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In today's edition:
● New Occoquan Elementary Opens as PWCS's First Net-Zero School
● Supervisors Vote to End By-Right Data Center Development Countywide
● Sudley Road Detour Continues This Week
● Our Prince William County Fall Guide Is Live
● PWC Parks Employees Honored for Youth Apprenticeship Work
● Plenty of Events Happening Around Prince William County This Week
Opening Note
Happy Monday,
It's a big week for Prince William County. On Wednesday, PWCS will cut the ribbon on the new Occoquan Elementary, the division's first net-zero energy school — a nice milestone for a building replacing a school nearly 100 years old. That same day, county supervisors are hosting a community charrette on connecting Quantico and the Triangle, worth a look if that area affects you.
It was also a big week at the Board of County Supervisors, who voted unanimously to end by-right data center development countywide — a significant shift after years of debate on this issue.
On a lighter note, our Fall Guide is officially live on the website, with our picks for pumpkin patches, Halloween events, apple orchards and cozy coffee stops around the county. And if you're looking for something to do this weekend, don't miss the Manassas Fall Jubilee on Saturday — free, family-friendly, and a good excuse to get downtown.
As always, thanks for reading and for supporting local journalism.
Marie
Weather
● 🌥️ Mon, Sept 28 — Cloudy, high 76°/low 58°, 10% rain
● ⛅ Tue, Sept 29 — Partly Cloudy, high 76°/low 58°, 10% rain
● ⛅ Wed, Sept 30 — Partly Cloudy, high 81°/low 60°, 8% rain
● ⛅ Thu, Oct 1 — Partly Cloudy, high 86°/low 64°, 5% rain
● ⛅ Fri, Oct 2 — Partly Cloudy, high 86°/low 64°, 19% rain
● 🌦️ Sat, Oct 3 — PM Showers, high 72°/low 55°, 33% rain
● 🌧️ Sun, Oct 4 — Showers, high 66°/low 54°, 42% rain
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The Lead
PWCS to Celebrate Opening of Division's First Net-Zero School with New Occoquan Elementary
Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) will celebrate the opening of its first net-zero energy school building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 6 p.m. The new building replaces Occoquan Elementary School, the division's oldest school at nearly 100 years old. The ceremony will be held at the school, located at 12915 Occoquan Rd. in Woodbridge, and guests will have the opportunity to tour the new building following the event.
The building produces as much renewable energy as it consumes, through rooftop solar panels (with future solar canopies planned for the parking lot), a geothermal well heating and cooling system, and an energy-efficient insulated envelope. Large windows are designed to maximize natural daylight throughout the school, including a circular skylight over the central stairwell and a rooftop outdoor classroom.
The new Occoquan Elementary was designed by Perkins Eastman Architects and built by HESS Construction Company. PWCS Media Relations Coordinator Meghan Silas said the division is inviting outlets interested in covering the ceremony to reach out ahead of time to coordinate.
Source: Prince William County Public Schools
PWC Updates
Prince William Co. Supervisors Vote to End By-Right Data Center Development Countywide
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted unanimously (8-0) on Tuesday, Sept. 23, to approve a zoning text amendment ending by-right data center development across the county. The amendment means future data center projects will require a special use permit and board approval rather than administrative sign-off. Data centers already built, under construction, or with site plans that have passed the quality control threshold will remain under the existing overlay. The change significantly shrinks the county's Data Center Opportunity Zone Overlay District, first established in 2016.
Source: InsideNoVa.com, republished by WTOP
Sudley Road Roundabout: Phase 2 Detour Continues in Manassas
The Phase 2 detour at the Sudley Road, Centreville Road and Prescott Avenue roundabout project remains in effect this week, restricting right turns from Centreville Road onto Sudley Road. Crews continue work near the northwest corner by Walgreens, with daily single-lane closures on southbound Centreville Road and right-lane closures on northbound Sudley Road and northbound Prescott Avenue. Construction started in June and is expected to run through summer 2027.
