Congratulations Kisha and Manassas City

MoonHowler

update!!!!!

City of Manassas Neighborhood Services Manager Kisha Wilson-Sogunro received
an important phone call last week - from the White House.

Organizers of the President's Champions of Change program invited her to
their weekly panel and networking discussion.  Ten Champions, ranging from
educators to entrepreneurs to community activists from around the U.S., were
being recognized for the work they are doing to better their communities.

Sogunro thinks the invitation resulted from the city's recent Virginia
Municipal League President's Award, the latest of 11 state and national
awards the city, its community partners and volunteers have accumulated in
the past five years for their neighborhood revitalization projects.  

She accepted the invitation in typical "Kisha" style - by asking for more.
Sogunro asked if she could bring with her the four AmeriCorps VISTA members
who are living in Georgetown South and working with residents to revitalize
that community.

And the White House assistant said yes.

"I was extremely appreciative," said Sogunro, took Kimberley Jenkins-Bailey,
Mignon Broughton, Kenisha Salvary and Jesus Tlatelpa with her to the White
House on Dec. 15.

The Manassas group joined up to 75 others in the Eisenhower Executive Office
Building for a four-hour panel, Q & A and networking session.  One Champion
of Change panelist was Timothy Solano, a child abuse victim who overcame
substance abuse, homelessness and incarceration to become an executive board
member for Habitat for Humanity International.  Solano admitted:  "When
you're making speeches about cleaning up your neighborhoods, I was the guy
you were talking about."

Kenisha Salvary, 20, who graduated from Osbourn High School, was moved to
tears.  "I related to his story of survival and the challenge of single
parenting.  We need to bring these success stories to GTS where people my
age can hear them."

Mignon Broughton, who recently published her own story of struggle, Hidden
Voices: Revelations of a Young Soul [Godzchild Publications], took heart in
Solano's message as well.  "Don't let your struggle stop you.  Keep your
focus.  Be confident.  Model that for others, and they will learn to meet
their goals."

Another Champion of Change panel member was Rev. Dr. Judy Talbert, who works
closely with the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood
Partnerships, and was recognized for dedicating 36 years to helping at-risk
and challenged populations, including the homeless, ex-offenders, members of
gangs and persons with HIV-AIDS.  

"It was encouraging to hear that I don't have to leave my faith at the door
when I'm working," said Kimberley Jenkins-Bailey.  "What we are doing in GTS
matters and is making change.  We are planting seeds and watering for the
future. My role is to use my time wisely now and do the best I can."

"It was an energy boost," said Sogunro, who talked one-on-one with Jonathan
Greenblatt, Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and
Civic Participation.  "Manassas is on the right track with capacity building
and I'm eager to do so much more. We heard story after story of people who
turned their lives around and now they're working to make their communities
better.  We need a strong hand, but also offer that hand to lift people up."

On Jan. 16, the City of Manassas, Manassas City Public Schools and the Boys
& Girls Club of Manassas will launch a pilot youth transportation project
that will connect youth in Georgetown South to the club for after school and
early evening tutoring, mentoring, computer lab, athletics and other
programming.  If successful, the pilot will be expanded to other areas of
need throughout the city.

Sogunro is also recruiting community partners and volunteers for the Big Day
of Serving Manassas on May 5 in the Bristoe Station neighborhood - moving
the successful 1 By Youth model to the next area in need of revitalization. 

"Engaging youth drives change," says Sogunro.  "We also have a great
untapped influx of veterans returning to our neighborhoods. These vets have
the skills and abilities we need to build strong neighborhoods.  We need
them in CERT-Fire Corps and Neighborhood Watch.  We need them on the boards
of our community associations."

As soon as she returned to her office, Kimberley Jenkins-Bailey taped up her
quote of the day.  It reads, 'After you go to the White House, life will
never be the same.in a good way!'" 

To sponsor, partner or volunteer with City of Manassas Neighborhood Services
in their 2012 initiatives, call 703-257-8240 or e-mail
[email protected].

For more information about the Champions of Change program, visit
www.whitehouse.gov/champions.

