Early Voting Is Underway, and Fall Fun Is in Full Swing

In This Issue

•      Early Voting Is Underway; All Six Sites Open Oct. 18

•      Personal Property and Business Tangible Taxes Are Due Today

•      Manassas Roundabout Work Continues Through Mid-October

•      Route 234/Sudley Manor Drive Interchange Public Information Meeting

•      130 Condos Proposed for Former Kaiser Site Near Potomac Mills

•      Community Survey Opens to All Residents Oct. 12

•      18th Annual Mental Health Awareness Event Goes Full Day Oct. 7

•      County Recycling Rate Climbs to 47.7%

•      Submit a Veteran for the County’s Veterans Day Tribute

•      Manassas City Library Halloween Pet Costume Contest

•      Events & What’s On

Opening Note

Happy Monday,

Fall is in the air here in Prince William County, and I have a request for you.

I’m asking again: what’s your favorite fall recipe? I haven’t received any yet, and I’d love to share some of your favorites with the community. Hit reply and send me yours, or message us on Instagram.

We would love for you to follow us on Instagram at @WoodbridgeGazette. You can also find us on X at @WBGazetteVA and Facebook and join the conversation in the Friends of the Gazette Facebook group.

As always, thanks for reading and for supporting local journalism.

Marie

Weather

A dry, sunny stretch is on the way. Monday starts partly cloudy and mild, Tuesday brings the coolest day (high 66°) and chilliest morning (low 45°), and highs climb to 80° on Thursday. Rain chances stay at 20 percent or lower through Saturday, but showers are likely by Sunday.

•      ⛅ Mon, Oct 5 — Partly Cloudy, high 74°/low 46°, 20% rain

•      ☀️ Tue, Oct 6 — Sunny, high 66°/low 45°, 4% rain

•      ☀️ Wed, Oct 7 — Sunny, high 74°/low 52°, 6% rain

•      ☀️ Thu, Oct 8 — Sunny, high 80°/low 52°, 7% rain

•      🌤️ Fri, Oct 9 — Mostly Sunny, high 78°/low 53°, 5% rain

•      ⛅ Sat, Oct 10 — Partly Cloudy, high 73°/low 49°, 4% rain

•      🌧️ Sun, Oct 11 — Chance of Showers, high 69°/low 49°, 65% rain

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The Lead

Early Voting Is Underway; All Six Sites Open Oct. 18

Woodbridge voters can cast ballots at the DMV on Caton Hill Road now, and the mail ballot request deadline is Oct. 23.

By Woodbridge Gazette Staff

Early voting for the 2026 general election is underway and runs through Saturday, Oct. 31, according to Prince William County. Through Friday, Oct. 16, two sites are open: the Office of Elections in Manassas (9250 Lee Ave., Suite 1) and DMV Woodbridge (2731 Caton Hill Rd.). Both are open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with hours until 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Starting Sunday, Oct. 18, all six early voting sites open daily, adding the AJ Ferlazzo Building in Woodbridge, Brentsville Courthouse, Dumfries Community Center and the Haymarket Gainesville Library. Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Early voting ends at 5 p.m. on Oct. 31.

Voting by mail? The deadline to request a ballot is 5 p.m. Oct. 23. Ballots can be returned to drop boxes at early voting sites during open hours, or at Election Day polling places by 7 p.m., or mailed with a postmark on or before Nov. 3. Polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, and voters must vote at their assigned polling place.

Read the full story

Weekly News Brief

Personal Property and Business Tangible Taxes Are Due Today

Prince William County personal property (car tax) and business tangible tax payments are due today, Monday, Oct. 5. You can view and pay your bill online at tax.pwcgov.org, where paying by electronic check is free and credit cards carry a service fee. The county also offers other payment methods, including in person at the Development Services Building, 5 County Complex Court, Woodbridge. A 10% late payment penalty applies to any unpaid balance after Oct. 5. Questions? Call the Taxpayer Services Office at 703-792-6710 or visit pwcva.gov/tax.

Source: Prince William County

130 Condos Proposed for Former Kaiser Site Near Potomac Mills

The Prince William County Planning Commission voted unanimously on Sept. 9 to recommend approval of Potomac Lofts, a plan to replace the former Kaiser medical building at 14139 Potomac Mills Road with 130 condominiums. The four-story “two-over-two” units would be capped at 60 feet, and 12 of the 130 would be priced as affordable housing. The developer is asking to rezone the 5.76-acre site from B-1 to MXD-U. The Board of County Supervisors has the final say, and the county expects the case to go before it at its Nov. 17 meeting.

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18th Annual Mental Health Awareness Event Goes Full Day Oct. 7

Prince William Community Services hosts the 18th Annual Greater Prince William Mental Health Awareness Event & Summit on Wednesday, Oct. 7, starting at 9 a.m. The free event is open to the public and is designed to help residents, families, caregivers and professionals recognize mental health and substance use concerns and connect with local services. Attendees can meet mental health, substance use, recovery and health care providers and take part in wellness activities, art, therapy dogs and peer support. Afternoon breakout sessions cover youth mental health, suicide prevention, social media and body image, caregiver stress and burnout, and trauma and crisis response, and an evening Community Celebration will recognize honorees. Registration is through the county.

