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Bull Run Now Western Prince William County's Favorite Newspaper--Connecting our community with local information,

Operating as usual

09/27/2022

There are 2 opportunities this week for citizens to give their input for PWC's Comp Plan:
Commissioner, Tom Gordy, and Prince William County School Board Members, Adele Jackson and Jennifer Wall will hold a Listening Meeting where there will be no presentation.

Event: Community Listening Meeting
When: Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Time: Doors open at 6:00pm; Meeting is 6:30 - 8:30pm
Where: Brentsville District High School Auditorium, 12109 Aden Road, Nokesville


The second is the Planning Commission Meeting, where the Planning Commission will be voting on updates to amend or replace each chapter of the PWC 2040 Comp Plan.

When: Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Time: 7pm
Where: Board Chamber, McCoart Building, 1 County Complex Ct., Woodbridge
In-Person Sign-Up: Sign Up in the Atrium Before Meeting Begins

04/28/2022

Environmental Community Advocates are hosting a Town Hall this evening
What: Citizens Town Hall
When: Thursday, April 28, at 6:30PM
Where: Battlefield High School, 15000 Graduation Drive, Haymarket, VA 20169

CHARLOTTESVILLE, March 22, 2022 – As UVA Health’s Blue Ridge Poison Center commemorates National Poison Prevention Week,...
03/28/2022
Blue Ridge Poison Center - University of Virginia School of Medicine

CHARLOTTESVILLE, March 22, 2022 – As UVA Health’s Blue Ridge Poison Center commemorates National Poison Prevention Week, the center’s experts are highlighting which sources of poisoning are leading to more calls to the poison center in recent years.


They include:
Cannabis edibles. Young children are attracted to these edibles because they look just like familiar treats. Many adults report problems with cannabis edibles, too. Products can be potent and dosing is tricky. These are unregulated products that may be contaminated with harmful substances not depicted on the labels.
Liquid ni****ne. This is the liquid inside an e-cigarette or va**ng device, and is also called “vape juice” or “e-liquid.” The product is dangerous to swallow and can even be absorbed if spilled on the skin. As little as one teaspoon could be harmful.
Cleaning products. Read labels carefully – some products are safe to use on household surfaces but can cause injury if they contact the skin. Drinking cleaning products is dangerous and does not prevent infection from germs such as COVID-19. Mixing cleaning products together could create a toxic gas.
Counterfeit medications (“fake pills”). Counterfeit pills are made by drug traffickers and sold illegally. Many are found to contain dangerous substances such as rat poison or fentanyl. Only purchase medications from a licensed pharmacy or healthcare provider and never take someone else’s prescription medicine.
Other Common Causes of Poisonings
Young children can be harmed by numerous household items, such as cleaning products, medicines, herbals and pesticides. These items should always be kept up and away out of the sight and reach of children. House guests, such as grandparents, should store their medicines in a safe place. Child-resistant containers should be used and the safety caps tightly closed every time.


Teens and adults can be poisoned, too. Common teen and adult poisonings include errors in taking medicines, alcohol overdoses, complications arising from substance use/misuse, and the inappropriate handling of potentially harmful chemicals.


Keep the toll free number to the Blue Ridge Poison Center near every phone, and store the number in your smartphone: 800.222.1222. If you suspect someone may have swallowed, touched, or breathed something harmful, or overdosed on any substance, experts at the center will tell you exactly what to do. Open 24 hours a day, every single day. This service is free and confidential.

For more information about National Poisoning Prevention Week, visit www.brpc.virginia.edu to access a toolkit with links to handouts, videos and shareable social media posts.

Blue Ridge Poison Center experts are available by phone for immediate, confidential, and FREE treatment advice 24 hours a day. Phone:1-800-222-1222

03/26/2022

The Prince William Committee of 100 is pleased to present:

A Discussion on Data Centers in Prince William County.
Where are they going? Where have they been approved? Should the current "Data Center Opportunity Zone Overlay District" be expanded?

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 7 - 8:30 PM.
Data Centers in Prince William County—
We will be talking about the "Data Center Opportunity Zone Overlay District" for the entire county as it is being reviewed by the PWC Planning Department.

