Prince William Times 04/22/2020

A HIKING WE SHALL GO: Sky Meadows’ attendance surges 47%. Page 9

April 22, 2020 | Vol. 19, No. 17 | www.princewilliamtimes.com | 50¢ Covering Prince William County and surrounding communities, including Gainesville, Haymarket, Dumfries, Occoquan, Quantico and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.

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Northam: Virginia is ‘not there yet’ when it comes to lifting restrictions

By Jill Palermo

Times Staff Writer

With pressure mounting from some quarters to ease coronavirus pandemic restrictions, Gov. Ralph Northam says the commonwealth “is not there yet” when it comes to meeting even the initial criteria outlined in the Trump administration’s “Opening Up America Again” guidelines.

Speaking during recent press briefings, Northam noted the federal guidelines require that states see a 14-day downward trajectory of COVID-19 cases before entering phase one of the reopening process. Just the opposite is happening in Virginia, Northam said.

“We’re still seeing more cases each day, not fewer. So we are not there yet,” Northam said Friday. “In fact, we saw 600 new cases today, an increase of about 8%.”

Virginia has added fewer new COVID-19 cases each day since Friday, April 17, when Virginia set

its latest one-day record of new cases with 602.

Still, Northam said Monday the state’s cases have not peaked, which he said is expected later this week, according to state models.

“While the numbers have slowed down a bit over the weekend, we still had close to 500 new cases each day, which was an increase of around 6% … So, hopefully these numbers are trending down, but we certainly haven’t reached our peak,” Northam said. “The one model we have been following as far as the peak still predicts the latter part of this week.”

Northam said he discussed the guidelines with President Donald Trump on Thursday and with Vice President Mike Pence on Monday. Northam called the guidelines “consistent with everything we’re doing and will continue to do” in Virginia.

Northam said the commonwealth would adhere to their phased approach for reopening, “based on science and data.”

But when asked by a reporter to respond to

COVID-19 cases in Virginia and Prince William: March 18 - April 21 10000

9,451

8,573 7,491

7500

6,500

5,747 5,077

5000

2500

0

739 460 674 114122191829023 36 56

4,042 3,333 2,637 2,012 1,484 79

644 742 867 390 434 536 106 131 175 236 299

3/18 3/20 3/22 3/24 3/26 3/28 3/30 4/1

4/3

4/5

4/7

4/9 4/11 4/13 4/15 4/17 4/19 4/21

Prince William

Virginia

SOURCE: VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Trump’s Friday tweet in which the president declared: “LIBERATE VIRGINIA,” Northam said he did not have time for “Twitter wars” with the president.

See NORTHAM, page 2

County leaders mull tens of millions in budget cuts

By Daniel Berti

Times Staff Writer

PHOTO BY ROBIN EARL

COURTESY PHOTO

COPING WITH COVID-19: Scenes from around the region show how Northern Virginia is coping with the coronavirus pandemic. Left: An Orange County farmer dressed a hay bale in a mask, perhaps to remind passers-by of the importance of face-coverings in slowing the spread of the virus. Courtesy photo. Top right: The Warrenton Farmers Market became a drive-thru operation this past weekend.

Bottom right: A sign at the House of Chou in Lake Ridge reminds customers to maintain social distancing.

PHOTO BY DELIA ENGSTROM

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As the deadline for finalizing next year’s budget draws closer, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and School Board are mulling tens of millions in cuts to planned spending in anticipation of the economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis.

The supervisors were scheduled to meet Tuesday, April 21, for their annual “markup session” during which the board would make final changes ahead of adopting the budget on Tuesday, April 28. At issue is about $42 million in cuts from proposed spending from the local government’s side of the county ledger.

County Executive Chris Martino presented a slimmed down budget to the board at its Tuesday, April 14, meeting that, if adopted, would eliminate proposed 3% pay raises for county employees as well as about 40 new public-safety positions.

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FROM PAGE 1

Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | April 22, 2020

NORTHAM, from page 1 “I would just simply say, as the governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, I, along with this staff, [am] fighting a biological war. I do not have time to involve myself in Twitter wars. I will continue to make sure that I do everything that I can to keep Virginians safe and to save lives,” Northam said.

When asked about demonstrations against his restrictions, Northam said protesters should consider the state’s health care workers who are putting themselves and their families at risk to care for patients with COVID-19.

“Turn the TV on and look at our heroes. Look at the men and women who are fighting this biological war every day. I’ve seen them pull their masks off. I’ve seen the pain and agony they’re going through,” Northam said Friday. “I’ve been in the trenches myself and seen the risks they’re putting themselves and their families in. I would just say that we all should be part of the solution.”

“And so, while we all have the right to protest, while we’re fighting this biological war, let’s join the team,” he added. “Let’s do everything we can to put this pandemic, to put this public health crisis in the rear-view mirror so we can get our economy back up and running so we can return to our normal lives again.”

Testing, staff, PPE

Northam said the state has several obstacles to overcome in addition to rising numbers of COVID-19 cases before things can get back to normal. They include a lack of sufficient testing and personal protective equipment and a need for more health care staff.

BUDGET, from page 1 Meanwhile, school board members will need to cut at least $38.1 million from the $1.24 billion budget they approved last month, School Board Chairman Babur Lateef told the supervisors Thursday, April 16, when he presented the school division budget to the county board.

