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IN THIS ISSUE
● Opening Note
● Weather
● The Lead
● Weekly News Brief
● New Businesses
● Community
● Events & What's On
● Save the Date
OPENING NOTE
Hello, neighbors.
Fall is creeping in — the mornings have a little more bite to them, and the farm stands are starting to fill up with apples. If you're headed out to pick your own this weekend, a few of our usual go-to orchards had a rough season due to the spring freezes. We have a brief rundown on the orchards still picking.
Closer to home, drivers near Prince William Parkway and Minnieville Road should mark their calendars for Sept. 22 — new left-turn restrictions are coming as that interchange project keeps moving. And if you're in Manassas, watch for a few days of railroad crossing closures near Jennie Dean Elementary starting Monday.
As always, thanks for reading and for supporting local, independent journalism.
Marie
WEATHER
The week opens on the cooler, breezier side with a slim chance of showers, then warms into a stretch of sunny, dry days by midweek before easing back down for the weekend.
● ☀️ Mon, Sept 14 — Partly Cloudy, high 83°/low 56°, 12% rain, wind 11 mph N
● ⛅ Tue, Sept 15 — Partly Cloudy, high 80°/low 60°, 4% rain, wind 5 mph ESE
● ⛅ Wed, Sept 16 — Partly Cloudy, high 85°/low 64°, 7% rain, wind 5 mph S
● ☀️ Thu, Sept 17 — Sunny, high 89°/low 68°, 6% rain, wind 6 mph S
● 🌤️ Fri, Sept 18 — Mostly Sunny, high 89°/low 67°, 24% rain, wind 6 mph S
● ⛅ Sat, Sept 19 — Partly Cloudy, high 85°/low 67°, 24% rain, wind 5 mph E
● 🌦️ Sun, Sept 20 — PM Showers, high 80°/low 61°, 35% rain, wind 7 mph NNE
THE LEAD
Woodbridge has a new school, and it already has its own mascot legend to tell. More than 600 students walked through the doors of Woodbridge Elementary School this fall, joining classmates from Kilby, Potomac View, and Vaughan Elementary Schools, along with families new to the Woodbridge District, in a brand-new Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) building.
Source: Prince William County Public Schools
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WEEKLY NEWS BRIEF
Prince William County Marks 25th Anniversary of Sept. 11 With Remembrance Ceremony
Prince William County held a remembrance ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, honoring the 22 county residents lost that day.
Left Turns to Close at Prince William Parkway and Minnieville Road Starting Sept. 22
Drivers should prepare for temporary left-turn restrictions and detours beginning Sept. 22 as crews continue building the Prince William Parkway at Minnieville Road interchange. Through traffic and right turns remain open in all directions, and a temporary detour road is in place. The $81 million project broke ground in May 2026 and is expected to be complete by winter 2028. In a related closure, the City of Manassas says Norfolk Southern will close the railroad crossing on Wellington Road near Jennie Dean Elementary School Sept. 14-17 for necessary repairs.
Source: Prince William County Communications Office
PWC Fire & Rescue Wants Your Input on Its Next Strategic Plan
Prince William County Fire & Rescue is developing its next Strategic Plan and is holding community input sessions: Sept. 16 at Buckhall Volunteer Fire Department, Manassas (2-4pm & 6-8pm); Sept. 17 at Potomac Library, Woodbridge (2-4pm); and Sept. 18 at Haymarket Gainesville Library (2-4pm).
NEW BUSINESSES
Bebop Korean-Mexican Grill
A Korean-Mexican grill is coming soon to Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center (15101 Potomac Town Pl, Ste 140). No opening date has been announced yet.
GameOn Bar + Arcade
A 90s-themed bar and arcade — with locations already in Annapolis, Baltimore, Columbia, and DC — is targeting a Q4 2026 opening at Stonebridge, across from Dok Khao and the Alamo Drafthouse. Family-friendly during the day, 21+ after 9pm.
Wonder Food Hall
Wonder, the multi-restaurant digital food hall, holds its grand opening and ribbon-cutting Thursday, Sept. 17, at 10:30am at Smoketown Station (13257 Worth Ave., Woodbridge) — a shopping center off Prince William Parkway near Potomac Mills that also includes Best Buy, Lidl, Total Wine & More, Chuck E. Cheese, and First Watch. The concept lets customers order from more than 20 restaurants and chef-driven concepts — including names like José Andrés, Bobby Flay, Michael Symon, and Marcus Samuelsson — through a single app, on-site counter, or delivery order. Dine-in, pickup, and delivery are all available, and the first 100 orders of $10 or more get a Wonder swag bag. The Woodbridge location joins an existing Wonder spot in Manassas' Signal Hill Shopping Center.
