Misuse of parking spaces?

MoonHowler

 

 

 What’s wrong with this picture?  Plenty, actually.  The signs say:  Jury Parking-Towing Enforced.

The new reserved spots are in the public parking lot where 28 splits at the courthouse and rescue squad.  There is very little parking left for the public with this expanded jury space.  However, do you think the owner of that truck is really on a  jury?    I bet not. 

Perhaps Prince William needs to adopt a policy similar to Arlington– After 11am the spots become public parking. No juries are starting up after that time.  However, I am not so sure the sheriff’s political truck constitutes being ‘the public.’

While we are discussing the court house, how does one order up the golf cart if they have mobility issues?  I see it out there but if Ihad to park on the south 40 and had, say, a broken foot, how would I get a ride?  It looks nice but is the concept utilized by the handicapped?

 

PWC County Website–ARRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH

MoonHowler

Personal property taxes are due Wednesday.  I remembered for once and decided that rather than find all the bills, I would just pay online.  In the first place, if you pay by credit card or debit card, you are going to get assessed a fee of 2.5% which I highly resent.   There’s just something about getting charged $5-20 bucks (my cars are old) that irriates the living hell out of me in the age of electronics.  If you pay by echeck, there is no charge.  I chose to pay by echeck.

Secondly, has anyone ever tried to navigate the county website?  Other than Park Authority, I don’t think there is a more poorly designed website.  Just finding the right place to go to is no easy feat.  I have to enlarge my page to 200% just to be able to see it.  There is more junk on that thing.  Major topics with sub topics would be great.  Just floating through all the options is daunting.

Thirdly, I noticed that I was not assessed a county tag on my second vehicle.  I could not just voluntarily pay the extra $24 bucks either.  Now what happens if I get stopped?  Will I be fined, hung out in the public square of humiliation?  Where should I go confess?

Fourthly, my email address was wrong.  I attempted to correct it.  The freaking website would not accept the submission of change.  I gave up.  It is far easier to bitch about the lousy website than it is to do anything about it.

Don’t we have an IT office?  Wasn’t that the office that embezzled millions of dollars from the taxpayers?  Didn’t that money go out of country, to India or something, never to be returned?  Is that what they were doing when this website got designed?  I expect better.  I expect not to have thieves in the office and I expect a website that is somewhat easy to navigate.  Paying a bill shouldn’t take a half hour.  Yes, I could go up to Sudley North, but I shouldn’t have to.

If I were running for supervisor, I would prioritize getting the website in order.  That is the most contact most of us have with county government.  May I rank my customer satisfaction?  F

What we have no is close to being a disgrace.  The Park Authority website IS a disgrace.

Christmas in August: Saddles and Leashes

MoonHowler

What a great idea! 

 

 

Buy a calendar & support K-9 and Horse Mounted Patrol units! Cost $24 (incl. mailing in US). Checks payable to: PWCCPAAA. Mail to: Paula Adams, 10508 Fairweather Court, Manassas, VA 20112. Show your support today!
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Too bad the firefighters of Prince William County don’t have their own calendar also.  I venture to say that PWC has some of the finest looking fire fighters in the State of Virginia, if not the entire east coast.  How about it, fire fighters?
If they are shy, perhaps the calendar could just be First Responders of PWC. 

Take me out to the ball game….

MoonHowler


The Prince William Park Authority has approved major renovations for the Pfitzner Field to begin after the Nationals’ season ends on September 6.  Renovations will include the installation  new grass, a new irrigation system, new sod and soil.  The cost of this project will be about $300,000 and will be shared by Prince William County and the Park Authority.  The Nationals will oversee the progress which is supposed to take 6 to 8 weeks to complete.

The field is 27 years old and was the subject of quite dust-up several weeks ago.  Quoting Potomac owner Art Silber, according to insidenova.com:

“The field is 27 years old and has never been rebuilt. With the amount of clay underneath it and the natural subsoil in the area, it’s difficult to develop a proper drainage system and develop some low spots in the outfield. It’s also impossible to get the water to not accumulate. That has created some situations that are less than ideal.”

Park Authority executive director Jay Ellington said that one of the project’s main purposes is to raise the elevation of the outfield and that the Nationals are working on obtaining a waiver from the office of minor league baseball that allows the field to be under the regular field standard.

This project will be the latest in an attempt to get Pfitzner Stadium’s field in proper playing shape to avoid the difficult predicaments Potomac has experienced this year.

Read More

Corey Stewart begs for money

MoonHowler

 

An email from Corey Stewart:

For the past couple of weeks, liberal DC politicians have been flirting with a national default and the prospect of a declining credit rating. With such an irresponsible approach to take care of the nation’s debt, we are fortunate that in Prince William County our AAA bond rating is stable.