PWC Data Center Opportunity Zone Overlay District Map

The Nokesville-Brisrow Ruritan Club is back with their Brunswick Stew sale!!They are taking pre-orders until Oct. 31 to ...
10/26/2021

The Nokesville-Brisrow Ruritan Club is back with their Brunswick Stew sale!!
They are taking pre-orders until Oct. 31 to ensure that they cook enough for pick-up on Sunday, November 7 in the BDHS parking lot.
The price is the same as the last few years: $9 a quart and $50 for 6 quarts. Please make check or money order payable to Nokesville-Bristow Ruritan Club and mail to NBR Club, PO Box 431, Nokesville VA 20182 by October 31. Please include your email and phone number with your payment in the event you are unable to pick up your order.
You may also contact [email protected] to be added to the list before sending payment or if you have questions.

As this has been a tough couple of years for our community service work, the Nokeavolle Bristow Ruritans are glad to get back to work. The money raised from the stew primarily funds the scholarships awarded to local high school students. Thank you for your support of the Nokesville-Bristow Ruritans!

07/20/2021

Grand opening of Warrior Challenge Course at Locust Shade Park in PWC

This ninja warrior-style outdoor obstacle course is located 1.5 miles from Marine Corp Base Quantico. Seth Hendler-Voss, Director of Prince William County Parks, Recreation & Tourism, said "the project removed existing barriers to accessibility at the park and complements MCBQ’s portfolio of high-quality recreation resources with a collection of unique fitness amenities that are presently not offered for Marine families.”FROM from Prince William County Government
Prince William County Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism will host a Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting ceremony for the new Warrior Challenge Course, at Locust Shade Park, 4701 Locust Shade Drive, Triangle, VA., 22172, on Wednesday, July 21, at 2 pm.

This ninja warrior-style outdoor obstacle course is located 1.5 miles from Marine Corp Base Quantico. “The Warrior Challenge Course and related park improvements provides an opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of the Marine Corps families who frequent Locust Shade Park,” said Seth Hendler-Voss, Director of Prince William County Parks, Recreation & Tourism, “ the project removed existing barriers to accessibility at the park and complements MCBQ’s portfolio of high-quality recreation resources with a collection of unique fitness amenities that are presently not offered for Marine families.”

The project was made possible through a grant from the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP), in partnership with The Honorable Andrea O. Bailey, Prince William County Board of Supervisors - Potomac District, the Prince William County Board of Supervisors and the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, according to a county news release.

According to Amir Wenrich, public information officer for the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, funding of $250,000 came from proffer funds earmarked for Parks and Recreation and $250,000 came from a Department of Defense grant that the county applied for. The U.S. Department of Defense has a grant program to help communities around bases, Wenrich said. No funding for the obstacle course came from a bond referendum.

The Warrior Challenge Course, along with its set of accessibility improvements to the park, received enthusiastic endorsement from Colonel W.C. Bentley III (USMC,Ret.), former Commander, Marine Corps Base – Quantico.

The Warrior Challenge Course replaced three of the six existing tennis courts at Locust Shade Park. Play equipment for children ages 2-5 has been incorporated into the Warrior Challenge Course plan to allow parents to co-recreate with their children. There is accessible parking as well as a series of handicap ramps to connect the new Warrior Challenge Course to the existing tennis courts, pavilion, and playground.

COVID-19 COMMUNITY VACCINATION CENTER IN PWHD IS RUNNING OUT OF TIME(Manassas, VA) – This coming Saturday, June 26, is t...
06/25/2021
Search COVID Vaccination Clinics

COVID-19 COMMUNITY VACCINATION CENTER IN PWHD IS RUNNING OUT OF TIME

(Manassas, VA) – This coming Saturday, June 26, is the final day to get a COVID-19 vaccine at the Community Vaccination Center (CVC).

You can still book appointments, and walk-ins are welcome. The Community Vaccination Center (CVC)offers both Pfizer (12 and older) and Johnson and Johnson (18 and older) vaccines.

