Press Release

MANASSAS, Va. — The City of Manassas has received the Award of Excellence from the Virginia Downtown Development Association for the Main Street Streetscapes project completed in October 2013. This project widened narrow sidewalks on Main Street to allow for outdoor dining and improved pedestrian access. Brick crosswalks were added to intersections and 19 trees were planted to enhance the beauty of the street.

“My wife and I love the outside dining and pedestrian friendly nature of Historic Downtown Manassas,” said City Manager W. Patrick Pate. “We hope that residents and visitors will take advantage of our revitalized downtown and enjoy some outside dining and shopping, or take in a summer concert.”

Maria Schuller is an 88-year-old  retired widow who lives in the Manassas Park home that she and her late husband purchased in 1956.

Maria’s leaky roof has caused mold to form in her home, in addition to drywall and floor damage. Maria just paid for a new roof and because of that expense, is unable to afford the other repairs that are greatly needed in her home.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. –The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will post approximate travel times for Interstate 95 in the Fredericksburg area on overhead message signs starting Friday, June 6, giving motorists a preview of traffic conditions on the road ahead.

VDOT uses real-time traffic data gathered from Inrix and multiple technologies to show the approximate length of time to drive between two points along I-95.

MANASSAS, Va. – Home Instead will be collecting canned food through the end of June for local seniors in need, and their office will match the amount of food collected. Donations will be collected at 9817 Godwin Drive #202, Manassas, VA 20110. “At Home Instead Senior Care, we believe strongly that supporting our community should be a year-long effort,” states Owner Jacqueline St. Clair. “At this midpoint in the year, we feel that it is important to do our part to help those seniors in our community who face a daily struggle to find the resources they need.”

Home Instead’s summer food drive is part of the 2014 Home Instead Gives Back campaign, which marks a program of senior advocacy and community service aimed at assisting those seniors in our community who need it the most. Director of Operations Ian Lovejoy explains, “As our company grows, so does our commitment to seniors in our community.” Other goals of the campaign include free senior care education seminars throughout the community, supporting local senior advocacy organizations and pledging 750 volunteer hours to the area. The full list of the 2014 Home Instead Gives Back goals may be found at https://www.homeinstead.com/655/aboutus/Pages/HomeInsteadGivesBack.aspx.

This month, the 495 Express Lanes reached an important milestone – our customers have traveled 100 million miles on the Express Lanes.  This means that travelers on the Express Lanes have already surpassed the distance from the Earth to the Sun, which is 93 million miles, and traveled the Great Wall of China – which is 13,171 miles long – 7,593 times.

Since opening in November 2012, the 495 Express Lanes have provided customers with faster, more reliable trips and improved access to popular destinations including Tysons Corner.  More than 1.1 million unique customers have taken advantage of the transportation option since opening.   Dec 13, 2013, was the busiest day on the Express Lanes with 48,489 trips.

Three hundred and seven students were graduated during commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 10, at Tusculum College.

John-Austin Shepard of Gainesville earned a bachelor of arts degree in business administration with a concentration in general management and a minor in economics.

The Library Foundation Board of Directors cordially invites you to the 3rd Annual Volunteer Scholarship Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 9th, at 6:30 p.m. in the Trustees Conference Room, Library Administrative Support Center, (lower level of Chinn Park Regional Library). The winners being honored this year are Deborah Suzanne Turner and Samantha Vanderveldt.

Deborah will be attending Pensacola Christian College and Samantha will be attending George Mason University in the fall.  Family, friends, and the public are invited.  Refreshments will be served.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks will host a USA Football FUNdamentals clinic for children ages 6-17 on Saturday, June 21, at C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, Va., his alma mater. The free, one-day clinic is designed to introduce children to football by teaching basic skills in a fun and energetic environment and is supported through a grant from the NFL Foundation.

FUNdamentals incorporates a series of drills to teach passing, catching and running skills in a non-contact setting. All skills and drills selected are based on USA Football’s Player Progression Development Model, ensuring children are learning in an age-appropriate manner, based on their cognitive and physical maturity. Participants also will be introduced to the basics of USA Football’s Heads Up Tackling techniques through non-contact drills. USA Football programs are supported and endorsed by leaders in medicine, child advocacy and sport for a safer, better game.

MANASSAS, Va. — Summer is almost here. Before temperatures soar, the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative encourages consumers to prepare now to beat the heat and control cooling costs.

Bob Cornwell, NOVEC energy services representative, says, “Our long winter brought record-cold temperatures. It even snowed on March 30! Along with polar vortexes came high heating bills for consumers. We’re hoping summer temperatures won’t be as extreme or costly, so that’s why we’re encouraging Co-op customer-owners to prepare now.”

Manassas City Utilities received the Century Award from the American Public Power Association (APPA) for its 100-year anniversary. Established in 1987, the APPA Century Award is given each year to public power utilities that have served their customers and community for 100 years.  For details, go to manassascity.org or call 703-257-8276.

To commemorate the milestone, Manassas City Utilities hosted a 100-year anniversary event in October, 2013 that was attended by more than 600 people. At the event, they ceremoniously buried a time capsule containing memorable utility items from the past century and also raised more than $3,000 to donate to the American Cancer Society.