53 Thoughts to “Open Thread 3/5/10”

  1. Poor Richard

    The deadline to file for May 4th municipal elections was last week.
    Information on each city/town can be found on the Virginia State
    Board of Elections website – Quick Link to candidates list.

    Manassas City Council (3 seats)
    Marc Aveni
    Andy Harrover
    Steve Randolph

    Manassas City School Board (3 seats)
    Tim Demeria
    Patrick Linehan
    Reginia “Reggie” Moore
    Pam Sebesky
    Sanford Wiilliams

    Special School Board election to fill an unexpired term (1 seat)
    Jack Magee

  2. Poor Richard

    Also note:
    – Dumfries, two people are running for Mayor and five for council (3 seats)
    – Haymarket, one for Mayor and eight for council (6 seats)
    – Quantico, two for Mayor and ten for council (5 seats)
    – Qccoquan, one for Mayor and six for council (5 seats)
    – *Manassas Park moved their election to November

  3. Lafayette

    Three seats available for City Council, and three candidates. What’s the point in even voting for one of those three gentlemen. They got the job again. I’m glad they will remain on the council. I guess there’s always the possiblity of a “write-in candidate” winning. 😉

  4. kelly3406

    After the Duke women defeated the Maryland women 64-62 last night, there were no riots in College Park. It is now clear that civic-minded advocates of higher education with a social conscience must pull for Duke against Maryland.

  5. It must be a male basketball thing, Kelly.

  6. Lafayette,

    Where are the bios for the candidates?

    I also thought Maureen Wood would run. There are some surprises there on the roster.

  7. Emma

    @Poor Richard Patrick Linehan was one of the most responsive School Board members during his previous tenure. Anyone who has a child with disabilities in the City Schools knows how hard he’s worked for them.

  8. Lafayette

    Perhaps, some of our City posters, such PR or CindyB could direct us to the bios. I can’t waste time on City stuff. We have too many pressing issues in PWC. Numero Uno on my list is the proposed elementary school at Stonewall Middle. I don’t we don’t agree on this issue, but it’s at the top of my list right now.

  9. Poor Richard

    – Apparently nobody filed for one Fredericksburg City ward seat so will
    assume that would indeed go to a “write-in”.

    – Quantico seems to be hot bed of local political activity – anybody know
    what the issues are there?

    – Headline in Culpeper paper “Boring to run for Council” . Really?
    Turns out it is a guy named Dan Boring.

    – To pull up candidates for towns on the VSBOE website, you need to
    use Prince William County as the “locality”.

    – Leesburg, Culpeper, Fredericksburg, Falls Church newspapers have all
    had numerous stories on their local May 4th elections — our
    News&Observor – zip, nothing. So much for keeping the public informed.
    Perhaps the candidates need to go out and do wheelies at our High Schools.

    – November elections for city/town offices? Pro or Con?

  10. Manassas City’s 2002 comprehensive plan is being updated and they want citizen input:
    http://www.manassascity.org/DocumentView.aspx?DID=3404

    Since the city is built out, the plan says maintaining the city’s housing stock and neighborhoods is a key issue and calls us “character areas.” I remember city staff gathering input from people who attended the Neighborhood Conference in 2008 to describe the strengths and weaknesses of our neighborhoods.

    I just found out that our non-HOA “character area” in Weems had a very strong, 800-member Northwest Manassas Community Association in the 1960s and 1970s, that accomplished great things, but then faded from lack of participation in the 1980s.

    Anyhow, if you read the plan and want to make comments, e-mail them to the City’s community development office c/o Greg Bokan at [email protected]

  11. Pro November elections for city/town offices. It saves money.

  12. Poor Richard

    A “history moment”-

    One hundred years ago the President of the United States was
    William Howard Taft – the only sitting President, to my knowledge,
    who has ever delivered a formal public address in Manassas
    (1911 Peace Jubilee).
    – At over 300 pounds, he was also our heaviest President.
    – And the only one to serve on the Supreme Court after office.
    – A staunch Republican, he started out as a protege of Teddy
    Roosevelt, but by 1912 had a Glen Beck dislike for TR.
    – And he was a Unitarian.

    Understand there is already a search for someone to play Taft
    at the proposed Peace Jubilee of 2011 in front of the old PWC
    Courthouse. Any ideas?

  13. Who is looking, PR? Start with the local acting community — Prince William Little Theatre, etc. They can spread the word in the region. Post it on Craigslist under “gigs” and “talent.”

  14. Lafayette

    cindy b :Pro November elections for city/town offices. It saves money.

    I’m in total agreement. The towns and cities have less money to work with. Novemer is election month, not May.

  15. clueless

    @Poor Richard
    Lafayette,

    Who is looking for a Taft actor? The City killed the Manassas Museum in the budget. I guess the County owns the Courthouse but it seems silly to hype the 150th and then kill your attractions. I guess the public money grab for a dess up party is not dead yet.