CVC Hours: Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Address: 14041 Worth Ave., Woodbridge, VA 22192 (former Gander Mountain store)
Schedule an appointment: https://vase.vdh.virginia.gov/vdhapps/f?p=vasereg:vaccinationappointments (After getting to the VASE website, enter “22192” for the zip code.)
This Week’s Schedule for PWHD Manassas Mall Vaccine Clinics:

MODERNA VACCINE CLINICS

Tuesday, June 22 (9 a.m. -4 p.m.)

Wednesday, June 23 (9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)

Thursday, June 24 (1 p.m. - 7 p.m.)

PFIZER VACCINE CLINICS

Friday, June 25 (1 p.m. - 4 p.m.)

Saturday, June 26 (1 p.m. - 4 p.m.)

Schedule an appointment:
https://vase.vdh.virginia.gov/vdhapps/f?p=vasereg:vaccinationappointments (on the VASE website, enter “20109” for the zip code.)

When scheduling an appointment, check to see which COVID-19 vaccine the clinic is offering that day.
Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments are highly recommended
Address: 8300 Sudley Road, Manassas, VA 20109.

Prince William County Vaccine Hesitancy VideosPRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA – View the public service messages Prince Willia...
06/25/2021
Get the Facts (60 second version).mp4

Prince William County Vaccine Hesitancy Videos

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA – View the public service messages Prince William County produced to address concerns about vaccine hesitancy:

Get the Facts (60 seconds) – https://vimeo.com/558533087/ad90cc6eef
Get the Vaccine (2 minutes) – https://vimeo.com/558533382/540bc123fe
Why I Got the Vaccine (2 minutes) – https://vimeo.com/558533982/b54356bc57

This is "Get the Facts (60 second version).mp4" by Prince William County on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

Spotted Lanternfly Identified as Potentially Serious Threat to Trees in Prince William County The first presence of the ...
06/24/2021

Spotted Lanternfly Identified as Potentially Serious Threat to Trees in Prince William County

The first presence of the Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive insect that can cause the decline or death of more than 100 plant species, was confirmed in Prince William County in March of this year.

The Prince William County Mosquito and Forest Pest Management Branch identified the Spotted Lanternfly as a potential, serious threat to the County’s trees and forests.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors recently amended the Gypsy Moth and Mosquito Control Service District Ordinance to authorize surveillance and outreach activities for Spotted Lanternfly and other pests identified by the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Mosquito and Forest Pest Management Branch currently surveys, educates and treats for mosquitoes, Gypsy Moth and Fall Cankerworm. The Branch also monitors and provides education for Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Longhorned Beetle, Thousand Cankers Disease and Sudden Oak Death.

Public outreach, coupled with early detection monitoring could slow the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly, help residents with treatment options and target eradication efforts.

The National Park Service (NPS) today reopened Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, following a complete rehabil...
06/08/2021
Recreation.gov - Camping, Cabins, RVs, Permits, Passes & More

The National Park Service (NPS) today reopened Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, following a complete rehabilitation of the site and transformation of the visitor experience. New exhibits and research allow the NPS to interpret the history of the Custis and Lee families alongside that of the more than 100 enslaved people who labored on the plantation. Together, their stories reveal a more complete picture of life at Arlington House and of the people and events that changed our nation.

The rehabilitation, which began in 2018, was made possible through a $12.35 million donation by philanthropist David M. Rubenstein to the National Park Foundation.

“Our goal is to create a place of dialogue and learning. We invite visitors to be curious, to connect with the stories, and to be open to hard questions. Park rangers and volunteers will share inclusive stories about the many people and events connected to Arlington House,” Charles Cuvelier, George Washington Memorial Parkway superintendent, said. “David Rubenstein’s generous donation improved every aspect of the site, and the National Park Service is grateful for his continued support.”

A visit today reveals a layered history that has often been untold—the experience of the enslaved people of Arlington House. This historic place tells America’s story from its founding through the Civil War, including the impacts of slavery on the lives of these families, and the site’s conversion to a national cemetery. Today, it stands as a place of dialogue and reflection to create a deeper understanding of the American experience. Through this project, the NPS connected with descendants of the Lee, Syphax, Parks, Gray, Branham and Burke families. Several descendants helped the NPS tell a more complete history of Arlington House.

