Category: local news

HUNKERING DOWN FOR THE BIG SNOWSTORM (JONAS)

On By Citizen TomIn Delegate Bob Marshall, local news9 Comments
Snowstorm Jonas snowfall predictions (from here)
Snowstorm Jonas snowfall predictions (from here)

I spent a lot of time growing up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Back then the weathermen named hurricanes, and nobody named snowstorms.  Now we are more into equality. We name hurricanes after both men and women, and we even name snowstorms.

Silly people don’t think enough. Very few men ever display the raging, flaring temper of an angry woman, and those men we put in jail. When compared to hurricanes, snowstorms are just not worth naming.

Just the same the snow is falling, and it looks like we will get lots of it. Since noon we have already gotten several inches, and just keeps snowing harder. It is good thing tomorrow is Saturday.

Anyway, Virginia is in a state of emergency. That means stay home. On the other hand, if this were a hurricane and your home was on the beach, staying home would be a very bad idea.

The National Weather Service has a good website, and they don’t bother with the hype or the advertisements.  So that is generally where I go for weather info, but there is more out there related to weather emergencies..

Yesterday, Delegate Bob Marshall provided his constituents an email with a bunch of links. Here is the email.

THE MARSHALL MESSAGE

Dear Friends,

As you are probably already aware Virginia is expecting a significant winter storm beginning tomorrow, Friday, January 22nd and extending through Saturday. Below are a number of resources you may find helpful before, during and after the storm:

VDOT is preparing for this storm and is pre-treating roads in areas where the temperatures will allow today.  Once the snow is falling you may want to check out VDOT’s snow plow tracking tool that allows you to check the snow plowing status of your neighborhood. VDOT and VA Dept of Emergency Management also suggest the following in the case of a winter storm:

  • Get where you need to be before the weather gets bad. If possible, delay travel to allow VDOT crews to clear the roads. Most accidents happen within the first two hours after a storm begins. If you must drive, wear a seatbelt and drive slowly.
  • Monitor media outlets for notices of closures of government offices or private operations to avoid unnecessary travel.
  • Report road problems to (800) 367-7623 or novainfo@vdot.virginia.gov.
  • Make sure you have essential supplies on hand: at least three days of food that does not require refrigeration or electricity to prepare; at least three days of water (one gallon per person per day); a battery-powered and/or hand-crank radio to get information from local media; a family emergency plan.
  • To check road conditions, you can call 511, go to www.511virginia.org or download the mobile app at the 511 web site.
  • Information on how to prepare is available at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management or download the new Ready Virginia app for iPhones and Android devices.
  • Follow VDOT Northern Virginia on Twitter: @vadotnova
  • Ensure all mobile communication devices are charged in advance.
  • If you lose power, call your power company to report it.
  • Do not operate generators indoors. Follow manufacturer’s directions exactly.
  • Only call 911 for life-threatening emergencies.
  • Please bring in all pets from outside during the storm.

Reporting Outages

Dominion Virginia Power – (866) 366-4357, and their outage map can be reached here.

NOVEC – (703) 335-0500, and their outage map can be reached here.

Washington Gas – (703) 750-1000, and their winter resources can be reached here.

Non-Emergency County Resources

Prince William County: The PWC site has snow removal and winter safety tips. To call, dial 703-792-6500.

City of Manassas Park  Information about snow safety is available at this website.  Manassas Park has declared a snow emergency for tomorrow, January 22nd so please click here to see the routes.

As always, please let me know if there is any way I can assist you by emailing me at mail@delegatebob.com or calling me on my cell phone at 703-853-4213.  Please have a warm and safe weekend!

Sincerely,
Delegate Bob Marshall

REMINDER: CHRIS CRAWFORD AND COREY STEWART DEBATE OVER THE BEST POLICIES FOR PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY

On By Citizen TomIn 2015 Election, candidate support, Chris Crawford, local news, Supervisor Corey Stewart1 Comment

campaign.pngWhen?

Four candidates for elected office in Prince William County will meet for two separate debates Saturday, April 11.

First at 5:30 p.m., incumbent Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman, At-large Corey Stewart will meet his Republican challenger Chris Crawford to debate local issues concerning governance of Prince William County and the task of leading its Board of Supervisors. Both men are candidates in an April 25 party canvass, also known as a “firehouse” primary where Republican voters will decide who will go on to face Democrat challenger Rick Smith in November. (continued here)

Where?

The debates will be held at the Dar AlNoor Islamic Community Center on Hoadly Road in Woodbridge. The event is co-sponsored by the Coles District Civic Association and Potomac Local. (from here)

Who is Chris Crawford?

Opinion Piece: written by Chris Crawford, Republican Primary Candidate for Chairman of the Board of County Supervisors.  

