✉️ A Note from Your Editors

Dear Neighbors,

This week's big one: a Virginia DEQ public notice has opened a public comment window through Aug. 7 on the watershed and wetlands impacts of Microsoft's planned data center near Gainesville — 123 acres, nearly 1,000 linear feet of stream channel, and over 85,000 square feet of wetlands on the line. If you've got an opinion, now's the window to make it heard (details below on how to comment).

Elsewhere this week: VRE Cares is running its second annual Back-to-School Express July 27–August 7 (last year's haul was 1,331 supplies — let's beat it), We are remembering longtime Montclair Family Restaurant server Peggy Curry, whose celebration of life is set for July 25. Dom's back with his Veterans Affairs column on navigating the security clearance process, too.

We're currently rebuilding our website to better serve you. In the meantime, the newsletter remains your go-to source for hyperlocal news and events. We appreciate your patience as we continue improving the Gazette.

📋 BOCS Meeting Tuesday — The Prince William Board of County Supervisors holds its next Regular Meeting Tuesday, July 21, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at Board Chambers, McCoart Administration Building, One County Complex Court. The Board then goes on summer recess for all of August, with the next meeting September 1.

Marie & Dom

The Woodbridge Gazette

P.S. You may notice some sections of our website are still being built out — we're actively working to improve woodbridgegazette.com and make it a better experience for you. All of our stories are fully accessible in the meantime, and as always, you can find everything here in your inbox every Monday.

☁️ Monday, July 20 — Hi 88°F — Partly cloudy, 23% chance of rain

🌩️ Tuesday, July 21 — Hi 91°F — Isolated thunderstorms, 33% chance of rain

🌩️ Wednesday, July 22 — Hi 87°F — Scattered thunderstorms, 37% chance of rain

☀️ Thursday, July 23 — Hi 84°F — Mostly sunny, 4% chance of rain

🌤️ Friday, July 24 — Hi 86°F — Partly cloudy, 16% chance of rain

🌤️ Saturday, July 25 — Hi 87°F — Partly cloudy, 18% chance of rain

🌤️ Sunday, July 26 — Hi 88°F — Partly cloudy, 24% chance of rain

 🏛️ Environmental Public Comment Open for Planned Microsoft Data Center Near Gainesville

A public notice from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has opened a window for community members to weigh in on the watershed and wetlands impacts of a planned Microsoft data center near Gainesville.

The notice, published Monday, outlines Microsoft's request for an “individual permit” on the 123-acre property from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the federal Clean Water Act. The public comment period on the related environmental concerns is open now through Aug. 7.

The site sits south of Interstate 66, east of University Boulevard and north of Wellington Road, with access from University Boulevard. Microsoft spent over $465 million for the land in 2024. The parcel is zoned by-right for data centers under Prince William County's Data Center Opportunity Zone Overlay District.

What's planned for the site

The project calls for two one-story facilities, each designed to house several data servers. According to the DEQ notice, other key components include:

●  An on-site electrical substation

●  A water storage facility

●  Detention ponds

●  Installation of domestic and fire hydrant water service

●  Sanitary sewer

●  Industrial wastewater infrastructure

●  Fiber and electrical conduit

●  Stormwater conveyance systems

Wetlands and stream impacts

The scale of the environmental footprint is spelled out in the Joint Permit Application. Per the notice, the application “seeks authorization to permanently impact 955 linear feet (LF) (0.14 ac) of intermittent stream channel (R4), 79,400 square feet (SF) (1.82 ac) of palustrine emergent wetlands (PEM), and 5,781 (0.13 ac) SF of palustrine forested wetlands (PFO).”

DEQ noted that Microsoft has said the project will adhere to the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program and remains subject to review.

How to submit a comment

Community members can submit feedback on the project's environmental concerns through Aug. 7 either by email to [email protected], or by postal mail to DEQ's central office and office of environmental impact review at 1111 E. Main St., Suite 1400, Richmond, VA 23219.

🛒 Grocery Outlet Now Open in Manassas — Grocery Outlet's Manassas location (9546 Liberia Avenue, Signal Hill Shopping Center) officially opened its doors July 16.

🍽️ Laziz Kabob Now Open in Woodbridge — A new Afghan restaurant has opened at 13641 Minnieville Road in Woodbridge, bringing the concept of mehman — guest as family — to the table. Known for grilled kabobs, Karahi curries, and traditional Afghan dishes, Laziz Kabob is open for dine-in, takeout, and delivery. Order online at order.toasttab.com/online/laziz-kabob-woodbridge or call (703) 986-0754. The Gazette will be visiting soon for a full feature.

/🎟️ PWC Fair Advance Tickets on Sale Through July 30 — Advance tickets for the 2026 Prince William County Fair (July 31–August 8 at the fairgrounds in Manassas) are available online now through July 30, and include the petting zoo, grandstand shows, parking, midway shows, and interactive animal exhibits — typically a better deal than buying at the gate.