“The National Park Service has done a spectacular job refurbishing Arlington House and telling the stories of the enslaved people who built the plantation house and worked there,” David M. Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group, said. “I hope many people get to visit and believe that Arlington House’s rich and complicated history will add to the necessary and important discussion in our country about racial justice.”

NPS curators worked to conserve or restore more than 1,000 historic objects and acquired 1,300 antiques or reproductions, including several artifacts associated with African American history which will be displayed for the first time.

The project stabilized the foundation of Arlington House, restored exterior finishes and hardware, recoated decorative masonry faux-marble finishes, completed interior painting, repaired plaster, rehabilitated windows and doors, and reset the brick portico floor. The work also included new or improved electrical, lighting, security, climate management and fire suppression systems. The historic grounds and kitchen gardens were realigned to allow for accessibility.

“The reopening of Arlington House provides a place for hard and important conversations that illuminate more perspectives, including the experiences of enslaved people and their descendants,” Will Shafroth, National Park Foundation President and CEO, said. “David Rubenstein’s generous gift to the National Park Foundation helped restore the plantation house and enslaved people’s living quarters and created new educational exhibits, inspiring people to reflect on the realities of our past, consider how it informs where we are today, and work together to create a more just and equitable future.”

Before the rehabilitation, 650,000 people visited Arlington House each year, making it the most visited historic house museum in the national park system. Arlington National Cemetery was built around Arlington House on the grounds of the historic 1,100-acre Arlington plantation.

How to visit: Arlington House is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To enter the plantation house, visitors need to obtain a timed-ticket through recreation.gov. No tickets are required to visit the museum, north and south slave quarters, grounds and gardens.

We're here to help you dream up your next trip, figure out the details, and reserve experiences at over 3,600 facilities and 103,000 individual sites across the country.

THE HYLTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ANNOUNCED 2021-2022 IN-VENUE PROGRAMMING AS PART OF HYLTON PRESENTS, HYLTON CENTER EXT...
06/02/2021
Friends of the Hylton Center

THE HYLTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
ANNOUNCED 2021-2022 IN-VENUE PROGRAMMING AS PART OF
HYLTON PRESENTS, HYLTON CENTER EXTRA!, HYLTON FAMILY SERIES,
AND MATINEE IDYLLS, FEATURING:

LESLIE ODOM, JR.; THE WAR AND TREATY; THE POLISH WIENIAWSKI PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA; BALLET HISPÁNICO; JANE LYNCH AND KATE FLANNERY; L.A. THEATRE WORKS; VELOCITY IRISH DANCE; JEFFREY SIEGEL; AND MORE!

PLUS FALL HYLTON ON THE HILL OUTDOOR PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED

(MANASSAS, VA)— The Hylton Performing Arts Center announced a full lineup of indoor and outdoor programming for the 2021-2022 season during a pre-recorded video announcement for subscribers and Friends of the Hylton Center Thursday, May 27 at 7 p.m. Executive Director of the Hylton Center Rick Davis and Director of Programming Adrienne Bryant Godwin confirmed plans for in-venue performances across genres as part of Hylton Presents, Hylton Family Series, and Matinee Idylls. Additionally, Hylton on the Hill will return with outdoor performances for fall 2021, and Tony Award-winning, multifaceted performer Leslie Odom, Jr. will make his debut on the Merchant Hall stage in a much-anticipated Hylton Center EXTRA! performance on Saturday, April 30 at 8 p.m.

“We are simply ecstatic to be planning a real return to live performance this season, while continuing to explore the digital realm for its special capabilities,” shared Davis. “The 2021-2022 season is our most inclusive and artistically interesting one yet, offering a wide range of distinguished performances. It will be such a pleasure to see old friends and make many new ones at the Hylton Center this coming year.”

