📋 In This Issue
● This Week's Weather
● Your Weekly News Brief
● Events & What's On
● Now Live on the Website
● Want to Reach Your Neighbors?
● We Want to Hear from You
● Until Next Monday
✉️ Opening Note
Dear Neighbors,
If you took advantage of Virginia's tax-free weekend Aug. 7–9, we hope you saved big on school supplies and clothing — our full breakdown of what qualified is still a good reference for next year (or if you missed something).
On the local development front: the Data Center Overlay rehearing is now set for Sept. 9 after a public notice mix-up. We've got briefs on that and more below, plus county news on affordable housing, farmland preservation, and back-to-school.
We're still rebuilding our website behind the scenes, so thank you for your patience — the newsletter remains your best source for hyperlocal news and events in the meantime.
One more thing to circle on the calendar: PWCS students head back to class Aug. 24, so we're officially in back-to-school mode. And once fall rolls around, mark your calendars for the Occoquan Fall Arts & Crafts Show (Sept. 26–27) and Mount Vernon's Colonial Market & Fair (Sept. 19–20) — both in Save the Dates below.
Marie & Dom
🌤️ This Week's Weather
A warm week across Prince William County, with highs peaking in the low 90s Monday and Tuesday before a welcome cooldown arrives by the weekend — Saturday drops into the upper 70s.
● ☀️ Monday, Aug. 10 — Hi 93°F — Slight rain chance, 15%
● 🌤️ Tuesday, Aug. 11 — Hi 90°F — Rain likely, 45%
● 🌤️ Wednesday, Aug. 12 — Hi 86°F — Rain possible, 35%
● 🌤️ Thursday, Aug. 13 — Hi 89°F — Rain possible, 25%
● ⛅ Friday, Aug. 14 — Hi 85°F — Slight rain chance, 20%
● 🌤️ Saturday, Aug. 15 — Hi 77°F — Rain possible, 35% — a real cooldown!
● ⛅ Sunday, Aug. 16 — Hi 84°F — Partly cloudy, 24% chance of rain
📰 Your Weekly News Brief
● 🛒 Virginia's Tax-Free Weekend Wrapped Up Sunday — Shoppers saved 5.3% to 7% on qualifying school supplies, clothing, and more during Virginia's Aug. 7–9 sales tax holiday. Our full breakdown of what qualified is still worth a look if you're still finishing back-to-school shopping ahead of PWCS's Aug. 24 start.
● 🏛️ Data Center Overlay Rehearing Set for Sept. 9 — The Planning Commission will rehear its proposal to shrink the county's Data Center Opportunity Zone Overlay District — from about 9,700 to 3,500 acres — after a public notice issue voided the July 15 vote. A Board of Supervisors hearing is expected to follow Sept. 22.
● ⚡ Vindman Urges State to Reject Dominion-NextEra Merger — Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Woodbridge) sent a letter to Virginia regulators opposing the proposed $67 billion Dominion-NextEra merger, arguing it would raise electricity bills and hand outsized control to Florida-based NextEra.
● 🏠 PWC Offers Orientations for Affordable For-Sale Homeownership Program — The county's Committed Affordable For-Sale Units Program lets eligible buyers (earning at or below 120% AMI) purchase homes below market price. Next English-language orientation: Aug. 12, Ferlazzo Building, Woodbridge.
● 🌾 PWC Opens Applications for New Farmland Preservation Program — The county's inaugural Purchase of Development Rights Program is accepting applications through Aug. 31, letting eligible landowners preserve farmland and open space in exchange for compensation.
● 🎓 PWCS 2026-27 School Calendar: Key Dates to Know — Classes begin Aug. 24; last day of school is June 17, 2027. Full calendar including holidays and breaks.
Military & Veterans
● Virginia Launches New Job Site for Veterans and Military Spouses — Virginia Works and the Virginia Department of Veterans Services have rolled out VirginiaHasJobs.com/Veterans, a new hiring hub consolidating job listings, career-planning tools, and support resources for veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses — paired with a 100-day pledge push encouraging 100 Virginia employers to hire military-connected talent. (Read the full story)
USS Gerald R. Ford Home for Repairs After Record Deployment
The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is back in Hampton Roads for post-deployment repairs at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and Virginia Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner visited the crew this week to thank them for a grueling 327-day deployment that took the carrier through two war zones. A fire that broke out in a laundry space during the deployment forced the crew to jettison ammunition stored nearby, though no one died.
🏪 New Businesses
Owl & Ink Mobile Bookshop — Stacie Malinowski's mobile bookshop out of Montclair is popping up in Nokesville Aug. 22 for Purrs, Pages & Pour Overs — an author meet-and-greet paired with cat and kitten adoptions through Must Love Cats Rescue. 10% of the day's sales go to the rescue.
