Dear Neighbors,

We hope you had a wonderful Independence Day, even if the heat kept you inside more than planned. Temperatures pushed past 100 this year, forcing the Dale City parade to shorten its route and keeping turnout lighter across the county.

The Prince William Digital Gateway is dead. Once billed as the largest data center project in the world, the massive development planned for the edge of Manassas National Battlefield Park met its end this week when QTS withdrew its final appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court — closing out a two-and-a-half-year fight led by Gainesville residents and the American Battlefield Trust. It's a genuine David-and-Goliath story, and we've got the details.

A 130-year-old Manassas church is weighing a multimillion-dollar offer to sell its Nokesville Road property, with hopes of relocating to the land where the congregation began in 1895. County supervisors also delayed a decision on the Vint Hill substation until September, while a Swedish firm announced a new headquarters and 32 jobs coming to Innovation Park.

On a lighter note: congratulations to Battlefield High School's baseball team, state champions for the first time in program history. And if you're in Occoquan, stop by Drew's — a new men's boutique that just opened on Mill Street.

Marie & Dom

The Woodbridge Gazette

After a brutal, triple-digit holiday weekend, the week ahead brings a welcome break — cooler highs in the mid-80s to low 90s, but with a real chance of storms nearly every day. Keep an umbrella handy.

⛈️ Monday, July 6 — Hi 86°F — Storms likely, 85% chance

⛈️ Tuesday, July 7 — Hi 84°F — Storms likely, 85% chance

🌦️ Wednesday, July 8 — Hi 85°F — Storms possible, 45% chance

🌦️ Thursday, July 9 — Hi 90°F — Storms possible, 40% chance

🌦️ Friday, July 10 — Hi 92°F — Storms possible, 45% chance

⛈️ Saturday, July 11 — Hi 86°F — Storms possible, 55% chance

The Prince William Digital Gateway — a data center complex that could have brought up to 37 data centers to the edge of Manassas National Battlefield Park — is officially dead. Rural Gainesville residents who had been fighting the project since weeks after its 2023 approval received word Thursday afternoon that developer QTS had withdrawn its appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court, the project's only remaining lifeline.

QTS was one of two data center companies behind the roughly 1,760-acre project along Pageland Lane, once billed as the largest data center development in the world. Prince William County and the other developer, Compass, had already dropped their own appeals earlier this year after the Virginia Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling against the project.

“Even though there will be a Fourth of July and 250th, this will be an even bigger celebration,” plaintiff Liam Burke said Thursday. “We will sleep better tonight.” Chap Petersen, a former state senator representing the American Battlefield Trust, called the outcome “a miracle” — “we stood up to some of the largest companies in the world.”

👉 Read the full story: Digital Gateway Data Center Project Dead After QTS Drops Appeal

⛪ Historic Manassas Church Weighs Data Center Buyout

A 130-year-old Manassas congregation is weighing a multimillion-dollar offer from data center developer Black Chamber for its Nokesville Road property — land now boxed in by Micron and a growing data center cluster. “We aren't for sale,” Rev. Mandy North told the Manassas City Council. But if the church does sell, it hopes to return to five acres near its original 1895 site at Cannon Branch — though the city has said it's looking for a commercial buyer for that land instead. (Sourced from Prince William Times and Fauquier Times reporting.)

💰 Virginia's $207 Billion Budget Is Final

The 2026–2028 Virginia budget is signed, and it touches nearly everything: teacher raises, a new data center tax, and a path toward a $15 minimum wage. We broke down what it means for Prince William County residents specifically. Read the full story on the website.

⚡ Supervisors Delay Vote on Controversial Vint Hill Substation Needed to Power Data Centers

Prince William County supervisors voted 5-2 on Tuesday, June 23, to delay a decision on Dominion Energy's proposed electrical substation along Vint Hill Road near Nokesville, pushing the vote to September 22 after residents packed the meeting to oppose the project. Dominion says the substation is necessary to keep up with surging electricity demand from data centers in western Prince William County — without it, the area could face brownouts as new projects come online. The plan calls for “gas-insulated” equipment using sulfur hexafluoride, or SF6, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide, housed in two 30-foot-tall buildings near a stretch of road where more than 2,000 new homes have recently been approved.

