- Old Bridge Road Clean-Up
- Red Ribbon Week
- Davis Ford Fire Station #26 Open House
- Halloween Safety Tips
- Woodbridge Senior High School Romeo and Juliet Play & Homecoming Parade
- Prescription Take Back & Free Shred Event
- Davis Ford & Yates Ford Traffic Think Tank Articles
- November Election Day and Absentee Voting Information
- Street Smart Campaign
- Trees Virginia Conference
- VDOT Incident Management Open House
- Musical Salute - Veterans Day Concert
- Live Well - Community Connection Breakfast
- PWC Human Rights Award Nominations
- Human Services Listening Tour
- Driving Tips to Avoid Hitting Deer
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Thank you to all volunteers who came out to help clean-up Old Bridge Road!
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On Saturday, October 21st, our office partnered with Keep Prince William Beautiful to host the first-ever Old Bridge Road Clean-Up. While this event was originally scheduled for Columbus Day…….our rain date was a huge SUCCESS!! Over 85 volunteers collected dozens of bags of trash, a car fender, bicycle parts and other things harmful to our environment. THANK YOU to Michael Flood and all the volunteers who shared their Saturday morning cleaning up our community. And THANK YOU to Charlie & Sons, Chick-fil-a, Pizza Gourmet, BJs and Polaris Press for providing resources to Keep Prince William Beautiful. We hope to see you all, and more, out there next year!
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The Red Ribbon Campaign® is the oldest and
largest drug prevention program in the nation, reaching
millions of young people during Red Ribbon Week®,
October 23rd - October 31st each year.
WHAT IS RED RIBBON WEEK?
It is an ideal way for people and communities to unite and take a visible stand against drugs. Show your personal commitment to a drug-free lifestyle through the symbol of the Red Ribbon, October 23 - 31st.
WHY?
The Red Ribbon Campaign® was started when drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered DEA agent Kiki Camarena in 1985. This began the continuing tradition of displaying Red Ribbons as a symbol of intolerance towards the use of drugs. The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign® is to present a unified and visible commitment towards the creation of a DRUG - FREE AMERICA.
WHO?
National Family Partnership is the sponsor of the National Red Ribbon Week® Celebration. We are helping citizens across the country come together to keep children, families and communities safe, healthy and drug-free, through parent training, networking and sponsoring the National Red Ribbon Campaign®.
WHY SUPPORT THE NATIONAL THEME?
A theme unifies each year’s campaign and helps to broadcast one message, creating a tipping point to change behavior.
HOW?
Plan a Red Ribbon celebration. Order and display Red Ribbon materials with the National Red Ribbon Theme. Proceeds from the sale of Red Ribbon theme merchandise helps support prevention programs across America. Order for your family, students, staff, patients, employees and customers and encourage them to wear the red ribbon symbol during Red Ribbon Week®, October 23rd - 31st.
The proud Sponsors of the National Red Ribbon Campaign®
For more information visit us at
www.nfp.org and www.redribbon.org
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Halloween (Oct. 31, 2017) may be a fun holiday for kids but for parents trick-or-treat time can be a little tricky. Concerns about children's safety – whether they are out in the neighborhood, gathering candy at a mall or shopping center, or back home with bags of treats – can darken the day more quickly than a black cat.
To make Halloween a treat for all, follow these safety tips:
- Make sure kids wear light colors, or put reflective tape on their costumes.
- Trick-or-treaters should always be in groups so they are not a tempting target for real-life goblins. Parents, or a trusted adult, should accompany young children.
- Make sure kids know not to enter strange houses or strangers' cars. Children should stop only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on.
- Kids need to know not to eat their treats until they get home. One way to keep trick-or-treaters from digging in while they are still out is to feed them a meal or a snack beforehand.
- Check all treats at home in a well-lighted place.
If you need to contact the police, call the non-emergency number: 703-792-6500 (or, in an emergency, dial 911).
Please note: Prince William County does not designate an official date for trick-or-treating.
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The Woodbridge Senior High School Student Activities Leadership Council (SALC) invites you to celebrate WSHS's 54th annual Homecoming Parade. The parade will take place on Friday, October 27th, 2017, and will commence at 4:00 PM.
- Homecoming Parade starts at 4 pm at Deepford Dr. and William & Mary Circle.
- Tours of WSHS start in the front lobby at 5:30. All alumni and families welcome. Tours by Student Activities Leadership Council. (SALC)
- Homecoming game starts vs. CD Hylton HS at 7 pm.
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Prescription Drug Take Back Day
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On Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017 – from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – the Prince William County Police Department and the Manassas City Police Department will join with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to provide you with a safe and legal way to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications. Simply bring them to the collection sites at
Novant Health UVA Health System Prince William Medical Center, Sentara Lake Ridge, or Novant Health UVA Health System Haymarket Medical Center
.
This nationwide prescription drug "Take-Back" initiative seeks to prevent pill abuse and theft. Did you know? (
Source: DEA)
- Unused or expired prescription medications are a public-safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse.
- Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor's supervision.
- The majority of those abusing prescription drugs, including teens, get them from family and friends – and the home medicine cabinet.
- Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused, or illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.
- Take-back programs are the best way to dispose of old drugs. But if a program is not available:
- Take the meds out of their bottles;
- Mix them with something unappealing like used kitty litter or coffee grounds;
- Seal them in a bag or disposable container, and throw that away.
During this initiative, prescription and over-the-counter solid-dosage medications (i.e. tablets and capsules) will be accepted.
Intravenous solutions, injectables, and needles will not be accepted at most locations.
There are solutions for those who use these devices. If you are a Prince William County resident, you can take them to the Landfill for proper disposal. Put injectables in a homemade "sharps box" (a clean, empty detergent bottle works just fine), seal the top with duct tape and write SHARPS on it. When you get to the Landfill, tell the employee at the check-in what you have and you will be directed to the bright yellow box for drop-off Landfilll employees will bury it separately.
If you live in the cities of Manassas or Manassas Park, please call the Trash Line at 703-257-8252, or the Transfer Station at 703-331-0800, for more information.
Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine will also not be accepted during National Take-Back Day.
For more information on National Take-Back day, please call the Prince William County Police Crime Prevention Unit at 703-792-7270.
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Free Fall Community Paper Shredding Event
Saturday, October 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Two locations:
- Prince William County Landfill, 14811 Dumfries Road, Manassas, VA
- Balls Ford Road Compost Facility, 13000 Balls Ford Road, Manassas, VA
Residents may bring up to four boxes of confidential documents for secure shredding. No business or commercial shredding will be accepted.
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Davis Ford Road & Yates Ford Road Traffic Think Tank Conversation Continues...
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Thank you to everyone who came out this past Thursday for our Davis Ford Road/Yates Ford Road Congestion Think Tank. With over 70 people in attendance, many good ideas were shared and collected. Thank you to Uriah Kiser of “Potomac Local”, Prince William County Staff, VDOT, Elected Officials, Buckhall Volunteer Fire Department and the Fairfax County Director of Transportation for attending and providing expertise.
Over the next few weeks, we will be analyzing all of the ideas and looking for solutions to ease the congestion in that area. In the meantime, Potomac Local has continued the Yates Ford & Davis Ford Road discussion on
PotomacLocal.com
. Below are some of the recent articles that include questions collected at the think tank as well as responses from some of the elected officials and department representatives.
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*Information provided by the PWC Office of Elections
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Street Smart Education and Enforcement Campaign for Pedestrian Safety Runs from
Oct. 25—Nov. 29
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The Prince William County Police Department invites County residents to help observe pedestrian and bicyclist safety during the “Street Smart” education and enforcement campaign, observed Oct. 25—Nov. 29, to coincide with the holiday season from Halloween through Thanksgiving.
This campaign aims to reduce the number of pedestrian and bicycle crashes with motor vehicles. During the campaign, police officers will focus attention on vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle violations that contribute to these types of crashes:
- speeding,
- running red lights,
- running stop signs, and
- driving without headlights at night, or at any time when visibility is reduced.
Conditions that may reduce visibility include rain, fog or any other situation where drivers cannot clearly see people or vehicles that are 500 feet away, or whenever windshield wipers are in use. Special emphasis focuses on drivers who fail to yield the right of way to pedestrians.
The Campaign’s Goals
- To change motorist and pedestrian behavior, and reduce injuries and crashes
- To increase awareness of the consequences of pedestrian and bicycle crashes
- To recommend actions to reduce risks, such as:
- Using Crosswalks
- Obeying Traffic Signals
- Looking left-right-left before turning, changing lanes
- Slowing Down
- Stopping for Pedestrians
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Urban Forest for Your Health:
How Trees Can Save Your Life
Trees Virginia
NOVA Urban Forest Conference 2017
November 9, 2017
Algonkian Regional Park,
47001 Fairway Drive, Sterling, VA 20165-6480
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8:30 - 9:00 am Registration and Networking
9:00 -10:00 am Nature and Human Health: From Fact to Action
Kathy Wolf PhD,
University of Washington,
Many people who work in green industries know from personal experiences that nature contact is good for people. Yet, as landscape professionals work and communicate with decision makers, they encounter many who don’t share those values. And yet, nearly 40 years of research provides abundant scientific evidence of the relationships between nature contact and human health and wellness, especially in the city. Dr. Wolf will provide a review of the research, highlighting key findings about mental health, physical wellness, benefits for children, and social cohesion. More recently, various organizations have launched programs that provide more opportunities for people and communities to achieve nature-based health benefits. Examples that can translate to your own community will be discussed.
10:00 - 11:00 am Measuring Human Health and Safety Benefits of Urban Greening Programs
Michelle Kondo PhD, USDA FS
Urban land managers across the US are developing innovative programs to promote sustainability, natural resource stewardship, and economic development. A growing number of studies have found that such projects may also promote public health. Dr. Kondo will discuss her study of the impact of green stormwater infrastructure projects in Philadelphia on crime and public health indicators. She will also discuss findings from her studies on the impacts of urban greening programs, such as vacant lot greening and tree plantings, on human health and safety outcomes.
