our February Social!
Everyone is invited to join the Prince William County Minority Business Network for their February Social on February 19 from 7pm – 8:30pm, at the El Paso restaurant in Dumfries. Please visit our facebook page for details.
Duct Tape the Principal and Assistant Principal Fundraiser
The Moncure Elementary PTO is very excited to announce their newest fundraising event – Duct Tape the Principal and Assistant Principal to the Wall. On February 25th, Moncure Elementary staff, students and parents will have the opportunity to duct tape Moncure’s amazing Principal and Assistant Principal, Mr. Machi and Mrs. Norton, to a wall of the school.
The PTO will be selling duct tape in one yard strips for $1 each. Staff, students and parents will have the opportunity to place the duct tape strip on the Principal or Assistant Principal. We hope that enough duct tape strips will be placed on the Principal and Assistant Principal so that they will be suspended above the ground on a wall of the school.
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This Wednesday night, Jan. 28, until Thursday morning, Jan. 29, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)Â will close multiple lanes on I-95 North near the truck rest area, mile marker 154.5, just south of Dale City (exit 156), leading up to a full road closure for up to 15 minutes after midnight.
A single lane will be closed after 9 p.m., followed by a second lane at 10 p.m. All lanes will close for up to 15 minutes between 1 and 2 a.m. These closures are needed to replace an overhead sign.
Message signs will be posted on I-95 north to advise motorists of the closures and Virginia State Police will be on-site for traffic control.
-Information from VDOT.
Greater Manassas leaders beamed with pride on Thursday night, Jan. 15, at the Inter-Service Club Council’s (ISCC) Annual Banquet.Â
Mayor Hal Parrish and Judge Carroll A. Weimer, Jr. participated in the volunteer awards ceremony and the installation of the 2015 officers. City Councilwoman and outgoing ISCC President Sheryl Bass began the event with a call to order.
Signs of a successful community were spotted throughout the Manassas Church of the Brethren recreation hall. Merit badges decorated the Boy Scouts Troop 670 as they performed the flag ceremony and served the dinner. Framed awards of volunteer excellence and an impressive “Volunteer of the Year” trophy were showcased.
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The nationwide, entrepreneurial mentorship program, 1 Million Cups, is celebrating its first anniversary on George Mason University’s Prince William Campus Wednesday, Jan. 21. Read more.Â
Route 1 southbound in Stafford County will be reduced to one lane at midday on Thursday, Jan. 22 between Route 17 Business/Route 218 (Butler Road) and the Falmouth Bridge.
The right lane will be closed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for curb removal. This work is part of the Falmouth Intersection Improvement Project, which is building additional travel lanes and turn lanes at the intersection.
Call 511, visit www.511Virginia.org, or use VDOT’s 511Virginia free mobile app to find real-time traffic information in any area of the state.
Teams of O.W.L. V.F.D members visited 55 homes Saturday, in the River Ridge community to test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and change batteries. Residents were ready, with new batteries in hand and open doors to welcome the fire fighters. In all, they found and replaced 6 faulty smoke detectors.
Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department reminds residents that one easy step can help save their lives and the lives of those around them. Twice a year, (when clocks move forward or back,) change the batteries in their own smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, test the alarms and remind friends, family, neighbors and fellow community members to do the same. (the fall date had to be rescheduled due to inclement weather.)
