The Town of Dumfries is considering forming its own Economic Development Authority (EDA), a move that town leaders say would give them more flexibility and control over how to attract, retain, and grow businesses within the town's borders.

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The Dumfries Town Council approved its 2025 events calendar during its April 1 meeting, finalizing several changes to the town’s lineup of annual events.

The most significant update is the rescheduling of the Holiday Parade. Traditionally held in December, the event will now take place on Saturday, November 22, 2025. The new date will help Dumfries avoid scheduling conflicts with neighboring localities and attract more marching bands and participants, notably Manassas, which hosts the region’s largest Christmas parade.

The council also voted to eliminate the July 12 summer concert, reducing the number of summer concerts from four to three. The adjustment is aimed at easing the staff workload while maintaining a robust lineup of seasonal entertainment.

A proposal to move the Fall Festival from September to October failed to pass. Supporters of the September date pointed to the warm weather and strong attendance in previous years. The festival will remain scheduled for September 20, 2025.

Other events, including Juneteenth, National Night Out, and the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, remain on the calendar. The council approved the calendar by resolution, incorporating the agreed-upon amendments.

Two new elementary schools that could help ease overcrowding in Prince William County won’t open until at least 2026 and 2027, respectively, school officials say.

The Woodbridge Area Elementary School, located across from Marumsco Plaza along Route 1, is now slated to open for the 2026-27 school year, following a series of delays. The civil plan approval process with Prince William County took six extra months due to floodplain considerations.

Additionally, crews discovered an underground sanitary line beneath the building site, which required careful re-routing 20 feet underground. The delay also forced engineers to revise the shared entrance with neighboring Fred Lynn Middle School, adding more work that must now be completed over the summer.

Further south near Dumfries, a second elementary school inside Potomac Shores, originally expected to open in 2021-22, is now delayed until 2027-28, according to Prince William County Public Schools. Land acquisition issues and site suitability concerns delayed permitting and construction for the school, which was first identified in the school division’s capital plan nearly a decade ago. The school’s planned capacity has increased from 721 to 1,050 students, making it the largest elementary school in the county when it opens.

Covington-Harper: Crowded Now, With More Growth Coming

Until then, families in the Potomac District must contend with overcrowded classrooms at Covington-Harper Elementary School, located near Dumfries. School Board representative Justin Wilk, who represents the area, says the school is well over its intended capacity — a situation he’s been warning about for years.

According to 2024 figures, Covington-Harper has a program capacity of 796 students, but is currently serving 988 students. With an average of 25 students per class, that’s the equivalent of nearly 40 classrooms — far more than the school was designed to handle.

To keep up, the school is relying heavily on trailers — known officially as modular or portable classrooms — and may need as many as 15 trailers by the 2026–27 school year if enrollment continues to rise and the new school remains unopened.

“We’re looking at a point of being over 130+% capacity… that essentially means there will be 15 trailers at Covington-Harper,” said Wilk in a recent interview with Potomac Local News.

While the school maintains strong test scores and a dedicated staff, the lack of available indoor space has already forced staff to convert resource rooms, computer labs, and other spaces into standard classrooms. “They even had a TED Talk room when it opened,” said Wilk. “Now, everything is filled.”

Boundary Change Blocked

Wilk attempted to propose a temporary boundary change in late 2024 to provide relief, but the School Board voted it down in a 5-3 vote, citing concerns that similar changes might be demanded across the county. Wilk said he needed only five votes to move forward with a directive that would instruct staff to present redistricting options for discussion.

“Unless people are pushing hard and really advocating for this, it’s going to be tough,” Wilk said. “I need the support… and I need to galvanize the community.”

School officials estimate that if the School Board acted now, boundary changes could take effect in the 2026–27 school year. However, the division warns that any temporary change might be reversed again in 2027–28, when the Potomac Shores school finally opens, resulting in back-to-back school changes for students.

In the meantime, Wilk says he’s requested a full briefing from PWCS staff on safety and logistics: how the school system plans to manage food service, security, and encore classes like art and music for a second school population housed in trailers.

“It’s almost like you’re going to have another school or a campus,” Wilk said. “How is this going to impact lunch? Are we going to have to hire another set of teachers just for the trailer community?”

PWCS spokeswoman Megan Silas confirmed that while boundary changes are still possible, any process would take a minimum of four months and depend on how many students are affected.

As Covington-Harper’s enrollment continues to grow and trailer counts rise, Wilk said he hopes more parents will show up to School Board meetings and speak out.

“It takes more than just liking a Facebook post to get people out,” Wilk said. “Time is running out.”

Winners Church will host its annual Free Community Easter Love Meal on Saturday, April 19, 2025, from noon to 2 p.m., in front of the Bank of America at 4001 Graham Park Road in Dumfries.

