The autumnal equinox occurred at 5:04 a.m., when astronomers say the season changes from summer to fall. Also changing is our pattern of party sunny days for a rainy pattern, with storms that could bring as much as two to three inches of rain to the area.
The rain comes as communities are still reeling from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee which flooded out the Holly Acres Mobile Home Park in Woodbridge and caused a landslide behind two homes in Stafford’s Austin Ridge neighborhood.
Woodbridge, Va. — Following their victory at the Battle of Manassas, Confederates shifted their focus to the Potomac River and an eventual blockade of Union shipping traffic to Washington.
This week brought some sobering news from Afghanistan. The assassination of Burhanuddin Rabbani, a former President of Afghanistan and the country’s top peace negotiator with the Taliban, shone a light on the stark security challenges both the Afghan and U.S. governments face as we try to extricate ourselves from that conflict.
It’s hard for us to imagine a former president being assassinated, but that is exactly what happened here. The circumstances surrounding Mr. Rabbani’s death may never be fully revealed, but the story we know so far makes it clear that Afghanistan remains a dangerous place, especially for its dwindling cadre of leaders.
Nothing brings history to life quite like a passionate teacher, and the National Museum of the Marine Corps welcomed a new one to their staff. James Hunniford is the new full-time Teacher-in-Residence (TIR) at the museum.
All proceeds from parking lot rentals and concession sales will go to the United Way.
There’s still time for you to sign up and participate.
Woodbridge, Va. — On Saturday Oct. 15, they’ll be exercising to help stop child abuse.
The first-ever “All in Motion Day of Movement to Stop Child Abuse” runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Richard G. Phitzner Stadium in Woodbridge.
Right before I went to class, I saw my “baby” brother walking the halls with birthday balloons. He turned 16, which as we know is old enough to drive. I remember smiling thinking how happy he looked. I was in AP Government with Mr. Hoffman, one of the stellar history teachers at C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge. Our class had finished a little early and, being that school had just started, The Hoff was indulging us with some SNL political shorts.
I don’t know if they still do, but PWCS televisions used to default to a news station. Going from Will Ferrell to “New York is burning” was certainly emotional whiplash. I remember yelling at the television along with my classmates somehow thinking we could stop that second plane. Class change came and we walked like zombies to our next class. I remember the first (and only) time I saw a fellow student use the F-word with an administrator and not get punished. They were told to put their cell phone away – their father worked in the Pentagon.
Woodbridge, Va. — BMX riders will descend on Woodbridge this weekend for the Virginia State Championship Series Qualifier.
The action will take place behind Richard G. Pfitzner Stadium at the NOVA BMX Park Authority Track, where more than 140 riders are expected to race, said fellow and Prince William School Board member Lisa Bell.
Move over pastor, the comedian is coming to the pulpit.
“Of course God has a sense of humor” quipped Pastor Matt Meisenhelter, “just look at me.” Standing as tall and broad as any NFL linebacker, but with a face more like a teddy bear, Meisenhelter is the leader of the new Spirit and Life Church in Montclair, which currently meets at Forest Park High School. This Sunday, however, “Pastor Matt” will be stepping down and letting Comedian Ron McGehee take the mic. McGehee was a semi-finalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and has also appeared on Comedy Central and written for Jimmy Kimmel, but his humor on Sunday will have a decidedly Christian twist.
As we remember the thousands lost on 9/11, and the tough, terrible sacrifices made by U.S. service members in the years to follow, 230 years ago people in our area were making terrible sacrifices of their own.
In 1781 the American Revolution was in its sixth year. By this time in September, General George Washington and his French counterpart, General Rochambeau, had just left Mount Vernon for Yorktown, where they hoped to lay siege to British and Hessian forces encamped there.