Another Outrageous Display of Poor Leadership by Mr. Stewart

Last night I was reminded why I am running to replace Corey as Chairman of the Board of County Supervisors. At their weekly BOCS meeting Tuesday night, a hot topic during Citizen’s Time was the decision by the school board to designate the Ferlazzo Elementary school as a new building for the Porter School and not a “community school” as originally planned. (continued here)

Come to the debate. Listen to the candidates. Support your candidate. Hear their positions. Find out what they want to do. Let them defend what they have said and done. Take the time to participate of the local governance of the place where you live.

HOW DID THE DEBATE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES FOR BRENTSVILLE SUPERVISOR TURN OUT?

On By Citizen TomIn 2014 Election, candidate support, Jeanine Lawson, local news1 Comment

Greg Letiecq recorded the debate.  Here is his video.

Letiecq has the video and some commentary here.

Bristow Beat summarizes the debate in this story:Brentsville Supervisor Debate Highlights Distinctions between Candidates. In this story, Local Republicans Revoke Scott Jacobs’ Membership in their Party, the Bristow Beat confirms a comment I made in an earlier post.

The Potomac Local has a couple of articles related to the debate.

I watched the debate, and I thought it quite interesting. Linton Hall School relaxed the mood with a little Christmas music courtesy of their Fife & Drum Corps. The children are really quite good, and everyone enjoyed the diversion, but then we got to the business at hand.

Generally, the candidates came well prepared.  All have lived in the area for years.  Eric Young and Scott Jacobs grew up here. Young spoke from the perspective of someone who has served on multiple community boards. Jacobs leveraged his experience as a successful businessman. Jeanine Lawson, who has lived Prince William County for 19 years, spoke from with perspective of a grassroots political leader. Lawson has a long record of being involved in community affairs. Of the three candidates, she is probably the most well-known to our community.

My personal impression is that Lawson and Young got the most out of the debate. Jacobs made no secrets of his ties to and sympathies for the developers in Prince William County. For example, Lawson and Young successfully made the case that the Stone Haven development would cost the citizens of Prince William financially and further overcrowd our schools. On the other hand, Jacobs failed to provide a convincing argument for approving Stone Haven. That left the impression his first loyalties would not be with the citizens of Prince William County.

Young made, perhaps, one strategic mistake.  He came out in support of a pre-kindergarten program for financially disadvantaged children. Although his position probably pleased the members of our local teacher’s union, both Lawson and Jacobs promptly slapped down his proposal. Even if Young’s proposal made sense, the county does not have the money to pay for it. That’s why we already have a high student to teacher ratio. Thus, with his support for a pre-kindergarten program, Young undermined his credibility as someone who can be counted upon to balance the budget and keep taxes further increasing.

 

A SMALL VICTORY!

On By Citizen TomIn 2014 Election, Jeanine Lawson, local news, Short Story6 Comments

votingBecause I try to do my part, November 4, 2014 was a busy day.  I was at the polls working as a volunteer for the Republican Party.  As the result of that experience, I would like to tell you about two ladies.

A Hard Working Candidate For Public Office

When people arrived, I passed out sample ballots, and when people left I tried to make certain they knew about the special election scheduled for December 23, 2014. Yep! Just two days before Christmas the voters in Prince William County’s Brentsville Magisterial District get to elect their new member on the Board of Supervisors. Here are the candidates (from here).

Naturally, I was there to support the Republican, Jeanine Lawson.  She spent the day visiting the polls, meeting voters, and encouraging the campaign volunteers.  Since she is working hard and taking advantage every opportunity to get her name and her campaign platform before the voters, I expect she will do well.

Jeanine’s brief bio really doesn’t do her justice.  If her 19 years as a resident of the Brentsville District were a degree, we could properly say she has earned a doctorate in Virginia politics and local government.

An Elderly Lady Doing Her Duty

There was a stream of folks walking down the sidewalk coming to vote.  Nevertheless, that little lady got my attention. She came slowly down the sidewalk with a walker, struggling where someone younger would have just sauntered at their ease. I had to admire her spunk. Here was someone making a serious effort to vote, and she was determined to do it right.

A little while latter, she came back out. Tired, she asked to borrow a chair. So I sat down and chatted with her, a little concerned and curious to hear what she might say. She had had surgery on her back twice. Her doctors said she needed surgery one more time, but because her age they recommended against it.  They did think she would survive. So she found it painful to get around. Nevertheless, she considered it a duty to vote. So she did.

She also mentioned Holland, where she had come from. Until 1967, the law required everyone to vote. Given her attitude, I expect most in Holland still consider it everyone’s duty to vote. As a citizen of this country, this lady certainly considers it her duty to vote.

After our little chat, she was rested, and I escorted her the rest of the way to her car. I chuckled. That frail little lady drove a little red sports car, well made and well kept. When I expressed surprise she could drive, she let me know her back bothered her, but her and arms and legs worked quite well, and the seat was comfortable.

So if you see an elderly lady get out of a little red sports car and pull a walker out of her trunk, give her a salute. We can depend upon her to give all she has to do her duty.