In an interview after the meeting, Lateef said the school division is also bracing for a cut of at least $30 million in expected state funding. The school division had asked for $54 million in additional local money for next school year, an increase of 8.9% from the current year, and was expecting about $42.3 million more in state funding before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

On Sunday, April 19, Gov. Ralph Northam and key legislators announced they are proposing a “timeout” on all new state spending, including new money for education, until state officials have more information about how the state’s tax revenue will be impacted by COVID-19.

The state legislature was set to convene in Richmond on Wednesday, April 22, to discuss temporarily amending the state budget.

Lateef: ‘Back to the drawing board’

During his presentation to the supervisors on April 16, Lateef said the school board had not yet discussed what cuts they would make to the budget to deal with what could be a $30 to $50 million loss in expected revenue.

“We recognize we are going to have to go back to the drawing board after we hear from you and the state,” Lateef told the supervisors.

“We need adequate testing. We need to be able to test, we need to be able to track and we need to be able to isolate individuals, looking at hot spots, knowing the trend of this pandemic and knowing what this virus is doing,” he added. “We are working to improve that on a daily basis.”

On Monday, Northam announced he has formed a testing work group that would focus on expanding testing and obtaining the supplies needed to do so, including swabs, reagents and viral medium.

Northam also said the state is now urging medical providers to test patients who show symptoms of COVID-19 as supplies and testing capacity have increased in the past several days. Prior to this week, tests were restricted to patients in the hospital, health care workers, first responders and residents of long-term care facilities who showed symptoms of COVID-19.

Regarding PPE, Northam said Friday the state had just received a shipment of 24,000 N-95 surgical masks, gloves and gowns, but said the national supply chain “remains a problem.”

“Do we have enough PPE to say that if there is a flare up or if that curve sharpens, that we have those supplies necessary not only for our first responders or our nursing homes? We’re not there yet,” he said.

“And finally, the staffing. I commend folks across Virginia who have volunteered to be part of that medical corps, but that’s an issue as well.”

Northam has extended until May 8 his executive order that banned groups of 10 or more, restricted restaurants to takeout only and closed indoor recreation facilities and theaters. Northam’s stay-athome order is not set to expire until June 10.

Northam said he wants the state to return to

During a Facebook Live discussion with Board Chair Ann Wheeler on Monday, April 20, Lateef said the school board would likely have to look at the largest areas of planned new spending to find the cuts. They include planned increases to staff salaries, new funding slated for schools with large numbers of low-income students and some capital improvement projects, Lateef said.

“It’s not lost on our board members that folks are really hurting out there,” Lateef said.

Lateef has not yet said outright that the school board will eliminate staff raises. Raising teacher pay was something both he and Wheeler campaigned on last fall before Prince William County voters elected Democratic majorities on both the board of supervisors and school board for the first time in decades.

Both Wheeler and Lateef are Democrats.

Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, the school board had planned to spend an additional $44.7 million to boost staff pay. Of that, about $38 million would have funded average 4.8% step and cost-of-living increases for staff, while about $10 million would have funded “pay equity raises” for targeted positions.

Flat tax rate proposed

The cuts in proposed spending are driven by an estimated $30 million shortfall in expected local tax revenue as well as Wheeler’s proposal to keep the tax rate flat at $1.125 next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

But even with the unexpected drop in revenues, the proposed budget will still generate $30 million more than the current budget, largely because real estate values rose by

“being as near normal as we can as soon as possible” but that Virginians must be patient.

“And I would just reiterate and reassure Virginians that the guidelines we have put forward, they are working. They are keeping that curve as flat as we can and have allowed our hospitals to have the capacity they need in order to take care of sick patients if and when that surge comes,” he said.

COVID-19 demographics

In other developments, State Health Commissioner Dr. Norman Oliver shared the Virginia Department of Health’s latest information on the race and ethnicity of those who have tested positive for COVID-19 as well as those who have died from the disease.

Across the country, COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact in communities of color. Because Virginia has not yet been able to collect racial and ethnicity data about each of its COVID-19 cases and deaths, officials do not yet know definitively if Virginia also reflects that trend.

On Friday, Oliver said there has been “some improvement” in the effort to collect more data, but that racial and ethnicity data is still missing for 37% of Virginia’s COVID-19 cases and at least 10% of Virginia’s COVID-19 deaths.

So far, at least 1,401 of the state’s COVID-19 cases and 71 of its deaths have involved African Americans. That’s about 30% of the cases and 34% of the deaths for which racial and ethnicity data is available, Oliver said.

African Americans make up about 20% of the state’s overall population, according to the U.S. Census.

Reach Jill Palermo at jpalermo@fauquier.com

about 4% across the county over the past year.

“We’ll have more revenues than the current year, but significantly less than what we planned for,” Martino said at the board’s April 14 meeting.

Under Martino’s original budget, proposed before the pandemic hit, the real estate tax rate would have risen 2 cents to $1.145 per $100 in assessed value. The average residential tax bill would have gone up by about $21 a month, including the fire levy, under that scenario.

Under the proposed flat-tax-rate budget, the average residential tax bill will increase by about $15 a month, including the fire levy. The amounts are based on homes assessed at about $387,000.