Press Release from our in-cindy resource:

City of Manassas Neighborhood Services Manager Kisha Wilson-Sogunro is at The White House this morning, Dec. 15 at 9:30 a.m., to meet and be a part of a conversation with the President’s weekly Champions of Change program.  Each week, a different issue is highlighted and groups of Champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community activists, are recognized for the work they are doing to better their communities.

When a member of The White House staff called Sogunro earlier this week, they did not say she was being recognized, simply that they wanted her there, to be a part of the conversation, based on the work she’s been doing in the City of Manassas in neighborhood revitalization. 

Earlier this year, the City of Manassas was awarded the Virginia Municipal League’s President’s Award for the city’s “One Neighborhood at a Time” campaign, which includes Week of Hope, 1 By Youth and Neighborhood Improvement Circles.  Sogunro presented a workshop detailing the city’s program at the Neighborhoods USA Conference in Spokane, Washington in 2009.

Sogunro, a former Community Relations Director for AmeriCorp in Provo, Utah, was hired in 2006 to carry out the City of Manassas’ new Neighborhood Services program.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in Strategic Communications and Leadership from Seton Hall University.  She and her husband, Isaac, are residents of Bristow, Va., along with their two sons.

The City and Kisha make our entire community proud!  Watch out City, Corey will try to steal her away from you all.  :mrgreen:

Manassas City, some of your council folk go out of their way to promote the City also.  Is there an event that Steve Randolph misses?  If there is, I haven’t heard of it.  No one makes themselves more available than Andy Harrover, whether its his Friday coffee meet ups or opening up his home to discuss issues in a beer summit.  Both of these council-folks go far above and beyond.  I hope you City folks realize what gemstones you really have.  Its great to see that some public elected officials really do get off their dais and work with those who elected them and even those who didn’t. 

 

 

 

Gang Members Indicted for Murder of Mickey Hernandez

MoonHowler

From News and Messenger:

A grand jury in Prince William Circuit Court has indicted a Fairfax teen on a murder charge for the November stabbing death of 15-year-old Miguel “Mickey” Hernandez in Manassas.

Boris Alfred Juarez Ascencio, 18, of Blake Lane in Fairfax, is charged with first-degree murder for the Nov. 19 stabbing.

According to court documents, Juarez, who was 17 at the time of the incident, has been certified to stand trial as an adult.

In court documents, witnesses said that Juarez stabbed Hernandez several times as he walked home from school on Bartow Street.

Another teen, 18-year-old Mauricio Martinez of Manassas, has also been charged in Hernandez’s death.

According to testimony at a preliminary hearing, Martinez and Juarez were both members of the criminal street gang of Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13.

Witnesses said Martinez identified Hernandez as a member of a rival gang and then Juarez stabbed him, according to police and prosecutors.

Police and Hernandez’s family members have said he was not affiliated with a gang.

Read More

A lot of liability and little authority: Manassas Fire and Rescue Chief resigns

MoonHowler

Manassas Fire and Rescue Chief Mike Wood has resigned and not as a happy man.  He has been at his post for 2 years.  According to News and Messenger:

However, by his own admission, Wood is resigning a disappointed man. He said the current fire and rescue department gave him a lot of liability and little authority. It’s also a system that he feels makes residents of Manassas less safe than they should be

“[Public safety] is an essential service and an essential service needs a strategic vision, a strategic plan,” Wood said. “Some two years into my appointment, we’ve not been able to develop a strategic plan. There are too many diverse and opposing views on what could be done, should be done and what may need to be done.”

Manassas City established a system that was a six-person public safety committee comprised of volunteer and career staff.  Additionally, there was a 5 person appeals committee.  City Councilman Andy Harrover helped create  this Manassas Fire and Rescue set-up that was organized to prevent problems.  Obviously it didn’t.  Other officials weighed in on the subject in the N & M:

Manassas Volunteer Rescue Squad president Mike Enright was a little more blunt, stating the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company “disrespected” Wood.

 “I am surprised he lasted this long,” Enright said.

Manassas Mayor Harry J. “Hal” Parrish II said it was tough for all parties involved, including City Council. Set up in January, the system established a six-person public safety committee made up of volunteer and career staffers and a five-person appeals committee made up of Manassasresidents and run by city manager Lawrence Hughes. Councilman Marc T. Aveni chaired the public safety committee.