Our AAA bond rating and steady financial outlook are a result of my willingness to make hard decisions and stick to my convictions.  In tough times we kept taxes low and reduced government spending while still making critical investments in our schools and roads.

These same DC Liberals that are spending our children’s future away are attempting to bring their reckless policies to Prince William County and we need your help to keep proven conservative leadership right where it belongs. Will you help us by donating $5, $10 or $20 to our campaign?

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Former PWC IT chief pleads guilty to 49 felony charges

MoonHowler

Former PWC IT chief, Maneesh Gupta,  plead guilty to 49 felony charges related to a bid rigging scheme.  Gupta is the former head of Prince William County’s Office of Information Technology.   According to insidenova.com:

Maneesh Gupta, 47, the former OIT systems division chief, pleaded guilty to charges of public fraud, combination to rig bids, conspiracy to commit forgery, uttering and obtaining money by false pretenses.

The public fraud charge was amended from a charge of racketeering. Prosecutors dropped a charge of money laundering.

Prosecutors offered Gupta a plea agreement, but Prince William Circuit Court Judge Richard B. Potter said he would defer his decision on whether or not to accept it until Gupta’s sentencing hearing on Oct. 6.

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After the Sesquicentennial?

MoonHowler

Jennifer Buske has written an article about the area plans for the Sesquicentennial for the Washington Post entitled “As Civil War anniversary nears, Manassas sees a historic opportunity.”   In the Friday the 13th  article she writes what begins as an ode to deceased event planner Creston Owen and takes us though the history of the arriving at the Sesquicentennial.  Included in the article is a comparison between the Manassas Battlefield and Gettysburg.

Any attempts to compare the two battlefields ended about the time of the battles themselves.  Manassas is not Gettysburg and never will be, based pretty much on location, location, location, both then and now.  Gettysburg pretty much is a dedicated battlefield.  Manassas is a suburb of D.C.  And here is the gist of the problem.

According to the Washington Post:

Playing off the excitement of the sesquicentennial, Corey A. Stewart, the Board of County Supervisors chairman, said he wants to begin branding Prince William as a military history corridor where people can stop at the battlefield, the National Museum of the Marine Corps and the future American Wartime Museum. That attraction is scheduled to open in 2014 and cover every era of war from World War I to Iraq and Afghanistan.

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County Talk

MoonHowler

There was a request for a thread on Neighborhood Services.  I am not sure how many people are interested but here it is.  I am also going to combine it with another county issue:  DISCRETIONARY FUNDS