Martino’s revised budget also includes a proposed increase in the county’s computer and peripherals tax, or data center tax, from $1.25 to $1.35 per $100 in assessed value.

Funds from the tax increase would be used to provide additional revenue for the county’s Social Services and Community Services efforts, Martino said.

Martino has proposed increasing spending on homelessness prevention, a peer outreach program for those struggling with opioid addiction and efforts to stock and maintain a community food warehouse in partnership with local nonprofits.

Still to be considered are proposed hikes in the county’s motor vehicle license tax from $24 to $33 for cars and trucks and from $12 to $20 for motorcycles – increases that could provide an additional $3.4 million in revenues, according to Martino.

Wheeler said in a recent press release that Martino’s proposed budget strikes a balance between protecting taxpayers and funding the county’s essential government services.

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Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | April 22, 2020

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Ashworth: Goal is to keep elderly, at-risk out of jail

By Daniel Berti

Times Staff Writer

The number of inmates at the Prince William jail continues to fall as Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth and local judges work to release as many non-violent offenders as possible in hopes of staving off a deadly outbreak of COVID-19.

As of Friday, April 10, the Prince William Manassas Adult Detention Center was down to 602 inmates, 150 fewer than were being held at the jail when Ashworth announced the effort back on Friday, March 20. It’s the first time in more than a decade that the jail’s population has fallen below its Department of Corrections-rated capacity of 667.

Ashworth said last week that local prosecutors have focused on releasing elderly and medically at-risk inmates who were arrested for non-violent crimes from the jail. To accomplish that task, Ashworth said county courts are allowing second bond hearings for any jailed offenders who want one.

Typically, when a person is arrested, they are only allowed one bond hearing, which occurs the day after they are booked at the jail, Ashworth said. It’s not often that they get a second shot at being released on bond.

“That opened the floodgates,” Ashworth said.

“We went from having five or six bond hearings a day to having 20 or 30.”

Ashworth said prosecutors looked at all cases and used their discretion to recommend the release of non-violent offenders on bond where appropriate. But judges make the final decision on whether or not a person is released on bond or their own recognizance.

“We put a lot of people on pretrial supervision or electronic monitoring where we may not have under normal circumstances,” Ashworth said.

Ashworth added that prosecutors are not recommending the release of any individuals Commonwealth’s arrested for violent crimes.

Attorney Amy “The jail population is Ashworth currently people we can’t release,” Ashworth said.

Maj. Amanda Lambert, the jail’s director of support services, has declined to say how or whether the jail has been able to maintain social distancing among the inmates. According to the county website, the jail is implementing new procedures to isolate and triage at-risk or symptomatic inmates, maintaining social distancing between staff and the general public and screening all incoming inmates for symptoms of the illness.

So far, the only reported case at a county jail in Virginia has been in Fairfax County, where an inmate in his 20s at Fairfax County Detention Center tested positive for COVID-19. According to a statement by the Fairfax Sheriff’s Department on March 31, the man is being held in isolation at the jail.

Virginia’s Department of Corrections reported its first death of a prison inmate from the virus on Tuesday, April 14, a 49-year-old woman serving a nine-year sentence at Virginia Correctional Center for Women in Goochland for manufacturing methamphetamine, delivery of drugs to prison and larceny, said VADOC spokeswoman Lisa

COVID-19 efforts have resulted in fewer inmates

SOURCE: PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY MANASSAS REGIONAL ADULT DETENTION CENTER

The number of inmates at the county jail fell below the facility’s state-rated capacity of 667 for the first time in more than a decade after state officials urged local courts to consider alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders.

Kinney in a press release.

She had underlying health conditions, including asthma and hepatitis-C, and was hospitalized at VCU’s medical center from April 4 until her death, Kinney said. She had an expected release date in mid-2023.

VADOC has reported 44 inmates and 32 staff with active COVID-19 at state correctional facilities las week.

Reach Daniel Berti at dberti@fauquier.com

County to fund motel rooms for elderly, sick homeless

Homeless clients kept their distance as they gathered for grace before dinner recently at the county’s relocated overnight homeless shelter in the A.J. Ferlazzo building gymnasium.

80 rooms funded until mid-June lessness,” Tierney said. “But the

By Jill Palermo

Times Staff Writer

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors have signed off on a plan to provide motel rooms for homeless people who are elderly, have underlying medical conditions or fall ill with COVID-19 during the coronavirus pandemic.

The county’s overnight homeless shelter, which has a maximum capacity of 48 people, was relocated to the A.J. Ferlazzo building gymnasium last month to allow clients to spread out enough to maintain the recommended 6-foot social distancing.

But the overnight shelter cannot offer separate living and sleeping quarters for people who must quarantine because they are elderly, have underlying health conditions, have fallen ill with COVID-19 or have close exposure to someone who has.

Those are the kinds of individuals who would qualify for a hotel room during the pandemic, Courtney Tierney, director of the county’s department of social services, told county supervisors during their Tuesday, April 14 meeting.

The goal, Tierney said, is to reduce hospitalizations and emergency room visits among people experiencing homelessness.

“People experiencing homelessness are likely to stay in the hospital longer because the hospital does not want to discharge into home-

emergency room often has no choice but to discharge into homelessness because they cannot use a hospital room just for shelter.”