“I can’t help but think that a great system can come together when people decide they both need and want to work together cooperatively as a team, that is the key,” Parrish said.

Woods departure is seen by many as a real set back to City Fire and Rescue. 

Assistant Fire & Rescue Chief Mike Rohs said he could’ve retired a few years ago but chose to stick around to see what Wood could do.  Both Rohs and Enright praised Wood for his professionalism, open-door policy and his ability to obtain grants for the betterment of the department.

How do volunteers and paid staff work side by side?  It never made sense to me how this works.  Obviously someone or several someones didn’t like taking orders from the paid professionals.  They probably thought they were volunteers and didn’t have to go by the same rules as those on a pay check.  Yet, the volunteers help already stretched municipal budgets and provide a great service to the community.   Regardless of what has transpired, Mike Woods seems to have the respect of most city folks. 

Prince William County has certainly had its ups and downs with this issue also.  Regardless, the next Chief needs to have a great deal more authority over all fire and rescue.  The people of Manassas deserve no less.  City of Manassas people also need to be willing to dump a few of their tax pennies into the public jar to ensure that they have the most up to date equipment.  Word on the street is, they rely a little too much on other jurisdictions to make up their equipment deficiencies.   Hopefully, city folks will help fill in the blanks here.  

 

 

 

The Manassas Christmas Parade Dec. 4, 2010

MoonHowler

                                                                                                                                                                      

 

Saturday, December 4 is the 65th annual Manassas Christmas Parade.  It begins at 10 am rain or shine, cold, or not so cold.  The parade lines up in front of Manassas Shopping Center on Mathis Avenue and heads up Center Street, going towards Grant Avenue. 

This is a particularly special parade because of our very own star!  Cindy Brookshire will reign as Woman of the Year. 

Cindy Brookshire and Parade Chair John Martin

Here is Cindy’s bio published on the Christmas Parade website:

Cindy Brookshire has lived in Manassas 29 years and is an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Old Town Manassas. She worked for the Prince William Journal newspaper, Publishing Partners, Inc., and is currently a contractor producing monthly newsletters for the City of Manassas. She is an active member of the local Chamber of Commerce and proud member of Leadership Prince William, Class of 2010.

Read More

WHAT is going on around here?

MoonHowler

What is going on around Manassas and Prince William County?  Did someone put something in the water? 

We have had a young man murdered on the way home from school.  He wasn’t a gang member or anything other than a popular kid, according to all I have read.  The murder took place a block from Baldwin Elementary School, not in some remote area, surrounded by his peers.   What is going on around here?

We had a strange white powder substance come out of an envelope at the courthouse.  The courthouse was locked down and 5 people underwent decontamination.  Others are being watched for signs of illness. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force  has been called in to help with the investigation.  There is no confirmation of what the substance in the envelope was.   What is going on around here?

The Manassas Park Community Center was under lockdown today also.  No one was allowed in or out.  A warrant was being served in the vicinity.  What is going on around here?

The Gainesville Lazy Boy had a sniper on the roof and there was a suicide in the Hampton Inn in Gainesville. What is going on around here?

Some driver strung out on PCP and booze careened across the median strip just south of Gainesville and killed 2 innocent people and seriously injured others.  What is going on around here?

Last week a young bear was mutilated and its gall bladder had been removed.  Supposedly the bear gall bladder is used in Chinese medicine.  That hardly explains something that happened in Prince William Forest Park.  Animal cruelty is animal cruelty.  What is going on around here?

There are bad things going on.  Sadly, people still clamor on about KK’s in the newspaper while children are being killed by gang violence.  Bloggers myopically focus on immigration status rather than looking at the big picture.   The Manassas area needs a break.   I feel like I missed something.  What else has been going on out of the ordinary?

 

Flags of Many Colors

MoonHowler

Very few people on this blog have been as critical of the antics of Guardencio Fernandez as I have.  Today I am happy to announce that has changed.   Earlier in the week  I got an email telling  me that 39 flag poles were being planted over at 9500 Liberty Street.   The possibilities were endless.  Then one of the roving reporters told me flags of many nations had gone up.  Our contributors wrote out descriptions of what had been erected. My curiosity was killing me.  Finally the rains were over and the sun was shining so I drifted on over to the City, stopping to vote first, visited KK’s and then rolled on around to 9500.