Many people see the discretionary funds given to the BOC supervisors as a way for the supervisors to reward their pet groups, charities, organizations with OUR money.  What do YOU think?

~~~~~Rumors~~~~~

MoonHowler

The telephone has rung off the hook today with tidbits and rumors.  The email box has been chock full.  Where to begin….

The Lion and Bull in Haymarket  was the place of Carl Genthner’s kick off campaign for Gainesville Supervisor.  There was a welcoming committee for all who came to meet Mr. Genthner.  It seems that some of the current Gainesville Supervisor’s staff were sitting right outside the meeting room to check out who all was going in and to give a little stare down to the guests.   Fans (Thanks you Mr. Supervisor, thank you) were also there for the official stare down.

correction: there were NO CURRENT staff members from Supervisor’s Stirrups office at Carl Genthner’s kick offevent

Like minded political support was there for Mr. Genthner.

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Corey Stewart proposes to use addition county funds for his pet projects to curry some favors.  More information should be forthcoming.

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A Dark Blog–A certain blogmeister removed an inflammatory but sizzling exposé about a certain senate macaca candidate and a past RNC chair from his blog.  Did he out-sleaze himself or is there a touch of chivalry still alive?   Do Republicans really practice cannibalism?  It seemed like it reading that exposé.  Now should that person win the party nomination for the Senate, how does one undo the image planted in the minds of Virginians that the gentleman is a home-wrecker and an adulterer?  White-out just won’t cut it.

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BOCS–What former BOCS member might be challenging the remaining lady on the board?  Rumors abound.

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BOCS (2)–What supervisor needs to prepare outgoing email more carefully?

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Residents- Some residents think that the new magisterial district boundary lines are going to split up families.  Are some lines running right through the middle of someone’s home?

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Updates:

Blogosphere:  A local blogger has announced his/her candidacy for House of Delegates.

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Feel free to add to the rumor mill.  Things are getting interesting for sure.  We might just need a bookie before election day rolls around.

New Neighbor on Sudley Manor Drive

MoonHowler

Family and Friends Night at the New Sudley Manor Starbucks!

Come out Thursday night, April 14,  from 5-8 pm and  visit  the new Starbucks at 10638 Sudley Manor Drive in  Manassas Crossroads.  The new Starbucks is near Chick Filet and Walgreens and features a drive through.  The new store is also the first Starbucks to be Leed Certified:

The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® certification program as a benchmark for success. (LEED® is short for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.)

Family and Friends events are very nice and a good way to sample new treats at Starbucks.  The store manager extended a very special invitation to Moonhowlings contributors so make sure you stop by.  Once the store is open, patrons will have improved laptop hookups, a patio, and a drive through for those who don’t have time to go in. 

See you there.  (pppssssssst  no meals tax in the county)

 

Homeless to be removed from camp in PWC

MoonHowler

Insidenova.com:

DALE CITY, Va. —

By the end of this week, more than 80 individuals in Woodbridge will literally have nowhere to call home.

On Thursday morning, Virginia State Police are closing down a long-time homeless campsite located near the Dale Boulevard exit off Interstate 95 for safety and legal reasons. In an email sent Wednesday, Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jennifer McCord stated that residents will have an hour to move their belongings off that property once police arrive.

Technically, these residents have been trespassing on state property, stated McCord. And because of the nature of the camp setup, McCord said it’s potentially dangerous for both campsite residents and the motorists on the interstate.

“This is a difficult situation and while we are sympathetic to anyone who is homeless, VDOT cannot allow these shelters on its right of way,” stated McCord.

Approximately 35 people are living at the site, said Bonnie Schrader, director of the Drop-In Center program at the nearby winter shelter. To make matters worse, another 46 single adults are officially outdoors after Thursday when the nearby winter shelter closes for the season

This is a story that has no answers.  There are also homeless camps on this end of the county.  What do you do when people have no where to live?  I understand that some of the people in the Dale City camp are children.

Read More

Father and friend report social services unresponsive

MoonHowler

The dreadful story of the neglected children in Bristow continues.  Interviews with the father of the first set of neglected kids reveal even more information.  Apparently the mother, Christina Dawn Moore, does have visitation with the twins who were found wandering in diapers at a junk yard  when they were toddlers.  Their father is Daniel Tinchard who now has custody of his children.  He reported that he has made several calls regarding abuse and neglect,

According to News and Messenger:

In the past few years, Tincher estimates he made three or four complaints to Social Services – including one alleging physical abuse – regarding his twin boys. The boys live with their father in Bealeton but go to Moore’s house on selected weekends due to a visitation agreement.

A friend of the family has also made numerous complaints. 

The family friend, who attended Brentsville High School with Moore in the early 2000s, said she made close to 10 calls from 2007 to 2010 to the Prince William and Fauquier Social Services departments regarding the situation. She said she heard nothing from anyone other than a brief phone conversation with a social worker.

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A Meeting with Destiny and Erik Finley

Elena

Call it fate, destiny, coincidence, whatever word you like,  but sometimes life is just too bizarre.  I met Erik Finley a few years ago during a paving job Finley Asphalt was hired to do for my community.  I can tell you, from first hand experience, he, and his company are top notch.  They are what makes small business America the best in the world.  He and other small business owners like him ARE the backbone of our economy.  The treatment he received from Corey, his office, and Wally was unconscionable. 

It was happenstance that Erik and I ended up talking.    Here is what Erik shared with me and his story, in three years, has remained consistent.

Somehow, the foreman and I began discussing PWC politics and county government, one topic lead to another and he asked if I would be willing to talk with Erik who was having some issues with the county.  I said, “sure, I would love to”.

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?

 

Smoke Alarms: A Sound you Can Live With

MoonHowler

OOooopppsss…I forgot to hit send.  Better late than never.

Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 3-9, 2010

From the Prince William County Website:

With all the recent fires, I thought theh PWC website sure wouldn’t mind if I lifted their announcement:

In a fire, smoke spreads fast, leaving you only minutes to escape. Smoke alarms provide an early warning, giving you the time you need to get out quickly and safely. In fact, they cut your risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half. Of the approximately 2,800 home fire deaths each year, roughly two-thirds result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or with smoke alarms that don’t work. That’s why smoke alarms belong in every home and why they are “A Sound You Can Live With!”

If you cannot afford smoke alarms or are unable to install them, the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue will supply and/or install them free of charge. Remember, if you are renting, your landlord is responsible for providing smoke alarms. You may call your local fire and rescue station or 703-792-7736 for assistance.