Supervisors made clear they weren't satisfied with Dominion's answers — the utility couldn't adequately address questions about SF6 or explain why alternative sites weren't considered, and no technical experts attended. “I don't feel like we've gotten the answers that we need,” said Supervisor Tom Gordy, R-Brentsville, whose district includes the site. “I'm walking away with more questions, and that's why I need to defer.” Supervisors George Stewart, D-Gainesville, and Jeannie LeCroix, R-Woodbridge, cast the two dissenting votes — not because they favored approval, but because they felt the board had enough to deny the project outright. “You gotta come correct,” Stewart told Dominion representatives. “You're not prepared today.” The board takes up the special-use permit again September 22.

🇸🇪 Swedish Firm Sandberg Development Lands $1.6M County Grant for New Innovation Park Headquarters

A Swedish investment and private equity firm is planting its new U.S. headquarters in Prince William County, backed by a $1.6 million grant from the county's Economic Development Opportunity Fund. Sandberg Development Inc., which holds investments in water technology, defense, and life sciences, will build its new headquarters at 9349 Hornbaker Road in Manassas, inside the county's Innovation Park, and is also purchasing 11 acres of county-owned land for $14.3 million. The Board of County Supervisors approved both the land sale and the grant on June 23.

“Supporting Sandberg Development's expansion with an EDOF grant is one way Prince William County can showcase our business-friendly climate and our growing opportunity landscape on a global scale,” Board of Supervisors Chair Deshundra Jefferson said. The grant requires Sandberg to build two buildings over the next four years and create 32 new full-time jobs averaging $118,000. Sandberg is a full or partial owner of several companies, including Aimpoint — the first commercial retailer of the red-dot sight scope used on firearms — which will consolidate its operations at the new Manassas headquarters. Sandberg's three existing Prince William companies already employ 23 people and generate $77 million in U.S. sales, serving customers including the Marine Corps, FBI, DEA, Army, Secret Service, and local police.

🏛️ Thoroughfare Historic Park Design Nears Final Shape

Prince William County held its third and final public input meeting June 25 for the Thoroughfare Historic Park Master Plan, centered around two historic African American cemeteries — Fletcher-Allen and Potter's Field — near Route 55 and Antioch Road. Designers presented two possible layouts, and a final design is expected this fall, though funding to build the park will require a separate Board of Supervisors vote. Residents emphasized that interpretive signage telling the site's history is central to the park's purpose.

🥃 A $1,000 Bottle of History

George Washington's Mount Vernon released Spirit of '76 Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey on July 4 — the first bourbon ever produced at Washington's reconstructed distillery. Aged seven years using 18th-century hand-distilling techniques, only 300 bottles were available at $1,000 each. Washington was actually the largest whiskey distiller in America by the end of the 18th century. Read the full story on the website.

🏆 Battlefield Baseball Brings Home the State Title

Battlefield High School won its first VHSL Class 6 Championship, beating Independence High 6-3. Junior Luke Raflo's seventh-inning grand slam sealed the deal after the Bobcats overcame a rocky start to the season under Coach Jay Burkhart. It's the second straight year a PWCS team has won it all.

👔 New in Occoquan: Drew's Men's Boutique

A new men's boutique has opened in Historic Occoquan. Drew's bills itself as a shop for the “Modern Rugged Gentleman,” offering men's apparel, gifts, and accessories — plus finds for kids. 📍 125 Mill St, Suite 3, Occoquan Historic District. Follow along at @drewsoccoquan on Instagram.

📚 Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Challenge

Students in grades 7–12 can earn $5 off one book and $1 off a grande-or-larger Frappuccino at Barnes & Noble Woodbridge by completing the store's Summer Reading Challenge, running July 1 through August 31. Redeemable at BN Woodbridge only. (Source: @bnwoodbridgeva Instagram)

🎖️ 2026 Make Your Mark Awards — Nominations Open

Nominations are open through September 17 for the 2026 Make Your Mark Awards, honoring standout members of the Prince William community. The ceremony is set for November 12 at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Nominate at apps.pwva.io/mym-awards.