Source: City of Manassas
Public Meeting: Community Charrette on Quantico-Triangle Connectivity
Members of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors may attend a Community Charrette on Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 7-8:30 p.m., to explore opportunities connecting Marine Corps Base Quantico and the Triangle community. The meeting will be held at Potomac Shores Middle School, 17851 Woods View Drive.
Source: Prince William County
Prince William County Earns Two Financial Reporting Awards from GFOA
Prince William County has once again earned a pair of prestigious awards from the Government Finance Officers Association: the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (its 45th consecutive year) and the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting (its 19th consecutive year), both for fiscal year 2025. “Receiving these awards year after year reflects Prince William County’s longstanding commitment to excellence and transparency in financial reporting,” said County Executive Christopher Shorter.
Source: Prince William County
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New Businesses
Milk & Honey Ribbon Cutting
Milk & Honey celebrates its ribbon cutting with the City of Manassas on Monday, Sept. 28, from 2-3:30 p.m., with brunch being served. The location is at 10088 Dumfries Rd.
Source: City of Manassas / Choose Manassas
Community
PWC Parks Employees Honored for Youth Apprenticeship Work
Prince William County employees Todd Reid and Jennifer Kooyoomjian were recently recognized by Dale City Masonic Lodge No. 319 with its Community Builders Award for their work building and supporting youth apprenticeship programs. The award, presented Sept. 18, honored their roles launching the Park Ranger Apprenticeship pilot program, a partnership between the county's Office of Community Safety and Department of Parks and Recreation that gave youth ages 14-17 hands-on experience alongside park rangers. Three teens recently graduated from the pilot, and partners are now evaluating it for future cohorts.
Source: Prince William County
🍂 OUR FALL GUIDE IS LIVE Prince William County Fall Guide 2026 Pumpkin patches, fall festivals, Halloween events, apple picking, cozy coffee shops and more around Prince William County and Northern Virginia — all in one place. Inside: the Woodbridge/Stonebridge Fall-O-Ween pet-friendly costume party, Yankey Farms' pick-your-own pumpkins, the Manassas Fall Jubilee, a fall walk along the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk, and a guide to Occoquan's shops for a rainy day. Bookmark it and check back all season; we're updating it as new events are announced. |
Events This Week
Lake Ridge Nursery Pumpkin Patch — Oct. 1-31
Location: Lake Ridge Nursery, Woodbridge
Pick out the perfect pumpkin for carving or colorful mums for your garden.
Yankey Farms Pumpkin Patch — Oct. 1-30
Location: Yankey Farms, Nokesville
Explore the corn maze, ride the cow train, and let the kids run around the farmyard activity area.
Historic Manassas Fall Jubilee (43rd annual) — Sat, Oct. 3, 10am-5pm, free
Location: Historic Downtown Manassas
Artisan vendors, food trucks, chainsaw carving, music, dancers and a magic show.
Montclair Community Yard Sale — Fri-Sun, Oct. 2-4
Location: Montclair, Dumfries
Neighborhood-wide yard sale; map available Sept. 28.
Haunted Wine Tour — starts Oct. 4, Thu/Fri nights through Oct. 26
Location: The Winery at Bull Run
A lantern-led walking tour and full wine tasting through the historic grounds.
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Save the Date
Location: Ben Lomond Historic Site, Manassas
Hear ghost stories tied to the site's history as a Civil War hospital.
Admission is $5 per person; children 2 and under are free. For more information, please call 703-367-7872.
Location: Weems-Botts Museum, Dumfries
Guided outdoor walking tour with ghost stories, paranormal detection devices, and spooky hot cocoa in Merchant Park.
Overnight Stay at Brentsville Jail — Oct. 6
Location: Brentsville, Bristow
Spend the night in the historic 1822 jail that once housed accused criminals awaiting trial.
THANKS FOR READING
See you next week.