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IN THIS ISSUE
Opening Note · Weather · The Lead · Weekly News Brief · Community · Things to Do · Save the Date · Your Turn
OPENING NOTE
Clocks fell back Sunday, so we all gained an hour. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Details are at pwcvotes.org.
We’d still love to share some of your recipes. If you have a family favorite for Thanksgiving or the cooler weather, send it our way with a line about why it matters to you, and we may feature it in an upcoming issue. Reply to this email or write to [email protected]. One more thing: there’s a quick poll at the bottom of this issue. Tell us what you’d like more of from the Gazette.
Marie
WEATHER
Mild and mostly dry through Wednesday, with highs from the mid-60s to 76°. Election Day on Tuesday looks dry, with a high of 74°. Showers arrive Thursday (55%) and rain settles in Friday (67%), with a chance of morning showers Saturday before a cooler Sunday (63°).
THE LEAD
Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced Oct. 27 that Auria, a national security and space technology company, will open its East Coast headquarters in Reston with a $1.8 million investment and 78 new jobs. The Reston site will include a mission integration center where the company develops and tests command, control and mission systems for national security customers. Auria was formed in 2024 through the merger of several space and defense firms, and its CEO said Northern Virginia is becoming its largest employment base. For Prince William County residents who work in Fairfax County and across the region, it adds another employer in the defense and space sector. The announcement did not include a hiring or opening timeline.
Why Overseas Producers Can't Undercut Atlas Salt, Even for Free
Cities are already running short on road salt, and winter hasn't even started. Some supply bids are going unanswered, prices have nearly doubled in parts of the market, and the backup plan is two weeks away by boat. Here's why Atlas Salt (TSXV: SALT | OTCQX: SALQF) can get salt to the people who need it most, faster and cheaper than anyone shipping from overseas:
• Three days by ship to Boston, not fourteen
• Shallow deposit that's cheaper and faster to mine
• Projected C$188M a year in free cash flow
• Export Development Canada interested in lending C$150M
• Early supply deal with top U.S. salt distributor
WEEKLY NEWS BRIEF
PWC UPDATES
Overnight Lane Reductions on Route 1 Near Quantico, Nov. 4–6
Route 1 will be reduced to two lanes near Russell Road from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, through early Friday, Nov. 6, so crews can install bridge beams over Chopawamsic Creek at the Stafford/Prince William line. Weather backup dates are Monday, Nov. 9, through Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Source: VDOT
VDOT and Transurban are studying whether to add express lanes in both directions on the existing I-95 Express Lanes, which are reversible and run only in the peak direction. The study covers about 45 miles, from near the Springfield Interchange to Spotsylvania County, and environmental and traffic work is underway. FFXnow reported an estimated cost of $4.5 billion. VDOT expects public meetings and hearings in 2027 and 2028 and a feasibility and project decision in fall 2028. It is a study, not an approved construction project.
Source: VDOT presentation to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Transportation Committee, Sept. 22, 2026; Transurban; FFXnow
More than 200 volunteers spent a week in late October building a new inclusive playground at George Hellwig Memorial Park in Manassas, next to the Dr. Richard Tami Miracle Field. Prince William Parks & Recreation, Amazon and KABOOM! designed it with ideas from local children. The playground stays closed until its accessible rubber surface is installed, and the county hasn’t announced an opening date.
COMMUNITY
Woodbridge Med Spa Collecting Toys for Toys for Tots Through Nov. 30
V/O Med Spa Woodbridge is collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots through Nov. 30 and says it is an official drop-off location. The spa is at 14900 Potomac Town Place, Suite 130, Woodbridge. Call 571-534-0110 for details.
Source: V/O Med Spa
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🥾 NEW TRAILS PLAN Pathways 2035 finds 291 miles of unbuilt active mobility trails and 118 miles of unbuilt recreational trails, and for the first time looks at water trails, starting with Broad Run. |
THINGS TO DO
Tue, Nov 3
• Election Day — polls open 6am–7pm; details at pwcvotes.org
• Wine, Women & Wealth — Brickyard Woodbridge, 6pm; free
Wed, Nov 4
• Holiday Framed Resin Art — Not Your Average Joe’s, Woodbridge, 6pm
Thu, Nov 5
• Discover Strategies for Aging Well — Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center, 14300 Minnieville Rd., Dale City, 8am–noon; free for ages 55+, with free health screenings from the Marymount University Center for Optimal Aging; registration requested
• Paige’s Page Turners Fantasy Book Club — Honey + Ivy, 6–7:30pm; reading Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig; $8 tickets at sleepydragonbooks.com
• S’more to Explore Girl Scout Interest Night — Lake Ridge Elementary School, 6pm; free
Sat, Nov 7
• Virginia Bird Calls — Veterans Memorial Park, 14300 Veterans Dr., Woodbridge, 8–10am; all ages, $12; led by Master Naturalist Candice Lowther
• Fatherhood Walk & Talk Wellness — Neabsco Boardwalk, 10am–noon; free
• Northern Virginia Veterans Parade — Old Town Manassas, 11am; the 18th annual parade honors all U.S. Armed Forces, with U.S. Army Col. Steele McGonegal (Ret.) as Grand Marshal
• Pilates Principles Workshop — Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center, 14300 Minnieville Rd., Dale City, 1–1:55pm; free for passholders, $12 for non-members; registration required
• Bowling for Literacy — Bowl America Woodbridge, 2pm; $29
Sun, Nov 8
• Flow for a Cause — YogaSix Lake Ridge, 12423 Hedges Run Dr., Woodbridge, 1–2pm; proceeds benefit the Quality-of-Life Foundation’s Wounded Veteran Family Care
• Fri, Nov 6 — Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat (animated family comedy)
• Fri, Nov 13 — Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol (Johnny Depp, Ian McKellen, Daisy Ridley)
• Fri, Nov 20 — The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Release dates come from studio schedules and can change. Check your theater for showtimes.
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SAVE THE DATE
• StoryWorx Book Festival — Workhouse Arts Center, 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton, Sat, Nov. 14, 11am–5pm; moderated author panels, live readings, book signings, a children’s corner and literary craft workshops
• Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical — Hylton Performing Arts Center, Nov. 20–29; presented by Actors Theatre at the ARTfactory
• Manassas Ballet Theatre: The Nutcracker — Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, Dec. 16–23; 7:30pm shows Dec. 16–20 and 3pm shows Dec. 19–23; live orchestra; tickets start at $50 at hyltoncenter.org or 703-993-7759; streaming for rent or purchase begins Dec. 24 at 7:30pm
Photo credit is Elizabeth Jade Photography.
YOUR TURN
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THANKS FOR READING
See you next week.
𝓜𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓮 𝓒𝓵𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲
Publisher & Editor | The Woodbridge Gazette
[email protected] | woodbridgegazette.com
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