It’s National Burger Day, and local spots are rolling out the red carpet for burger fans! 🍔
In Manassas, Philadelphia Tavern is celebrating with their Tuesday Burger Day special. Guests can enjoy dine-in pricing on burgers starting at $8 for a specialty burger and $12 for a premium option, both served with their signature homemade chips. Want fries instead? Add them for just $1 more. It’s the perfect excuse to enjoy a burger and a beer at this beloved neighborhood tavern.
Down in Fredericksburg, Eats Burgers is honoring International Burger Day with a sizzling deal — half off the Eats Classic burger all day long on Wednesday, May 28. It’s a one-day-only offer to mark the “holiday of all holidays,” and a delicious way to treat yourself.
National Burger Day is a food holiday celebrated in the United States to honor one of the country’s most beloved comfort foods — the hamburger. While its exact origins are a bit hazy, here’s what we know about how this tasty tradition began and evolved:
🍔 Origins of the Burger
The hamburger’s roots go back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While several people and locations claim to have invented the hamburger, the most widely accepted story credits Louis Lassen, a Danish immigrant in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1900, he allegedly served the first hamburger at his small lunch wagon, Louis’ Lunch, using steak trimmings ground into patties.
đź“… When National Burger Day Began
National Burger Day, as celebrated in the U.S., doesn’t have an official government designation but has grown into a popular unofficial holiday. It is typically observed annually on May 28. The day likely emerged from food marketing campaigns and the cultural love affair with burgers, which are a staple at backyard cookouts, diners, fast food chains, and gourmet restaurants alike.
Over the years, restaurants began using the day to run promotions, showcase creative burger specials, and celebrate regional styles — from smash burgers to veggie and plant-based patties.
This temporary program has been in place since April 2023, but was implemented in early 2024 in highway work zones and school crossing zones. In July 2024, the Board voted to extend the pilot period until Aug. 31, 2025. Transportation staff have now requested that the program become a permanent fixture of the county.
Rick Canizales, director of the county's transportation department, said that since the implementation of cameras in several school zones, the county has issued nearly 15,000 notices as of Dec. 3, 2024. Canizales noted that 10,677 of these notices were violations and 61% — or 6,463 — had been paid.
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OCCOQUAN, Va. – Leaf & Petal is welcoming customers to its new location at 204 Washington Street after celebrating a grand re-opening on Friday, May 23, 2025. 🌿
The shop has moved just around the corner from its former home at 201 Union Street, affectionately described as a “sweet little shop.” The new space carries a bit of local history — it’s where Ogle Harris began selling ice cream and later opened the Ogle Harris & Son grocery store in the early 1900s.
According to a congratulatory announcement by town Mayor Earnie Porta, Leaf & Petal has thoughtfully reimagined the space to include cozy seating areas both inside and outdoors, giving visitors even more reason to stop by, linger, and enjoy the charm of downtown Occoquan.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – Mosquito monitoring is officially underway as the summer season kicks off. 🦟
The county’s Department of Public Works, through its Mosquito and Forest Pest Management Branch, has started trapping mosquitoes across Prince William County to track populations and guide targeted control efforts. The program aims to limit the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile Virus and Zika, which are transmitted through bites from infected mosquitoes.
The County’s approach includes:
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Monitoring adult mosquitoes using traps placed countywide
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Testing mosquito pools for disease
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Treating standing water to kill mosquito larvae
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Conducting educational outreach and property assessments
Residents can request a free site visit to check for breeding areas and receive advice on how to reduce mosquito activity around their homes. Common tips include dumping standing water from containers, cleaning clogged gutters, and keeping yards clear of debris.
More resources, including printable guides and contact information for free inspections, are available at www.pwcva.gov/mfpm.
WOODBRIDGE, Va. – The Prince William County Republican Committee’s annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner on May 3, 2025, shattered records for both attendance and fundraising, pulling in $70,000 and netting over $40,000. According to a press release, held near Manassas, the sold-out event drew strong support from the local business community and showcased the party’s growing diversity.
Lieutenant Governor and Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle Sears headlined the evening alongside Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts. Prince William County Supervisor Yesli Vega also addressed the crowd, praising the diverse turnout and emphasizing the party’s evolving makeup. “The diversity of the attendees demonstrates the growth of the modern Republican party in this county and the country,” said PWCRC Chairman Jacob Alderman.
Sears laid out her pro-business platform and called for an “all of the above” energy policy to drive job creation. Roberts, meanwhile, contrasted Sears with her Democratic opponent, Abigail Spanberger, questioning her moderate label and urging conservatives to act decisively.