Gathered on Center — Old Town Manassas has a new shop at 9082 Center St.: Gathered on Center held its soft opening July 10, moving into the space vacated by Black Metal Mercantile (which relocated to the former Things I Love spot at 9327 Main St.). Stop by and give them a warm welcome.
📅 Events & What's On
This Week in Prince William County
● 🦴 A Matter of Balance Workshop — Tue, Aug. 11, 10 a.m.–noon | Holy Family Catholic Church, Woodbridge — registration: [email protected]
● 📚 Leaves & Literacy Book Club — Tue, Aug. 11, 6–8 p.m. | Leaf & Petal, Occoquan — registration and book box purchase required
● 🔬 Nexus234 Lunch & Learn: Pitch Your Science With Confidence — Wed, Aug. 12, 11:45 a.m.–1:30 p.m. | GMU Life Sciences Bldg., Manassas
● 🤝 Business After Hours — Wed, Aug. 12, 5–6:30 p.m. | Tru by Hilton, Manassas — Prince William Chamber of Commerce
● 🍖 Hogfest 2026 — Sat, Aug. 15, starting at noon | 10470 Dumfries Rd., Manassas | $11.20 — new BBQ and music festival with Custer Flock, the Robert Ray Band, and Tiny Hands
● 🎸 2 Silos Brewing Summer Concert Series (Madonna Night) — Sat, Aug. 15 | 2 Silos Brewing Co., Manassas
● 🎥 Movie in the Park: The Sandlot — Fri, Aug. 14, 9–10:30 p.m. | 1 County Complex Ct., Woodbridge
Save the Dates
● 🎵 PWC Fridays at 5 — Fri, Aug. 21, 5–9 p.m. | Sean T. Connaughton Plaza, Woodbridge | Free outdoor concert series finale with the Chocolate Factory Band, food trucks, beer and wine
● 🐱 Purrs, Pages & Pour Overs — Sat, Aug. 22, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. | Vita Nova Creatives & Coffee, Nokesville | Owl & Ink mobile bookshop pop-up with cat/kitten adoptions, 10% of sales benefit Must Love Cats Rescue
● 🎮 Fun Fanatics Community Day — Sat, Aug. 29, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. | Off Limitz Adventure Park, Woodbridge | Comics, trading cards, collectibles, video games
● 🛍️ It's a Good Day Market — Fri, Aug. 22, 11 a.m. onward | Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton | Vintage fashion, home goods, local makers and creatives
● 🎸 Live Music Featuring “Say What Again” — Sun, Aug. 23, 3–6:30 p.m. | VFW Post 7916, Occoquan | Free, 90s rock/alternative cover band
● 👮 PWCPD 6th Annual Community Fair — Sat, Sept. 12, noon–4 p.m. | Sean T. Connaughton Plaza, Woodbridge | Public-safety displays, live music, food trucks, pet adoptions, and police recruiting info
● 🎗️ September 11 25th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony — Thu, Sept. 11, 6:30–7:30 p.m. | Sean T. Connaughton Plaza, Woodbridge
● 🐝 Beginner Beekeeping Series: Into the Hives (Live Apiary Field Trip) — Sun, Oct. 4, 1 p.m. | Liberia House and Grounds, Manassas
● 🎨 Occoquan Fall Arts & Crafts Show — Sat–Sun, Sept. 26–27 | Historic Occoquan — full guide coming soon
● 🏰 Colonial Market & Fair — Sat–Sun, Sept. 19–20, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | George Washington's Mount Vernon | 18th-century marketplace with artisans, historical entertainment, and food — a bit of a drive from PWC, but worth it — full guide coming soon
Weekly Farmers Markets
Full details, hours, and locations for all of these are in our complete farmers markets guide.
● 🌽 Woodbridge Farmers Market — Thursdays, 2–7 p.m.
● 🌽 Dale City Farmers Market — Sundays, 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
● 🌽 Historic Manassas Farmers Market — Thursdays, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. (Harris Pavilion) and Saturdays, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. (Prince William St. Commuter Lot)
● 🌽 Lorton Farmers Market — Sundays through Nov. 22, 8 a.m.–noon
● 🌽 Occoquan Farmers Market — Saturdays, 8 a.m.–noon
● 🌽 Warrenton Farmers Market — Saturdays, 8 a.m.–noon
🌐 Now Live on the Website
📣 Want to Reach Your Neighbors?
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✍️ We Want to Hear from You
Have a story tip, a new business we should know about, or feedback on the newsletter? Just reply to this email or write to [email protected] — we read every message.
💛 Until Next Monday
It's a busy stretch ahead — the Data Center Overlay rehearing looms in September, and back-to-school prep is in full swing. We'll be back in your inbox Monday, Aug. 17.
Marie Clementi — Publisher & Editor · The Woodbridge Gazette
Domenic Clementi — Military & Veterans Editor · The Woodbridge Gazette
📲 Follow us on Instagram @WoodbridgeGazette and X @WBGazetteVA for updates between issues.