🚆 VRE Back-to-School Express Returns — VRE Cares is running its second annual Back-to-School Express July 27 through August 7, partnering with Northern Virginia Family Services, Educate Fairfax, the Prince William County Community Foundation, and school systems across the region to equip local students and teachers with supplies for the new school year. Last year's inaugural drive collected 1,331 school supplies thanks to the VRE community. Riders can drop school supplies on their seat for conductors to collect daily, shop VRE's curated Amazon Wishlist for items shipped straight to VRE's offices or donate directly to Northern Virginia Family Services.

🏇 Vance Family Renting Middleburg Estate from Data-Center Developer Chuck Kuhn — Vice President JD Vance is leasing part of the roughly 500-acre Wolver Hill Farm in Middleburg as an additional residence for his family, according to CNN, which first reported the arrangement July 10. The property is owned by a firm led by Charles "Chuck" Kuhn — founder of JK Moving Services and, through JK Land Holdings, one of the largest data-center land developers in Loudoun and Prince William counties. Vance's attorney says the family will pay fair market rent; Kuhn has not commented publicly.

🛒 Trader Joe's Confirms Fredericksburg Location — Trader Joe's has confirmed plans for a Fredericksburg store as part of the Shops at Fall Hill development, though the company hasn't released a location or timeline, according to Northern Virginia Magazine.

🧘 Pulse Yoga set to Open in Tackett's Mill — Pulse Yoga has opened its doors in Tackett's Mill, with a ribbon cutting and grand opening set for Saturday, July 24. Co-owner Katie Courlander reached out directly to share the news.

💍 Jerry's Occoquan Jewelers — 50th Anniversary Celebration — Historic Occoquan's own Jerry's Occoquan Jewelers (306 Mill St) is celebrating 50 years serving the community with a month-long anniversary celebration throughout September. Look for a special guest designer every Thursday from 11am–8pm, plus cake, refreshments, exclusive collections, special pricing, and gift-with-purchase all month long. Since 1976, Jerry's has been a go-to for custom design, repairs, and celebrating life's big moments — a true Occoquan institution.

🎓 CAPAC Kicks Off Fifth Annual Full STEAM Ahead Summer Camp — The Creative and Performing Arts Center welcomed campers to the Hylton Performing Arts Center this week for the fifth year of its Full STEAM Ahead summer program. Over the next three weeks, students will dive into robotics, weather science, and leadership activities while rehearsing an original production that incorporates AI into its development. Executive Director Denise McPhail highlighted the milestone's reflection of growing community partnerships and a continued push to build students' confidence and leadership skills.

🚌 Bus Rapid Transit Is Coming to Prince William — Starting with Minnieville Road — NVTA rolled out a regional bus rapid transit plan to the Board of Supervisors this week, and it includes real money for a local project: $6 million to design a dedicated bus lane on Minnieville Road between Caton Hill Road and Dale Boulevard, connecting to the Dale City and Horner Road commuter lots. Six of the plan's 28 routes run through Prince William, Manassas and Manassas Park, including one linking Potomac Mills to Fort Belvoir. Design work runs through 2030, with construction from 2032–2035. Full article will be posted next week on the website.

/🕊️ In Memoriam

Peggy Curry — Longtime Montclair Family Restaurant server Peggy Curry, a fixture there for nearly three decades and a seven-time InsideNoVa “Best Waitress” honoree, passed away at 70. A celebration of life is set for Saturday, July 25 — visitation 10am–noon and the service noon–1:30pm at Miller Funeral Home (3200 Golansky Blvd, Woodbridge), followed by a 2:30pm reception at Montclair Tabernacle (16120 Dumfries Road, Dumfries). A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with funeral costs.

(via InsideNoVa)

Friends, many U.S. military veterans and retirees, especially those living and working in this area, find post-military employment working in government service, GS civilian or contractor in one or another of the federal agencies in the Washington, D.C. area. This step frequently requires that one must obtain, upgrade or revalidate a security clearance. This clearance can be Secret, Top Secret or even higher, if one includes the caveats permitting access to Special Access Programs, which usually demand taking and passing a polygraph examination.

So often, those who hold clearances are in doubt about the most updated facts related to the length of their clearances, what things about them are being investigated and how, and frequently, exactly when they should expect re-investigation. It is not often that one can get clear, simple, definitive information about these matters.

This is why the article at the link below caught my attention. It is titled “Decoding the U.S. Security Clearance: Your Guide to the Investigation Process,” published by GovFacts.org. This site is owned and operated by Something Better, Inc., a registered B-Corporation in California. A B-Corporation is a for-profit company that endeavors to act for the public good. Something Better describes their charter as committed to promoting civic engagement, strengthening democratic participation, and enhancing public understanding.