Highlights of the Hylton Presents programming include Americana Music Awards 2019 Emerging Act of the year The War and Treaty in a concert celebrating Veterans and the Arts; two comic mavens—Jane Lynch (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s Sophie Lennon) and Kate Flannery (The Office’s Meredith)—in A Swingin’ Little Christmas; The Polish Wieniawski Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring pianist Paweł Wakarecy playing a Chopin masterpiece; L.A. Theatre Works’s radio-style production of Lucy Loves Desi: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom; high-octane hoofing with Velocity Irish Dance, the virtuosic music and commentary of pianist Jeffrey Siegel; and the return of the beloved American Festival Pops Orchestra.

The Hylton Family Series welcomes our youngest audience members back for fun and interactive shows that capture the imagination and encourage a love of the arts. The Hylton Center’s favorite animal loving clown, Gregory Popovich, will return with his menagerie of rescue animals in Popovich Comedy Pet Theater. Additionally, The Okee Dokee Brothers will introduce Bluegrass and American roots music to a new generation, and Paddington Bear will make his debut on our stage in Paddington Gets in a Jam.

Matinee Idylls, now in its seventh season, combines great food with great performances for an afternoon medley that builds community and gives audiences an intimate connection with the artists. The Matinee Idylls menu for 2021-2022 includes an afternoon of jazz standards with Lena Seikaly Trio, Virginia Opera in A Taste of Opera, and a unique banjo-piano pairing with John Bullard featuring George Mason University alumnus Markus Compton.

In addition to an exciting lineup of leading professional artists in music, dance, and theater, Bryant Godwin announced the inclusion of Ballet Hispánico as an Artist-in-Residence. Ballet Hispánico, a Latinx dance organization renowned for bringing communities together to celebrate and explore Latinx cultures through innovative dance, will perform a retrospective of their five decades as a company in Noche de Oro: A Celebration of 50 Years. As an Artist-in-Residence, Ballet Hispánico will also work with the community through classes and workshops designed to broaden the reach and deepen the impact of the Center’s artistic programming.

Outdoor concerts at Hylton on the Hill will return for the fall on the natural grassy rise just behind the Hylton Center. Patrons will enjoy The U.S. Army Band Downrange, Bumper Jacksons, The Grascals, and Carly Harvey’s Kiss & Ride.

Tickets for Bumper Jacksons, The Grascals, and Carly Harvey’s Kiss & Ride are on sale to Friends of the Hylton Center as of May 28 at 10 a.m. Tickets for the general public to all fall 2021 Hylton on the Hill events including the free The U.S. Army Band Downrange concert will available June 4.

Tickets for many other fall 2021 events will go on sale for Friends of the Hylton Center on Tuesday, August 3 and to the general public on Tuesday, August 10. For information about becoming a Friend of the Hylton Center, visit https://hyltoncenter.org/give/friends-hylton-center.

Select in-person performances and additional events will be digitally livestreamed through Hylton at Home. Details regarding digital performances will be announced at a later date.

Patrons attending in-person programming will need to comply with current health and safety practices, following guidance from George Mason University, the Virginia Department of Health, and the CDC. Current university protocols include completing the Mason COVID Health✓™ survey before coming to the Hylton Center and wearing a face covering while attending events. Audience members will be seated with their party at a distance from other attendees that is deemed safe according to current Mason and CDC guidelines at the time. For more information on Mason’s safety precautions and details about what to expect when attending in-venue events at the Hylton Performing Arts Center, visit: https://hyltoncenter.org/plan-your-visit/indoor-performances-2021.

For the most up-to-date programming information, visit: HyltonCenter.org.

Sub Navigation Why Give? Ways to Give Capital and Endowment Campaign Friends of the Hylton Center Corporate, Foundation, Governmental Sponsors Anniversary Gala Hylton Center Ornament Take a Giant Step View Friends Brochure Join the Friends of the Hylton Center Exclusive Benefits, Uncommon Experience...