11:00 – 11:15 am Break
11:15 – 12:15 pm Trees and Green Space for Better Health Panel
John Henderson, Executive Director, Park Rx America
Discussion of the Park Rx program, and how health professionals have been prescribing going out into green space to improve your health
Dwight Fincher, Wilmot Sanz Architecture
Healthcare Facility Design,
H
ow medical facilities are utilizing concepts of “biophilia” and the integration of nature to improve patient and staff health.
Sharon Bradley, Bradley Site Design
School Redesign a unique approach to site design and programming using curriculum integration techniques.
12:15 – 1:30 Lunch and Discussions
1:30 – 2:30 pm City Parks, America’s New Infrastructure
Catherine Nagel, City Parks Alliance
With growing urban populations and aging infrastructure, local governments and their city planners are taking a fresh look at parks as a wise investment of municipal resources to address our greatest urban challenges—from stormwater management and flood prevention to reducing public health costs to economic revitalization and job growth.
2:30 – 3:15 pm Communicating the Message
Adam Rondeau USDA Forest Service
Discussion and pointers on how best to communicate the importance of urban green space and urban forest to other disciplines and elected officials.
3:15 – 3:30 pm Wrap up, Review of Issues Discussed
Kathy Wolf PhD, University of Washington
For more information please contact:
Trees Virginia – Becky Woodson
434-220-9024
CEUs have been requested from ISA, VNLA, SAF
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To kick off Federal Highway Administration’s National Traffic Incident Response Week, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is hosting its first-ever Incident Management Open House on Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northern Virginia District Office, located at 4975 Alliance Drive in Fairfax. Veterans Day weekend is also a wonderful time to recognize the many veterans, who after serving their country, continue a career of public service.
An outdoor touch-a-truck exhibit will feature a simulated crash scene that will allow the public to see an incident scene from the perspective of first responders who work in the roadway every day. Participating agencies include:
•
VDOT: special event truck, evacuation trailer, spill trailer, front-end loader, dump truck, Safety Service Patrol trucks, signal maintenance truck and a full-size overhead sign
An indoor expo will feature booths for VDOT incident management coordinators, public affairs, safety manager, signal operations, Safety Service Patrol, and Transportation Operations Center, as well as Dominion Energy, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department,
Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination (MATOC), and Transurban.
Traffic incident management is a coordinated team effort, made up of VDOT, local, state, federal, and private partners working around the clock to meet the overarching goal of quick incident clearance to keeping Virginia moving.
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PWC Human Rights Commission Accepting Nominations
The Prince William County Human Rights Commission is accepting nominations for its
Annual Human Rights Award. Individuals, nonprofit organizations or businesses, may be nominated for outstanding accomplishments in the area of human rights in Prince William County. This year's award recipients will be honored at the annual observance of Universal Human Rights Day to be held on
Saturday, January 13, 2018, at the McCoart Building, 1 County Complex Court, Prince William, VA 22192.
The mandate of the Human Rights Commission is to eliminate discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, age, or disability in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and credit.
The deadline for submitting nominations is
November 23, 2017. Nominations may be emailed to
pwhrc@pwcgov.org, mailed or delivered to the
Human Rights Commission, 15941 Donald Curtis Drive, Suite 125, Woodbridge, Virginia 22191. You can also fax your nomination to 703-792-6944.
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Autumn is here and – along with colorful leaves, crisp air, and shorter days – it means Virginia's white-tailed deer are on the move. Fall is the breeding season for deer. Consequently, they are more active now than at any other time of the year.
In addition to more deer activity, motorists will soon be commuting in the dark, increasing the likelihood of encountering a deer on the road. While less than two percent of vehicle fatalities and injuries involve deer collisions in Virginia, hitting a deer can cause considerable damage to both people and property.
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) recommends the following tips to drivers to avoid hitting a deer:
- When driving, particularly at night (from dusk to dawn), slow down and be attentive. If you see one deer, likely there will be others. If one deer crosses the road as you approach, others may follow.
- Deer habitually travel the same areas; therefore, the Virginia Department of Transportation has installed deer-crossing signs. Use caution when you see these signs.
- Drivers should apply brakes or stop, if necessary, to avoid hitting a deer; however, never swerve out of the lane to miss a deer. A collision with another vehicle, tree or other object is likely to be more serious than hitting a deer.
- Rely on your caution and your own senses, not deer whistles you can buy for your car, because these devices have not been shown to be effective.
- Any person involved in a collision with a deer or bear while driving a motor vehicle, should immediately report the accident to a Conservation Police Officer or other law enforcement officer in the county or city where the accident occurred, if the collision kills the animal.
- Drivers who collide with a deer or bear, thereby killing the animal, may keep it for their own use if they report the accident to a law enforcement officer where the accident occurred, and provided the officer views the animal and gives the person a possession certificate.
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