Each person staying at the Ferlazzo building shelter has their temperature taken and is assessed for COVID-19 symptoms upon their arrival, Tierney said.

For the last several weeks, Streetlight Ministries, which the county contracts to run the overnight shelter, has been paying about $2,500 a week to put six or seven elderly and medically fragile clients in hotels rather than placing them at risk during the coronavirus pandemic by having them stay in a congregate setting at the Ferlazzo building shelter.

The money to cover the rooms has come from private donors who have so far given about $10,000 toward that cause, Rose Powers, Streetlight’s executive director, said in a recent interview.

“We’ve really been overwhelmed by the generosity of people in the community,” she said.

The county hopes to launch the motel program as soon as next week, Tierney said.

The plan is based on one implemented by King County, Washington, and was endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a model to use during the pandemic. Fairfax and Loudoun counties have launched similar programs, Tierney told the board.

TIMES STAFF PHOTO.

It will cost about $625,000 but will not involve local tax dollars, Tierney said.

Instead, the money will come from a mix of sources, including part of the $2.5 million grant Gov. Ralph Northam announced last week to help localities serve the homeless during the pandemic. Prince William County is slated to receive about $198,000 of that money and will spend $189,000 on the motel rooms. (The remaining $9,000 will be split evenly between three nonprofits: Action in the Community Through Service, Streetlight Ministries and Northern Virginia Family Services, Tierney said.)

Another $135,000 will come from the Area Agency on Aging, while $300,000 will come from money housing developers have paid into the county coffers in affordable housing proffers.

All told, the money is enough to pay for 80 motel rooms for 60 days, which is hoped to be enough to accommodate homeless people who cannot stay in the county’s emergency overnight shelter because of its group setting.

The plan was formulated with the support of the county’s Cooperative Council of Ministries which oversees the county’s “continuum of

care” for individuals experiencing homelessness, Tierney said.

The county is negotiating contracts with two motels – one on the east side of the county and one on the west. The county will use county vehicles to transport people when necessary and is working out a plan involving nonprofits and possibly area restaurants to provide meals for homeless clients who need to stay in the hotels for a time, Tierney said.

The number of hotel rooms is based on a formula that suggests about 80 people experiencing homelessness will need such accommodations based on Prince William County’s latest “point-in-time” count, an annual census of individuals experiencing homelessness. The county counted 335 homeless people living the county last January, Tierney said.

“No one person will likely be in one room for 60 days,” Tierney said. “The rooms will transition as people become well or as their quarantine ends without resulting in COVID-19” symptoms.

The county will hire contractors to specially clean the rooms in between clients and likely will pay for extra security at the motels, Tierney said.

See MOTEL, page 4

4

NEWS

Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | April 22, 2020

Pipeline work plows ahead despite pandemic

By Daniel Berti

Times Staff Writer

Even as much of daily life has been thrown into disarray by school closures and strict limitations on social gatherings, the construction of 7.7 miles of new natural gas pipeline in Prince William and Fauquier counties has gone on uninterrupted.

A spokesperson for the pipeline company says construction is currently ongoing as scheduled.

The new pipeline, called the Manassas Loop, is an expansion of Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line’s mainline that transports natural gas from the gulf coast to New York City and other mid-Atlantic markets.

The new pipeline will expand the amount of natural gas that flows along the Transco pipeline.

The pipeline’s construction can be seen taking place in the Town of Catlett in Fauquier County along Va. 28, where dirt is being moved to install the new 42-inch pipe.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has temporarily suspended all routine field activities during the coronavirus outbreak but is continuing to investigate significant pipeline concerns.

The agency said daily monitoring, inspections and field activities of pipelines will continue through the agency’s contract staff during this time.

The Southeastern Trail Expansion project begins work outside the Town of Catlett in Fauquier County DEQ Communications Manager Ann Regn said the DEQ has performed routine erosion and sediment inspections on land-disturbing activities associated with the Manassas Loop pipeline project.

“There have been no incidents or releases of sedi-

ment or other pollutants from the project. The project self-reports in accordance to their approved standards and specifications and these reports are submitted to DEQ weekly for review and verification,” Regn said.

Reach Daniel Berti at dberti@fauquier.com

Northam signs same-day voter registration law

disproportionately impact low-income individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities,” Northam said.

Northam also signed bills sponsored by Lindsey and Del. Hala Ayala, Sen. Louise Lucas, D-18th, D-51st of Portsmouth, making Election Day a state holiday. The new law repeals the Lee-Jackson Day holiday to maintain the same number of state holidays.

Additionally, Northam signed bills by Del. Joshua Cole, D-28th, of Stafford, and Sen. Dave Marsden, D-37th, of Fairfax, implementing automatic voter registration for individuals accessing service at a Department of Motor Vehicles office or the DMV website.

The governor also signed bills sponsored by Del. Mark Sickles, D-43rd, of Fairfax, and Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-17th, of Fredericksburg, expanding absentee voting timelines to ensure access to the polls; and a bill sponsored by Lindsey extending in-person polling hours from 7 to 8 p.m.