The article at the link was updated in December 2025. While I cannot guarantee the veracity of every word they write, their statements certainly mirror my experiences with this process. I think it is a good, sound overview of the process. Please check it out at the link below:

→ Decoding the U.S. Security Clearance: Your Guide to the Investigation Process | GovFacts — govfacts.org/government/federal/agencies/defense/decoding-the-u-s-security-clearance-your-guide-to-the-investigation-process/

As always, the best to all, enjoy your summer, and thank you for serving your country!

— Dom

This Week in Prince William County

●  🎡 Rec on Wheels — Wed, July 22, 5:30–7 p.m. | Hammill Mill Park, 1721 Carter Lane, Woodbridge | Free lawn games & family fun, Park & Recreation Month

●  🐱 Cat Adoption Event — Tue, July 21, 3–7 p.m. | Cozy Calico Books, 199 Union St, Occoquan

●  🍵 Friday Night Flights (tea tasting) — Fri, July 24, 4–6 p.m. | Leaf & Petal, Occoquan

●  🎵 Golden Hour Concert Series — Harbor Heat — Sat, July 25, 6:00–8:30 p.m. | Belmont Bay Harbor Marina, Woodbridge | Live jazz with local food vendors (starting at 4:00 p.m.) and drinks

●  🎉 Festival Peruano Gastronómico de Virginia 2026 — Fri, July 26, 11:00 a.m. | Georgetown South, PWC Fairgrounds | Peruvian food, culture, and community celebration

● 📚 Summer Scares — Through July 31 | Woodbridge Library (13065 Chinn Park Drive) | 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. daily | Kids' summer program

● 🐕 Reading to Dogs — Multiple dates | Woodbridge Library | 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Kids read to therapy dogs

●  🎡 Rec on Wheels — Wed, July 29, 5:30–7 p.m. | Joseph D. Reading Park, Manassas | Free lawn games & family fun, Park & Recreation Month

Coming Up

●  🎪 Prince William County Fair — July 31–August 8 | Prince William County Fairgrounds, 10624 Dumfries Rd, Manassas | Carnival rides, monster trucks, rodeo, fireworks, family activities

●  🇺🇸 Williams' Ordinary Revolutionary War Memorial Dedication — Sat, August 8 | Save the date — part of America 250 coverage; Dom visiting with Bill Backus the week of July 27 ahead of the dedication

Save the Dates

●  🚓 National Night Out — Mon, August 4, 6 p.m. | Occoquan | Sponsored by the Occoquan Police Department

●  📚 Leaves & Literacy Book Club — Tue, August 11, 6–8 p.m. | Leaf & Petal, Occoquan | Registration required — flag early

🎨 Occoquan Fall Arts & Crafts Show — Sat–Sun, September 26–27, 10am–5pm | Downtown Occoquan | Hundreds of regional artisans, live demonstrations, Art Park (new for 2026), and Imagination Alley for families

Weekly Farmers Markets

●  🌽 Woodbridge Farmers Market — Thursdays, 2–7 p.m.

●  🌽 Tackett's Mill Farmers Market — Tuesdays, 3–6:30 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, 9201 Center St. — and Saturdays, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. | Prince William Street Commuter Lot

Supervisors Reject Two Dominion Transmission Line Routes — The Board of County Supervisors unanimously rejected two proposed routes for Dominion Energy's Nokesville-to-Bristow transmission line this week, eliminating options that would have crossed the Broad Run Linear Park's tree preserve in six spots. The State Corporation Commission still has final say, and Dominion holds a community meeting July 23 at Patriot High School (5:30 p.m.). Read more →

PWC Opens First-Ever Farmland Preservation Application Window — Prince William County has opened its first Purchase of Development Rights application period, letting landowners sell development rights and permanently protect farmland through Aug. 31. Read more →

 Historic Effingham Manor & Winery Listed for Sale — The Nokesville wedding and event venue is among three Northern Virginia wineries included in a $12.8 million portfolio sale by Meriwether Vineyards Group. The 1777 manor house anchors the property, with a separate event center, tasting room, and winery facility completed in 2016.

New Businesses Opening Across Prince William County — From restaurants to retail, we've rounded up the new businesses that have opened across PWC so far in 2026. Read more → woodbridgegazette.com/p/new-businesses-across-prince-william-county-2026-so-far

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This week reminded us of something we believe in deeply: your voice matters. Whether it's weighing in on a data center project, supporting farmland preservation, or just telling us what you want from the Gazette, speaking up shapes the future of Prince William County. We hope to see you at some of this week's events, and we're listening to what matters to you.

We'll be back in your inbox Monday, July 27.

Marie Clementi — Publisher & Editor · The Woodbridge Gazette

Domenic Clementi — Military & Veterans Editor · The Woodbridge Gazette

woodbridgegazette.com · [email protected]

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