🌳 PWC Parks & Recreation — July Programming

Prince William County Parks & Recreation has a full slate for July: Karaoke Night on July 14, a community Yard Sale on July 15, volunteer sign-ups for the Kids Triathlon on July 16, an RC Car Race on July 22, a Longest Drive golf contest on July 29, and an ongoing Explorer Pass raffle.

Due to heat warnings, the Dale City Independence Day Parade shortened its route this year, starting instead at Hillendale Drive and Dale Boulevard rather than its usual staging point. Parade committee organizers notified participants by email ahead of time about the updated staging procedures. Turnout at Fourth of July events around the county appeared light overall, likely a byproduct of the dangerous heat — temperatures hit the triple digits over the holiday weekend.

🗳️ House District 20 Special Election Set for November 3

The special election to fill Virginia's House of Delegates District 20 seat will appear on the November 3, 2026, general election ballot, per the Virginia Department of Elections.

This Week in Prince William County

🌱 Unearth a Story with Master Gardeners — Mon, July 6, 10–11:30 a.m. | 8051 Ashton Avenue, Manassas | Prince William Public Libraries

🏛️ Board of County Supervisors Meeting — Tues, July 7, 2–10 p.m. | 1 County Complex Court, Woodbridge

🦖 Escape Rooms: Dinosaur Disaster — Tues, July 7, 2–3 p.m. | 8601 Mathis Avenue, Manassas | Prince William Public Libraries

🛞 Rec on Wheels at Ellis Barron Park — Wed, July 8, 5:30–7 p.m. | 7625 Aaron Ln., Manassas | Parks & Recreation

🐾 Wildlife Center of Virginia — Thurs, July 9, 10:30–11:15 a.m. | 4249 Dale Boulevard, Dale City | Prince William Public Libraries

📖 Book Binding Basics — Fri, July 10, 2–3 p.m. | 14870 Lightner Road, Haymarket | Prince William Public Libraries

🎶 Heritage Kingdom Music Citizens Summer Gospel Concert — Sat, July 11, 12–1 p.m.

🤖 FROGbots Robotics Demonstration — Sat, July 11, 1–3 p.m. | 10104 Dumfries Road, Manassas | Prince William Public Libraries

Weekly Farmers Markets

🌽 Woodbridge Farmers Market — Thursdays, 2–7 p.m. | 2300 Opitz Blvd., Woodbridge

🌽 Tackett's Mill Farmers Market — Tuesdays, 3–6:30 p.m. | 2230 Tacketts Mill Drive

🌽 Dale City Farmers Market — Sundays, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. | 14050 Gemini Way, Dale City

🌽 Historic Manassas Thursday Market — Thursdays, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. | 9201 Center St., Manassas

🌽 Haymarket Farmers Market — Sundays, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. | 15000 Washington St., Haymarket

🌽 Gainesville Central Farm Market — Saturdays | 7500 Iron Bar Lane, Gainesville

👉 Read: Digital Gateway Data Center Project Dead After QTS Drops Appeal

👉 Read: Virginia's $207 Billion Budget Is Final

👉 Read: Mount Vernon's Spirit of '76 Bourbon

👉 Read: New Virginia Laws Taking Effect July 1

👉 Read: Prince William County's First Publix Is Now Under Construction

👉 Read: The Most Advanced Memory Chip Made in America Is Built in Manassas

👉 Read: Virginia Just Ranked #1 in the Country for Income

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July babies claim the larkspur as their birth flower — tall, colorful spikes that bloom right through the hottest part of summer. In Victorian flower language, larkspur symbolized an open heart and strong bonds of love. If you're looking to add a little late-summer color to your garden, larkspur thrives in full sun and makes a striking cut flower too.

It's been a big week for Prince William County — a years-long legal fight finally resolved, a historic church weighing its future, and a high school team bringing home a state title. Whatever comes next, we'll be here to cover it, and we're grateful you're here reading along with us.

Stay cool out there, and we'll see you back here next Monday.

We'll be back in your inbox Monday, July 13.

Marie Clementi — Publisher & Editor · The Woodbridge Gazette

Domenic Clementi — Military & Veterans Editor · The Woodbridge Gazette

woodbridgegazette.com · [email protected]

📲 Follow us on Instagram @WoodbridgeGazette and X @WBGazetteVA for updates between issues.