Monday, May 6, 2013
Here's your chance to ask questions about the city manager's proposed budget for next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
If You're Going ... What: Public hearing on the City of Manassas Park's FY 2014 budget, as proposed by the city manager Who: Manassas Park City Council, city officials and you When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 7 Where: Manassas Park City Hall, first floor in the city council chambers Questions? Call Manassas Park Clerk to Council Lana Conner at 703-335-8808 Listen, learn and sound off tonight at 7 p.m. during a public hearing on Manassas Park's $96 million proposed operating budget for Fiscal Year 2014, which begins on July 1. The budget was drafted by city manager James "Jim" Zumwalt, with the help of city staff. The total proposed budget is $96,752,927 and includes things like the schools operating fund, the debt service fund and the capital …
Sunday, May 5, 2013
The Republican Party in Virginia decided to have a primary in 2013, but later changed its mind.
Virginia’s Republican Party annual convention is set for May 17 and 18, and delegates from around the state will select nominees for Lt. Governor and Attorney General. GOP officials have gone back and forth in recent years on whether to host a convention or conduct an open primary. In 2011, GOP officials had decided to hold a primary in 2013, but a group of newly elected members of the Commonwealth's GOP central committee changed course in 2012 and switched to a closed convention. The switch to a convention saves local governments and the state money — primaries are paid for with state and local dollars, but convention costs come directly from the Virginia GOP’s funds. It was the announcement of plans for a 2013 convention that drove Lt. …
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Don't forget! Friday is the first day of the 2013 Smart Markets Inc. farmers' market at the Manassas Park City Hall parking lot.
The much anticipated return of the abundant variety found at the Smart Markets Inc. farmers' market is upon us. The 2013 debut of the evening farmers' market is Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Manassas Park City Hall parking lot which is bordered by Manassas Drive and Park Center Court. Look for these vendors: Absolute BBQ; Angelic Beef; Cakes by Shelby; Cavanna Pasta; Crazy Farm, Delicias del Sur; Fabbioli Cellars; Joie de Vivre Fine Foods; The Kettle Corn Guy; Queen Victoria’s Island Punch; Taste of Local Food Truck; Three Peas in a Pod Cupcakery; Tyson Farm and Orchards, Whim Pops; the Wicked Oak Farm—which is bringing pork, chicken and eggs—and lastly, Chef Bon’s Gluten Free Yum Truck. Contact Jean Janssen of Smart Markets, Inc. at …
Ms. Christina Ross hit it big-and she didn't even have to gamble.
Wednesday wasn't the average dreaded hump day for Osbourn Park High teacher Christina Ross. A day of teaching seniors suffering from spring fever was well rewarded when she discovered she'd won the Virginia Lottery Super Teacher Award which comes with a personal $2,000 check. Award co-sponsor Supply Room Inc. also gave her a $2,000 classroom credit for supplies. "Well, I'm going quit my second job," a smiling Ross said when asked what she was going to do with her award money. The gift came as a total surprise to the Advanced Placement government teacher. School administrators lured Ross and her class to the Osbourn Park library for the big reveal by making up a story about something being wrong with the roof over her classroom. School …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Local law enforcement officials have criticized the decision to cut funding. What do you think?
A recent decision by the Board of County Supervisors to cut funding for substance abuse treatment for inmates at the jail has gotten a lot of criticism from local law enforcement officials. The program, called the Drug Offender Rehabilitation Module, provides treatment for drug addicts and helps the inmates enter classes for their GED and employment. Both Prince William County Sheriff Glendall Hill and Commonwealth's Attorney Paul Ebert criticized the decision in the Washington Post recently. “It’s penny-wise and pound-foolish. That program is going to save the county a lot of money," Ebert told the Post. The Board is expected to use the money from the cuts to hire up to four new police officers. What do you think? Penny-wise and pound-…
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
James "Jim" Zumwalt plans to retire on June 30 after almost three years at the helm of city operations.
City Manager James "Jim" Zumwalt is leaving Manassas Park for greener pastures—retirement. "I've decided to join my wife (in retirement.) She's having entirely too much fun," Zumwalt mused on Tuesday. He and May Louise live in Manassas Park where his wife is an avid quilt maker and volunteer. He will officially leave the post on June 30, the end of the 2013 fiscal year, he said. After some 40 years in local government throughout the South, Zumwalt began work in Manassas Park in January 2011 after leaving a city manager role in Paducah, Kentucky. He replaced former Manassas Park city manager Mercury Payton, who is now the town manager in Vienna. Zumalt said the plan is for he and his wife to stay in the DC area where their children and …
Monday, April 29, 2013
More than 500 inactive voters in Manassas Park were purged from the system by the Virginia State Board of Elections.
Some 518 names were purged from the registered voter list in Manassas Park by state election officials, Patricia Brendel, Manassas Park Voter Registrar, said this week. Virginia State Board of Elections officials performed a statewide voter purge or cancellation of inactive registered voters earlier this month. The process happens every two years. People who haven't voted in the past two federal elections are removed as registered voters, Brendel said. Have you been purged in Manassas Park? View the cancellation list on the city's website or the PDF on the right. Before being purged, voters are put on an inactive list when the address information the state board of elections has doesn't match U.S. Postal Service records, she said. Election…
Top news of the week from our Patches around Virginia and DC.
Patch has 31 community sites in Virginia and D.C. Here are some of the top stories from around the region over the past week. 16. Mark Wahlberg Visits: Actor Mark Wahlberg visited T.C. Williams High School on Wednesday morning for an assembly presented by Get Schooled, a nonprofit that aims to engage high school students in an effort to improve graduation rates and empower more students to achieve in college. “I had to work really hard to get where I’m at,” Wahlberg said. “And I don’t mind working really hard to try and maintain it." 15. Runner Pledges 30 Races: Arlington resident Lauren Bailey is halfway through a personal challenge that has been daunting and exhilarating — running 30 races in one year, the year of her 30th birthday. …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Unwanted prescription drugs will be accepted Saturday by police, no questions asked.
Police are urging anyone with unwanted prescription drugs to turn in their medication on Saturday during the National Drug Take Back at the Manassas Park Police Department. The purpose of the take back is to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Prescription drug abuse in the U.S. is common and so are accidental poisonings and overdoses on unused drugs left in homes. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends. Anyone can come by the police department between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and drop off the drugs, no questions asked. Manassas Park's neighboring jurisdictions will also collect unused prescription drugs …
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's color spectrum-like chart was retired two years ago, but should it be brought back in light of the Boston Marathon tragedy?
The color-coded Terror Alert chart that was once a mainstay in American airports was retired two years ago, but the Boston Marathon bombings has some wondering if it should be brought back. An example of how the chart looked is to the right. The five level, five color chart was introduced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2002, in light of the Sept. 11 attacks. The terror alert system, which no one seemed to be paying attention to anyway, according to CNN, was retired in April of 2011. The chart still appears on the Manassas Park Police Department website, which has the terror alert level listed at "elevated" or "yellow." It was replaced with the National Terror Advisory System which posts alerts on terror activities on the …
Shawn
6:45 am on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Our opinion does not matter. MP will tax us to death!!!! more ›