Va. Dept. of Forestry unveils a new web site with more infoThe Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) has launched a new...
05/30/2021
Welcome to the Virginia Department of Forestry

Va. Dept. of Forestry unveils a new web site with more info
The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) has launched a new agency website, which includes new and updated content as a resource about forestry in Virginia for landowners, land managers, and forest industry professionals.
The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) has launched a new agency website, which includes new and updated content as a resource about forestry in Virginia for landowners, land managers, and forest industry professionals. The new website can be viewed at https://dof.virginia.gov

There are several new features designed to make it easier for Virginians to locate professionals to assist them with forest management and tree care. The “Find a Forester” tool helps users find the VDOF forestry staff that serve their county. Landowners can use the service provider directories to locate professionals who operate in their region.

The Virginia Department of Forestry monitors the health, composition, and inventory of Virginia's public and private forests to inform land management practices. Field staff assist landowners through technical assistance and management planning to support conservation and sustainable forestry practi...

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS), in collaboration with the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) and ...
05/26/2021
Virginia Women Veterans Summit | RegForm.com

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS), in collaboration with the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) and our other partners, is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2021 Virginia Women Veterans Virtual Summit to be presented Wednesday and Thursday, June 23 and 24.

Complete details are included in the attached news release. Also attached is a graphic about the Summit for media use.

There are over 108,000 women veterans in Virginia. In 2020, there were over 1,200 online viewers and more than 800 participants in this unique annual event. Pre-registration is required and online at https://host.regform.com/virginiawomenveteranssummit/.

June 17-19, 2020 Virginia Women Veterans Summit new format. same great event. General Attendee Registration Day(s) : Hour(s) : Minute(s) : Second(s) The Virginia Women Veterans Summit is now VIRTUAL! Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and Governor Northam’s State of Emergency Declaration and sub...

Celebrate your 2021 graduate in the June 4 and 18 editions of the BRO. Deadlines are May 26 and June 8.
05/24/2021

Celebrate your 2021 graduate in the June 4 and 18 editions of the BRO.
Deadlines are May 26 and June 8.


Amy and Mark Wolfe: Investing time in their community the arts and their familyBy TERRI L. ERWINObserver staffAmy and Ma...
02/17/2021

Amy and Mark Wolfe: Investing time in their community the arts and their family

By TERRI L. ERWIN
Observer staff

Amy and Mark Wolfe can be seen out and about on weekends frequenting restaurants and different establishments around town and many know that Amy is the artistic director of Manassas Ballet Theatre and that Mark serves on the Manassas City Council, but do not know their history leading up to the couple leading the way for arts in Prince William County.

The couple have been married almost 40 years. They will celebrate their ruby anniversary in Sept. 2021.

Mark is originally from the Midwest while Amy is from New York. The two met at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas where Amy was pursuing her Master's Degree in Dance and Mark was pursing a degree in law.

Mark recalls that they were both part of the same friend group when he called Amy to ask for another woman's number so that he could call her and ask her out. Amy told he that she wouldn't give it to him because she wanted to date him herself.

Amy explained that she was engaged to someone else at the time Mark called her and they did not immediately start dating. Mark was Christian and Amy is Jewish and she only wanted to date men who were Jewish. The couple did not have their first date for a year after that phone call.

Amy says that she was dancing her first showing for her degree and told him that she would go out with him after that, but Mark was persistent and kept asking.

Their first date was at a wine bar on Greeville Ave. in Dallas, Texas.

They dated for a year and three days before they were married in Buffalo, NY in 1981. After she graduated, Amy says she went home and danced at an amusement park while planning the wedding and Mark got a job. The couple eventually lived in Dallas. Amy taught ballet and danced while Mark worked for a tech company and then Hertz.

In 1986 Mark got transferred to Midland, TX and Amy started dancing with Midland Ballet. The couple's two children were born in Texase. Colin was bork in Midland in 1986 and Cece was born in Dallas in 1990. They moved to Virginia when CeCe was only two weeks onld and Colin was four.

Amy says that before they moved she interviewed with Leslie Gearhadt and began teaching dance with her at the Manassas School of Dance upon their arrival in Virginia.

The two have grown together as their desires for the community they live in and their passions are very similar. Mark says he follows along with Amy as she pours herself into her "labor of love" that is Manassas Ballet Theatre. Mark works with MBT as the executive director working with advertising, planning, and budget.