Other new election laws taking effect this year Measure won’t effect until 2022; Northam signed several other bills this session exother election changes coming this year

By Daniel Berti

Times Staff Writer

Gov. Ralph Northam has signed into law a bill allowing same-day voter registration, making Virginia the first Southern state to allow same-day voter registration up to and including Election Day. But it won’t go into effect until October 1, 2022.

The bill was sponsored by Del. Hala Ayala, D-51st, of Prince William County, and signed by Northam last week. Same day voter registration allows a qualified resident of Virginia to register to vote and cast a ballot all on election day.

“Virginia currently ranks 49th out of 50 states regarding how difficult it is to vote. The passage of HB 201 is one very important step to breaking down barriers that Virginians face when trying to access the ballot box,” Ayala said in a press release.

Currently, Virginia residents must register to vote at least 22 days before general and primary elections, and 14 days before special elections.

BUDGET, from page 2 “While not as ambitious as we had originally planned, the budget presented [is] thoughtfully reworked in response to the impact of the coronavirus. Just as families and small businesses have reshaped their budgets and routines, so must we,” Wheeler said.

GOP supervisors argue for flat tax bills

Supervisor Yesli Vega, R-Coles, said last week she could not support any real estate tax increases on county residents in the proposed 2021 budget.

“Considering the times that we’re

panding voting access in the commonwealth, including bills to repeal the Virginia’s voter ID law, make Election Day a state holiday in Virginia and expand access to early voting, all of which will take effect on July 1 ahead of the November presidential election.

“Voting is a fundamental right, and these new laws strengthen our democracy by making it easier to cast a ballot, not harder,” Northam said in a press release.

Virginia currently requires absentee voters to provide a reason from an approved list as to why they are unable to vote on Election Day. Northam signed bills sponsored by House Majority Leader Del. CharnieleHerring, D-46th, of Alexandria, and Sen. Janet Howell, D-32nd, of Fairfax, allowing early voting 45 days prior to an election without a stated excuse.

Northam signed bills sponsored by Del. Joe Lindsey, D-90th, of Norfolk, and Sen. Mamie Locke, D-2nd, of Hampton, removing the requirement that voters show a photo ID prior to casting a ballot.

“Voter ID laws disenfranchise individuals who may not have access to photo identification, and

experiencing, not just here in the county and the state, but across the nation, I just don’t see how we can raise taxes,” Vega said. “I appreciate the optimism that we’re going to get out of this, but in reality, we really don’t know.”

Supervisor Jeanine Lawson, R-Brentsville, said she also would not support any tax increases in the budget. Lawson spoke in support of a “flat-tax-bill” budget that would lower the county’s real estate property tax to $1.085 per $100 in assessed value. Under that rate, county residents would pay a tax bill identical to their 2020 bill.

Vega, Lawson and Supervisor Pete

Candland, R-Gainesville, issued a statement last month requesting the county executive create a flat-tax-bill budget proposal; but so far, none has been presented to the board.

“I personally cannot vote for anything on April 28 that has an increase of anything more than a flat tax bill,” Lawson said. “I think that it’s reckless of our board to ask taxpayers during this economic collapse of historic proportions to raise taxes and shift those revenues to a lot of new spending.”

Jill Palermo contributed to this report. Reach Daniel Berti at dberti@fauquier.com

MOTEL, from page 3 The motel contracts are being reviewed by the county attorney’s office.

Tierney did not disclose which motels the county will contract for the service.

The one thing still needed for the program to be successful is a means for the homeless clients to do their own personal laundry while staying in the motel. The county is still hoping to find a local church or civic group willing to take on that task, Tierney said.

“If there is a group listening with a laundry ministry, please let us know,” Tierney said.

Reach Jill Palermo at jpalermo@ fauquier.com

5

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Prince William Times | April 22, 2020

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Stores must take steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 I would love to see signs on the doors of all local businesses that say: “no shirts, no shoes, no face masks, no business.”

I would love to see “bouncers” at the doors, enforcing those signs, turning away people that are not wearing face masks.

I would love to see all their employees wearing protective face masks. (Even the stores with protective shields!) I would love to see the stores make the shopping aisles “one-way traffic” and “no passing.”

Store aisles are simply not wide enough for two-way traffic, or passing, while maintaining the proper social distance.

This is an easy fix, but I doubt that any stores will have the guts to do any

of this, even though it would help to flatten the curve and protect the public.

And, judging by the numbers of people I see (while I am doing my job, for an essential business) walking around, shopping, not wearing face masks, not keeping safe social distance, most people are not taking the CDC recommendations seriously, and we are in for a lot of COVID-19 cases in the area.

This is a serious issue. The stores need to take responsibility and help protect us from our own ignorance.

If we all die, they will not have any customers left to support their stores.

Please, stores, do what I am suggesting.

LINDA BRADSHAW Jeffersonton

Virginia’s family wineries: Love them or lose them The COVID-19 pandemic is having a disastrous effect on the economy, and, in particular, small businesses.

Every season, family farms are at risk of a crop failure that could have devastating effects on the business.

Calculating crop yields and depending on grapes that can vary season to season accounts for plenty of stress for those of us in this industry. This year, the added stress of this pandemic is having a particularly disastrous effect on small, family farm wineries.

The revenue for these wineries is generated by people coming in for tastings, enjoying time with family and friends and then purchasing some wine to take home.