The event will feature free hot meals from the food truck vendor District Bites. Meals are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and no registration is required.

The initiative began as an extension of the church’s 21-day period of fasting and prayer—a time when members focus on spiritual renewal and service. Motivated by faith and a commitment to meet tangible needs in the community, the program launched with support from church members who helped bring in a professional chef and food truck to serve hot meals directly to neighbors in need.

Over the years, the Easter event has grown into a broader outreach effort, including Thanksgiving grocery and turkey giveaways, serving hundreds of families annually. “What began as a simple meal distribution has become one of our most impactful programs,” said Nana A. Rokosz of Winners Church.

Past events have left a lasting impression on both recipients and volunteers. One single mother shared that the groceries she received during the church’s Thanksgiving event allowed her to afford Christmas gifts for her children. Another memorable story came from a former recipient who returned to volunteer, wanting to give back after being helped in a time of need.

The church partners with local shelters, nonprofit organizations, and low-income housing communities to ensure support reaches those most in need. It also relies on referrals from congregation members and distributes fliers in neighborhoods.

Community members and local businesses are encouraged to participate through volunteer work, food donations, sponsorships, or financial contributions. “Every form of support—big or small—helps us extend our reach,” said Rokosz.

The church acknowledges logistical challenges in executing large-scale food distributions but credits the dedication of its members and growing partnerships for its continued success.

The public is invited to enjoy a warm meal, fellowship, and community love as part of this Easter celebration.

Photo by Karen Z on Unsplash

Dominion Energy is preparing to launch a significant infrastructure upgrade along a key electrical transmission corridor stretching from Fredericksburg to Possum Point in Prince William County.

The project, known as the Fredericksburg-Possum Point 230 kV Electric Transmission Upgrade and Rebuild, aims to replace aging equipment and bolster grid reliability as regional electricity demand grows. The existing infrastructure has served the area for more than five decades and is reaching the end of its service life.

To meet current and future energy needs, Dominion plans to rebuild much of the existing transmission line infrastructure within the current right of way, upgrade the system from 115 kV to 230 kV, and add a new 230 kV line.

“This project will help support the area’s continued load growth and maintain reliable service,” said Dominion Energy spokeswoman Aisha Khan.

The upgrade will take place in two phases:

• Phase 1, stretching from the Fredericksburg Substation to the Aquia Harbour Substation in Stafford County, is slated to begin construction in September 2025 and be completed by late 2026.
• Phase 2, extending from the Aquia Harbour Substation to the Possum Point Substation in Prince William County, is expected to begin in late 2026, with a completion date yet to be determined.

Dominion says it has made extensive efforts to keep the public informed and involved, hosting two community meetings last year, meeting individually with property owners along the route, and maintaining a project website with the latest updates.

“As part of every project, we conduct extensive studies to ensure we reasonably minimize impacts to the surrounding environment,” said Khan.

The utility is actively working to secure all necessary local, state, and environmental permits, many of which have already been approved. During construction, Dominion says customers should not experience any disruptions in service.

The project underscores Dominion’s broader efforts to modernize its infrastructure while maintaining communication with residents, businesses, and local governments.

For more information and updates, the public is encouraged to visit the project website.

The widening of Route 1 through the heart of Dumfries, backed by a $129.7 million investment from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), is more than a transportation upgrade—it’s a transformative project for the region, said Monica Backmon, CEO of the NVTA.

“This is more than just a commuting road,” said Backmon. “It will be transformational—improving the quality of life, increasing access to jobs, and stimulating economic vitality.”

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The Dumfries Town Council has voted to approve a significant salary increase for its elected officials, citing the town’s growth, increased responsibilities, and alignment with updated Virginia state law.

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Dumfries Town Manager Tangela Innis has presented the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget for the town. The budget outlines strategic investments in infrastructure, public safety, and community programs while maintaining the town’s real estate tax rate.

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The Board of County Supervisors has directed staff to review agreements between the Prince William County Police Department and incorporated towns regarding using the Mike Pennington Scenario-Based Training Center. The move comes after Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Weir requested a formal review of the Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs) governing town law enforcement agencies' access to the facility.

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A fiery crash on Interstate 95 southbound on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, caused significant delays overnight and into the early morning hours.

According to Virginia State Police spokesman Matthew Demlein, the crash occurred at approximately 12:17 a.m. at the 150-mile marker at Dumfries when a Honda SUV traveling in the right lane slowed and was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer.

The impact of the collision caused a fire to engulf the tractor-trailer, which led to emergency response teams shutting down multiple lanes for several hours.

The driver of the Honda SUV suffered minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital. The tractor-trailer driver was not injured.

Authorities worked through the night to clear the wreckage and assess the damage. Traffic backups stretched for miles as crews battled the flames and removed debris from the scene.

Virginia State Police continue to investigate the incident. No further details have been released at this time.