  16. clueless

    @clueless

    Sorry Lafayette, My question was to Poor Richard, at least I have an appropriate screen name!

  17. Lafayette

    @clueless
    There’s nothing like a sense of humor. 🙂 Good question to PR. I anxiously await his reply.

  18. Poor Richard

    Clueless,
    Sesquicentennial events are still in the plans, even if scaled back
    due to tight funding. The economy has given us lemons, so we set up
    our little stand and make lemonade.

  19. Poor Richard

    “In the horror that unfolded in Prince William County this week,
    where a man entered a home used as a day care center and killed
    the woman who ran it, then himself, there is an unsung heroine.
    The woman’s 12-year old daughter managed to get the center’s
    seven children to the basement and out of the way. It was she who
    phoned police. The girl showed great presence of mind in a
    terrifying situation. In the midst of grief, we hope she can take
    some comfort in that.”
    Charlottesville Daily Progress – op/ed 3-5-2010

    “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that
    something else is more important … it is grace under pressure”.
    Ernest Hemmingway

  20. clueless

    @Poor Richard
    PR, the question is still who is setting up the lemonade stand and who is paying for the permit?

  21. Poor Richard

    Clueless,
    That is a work in progress. The Commonwealth has yet to
    allocate funding, nor has PWC. Manassas has set aside some
    money, but won’t spend it until they can move in concert with the
    other two bodies. Stay tuned.

  22. Emma

    Has anyone seen Alice in Wonderland yet?

  23. Lafayette

    Clueless,
    Don’t forget Mr. Owens group withdrew their request from PWC for funds. Manassas had already given the group money ASSUMING the county would follow suit. That didn’t happen. Here’s the thread that has all the links to threads regarding The Sesquincentennial.

    http://www.antibvbl.net/index.php/2009/12/21/sesquicentennial-plans-withdrawn/

  24. Lafayette

    @Emma
    My daughter went Friday night and loved it. I don’t go to the movies. I’ll have to wait for the DVD as usual.

  25. Emma

    We’re planning to see it this afternoon to get the 3D experience@Lafayette

  26. Lafayette

    I do miss seeing some things on the big screen. I never thought about the 3D experience. I guess I’ll have to wait for my 3D tv. Enjoy, Emma!

  27. I want to wait until all the kids are back in school so I can kick back and enjoy it. I want rabbits coming at me.

    How was it Emma?

    PR, thanks for bringing the point home about that courageous 12 year old. What a heroine she really is.

  28. Emma

    @Moon-howler It was excellent! Very original take on the story and not at all Disney-fied.

  29. clueless

    @Lafayette
    Thanks Lafayette, I think we all need to reread the 150th posts. The Manassas Museum cut all of its program staff and is adding a Sesquicentennial coordinator. I am not sure what they will be coordinating but I have a feeling it will be a Blue and Grey Ball. PR, do you have any more to share?

  30. Poor Richard

    Clueless,
    Note there is a two page spread on local Sesquicentennial events
    in the recently released Prince William County – Manassas, Virginia
    Visitors Guide 2010-11. (You can find it at numerous locations including
    the Old Town Manassas Train Station visitor center).

  31. clueless

    @Poor Richard
    Thanks PR, I will grab a guide. I guess programs are going on already. There seemed to be confusion before the holidays.

  32. Emma, how was the 3-D?

    I( never liked Alice in Wonderland when I was a kid. It lacked a certain logical sequence to me. Do you think I will find it different as an adult?

  33. PR, I am not sure I understand what the city is doing with its museum. Can you shed some light on it?

  34. Poor Richard

    “Beginning in 2011, Prince William County and The City of Manassas
    will commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War and events
    that changed our nation with living history, lectures, film, concerts and
    re-enactments. Prince William County will partner with the Commonwealth
    to explore the impact of the conflict on all Americans from civilians to
    soldiers to slaves.
    Visitors Guide – Page 14

    Then Page 15 has a list of activities headlined “Planned Sesquicentennial
    county events for 2010 include:”

    – No list of City of Manassas events.
    – “Beginning in 2011” on one page and then a list of 2010 events
    on the next?

    A work in progress – to say the least.

  35. Wolverine

    Whoa!!! Did you all catch ex-New York Congressman Eric Massa yesterday? It looks like the cats in the gunny sack are starting to claw each other up. What a picture!!! Massa and Rahm Emmanuel buck naked in the shower at the House gymnasium, cussing each other out over the Obama budget bill. Impressive. Uplifting. Dignified. And there are those who jump all over the Tea Party people for raising their voices in protest. Hah!!