They agree that their success as a couple and a family was being organized. Their children played baseball, swam and danced at the studio. Amy says that there wasn't a moment that wasn't planned. She admits that as Colin got older, he danced for her, but quit when he joined the Marines. CeCe dance and Amy says she "love it," but did not follow in her mother's footsteps.

They say that the family made a point to have dinner every evening. Even with Amy's late night rehearsal schedule, sometimes dinner would be at 10 p.m. The children would have been bathed by Mark, but they always sat down together. The agreed that 10 p.m would be the latest. If she wasn't home by that time, the kids would go to bed and Mark would wait for her to have dinner with her.

Amy says that she told Mark two things when they started dating. First, she was a dancer and second that she was Jewish and she wasn't planning to change. Therefore their wedding ceremony was Jewish and they raised their children Jewish.

She says that at the height of Nutcracker season, their person celebrations were also in full swing. They celebrated both children's birthdays beginning on Nov. 19 with Colin, Thanksgiving, Hannakay, and Christmas. Birthdays were at the studio with Colins in one studio and Ceces in the other.

They made an effort to establish time for just the two of them even while raising their children. They would go on two date nights a week. Their midweek date was typically going to Okra's on Thursday and listening to Chris Rall live.

Favorite date 2 a week doing for decades-when children were older-midweek go for a Okra's first opened-live music on Thursday Chris Rawl...heart of old town man.

The couple say their family was close and it wasn't often they left their children to the care of others. CeCe now lives near Baltimore and they see her often. She plans to get married after restrictions are lifted due to the pandemic. Colin passed in 2006 when he lost his life to road side bomb in Iraq. They speak with love and passion for their son and his sacrifice.

The couple made a conscious decision to stay and work in this Prince William community. In fact, Mark was offered a position in London, which he referred to as a "dream job," to continue to live here.

Why did he give it up? He said he had faith in Amy. She had already purchased the studio and she couldn't replicate the effort and move it to a different country.
Amy says the couple often travels to Europe and visits small cities that all have their own symphonies, ballets, opera house and open cafes. Why shouldn't Prince William County have the same?
The invested in their community and have seen so much progress. Walking through Manassas, one can see their vision. Open air restaurants, live music, the Hylton Performing Arts Center is just miles away and Manassas and Prince William County has become a center for arts. Their investment in community means that date nights are kept local so that they can support the community they love. They are often out patronizing local restaurants.

They are not finished quite yet. Amy would like for the ballet to have its own building with bigger office space and larger dressing rooms. She also plans to grow the budget, employ a few more dancers (they now have 17 full-time dancers) and support staff and grow MBT into a a regional company.

Mark also has ideas for helping the city grow as he serves in local politics.

Decades ago they embodied the modern man and woman who work equally helping each other raise a family and allowing each room to follow their passion.

They say they really enjoy each other's company which is the secret their longevity together. Their other plans? Amy says that she is old-fashioned; she wants grandchildren. No pressure, Cece.

Copyrighted 2021 Bull Run Observer / Randall Publishing Corporation All rights reserved

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I enjoy reading the Bull Run Observer and a recent (8-7-20) article on "New Haymarket Council...Land Use Plan." I'm a geo-referenced reader so I want to know right away and I missed seeing any location for the Special Use Permit being described. Why does the Observer have such an aversion to location? I've noticed that prominently missing for the 17 years I've been reading BRO. Just a simple map, diagram or sketch or a statement like "It's on ### street, across from yyy would be very helpful.
Kevin Duane Smith was last seen on January 21, 2020 in the Centerville/Manassas Virginia area in a vehicle with four other people who said he left them on foot, however he is from Front Royal Virginia. Kevin was last seen wearing jeans and a black hoodie. If you see Kevin or have any information on his whereabouts please contact the Front Royal Police Department at 540-635-2111



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Have you seen this article in the Bull Run Observer? So excited! Can't wait to get back into the public eye and raising funds for charity. Imagine Bull Run Now
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