I love flags.  They are beautiful.  They provide lots and lots of color and texture without ever being gaudy.  They wave and float in the wind.  They catch the sun and they ride the wind, like a colorful seagull.  They own the skies around them.  Even at night, flags, if properly lit, still cast their color magic, perhaps with a little less gusto but they still let you know they are there.

If Mr. Fernandez planted all those flag poles and adorned them with flags of many nations, just to poke a stick in the eye of the City, it backfired.  The flags are truly beautiful and adorn that part of the historic district with a wonderful  splash of color.  The American flag is the crown jewel of his colonnade of flags. 

I am going to look at the better part of human nature and declare that the war is over.  Everyone wins.  Mr. F gets the final word but in such a wonderful way.  He has beautified the City and sent a reminder that we are really a people from everywhere.  I never thought I would say it but….Good Job, Mr. Fernandez.

KK’s Temptations Debate Airs on Channel 5

MoonHowler

From Fox Channel 5:

Kim Skokan, co-owner of KK’s Temptations and Steve Thomas, a Manassas resident who opposes the store, joined the FOX 5 News at 10 to debate this sex shop battle.

The debate has been ongoing for about a month.  Tonight one of the leaders against KK Temptations, Manassas City resident Steve Thomas, squared off  against co-owner Kim Skokan.  Evaluate the debate for yourself.  Was there a clear winner or did both ‘sides’ make their point? 

 

As most people know, Moonhowlings has been supportive of KK’s Temptations.   I was glad to see Mr. Thomas narrow his objections to the store to being only against adult  videos rather than trying to condemn the entire shop.  Having a specific objection makes a lot more sense than some of the other people I have talked to and those  I heard making preposterous statements.   Mr. Thomas also resisted calling their store a ‘porn shop.’

However, tomorrow KK”s Temptations opens officially.  Stop by and tell the ladies hello. 

UPDATE:  The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held this morning.  It is my understanding that none of the Manassas Council attended.  Shame on them. 

 

The  Red Hat Society ladies were cute.  Beth Parker sure pointed out the hypocrisy about the Candy Factory.  Kiddie plays and Last of the Red Hot Lovers.  Too funny. 

I am totally sick of hearing the kid card dropped.  What a bunch of bull crap.  It has nothing to do with it.  The woman who spoke up  and said something to the effect that the husbands would all want the wives to do things they didn’t want to do spoke volumes.  That’s what’s behind all of this.  Some of the good women of Manassas don’t want to be asked to ……nahhhh Moon Howler.  Don’t go there.  It was obvious. 

Maybe some of the good women just need to say no if something is suggested in the marital bedroom that they don’t want to do.  Surely these ‘weaker vessels’ have heard of NO and realize that they aren’t owned by their husbands?  Tell me it isn’t this basic. 

 

KK Temptations Grand Opening on Saturday, October 16

MoonHowler

The long awaited grand opening of KK Temptations will happen this Saturday at noon.  Friends and lovers will be admitted at 11:00, by invitation–the general public at noon.

Kim and Kristina invite everyone to their store to see what all the fuss has been about. 

Hopefully, denizens of Manassas and Prince William County will put on their best manners and welcome these new shopkeepers to our community.

A new shop is always exciting and good for our economy.

 

City of Manassas Wins State Award for 1 By Youth Effort

MoonHowler

Guest post by Cindy Brookshire.

photography by Randy Donaldson, member, Trinity Episcopal Church

 

 

City of Manassas Neighborhood Services picked up their 10th state/national award in three years for their work in addressing neighborhood issues head-on with community partnership-based solutions.  The latest award is the  “State Neighborhood Youth Effort of the Year” for the national pilot 1 By Youth project that took place on April 24, 2010 in the Georgetown South neighborhood.  The award was presented in Roanoke on Sept. 25.  City resident Dwayne Lynch was a finalist for State Neighborhood Advocate of the Year.