With the understandable guidelines of “stay at home” orders and social distancing, many locally-owned small-business restaurants, bars, breweries and wineries have moved to a curb-side pickup or to-go options. While this is helpful, much of what we grow, make and sell is still on our shelves.

While many others will be helped by the government bailout bills, these bills actually have minimal impact on agricultural businesses; family wineries are particularly impacted.

These realities leave us and our employees in a desperate situation.

As primarily family-run operations, we do not pay wages, further impacting our business and personal

Letters to the Editor

lives. Our income, and those of our employees, results from the success or failure of the business.

Unlike the West Coast wineries, Virginia wineries do not have robust distribution networks, which further impacts our ability to put our products in front of customers. While you may not see Virginia wine on your next visit to the grocery store, I assure you we are out here, still producing quality products for you.

Most of the Virginia wineries in our area have made curbside or delivery service available to make sure we can still provide you with the products you want.

In order to save the small Virginia family farms, many of them wineries, please choose Virginia wines first. Please ask your Virginia ABC in your area to stock more Virginia wines.

How we work, how we communicate, and how we recreate will all be affected. What will remain though, is the feeling of love and joy when you gather with friends on the patio of your favorite Virginia winery or brewery and enjoy a glass together.

If we don’t show our love Virginia wineries now -- by purchasing Virginia wine -- we may lose them forever.

JAMES CHARLES BOGATY Owner of Veramar Vineyard, James Charles Winery and Bogati Winery

The Prince William Times welcomes letters to the editor from its readers as a forum for discussion of local public affairs subjects.

WRITE: Letters to the Editor

41 Culpeper Street

Warrenton, VA 20188 FAX: Editor 540-349-8676 EMAIL: news@fauquier.com

GUEST OPINION

Yes, I supported Bernie Sanders.

Here’s why I’m endorsing Joe Biden.

As I write this, Virginians all over our state are staying home, hoping to avoid the COVID-19 pandemic that has already taken too many lives due, in part, to the failure of our president to act.

Americans suffering from cancer or diabetes -- not to mention coronavirus -- are worried that the president might succeed in taking away their access to health care.

It’s no secret that I supported Sen. Bernie Sanders throughout the Democratic primary -- I was proud to be one of his Virginia co-chairs.

In a field rich with candidates and ideas, I personally found Sen. Sanders’s vision for America to be the boldest for the working class.

Campaigning for Sen. Sanders in Virginia, I saw the enthusiasm of young people, old people, white people, brown people -- hordes of Virginians who were getting up and taking action to make this country a fairer, more equitable place for all Americans.

To all these people, I say this: Please do not lose that enthusiasm.

It’s now time to turn that enthusiasm into action for the real goal at hand -- defeating Donald Trump seven short months from now in November. Joe Biden has been chosen as the Democratic nominee and we need to rally behind him to end the disastrous Trump presidency.

Though Sanders and Biden may disagree on certain tactics, they share the same goals: shaping a just America where everyone has access to health care and a quality education. An America where reproductive rights aren’t up for debate. An America where diversity is celebrated, not demonized.

Biden has spent his entire professional career serving our nation in both the legislature and the executive branches. He has proven himself as a fighter to save America.

DEL. ELIZABETH GUZMAN

Biden wrote and passed the landmark Violence Against Women Act, which, to this day, protects survivors of abuse across the country. As vice president, he was instrumental in passing the Affordable Care Act, which expanded health care to tens of millions of Americans and is currently protecting Americans with pre-existing conditions, young people under age 26, and so many more.

Once elected, Biden will fight to protect and build on the Affordable Care Act, expanding health care access to countless more Americans through a public option. He will build a global coalition to combat climate change, make historic investments in the green economy of our future, and reduce our reliance on dirty fossil fuels. He will dramatically lighten the burden of student debt that’s currently overwhelming students all across Virginia and the country. And, along with his diverse cabinet, he will fight for Latinas like myself, for undocumented people, for minority communities, and for vulnerable populations that have been tragically -- and often purposefully -- neglected during the Trump presidency.

I am proud to join Team Biden, and I implore my supporters to do the same.

Join me in supporting Joe Biden as our next president. Si se puede.

Now let’s get to work.

Del. Elizabeth Guzmán, a Democrat, represents Virginia’s 31st District, which includes parts of Prince William and Fauquier counties, in the Virginia House of Delegates.

6

LIFESTYLE WWW.PRINCEWILLIAMTIMES.COM

Prince William Times | April 22, 2020

Online food shopping results in a mixed bag (of groceries) It’s week three of our family’s social distancing endeavor, and we’re doing our best. While it’s no fun to cut yourself off from others, it’s doable. However, one area of social distancing that husband Peter Brewington and I haven’t mastered is grocery shopping. We set a goal to do all of our shopping online, but we discovered that’s easier said than done.

First off, I want to say thank you to all the grocery store workers who are doing a great job under trying circumstances. Demand for online services is overwhelming now, so bumps in the road are to be expected.

That being said, here’s how my foray into online grocery shopping worked, and some tips for others out there trying to stay safe as they stay fed.

Costco: First we tried shopping on Costco.com, and I must say, it was a dud. If you want to buy a $2,000 patio set, you’re in luck! But if you want groceries, forget it. Almost every single item on my list was out of stock. It was clear that Costco is a no-go.