COMMUNITY
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EVENTS & WHAT'S ON
Mon, Sept 14
● Garden Club of Lake Ridge Annual Launch Meeting — Tall Oaks Community Center, 6:30pm Green Thumb Chat, 7pm meeting
● NoVA MNO Lunchtime Business Mixer — Casa Tequila Bar & Grill, Lorton, 12-1pm, free
Tue, Sept 15
● Coffee with the Curator: Open for Business — Manassas
Fri, Sept 18
● Fall Into Nature — Woodbridge, 11:45am
● Toy Story 5 Movie in the Park — Chinn Aquatics & Fitness Center, 13025 Chinn Park Dr., Woodbridge, 8:15-9:30pm, free, no ticket needed, bring lawn chairs/blankets, parent/guardian required for kids under 16
● Kids Night Out — Veterans Memorial Park, 14300 Veterans Dr, Woodbridge, 6-9pm, $25, ages 5-12
Sat, Sept 19
● 2nd Annual Teens on the Right Steps Celebration — Woodbridge, 12pm
● Crab Feast — Woodbridge, 1-3pm, $65/$75
● Traditional Crafts of the 18th Century Festival — Central Library, 8601 Mathis Ave, Manassas, 11am-2pm, all ages/families
● Hylton Presents: An Evening with Bernadette Peters — Hylton Performing Arts Center, 7:30pm, ticketed
● Woodbridge District Dumpster Day & Paper Shred Event — Rippon Middle School, 15101 Blackburn Rd., 10am-2pm, free — Details
Sun, Sept 20
● Squishy Fidget Speed Trading — Woodbridge, 3pm
Sat-Sun, Sept 19-20
● Colonial Market & Fair — George Washington's Mount Vernon
Thu, Sept 24
● Mobile Library — Rollins Ford Park, 2-4pm
Farmers Markets This Week
● Dale City Farmers Market — Sundays, 8am-1pm, 14090 Gemini Way, open through November
● Historic Manassas Farmers Market — Thursdays, 8am-1pm, Harris Pavilion
● Haymarket Farmers Market — Saturdays, 8am-1pm
● Nokesville Farmers Market — Saturdays, 8am-1pm
Apple Picking
This year's harsh, fluctuating weather hit several regional orchards hard, so a few longtime picking spots are pre-picked-only this season. Call ahead or check farm websites for hours and availability before heading out.
Source: Northern Virginia Magazine
Recurring Book & Art Clubs
● B&N Woodbridge Book Club — First Tuesday of every month, 7pm, in the café (next meeting: Oct. 6)
● B&N Woodbridge Art Club — Second Tuesday of every month, 7-8:30pm, no experience needed, artist Dave Dillon on hand for tips, bring a small sketchbook or paper (9x10 or smaller) and basic supplies — materials also provided (next meeting: Oct. 13)
SAVE THE DATE
● Occoquan Fall Arts & Crafts Show — Sat-Sun, Sept 26-27 — See our full guide
● Buzz Bookstore Grand Opening — Sat, Sept 26, 406 Mill St., Occoquan
● OmniRide 40th Anniversary Local Food Drive — Sept 23, 4-8pm, OmniRide Transit Center, benefiting Northern Virginia Food Rescue, during the Community Open House
● Knights of Columbus Contact-Free Shredding — Sat, Sept 26, 10am
● Oktoberfest at American Legion Post 364 — Sat, Sept 26, 1pm
● SFCA Community BBQ Fundraiser — Manassas, Sat, Sept 26, 11am-3:30pm
● Manassas Ballet Theatre presents Jazz in Motion (season opener) — Fri-Sat, Oct 23-24, 7:30pm, Sun Oct 25, 3pm, Hylton Performing Arts Center
● Fall 2026 Veterans Virtual Guitar Workshop Series (Levels I & II) — Tuesdays, Sept 22-Nov 10, Veterans and the Arts Initiative, registration required
● Lifelong Learning Institute: The Life of Anne Morrow Lindbergh — Wed, Sept 23, 1:30pm, Manassas, registration required
● In Service of Theater: A Staged Reading Program for the Military and Veteran Community — Wed, Sept 23-Oct 28, Veterans and the Arts Initiative, registration required
● Buchanan Partners Art Gallery: "In Her Image" Panel Discussion — Sat, Sept 26, 2pm, Hylton Performing Arts Center, registration required
● The U.S. Army Field Band — Sun, Sept 27, 3pm, Hylton Performing Arts Center, ticketed
● Neabsco District Dumpster Day & Paper Shred Event — Sat, Sept 26, Dale City Commuter Lot, 14050 Gemini Way, 10am-2pm, free — Details
● Gainesville District Dumpster Day & Paper Shred Event — Fri, Oct 3, Supervisors Office, 13575 Heathcote Blvd., 8am-2pm, free
● Brentsville District Dumpster Day — Fri, Oct 17, George Mason Sci Tech Campus, Occoquan Parking Lot, 10am-2pm, free
● Occoquan District Dumpster Day & "Too Good to Toss" Collection — Sat, Oct 24, location TBD
THANKS FOR READING
See you next week.