 The City is sponsoring a neighborhood conference on Nov. 13 at the Boys & Girls Club from 9 am to 3 pm.  Register at www.manassascity.org/neighconf.  The event includes workshops, exhibits, a youth café and activities, a presentation by animal control, a pet contest and prizes.  It’s free.

 The City is also bringing back the award-winning 1 By Youth program to Point of Woods 1 & 2 and Point of Woods 3 neighborhoods on May 14, 2011.  You can hear more about it at Point of Woods’ Fall Festival, this Sunday, Oct. 10 from 12 to 4 pm.  Visit the 1 By Youth table. Contact Christen Zenich at 703-257-8315

Old Town Merchants pt 2

MoonHowler

Let’s see if this second post on the subject brings out the wrath of the christian right [lower case intentional]  like the first one did.  If that happens, we can always rename the thread “Greg Letiecq fights pornography with pornography.”  But I digress…..

News & Messenger  reporter Keith Walker has up-to-date coverage of the latest plan for the City of Manassas during Fall Festival, which is one of the city’s biggest events.  About 50 people are expected to gather in protest at City Hall sometime during the Fall Festival. 

Apparently the plan to coerce merchants into closing their doors between noon and 1 pm didn’t pan out.  I know of 1 merchant who ran off the visitor who came to garner support for her cause.  Picture a restaurant owner telling everyone to stop eating and to get up and leave right at noon.  Sort of makes one chuckle, if some idealistic person didn’t take it seriously.  What shopkeeper closes down during the busiest time of the biggest sale day of the year?

The leader of this pack was quoted in the News and Messenger:

MANASSAS, Va. —

Jennifer Basinger said she’s expecting about 50 people to show up at Manassas City Hall on Saturday to rally against an adult store set to open Oct. 20 on Battle Street in Old Town.

She said KK’s Temptations won’t fit in with the historic nature of the area.

“The shop I feel — and many do — is just not consistent with what Old Town is about,” Basinger said.

However, she doesn’t have anything against Kim and Kristina Skokan, the mother-and-daughter team who plan to open the store.

“It’s not a personal vendetta against the owner. It’s not an ugly, self-righteous march at all,” the 39-year-old Basinger said. “It’s really just wanting to keep Old Town the way it is.”
Basinger said the group will restrict itself to the area around City Hall between noon and 2 p.m. to avoid disrupting the Fall Jubilee that is also taking place Saturday.

“It’s peaceful. It’s non-confrontational. It’s not meant to take any thunder away from the fall festival,” she said. “It’s not going to be a bunch of people marching into Old Town.”

Reality check!  I saw an email or 2 and I don’t think you say some of that stuff to someone you don’t have a vendetta against.  Perhaps I just have different values.   Ms. Basinger needs to be more honest and forthright about that one. 

Another reality check involves the image you want to create for your city.  Do you want to stage a protest of any sort on your biggest tourism day of the year?  Why not just bring Mr. Fernandez back with a few native Americans to parade around.  I am sure he would be glad to accommodate.  Anything to embarrass the City.  How is this different?  At least if Mr. F paraded around with Native Americans you could tell the guests coming in from other areas that it was just the Tea Party, getting ready to dump a few barrels of tea overboard. 

Furthermore, what is it that these people want the City of Manassas to do?  The City  has caved in to every demand.  Many people I know are so disgusted with the City for acquiescing to this group of christian conservatives  [lower case intentional] that they are simply not going to spend money in the City.  In trying to please everyone, you please no one. 

Most of the City Councilpersons are nice people who take their elected position seriously.  They try to represent their constituents, rather than advance their own agendas.  What I don’t think they realize is that many people find KK Temptations a welcome addition to the City.  It breaks up the ho hum and the restaurants.  An even bigger number don’t care one way or the other. 

Kim Skokan and her daughter have postponed their grand opening out of deference to the City merchants who will be their new neighbors.  They didn’t want to draw attention away from a big sales day. They have dotted every i and crossed every t.  Perhaps they, too, have been just a little too accommodating to those who are all about control and bullying.  (and elections)

 

Manassas Old Town Merchants Asked to Close up Shop for an Hour

MoonHowler

It has come to our attention that the merchants of  Old Town Manassas are being asked by the anti-KK zealots to close up shop for 1 hour during the middle of Fall Festival, between 12:00 and 1:00 pm.  Are they nuts? 