  36. clueless

    @Moon-howler
    MH, In the City’s proposed budget the Museum takes about a $360,000 cut. The Director has already been let go. Here is the JM article with a bunch of comments.

    http://www2.insidenova.com/isn/news/local/manassas/article/manassas_budget_cuts_on_the_horizon/52720/

  37. Rick Bentley

    The day laborers on Coverstone are out of control. I see 30-40 guys every time I go down that street.

    I’m personally not going to call non-emergency services over and over, just every once in a while. But if anyone else wants to report these guys for loitering, the number is 703-792-6500 .

  38. Lafayette

    @clueless
    I snagged a copy today at the Train Station. I did NOT see word one about any Blue and Grey Ball. I have to wonder if Stonewall Jackson’s Raiders Class of ’86’s 25 year Reunion will be a Blue and Grey Ball. 😉

    I agree we all need to go back and read through those threads. I sure hope to some time in the upcoming week. Right now, I’m too busy opposing a proposed elementary school at Stonewall Middle.

    This proposed school is not a welcomed by many WestGate and Sudley residents(that back up to the property). The real slap in the face was when Ms. Hannon of the Schools was asked if there had been any meetings with residents prior to this proposal. And her response was “We MIGHT have a meeting at SMS after the school is approved”. Well, it’s a little late then. There are safety issues and there’s less land at this than the required 60 acres. I could go on and on. There is a FB Group set up called “No New Elementary School at Stonewall Middle”. I’ll stop now.

  39. What other sites are available and why was Stonewall chosen and not some other site?

    What neighborhoods will the new proposed school serve?

    Anything that takes the crunch of off Sinclair is welcome to me, regardless of where the school is built. I expect those in Westgate feel the same way.

  40. Mom

    Lafayette:

    Good luck with Hannon and Beavers, nobody should be subjected to the torture that is dealing with those two. On the bright side however, if it becomes apparent that they are going do whatever they want despite residents concerns, it is relatively easy to goad Beavers into a meltdown. I would suggesting pointing your pen or pencil at him while addressing him, works better than a red cape with a bull.

  41. Poor Richard

    Rumor on the street is that the Manassas Resources Board plans to
    aim cannons on the museum lawn towards city hall if the
    council doesn’t relent on some “harsh” budget and policy decisions.

  42. Thanks for that horrible image, Wolverine. ewwwwww. I am scarred for life.

    Ex-congressman Massa is on Glenn Beck right now. I can’t keep up with it all. 🙄

  43. Lafayette

    Moon,
    The county almighty numbers as of 9/30/09.. WestGate(94.5%) and Sudley(96.5%) are under capacity, and Sinclair is at 117.5%. The boundaries for these three schools could be easily adjusted to help relieve some of the over crowding at Sinclair. I must also ask the question. Are our schools really over capacity? Or is this over capacity problem created when small class room grants are given due to the “Big 4”? Mullen is currently at 119.2% and Ellis is at 118.1%. There’s no room for development or very little room. There’s plenty of room for houses to be built on the western side of 234(Ellis & Mullen side) and those schools enrollment will continue to grow.

    The Schools should consider a possible land swap or purchase with the PWCBoS or PWCPA. I think the county has some land on that side that would be far better suited to serve those kids. The site at SMS is 1.8 acres short of the required 60 acres, and then there’s another 1.25 acres on the hill there that I doubt have much use. The short of acreage is not within the county standard for minimum land for this site.

  44. Lafayette

    No room for development in WG/Sudley. I meant to say.

  45. Lafayette

    Mom,
    It’s been a busy day. I cracked up at your post when I first read and it’s still funny. This is just such a bad plan on so many levels. Not bad planning in PWC? Say it isn’t so. 🙂

  46. Rick Bentley

    My wife says it looks like they/we are reopening the driver’s rest stops near us off 66? Did McDonnell undo Kaine’s asinine decision to close them?

  47. Lafayette

    Yes, he did, Rick! Four opened along 81 about three weeks ago. I’m so glad they are reopening. It sure wasn’t a very welcoming message to visitors when they drove by boarded up buildings at our Rest Areas(some are Welcoming Centers). Good for Governor McDonnell. This is one thing he and Deeds both said they would do. Wow, a politician actually doing what they said they were going to do. Of course this is just one thing.

  48. Rick Bentley

    Agreed. Boy, Kaine was a jerk. The things are already built. I assume maintenance costs are small. There’s practically no money saved by closing them, but Kaine does so out of petulance. He’s running a state leaking money, proposing additional expenditures, encouraging illegal immigration, and closing rest stops already built. This is leadership?

    McDonnell would have to work very, very hard to be a worse governor than Kaine.

  49. Rick Bentley

    Kaine feels we can’t discourage illegal immigration because it doesn’t seem welcoming, but he boards up rest stops … I really resent his mismanagement of this state. Lots of luck to the Democratic party who have entrusted this ineffectual tool with a position of leadership.

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