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Greetings from the Occoquan District!
The Board of Supervisors just adopted a re-districting plan and is schedule to adopt the FY12 budget next Tuesday. As we prepare for the Easter Holiday, many students are enjoying Spring Break and I wanted to take a few moments to update you on a few things going on around the county and our district. |
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The "New" Occoquan District | |
On Monday, April 18, the Board of Supervisors adopted a re-districting plan. As a part of the adopted plan, the Occoquan District will extend to just beyond the Davis Ford Road corridor effective January 1, 2012. So, if you have always been in the Occoquan District, nothing has changed for you. However, if you live between Springwoods Drive and Ellis Road on the north side of either Old Bridge Road or the Prince William Parkway, welcome to Occoquan!
For more detailed information about the re-districting plan, please visit the Prince William County website. |
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Parking Enforcement Begins April 25 | |
Captain Greg Smith of the Prince William County Police Department has advised that the Police Department will resume ticketing in Eastern Prince William Commuter Lots on Monday, April 25. The ticketing will be in a "graduated" manner. As a resultof the loss of parking spaces at Potomac Mills Mall in February, the Police had offered commuters a period of 'clemency' in the commuter lots.
Recently, the Police Department has been receiving many complaints about illegalparking, particularly the Dumfries/Jeff Davis lot. Periodic spot checks revealedseveral cars parked illegally, including directly on crosswalks. Additional information is available under the "Transportation" tab at pwcgov.org or by clicking here. |
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Real Estate Tax Exemption for Veterans | |
Recently, the Virginia General Assembled adopted legislation requiring localities to grant a real estate tax exemption to veterans with a 100%, permanent and total, service-connected disability. A constitutional amendment passed by voters this past fall and legislation patroned by Delegate John O'Bannon and Senator Toddy Puller exempts real estate, including property held jointly by a husband and wife, from taxation provided the veteran meets the specified disability requirements. The exemption applies to the building on the property and up to one acre of land. The veteran must use the property as his or her principal residence.
The surviving spouse of a veteran is also eligible for the exemption if the veteran died on or after January 1, 2011. The spouse will lose the exemption if he or she remarries or does not occupy the property as his or her primary place of residence. The exemption is not retroactive and spouses will not be eligible if the veteran died prior to January 1, 2011.
Localities will supply forms for veterans to use to claim the exemption. The veteran will be required to:
- include his or her name
- name of spouse (if appropriate)
- whether the property is jointly owned by husband and wife
- Certify the property is occupied as the veteran's principal residence
In late April, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will send a benefits summary to approximately 7,500 Virginia veterans identified by the VA as having a 100% permanent and total, service-connected disability. Veterans may submit this summary to the commissioner of the revenue, or to the official designated by governing body of their county, city, or town, as part of their application to claim the real estate tax exemption. Surviving spouses claiming the exemption must provide documentation that the veteran died on or after January 1, 2011. Veterans may call the USDVA at 1-800-827-1000 if they have questions about their disability rating.
Veterans and their spouses will not be required to re-file their information unless their principal place of residence changes. For additional information about the exemption, veterans should contact their local commissioner of the revenue or other designated local government official. Veterans in Prince William County may contact Allison Linder in the Real Estate Assessments Department at 703-792-7417. |
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Prescription Drug Take-Back Day | |
Do you have bottles of prescription drugs that have expired or that you no longer need to take? You may be aware that you should not throw them in the trash, flush them down the toilet, dump them down the sink or the garbage disposal, or leave them sitting in a cabinet or medicine chest. So what do you do with them?
On Saturday, April 30 the Prince William County Police Department will join with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Manassas Police Department to provide you with a safe and legal way to dispose of these unwanted items. Simply bring your prescription drugs to the collection sites at Manassas Mall and Potomac Mills Mall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last September, more than 400 pounds of expired prescription drugs and other medicines were collected in Prince William County during the DEA's "Take-Back" initiative.
This nationwide prescription drug "Take-Back" initiative seeks to prevent pill abuse and theft. According to the DEA, rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
During this initiative, prescription and over the counter solid dosage medications (i.e. tablets and capsules) will be accepted. Intravenous solutions, injectables, and needles will not be accepted. Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine will also not be accepted during National Take-Back Day.
For more information on this program, including updates on the Police Department collection sites, visit the website. You can enter your ZIP code to find the collection site nearest you.
For more information, please call the Prince William County Police Department's Crime Prevention Unit at 703-792-7270. |
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New Dominion Choraliers
15th Annual Spring Program | |
The New Dominion Choraliers of Prince William County will present their 15th Annual Spring Program, Celtic & American Tapestry, on Saturday, May 14th and Sunday, May 15th at Potomac Senior High School (3401 Panther Pride Drive, Dumfries). The Pre-show, which begins at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, will feature The Boyle School of Irish Dancers and Bagpiper Jamie Fountain. The Choraliers will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Children 4 and under are free. For information, call 703-498-8906 or 703-590-2147 or visit www.newdominionchoraliers.org. Partial funding has been provided by The Prince William County Park Authority, The Virginia Commission for the Arts & The National Endowment for the Arts, The Cecil and Irene Hylton Foundation and The Meredith Foundation. |
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FoodStock 2011 | |
ACTS, in coordination with local businesses and community groups, is hosting FoodStock on Saturday, May 21 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Prince of Peace United Methodist Church (6299 Token Forest Drive, Manassas). The event will feature a host of local bands and admission is free with a non-perishable food donation. All contributions will benefit the ACTS Food Bank.
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Fairfax and Prince William Connecting Counties to Clean-up Route 1 Corridor | |
The Clean Community Council, Fort Belvoir, the Lee- Chamber of Commerce and Quantico Marine Base are collaborating to clean up the Route 1 Corridor. On Saturday, April 30 this group will coordinate the "Fairfax and Prince William Connecting Counties to Clean Up Route 1 Corridor" event. It will be the first time the two counties have worked together on this type of activity. The event will be in conjunction with the Keep America Beautiful 2011 Great America Clean Up/Prince William Clean Community Council Spring Clean Up Campaign. The cleanup will begin north of Belvoir and end on Route 1 in front of Quantico Marine Base.
The Clean Community Council is looking for volunteers as well as sponsors to offset the cost of supplies, water, refreshments, etc. For more information or to volunteer please contact Brenda Evans or Kayne Karnbach or call 571-285-3772. |
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Optimist International Charter Club | | |
The Optimist International Club is a non-profit service organization composed of men and women and conducts service projects that benefit youth and community in affiliation with Optimist International. Major service projects include but are not limited to Bicycle Safety Program, Just Say No to Drugs Program and Food Collection for the Needy.
Optimist International is seeking members devoted to voluntary, constructive service to your community to join the Charter Club of Occoquan and Lake Ridge.
For more information contact Sam Shankar at 703-590-5061 or by email at khsamshankar@hotmail.com
Meetings are held once a month and children are welcome to attend. |
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