Source: Prince William County Community Services

Military & Veterans

Submit a Veteran for the County’s Veterans Day Tribute

Prince William County is asking residents to submit veterans for the One Community, Many Heroes Veterans Tribute, a temporary outdoor display at Sean T. Connaughton Plaza on Veterans Day featuring each veteran’s photo, name and branch of service. Submissions are open through Sunday, Oct. 11, and can honor a family member, friend or colleague with a connection to Prince William County. Veterans may also submit themselves. Prefer to bring a printed photo? The county’s Office of Communications and Engagement, 1 County Complex Court, Suite 150, Woodbridge, will scan it for you Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

You’ll need the veteran’s full name, branch of service, rank, connection to the county and a high-quality photo. Display space is limited and photos must meet large-format printing requirements, so a submission does not guarantee inclusion.

Source: Prince William County

Community

Manassas City Library Halloween Pet Costume Contest — Will your furry, feathered or scaly friend take the crown this year? Email your pet’s costume photo to [email protected] between Oct. 1 and 25. Voting runs Oct. 26–30 on social media or at the Manassas City Library, and the winner will be announced Saturday, Oct. 31.

 Events & What’s On

Tue, Oct 6

•      Overnight Stay at Brentsville Jail — Brentsville, Bristow; spend the night in the historic 1822 jail that once housed accused criminals awaiting trial

Wed, Oct 7

•      Route 234/Sudley Manor Drive Interchange Public Information Meeting — Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center, 9100 Freedom Center Blvd, Manassas, 6–8pm (presentation at 6:30pm)

Thu, Oct 8

•      Fun Halloween Painting (teens) — Nokesville Library, 7pm, registration required

Sat, Oct 10

•      163rd Anniversary of the Battle of Bristoe Station — Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park, 10501 Tenth Alabama Way, Bristow, tours at 11am, 1pm and 3pm; free, donations welcome. Walk the battlefield and learn about the war’s last major battle fought in Prince William County

Still Running

•      Haunted Wine Tour — The Winery at Bull Run, Thu and Fri nights through Oct. 26; a lantern-led walking tour and wine tasting through the historic grounds

•      Ghost Walks — Weems-Botts Museum, Dumfries, Oct. 6–27; guided outdoor walking tour with ghost stories, paranormal detection devices and spooky hot cocoa in Merchant Park

•      Imagine a Day Without Water — Prince William Public Libraries (Beanstack app), through Oct. 15, all ages; complete challenges for a chance to win a prize from Prince William Water

•      Genealogy Toolkits — Dale City Library, free take-home kits for adults while supplies last

Farmers Markets This Week

•      Dale City Farmers Market — 14050 Gemini Way, Dale City, Sundays, 8am–1pm through November (10am–1pm December through March)

•      Historic Manassas Farmers Market (Thursday) — Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St, Manassas, Thursdays, 8am–1pm through Oct. 29

•      Historic Manassas Farmers Market (Saturday) — Prince William Street parking lot, 9024 Prince William St, Manassas, Saturdays, 8am–1pm through Nov. 21

More markets in our farmers market guide.

Across Our Community

•      Clifton Day Festival — Main Street, Clifton, Sun, Oct 11; historic town festival with antique markets, crafts, live bluegrass and heritage train rides

Save the Dates

•      Take a Sip of History — Water’s End Brewery, 12425 Dillingham Square, Lake Ridge, Thu, Oct. 15, 6:30–8pm; free, ages 21+

•      Bristoe Station Luminary — Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park, 10501 Tenth Alabama Way, Bristow, Sat, Oct. 17, 7–9pm; free, donations welcome. Nearly 1,000 luminary candles honor the soldiers who died at Bristoe Station during the Civil War

•      Ghost Hunters Showing — Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Rd, Bristow, Fri, Oct. 23, 7–8pm; free outdoor screening of the episode filmed at the courthouse, followed by a ticketed Ghost Tour ($15) from 8–9pm

•      Revolutionary War at Rippon Lodge — Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Rd, Woodbridge. Road to Victory, a day of colonial living history, Sat, Oct. 24, 11am–3pm (free, donations welcome); Drinks of the Revolution, Sat, Nov. 7, 12pm ($20, ages 12+); Revolution on the Road bus tour, Sat, Nov. 14, 10am–3pm ($50). Tickets for the last two: pwcparks.info/hptickets

•      Family Pumpkin Carving — Veterans Memorial Park, Woodbridge, Sat, Oct. 24, 10am–noon; registration fee covers one pumpkin per participant

•      Halloween Story Times and Parades — Prince William Public Libraries, all at 10:30am: Dale City, Wed, Oct. 28; Central, Thu, Oct. 29; Bull Run, Haymarket Gainesville and Montclair, Fri, Oct. 30; Lake Ridge (Family Story Time), Sat, Oct. 31. Costumes encouraged

•      Trunk or Treat — Chinn Aquatics & Fitness Center, Thu, Oct. 29, 4–6pm; the county’s first community Trunk or Treat, free

Thanks for Reading