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IN THIS ISSUE
● Opening Note
● Weather
● The Lead
● Weekly News Brief
● New Businesses
● Community
● Events & What's On
● Save the Dates
OPENING NOTE
Hello, neighbors.
Happy Labor Day. It's the last long weekend of summer, and the libraries, the pools, and most everyone's calendar are taking the day off with you — normal hours resume tomorrow.
This is also the week Prince William pauses for something heavier. Thursday marks 25 years since Sept. 11, and the county is holding its remembrance ceremony that evening at Sean T. Connaughton Plaza, with the reading of the 22 county residents' names and a performance by the Osbourn Park Madrigal Choir. We've got the full rundown of that and everything else happening this week, and there's a lot of it, down in Events.
Look ahead three weekends and Occoquan is bracing for its biggest weekend of the year — the Fall Arts & Crafts Show takes over Mill Street Sept. 26 and 27, the same day Buzz Bookstore opens its doors a few blocks away. More on that below.
On the government side: the county's new farmland-preservation program got a one-month extension, home improvement contractors just lost a layer of local paperwork, and if you know a local business owner or entrepreneur worth recognizing, the county's Make Your Mark Awards nominations close in less than two weeks.
Have a wonderful week.
Marie Clementi
WEATHER
Warm and mostly dry to start the week, building toward the warmest stretch midweek — high near 89 Wednesday into Thursday — with a good chance of afternoon storms Thursday. That clears out behind a cold front, leaving a run of sunny, comfortable days for the back half of the week.
● ☀️ Mon, Sept 7 — Partly cloudy, high 81, low 59
● ☀️ Tue, Sept 8 — Mostly sunny, high 83, low 59
● ☀️ Wed, Sept 9 — Sunny, high 87, low 64
● ⛈️ Thu, Sept 10 — PM thunderstorms likely, high 89, low 68
● ☀️ Fri, Sept 11 — Sunny, high 83, low 64
● ☀️ Sat, Sept 12 — Sunny, high 82, low 64
Top Story
Plus: a full week of 9/11 25th-anniversary events, library card sign-up month, and a business awards deadline closing fast.
By Marie Clementi
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WEEKLY NEWS BRIEF
County Extends PDR Application Period Through Sept. 30 — Prince William County has given landowners an extra month to apply to its new Purchase of Development Rights Program, which preserves farmland, forests, and open space in exchange for compensation for the development rights on the property. The inaugural window was set to close Aug. 31; it now runs through Sept. 30. Applications are still reviewed for eligibility and ranked, and final purchase decisions rest with the Board of County Supervisors, subject to available funding.
Source: Prince William County
Library Card Sign-Up Month Kicks Off — Prince William Public Libraries is joining the American Library Association's nationwide push to get residents signed up for a library card this September. Anyone five or older in the county or City of Manassas can apply for a free card online or at any of the system's 12 branches, unlocking books, e-books, makerspaces, and free programming for all ages.
Source: Prince William Public Libraries
Make Your Mark Awards Nominations Close Sept. 17 — Last Chance to Enter — The county's Department of Economic Development and Tourism is still taking nominations for its 2026 Make Your Mark Awards, honoring local businesses, organizations, and leaders across tourism, entrepreneurship, technology, hospitality, and small business. Winners will be announced at the fourth annual Make Your Mark Business Celebration on Nov. 12 at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Nominate at apps.pwva.io/mym-awards before nominations close.
Source: Prince William County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
County Repeals Local Home Improvement Contractor License — The Board of County Supervisors voted unanimously in July to do away with the county's local Home Improvement Contractor License, effective now. The move drops the separate annual renewal, application fees, and the requirement to carry a $30,000 surety bond on top of state licensing. Contractors still need their state license through Virginia's Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and a standard county business license — the county says the local layer had simply become redundant with state oversight.
Source: Prince William County Development Services
2026 Community Survey Launches Sept. 14 — Prince William County is asking residents what's working and what isn't. The survey goes out first to randomly selected households starting Sept. 14, with a general participation window opening to all residents Oct. 12. Results help county leaders set priorities and inform decisions about the county's future.
Source: Prince William County
NEW BUSINESSES
Bebop — A 90s-themed Korean-Mexican grill is coming to Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center in Woodbridge. No opening date yet — we'll share it as soon as it's confirmed.
COMMUNITY
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EVENTS & WHAT'S ON
Mon, Sept 7
● Labor Day — Prince William Public Libraries closed,
Thu, Sept 10
● Rocky Branch Bridge Ribbon Cutting — Broad Run Trail, Bristow, 10am
● 25th Anniversary Sept. 11 Remembrance Ceremony — Sean T. Connaughton Plaza, 1 County Complex Court, Woodbridge, 6:30–7:30pm, free — reading of the county's 22 names lost, performance by the Osbourn Park Madrigal Choir
Fri, Sept 11
● Sunflower Paint & Sip — PWC Parks & Rec, Manassas, 6–8pm
● No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre opens — ARTfactory Wind River Theater, Manassas, through Sept. 20 (6 performances), $25
Sat, Sept 12
●That Day in September — Castaways Theatre, Town of Occoquan, 2pm, free — Artie Van Why's 9/11 account, featuring Dr. Harry J. Kantrovich
● Arts Alive! — Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10am–5pm, free, headliner Capitol Fools
● Stonebridge Fall Fest Chili Cook-Off — Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, 11am–6pm
● Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park Guided Tours — Bristow, multiple times, via PWC Office of Historic Preservation
● WWII Weekend begins — Rippon Lodge Historic Site, Woodbridge, Sat–Sun, 11am–3:30pm
● Prince William 4-H Young Entrepreneurs Market Day — check pwcva.gov/events for time and location
Still Running: Apple Picking
● Hollin Farms — Delaplane, Wed–Sun, 9am–1pm (last entry 12:30).
● Great Country Farms — Bluemont. Limited picking through mid-September
● Mackintosh Fruit Farm — Berryville. in September, Thurs–Sat 8am–5pm, Sun 10am–5pm, closed Mon–Wed
SAVE THE DATES
● Make Your Mark Awards nominations close — Thu, Sept 17
● Manassas Ballet Theatre Season Opening Event — Sat Sept 19
● Cox Farms Fall Festival begins — Cox Farms, Centreville, Sept 19–Nov 8
● Pumpkin Village Fall Fest — Leesburg Animal Park, Leesburg, through Nov 8
● Woodbridge District Dumpster Day and Paper Shred — Sat Sept 19
● Buzz Bookstore opens — 406 Mill St., Occoquan, Sat Sept 26
● Occoquan Fall Arts & Crafts Show — Sat–Sun Sept 26–27
● Neabsco District Dumpster Day and Paper Shred — Sat Sept 26
● Purchase of Development Rights application deadline — Wed Sept 30
THANKS FOR READING
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