Fall Festival and the other events held in the City are to promote fun, highlight the city, and bring in folks to spend money in the City of Manassas.  Localities all over America do this and each place tries to add its own unique touch to an event; something that makes the festival special. 

What kind of a self-serving, narcissistic, selfish person would ask merchants in this economic crunch to turn away potential business for an hour?  Why?  Are they going to pay each merchant their lost revenue?  Are they going to replace the BPOL tax loss for the  City?  Are they going to replace the sales tax to the state?  Are they going to pay the salaries of the worker bees who might get put on unpaid ‘break’ for an hour? 

Do these people think that the average shopper coming from outside Old Town Manassas gives a fig about KK Temptations, which by the way,  isn’t even open for business yet?   The Moonhowlings roving reporters will be taking note of which businesses were bullied into closing.  We will publish those names.  Our readers and contributors may handle the situation as they feel best. 

[Clarification:  People may chose to spend their money in establishments opposing KK Temptations or instead they may choose to withhold their money from said establishments.]

One has to ask what on earth these people are trying to do to the City.  This proposed behavior is illogical.  What people boycott themselves?  The object of the boycott won’t even be open for business. 

Knowledge is power.  This boycott is all about bullying and power.  Some of us will not allow ourselves to be bullied.

Elena

Moon-howler

What is Eric Telling the Rest of the Nation about PWC?

MoonHowler

I didn’t know that Greg Letiecq sent Eric and Annabel to Mr. Fernandez and that sign. I never asked. I assumed they had just stumbled on it.

In the radio, Eric asks the people to not be judgemental of the people of Prince William. He explains his position and presents himself as a moderate. Having talked to Eric at length, many times, he isn’t too far off the mark.

See what you think. It is a totally different perspective from that which you have been led to believe.

Meanwhile, those in Manassas City who continue to blame Eric and Annabel might want to send a thank you note to Mr. L. It seems he got things going. 

As we prepare for this film to go national, into millions of households, it is good to know these things.

[note:  this thread is about 9500 Liberty and not about other organizations. ]

Reflections from the Council Meeting….

MoonHowler

Guest Post by Cindy Brookshire.

Cindy was one of the speakers at citizen time last night in the City of Manassas. She shares her reflections.

Disclaimer: All guest posts are the opinion of the poster and do not necessarily represent the views of moonhowlings.net administration. M-H

I was there for the full time of citizen comment. I was in the minority – only four of us spoke in defense of this shop owner: the attorney for KK Temptations, a patron of the MVC store near Kindercare on Mathis Ave, the owner of the Manassas Junction Bed & Breakfast and me, another woman-owned small business owner in the City of Manassas. I was the only one of the four who stayed for the whole 3+ hours.

And despite that, it didn’t have the feel of a pitchfork and torches event. I knew a good many people in the room – longtime residents of the City, parishioners of local churches, parents involved in their schools. There were counselors and doctors and those with careers in law enforcement. There were business owners in Old Town. There were people from my neighborhood watch, and the Chief of Police, Doug Keen.

I found many of the comments very eloquent – one elderly man spoke so beautifully about the love between a man and a woman, and he addressed the gathering more than to the council, that when Mayor Parrish had to interrupt him to tell him he was going over time, we didn’t want him to stop. Another young man got up and spoke and anyone would have been proud of him.

Read More

Upscale Adult Boutique Criticized by Old Town Concerned Citizens

MoonHowler

Once again Manassas gets media attention.  This time it isn’t Mr. Fernandez:

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcwashington.com/video.

K K Temptations, an adult boutique, will be opening next month in Old Town Manassas.

Perhaps the first thing people need to do is clarify in their own minds what really constitues ‘porn.’ I have a sneaking suspicious we wouldn’t all agree, especially if some people thought others were watching.

I am curious if a boutique that featured magic, the occult, and earth centered religions would be greeted the same way? Would the Old Guard try to run it off also? 13 Magickal Moons is in historic Occoquan and has been for many years.

I am continually amazed at people who want free enterprize and less government until it is something a little off the beaten, non-vanilla path. Then there is great howling for the government to fix things. I guess that is better than burning people at the stake, however.