Walmart: Next, we moved on to Walmart.com to place an order for pickup. I was overjoyed to see pretty much everything I wanted (except for toilet paper, paper towels and

LISA KIPLINGER

sanitizing wipes, of course) was in stock. I merrily filled my cart, cruising the aisles virtually. Then, I headed to checkout.

Oh brother, the only pickup times offered were for the same day or the next day – and neither were available.

I called customer service, and they advised me to leave everything in my cart and keep checking back early each morning to see if new slots open up. Well, that didn’t sound promising, so it was on to my next bet.

Peapod: While every major grocery chain offers online shopping, Giant’s service has been around a long time and I used it years ago for my mother-in-law, so that’s the one I picked. Before I even started shopping, I checked to see whether there are any pickup slots open … and there were!

So, I nabbed the first available spot -- three days down the road – and was happy to get it. I browsed the aisles,

noticing some items seemed a little pricey ($6.49 for a DiGiorno frozen pizza that’s $5 at Walmart, for example), but hey, safety is worth it. After $300 worth of shopping (who’s to say when I would be able to get another slot?), I checked out. Hmm, I didn’t get an email confirmation of my order or any texts, so I hoped all was OK. Three days later, when it was time to pick up my order, I became aware that some items may not have been in stock when my order was put together and that I would not be charged for them. With that in mind, Peter and I drove to Giant in Warrenton and pulled up to the pickup spot out front by the curb. You are supposed to call the number on the sign to let them know you’re there, and then pop your trunk and wait inside the vehicle. A kind woman loaded up all the groceries, neatly packed in paper bags and told me the receipt – with all the items not available highlighted – is in the bag.

When we got home, I saw that while I requested $300 in groceries, we only got about half of what I asked for ($168.98, to be exact). No yogurt or cinnamon rolls, no salt, none of the four kinds of Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares I was hoping

for, no dry-roasted peanuts, etc. It was disappointing, given that I made sure my account settings allowed for substitutions of like products. Only one substitution was made (Ore-Ida Mini Tater Tots instead of the fullsize version). I wondered, could Giant truly be out of all these things?

So, I tied a bandana over my face and drove right on back to the store to walk the aisles myself. Sure enough, while they didn’t have the Jif Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter I requested, they did have Skippy. While they didn’t have regular Morton’s salt, they did have the iodized version.

And while they didn’t have the Goody Ouchless Elastics hair ties (for homemade cloth face masks), they did have a different brand that works fine.

I’m not sure why these items weren’t substituted, but no system is perfect – especially under these circumstances.

After nearly 20 years as an editor at USA Today, Lisa Kiplinger joined Kiplinger.com (no relation, just a funny coincidence) as managing editor of Wealth Creation. She lives in Warrenton with husband Peter Brewington, sports editor of the Fauquier Times and Prince William Times.

Skip the office visit.

Visit a doctor online.

We’ve always provided high-quality care that’s close to home for everyone in the Gainesville, Haymarket, Manassas, Warrenton, and surrounding communities. Now you can meet a care provider online using virtual care, and have that same quality from the safety and convenience of your home. It’s one more way we are bringing the best of health to you.

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LIFESTYLE

Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | April 22, 2020

7

Libraries are offering programs online for all ages Staff Reports While COVID-19 has everything shut down, the folks at Prince William Public Libraries have found other options. They have gone digital.

A science experiment on how to make a bottle rocket, LEGO play time, story time and Music and Motion videos are some of the things people can watch on the library’s Facebook page and do while they are stuck at home.

Rachel Johnson, the library system’s communication services division chief, said in a county press release the libraries are working to get out at least one video to post every day.

“We’re trying to hit three a day, one for kids, one for teens and one for adults, but we’re always doing a kids’ virtual program every day.”

Videos for children, such as Music in Motion and Story Time, usually come out in the mornings on Mondays and Tuesdays for instance, Johnson said.

“We’re trying to make it consistent every week.

Our programmers are just amazing. They’re stepping up to the challenge.”

In addition to putting out videos on Facebook,

the libraries are working to get other programs online, Johnson said.

“We’re working on book clubs. That’s our next thing, getting the book clubs virtual.”

The library offers other online services, as well. People who don’t have library cards can get digital cards online at the library website.

This will give people full access to the library system’s digital library and apps, such as Libby,

by OverDrive, hoopla Digital, ebooks and audio books, Johnson said.

The main thing for the library system is to serve the community in the best way it can for now, Johnson said.

“Right now, we need to stay connected to our community, and it’s important that our community knows that we’re still there for them. If we can continue to provide service – not only just programs, but things like our digital library so they still have access to ebooks, audio books and other resources through our digital library – that’s what we do. Our mission is to serve the community,” the press release said.

COURTESY PHOTO

Ms. Christine from Bull Run Regional Library, taped a flannel board story time featuring nursery rhymes, including “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe!” It can be found on the Prince William Public Libraries Facebook page.

For more information about library programs, visit pwcgov.org/library or visit facebook.com/ PrinceWilliamPublicLibraries.