Just days after the dinner, Supervisor Vega made headlines again by launching a new political action committee (PAC)—and kicking it off with a $100,000 donation from a data center developer, according to the Prince William Times. The contribution places the PAC on a strong financial footing from the outset, coming amid continued debate in the county over the expansion of data centers.
Vega, a former Prince William County sheriff’s deputy, is a two-time elected representative for the Coles District on the Board of County Supervisors. She first won her seat in 2019 and was re-elected in 2023. In 2022, she ran as the Republican nominee for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. She narrowly lost to incumbent Democrat Abigail Spanberger, now running for Virginia Governor, in a high-profile and closely watched race.
Since then, Vega has remained a prominent figure in Northern Virginia conservative politics and is seen as a potential contender for higher office.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – The county’s largest stream restoration project at Powell’s Creek is now complete, marking a big step in protecting local waterways.
The restoration spans nearly a mile behind the Montclair and Four Seasons communities and includes stabilizing eroded streambanks, rerouting the creek, and planting native vegetation to improve water quality. In a Facebook post, the county shared that staff from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality recently toured the site, which is part of a broader initiative to meet Chesapeake Bay cleanup goals.
The Powell’s Creek effort is one of several stream restoration projects underway in Prince William County. Others include work at Cow Branch, Flat Branch, Marumsco Creek, and Neabsco Creek. A major restoration is also planned at Chinn Park, where 2,300 feet of stream channel will be restored along with stormwater upgrades.
All of these projects are managed by the Department of Public Works and aim to reduce erosion, improve habitat, and protect nearby infrastructure. More information can be found on the county’s Stream Restoration page.
OCCOQUAN, Va. – A downed tree and a blown transformer caused road closures and power outages in the Town of Occoquan on Friday evening, prompting a quick response from town officials and utility crews.
Around 7 p.m., a public safety alert from the Town of Occoquan announced that Tanyard Hill Road was closed in both directions between Old Bridge Road and Union Street due to fallen trees. At the same time, a power outage hit the Route 123 traffic light, and drivers were urged to steer clear of the area.
Initially, officials thought the fallen trees caused the outage. But Mayor Earnie Porta later explained that the real culprit was a blown transformer on the Fairfax County side of the Occoquan River. The clarification suggested repairs might wrap up faster than first expected.
During the disruption, town police updated Google Maps and Waze with the road closure, helping guide drivers around the blocked section.
By 8:30 p.m., the town shared that Tanyard Hill Road was back open and full power had been restored. Traffic signals, including the one at Route 123, were expected to be functioning again.
No injuries were reported, but officials are reminding residents to avoid storm-damaged areas and report any remaining issues. The fallen trees come as the region received several inches of rain earlier in the week.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – As the Class of 2025 prepares to celebrate graduation, Prince William County’s School Board is expected to approve three major policy updates affecting religious expression, patriotic observances, and grading practices. The measures are on the consent agenda for the board’s meeting on Wednesday, May 21, and are likely to pass without discussion.
🎓 Policy on Religious Expression Clarified
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PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – The Prince William County Police Department is hitting the streets for two important missions in the coming weeks: keeping drivers safe and supporting Special Olympics athletes.
First up, officers are joining law enforcement across Virginia for the annual “Click It or Ticket” seatbelt enforcement campaign, running now through June 1, 2025. According to a department announcement, officers will be out in full force during high-visibility patrols, day and night, to ensure drivers and passengers are buckled up. The campaign reminds everyone to "wear your seatbelt every time"—a message that could save lives.
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WOODBRIDGE, Va. – A man has been arrested and charged with murder following a deadly shooting that took place in a wooded area behind a shopping center on Smoketown Road Wednesday evening.
Prince William County Police say officers responded to the 14200 block of Smoketown Road at 5:13 p.m. on May 21, 2025. Initially, there were no signs of injuries in the area, but a search led officers to discover three adult males with gunshot wounds in a secluded wooded section behind the shopping complex.
Fire and rescue crews pronounced one victim, 29-year-old Tevon Dean Haskins of Woodbridge, dead at the scene. The two other victims, both 42 years old, were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to investigators, Haskins was approached by a man he had previously encountered. The two got into a verbal argument, which escalated until the suspect fired multiple shots, killing Haskins and injuring the others. Police say the suspect fled the area before officers arrived.
The next morning, detectives located the suspect, Dean Campbell, 45, of Fredericksburg, and arrested him without incident.
Campbell is charged with murder, malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is being held without bond. A court date is pending.
Police emphasized that this was not a random act.