Food banks, medical corps need volunteers during the pandemic

By Jan Hawkins

Contributing Writer

As our communities face the unusual circumstances created by the coronavirus pandemic, many individuals would like to volunteer to help in some way. Here’s some organizations that need help right now: The Community Feeding Taskforce, a network of local food banks providing assistance to local residents facing food insecurity, is up and running. Volunteers are urgently needed at several food banks throughout the community to help assemble food packages, deliver food to smaller food pantries, answer a food assistance hotline and provide administrative support.

Volunteers may need to lift containers weighing up to 50 pounds, while other opportunities prefer volunteers with bilingual skills in Spanish. Visit www.volunteerprincewilliam.org to view the opportunities.

To register, you must create an account on our website, then go into the opportunity to respond to the opportunity. Email bnahas@volunteerprincewilliam.org to learn more.

Medical Reserve Corps has an urgent need for volunteers to help in the fight against COVID-19. Many volunteers are needed across the state and locally to provide support for the expected surge in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Volunteers with health care experience are especially needed, but they will accept non-medical volunteers in a variety of other skill sets as well. Fill out an online application at http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/mrc/.

ACTS Senior Link program has a big need for volunteers who can make simple five- to 10- minute calls to home-bound seniors to check in on their welfare, offer services, or simply to be a friendly voice. It requires very little training to make these types of calls since these are not crisis calls.

Calls can be made from either their Manassas or Dumfries offices. Since staff is cut back, social distancing

will be easy to accommodate. Contact: Kate Long, Helpline Director, at klong@actspwc.org.

ACTS also needs volunteers in their Hunger Prevention Center weekdays for morning, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and afternoon shifts, 12:30 to 3 p.m., to prep grocery bags and distribute groceries.

Volunteers must complete and submit the online volunteer application found at www.actspwc.org prior to volunteering. Contact Shirley at scouteau@ actspwc.org or call 703-441-8606, ext.

212 for more information.

House of Mercy is now seeing a marked increase in clients seeking food assistance. They are in urgent need of donations of nonperishable items for their food pantry so they can continue food assistance during COVID-19.

Please email scrooks@houseofmercyva.org to learn more. The staff is also working hard to collect and donate 5,000 face masks to local agencies.

Many volunteers have jumped in, but they can always use more help! Email masks@houseofmercyva.org to learn how you can get involved.

Prince William Food Rescue has a great opportunity for those who are healthy and want to get out of the house while still practicing social distancing. Become a Food Rescue Hero!

Have the kids ride along, slap on some gloves and rescue some food. Pickup and drop-off with minimal interaction. Search Prince William Food Rescue your smartphone’s app store, download the app and create a profile-you can start rescuing food right away! Please visit https://pwfoodrescue.org/ for more information.

The Salvation Army is collecting items for seniors and vulnerable populations. You can help by creating care packages from the security of your own home and safely dropping items at their Prince William location in Woodbridge. Food items such as canned soups/other dry or canned foods are requested. Nonfood items such as socks, toiletries, diapers/baby wipes and sanitizing supplies are also needed. Donated

items can be dropped off at 1483 Old Bridge Road, Woodbridge Suite 102, Woodbridge. Email Angela at angela.soriano@uss.salvationarmy.org or call 202-345-2238 to learn more.

SERVE thanks the many individuals who have stepped forward to volunteer in their Hunger Resource Center during COVID-19. Currently volunteer slots are full, however, do-

nations of pasta sauce, canned vegetables, canned tomatoes, canned and dry beans, rice, soup, applesauce, mac & cheese, cooking oil or spray, easy-make single serving meals, pasta and canned meats are urgently needed. Donations will help accommodate the rising number of requests for food assistance. Email ncannon@ nvfs.org for more information.

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PUZZLE PAGE

Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | April 22, 2020

4/22

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© 2019 Blue Ox Family Games, Inc., Dist. by Andrews McMeel

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SPORTS

NATIONALS TICKET HOLDERS IN LIMBO

With the start of the Major League Baseball uncertain, the Washington Nationals set the start date for all ticket plans to no earlier than June 1. “When MLB announces the actual start date, we will work with our fans to adjust their plans as needed” the team website says.

WWW.PRINCEWILLIAMTIMES.COM

Prince William Times | April 22, 2020

DOING THE TANGO IN HIKING BOOTS Sky Meadows’ trails offer miles of fresh air, but be ready to step aside

Sky Meadows Info

-Location: In Delaplane about 35 miles from Manassas. Take Rt. 66 West 21 miles to Rt. 17. Go six miles.

-Cost: $7 per vehicle Monday through Friday, and $10 Saturdays and Sundays. Pay by exact cash or check made payable to “Treasurer of Virginia” and utilize the yellow envelopes at each entrance station.

PETER BREWINGTON SPORTS EDITOR

An interesting dance is going on these days on the hiking trails at Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane.

It’s not a waltz or paso doble. Call it a tango in the forest, inspired by everyone’s nervous reactions to passing each other on trail.

My wife, Lisa, and I went for a 7.5-mile hike (estimated) there last Wednesday, and had our usual superb experience at Sky Meadows, hiking a wide loop that combined a great calorie burn with ever-changing views and broad vistas as we toured one of the most amazing public resources in Northern Virginia.

We’ve been to Sky Meadows four times since the COVID-19 outbreak in early March. Going twice on the weekend, we saw ample crowds and overflow parking areas in use.

Sky Meadows has seen a massive surge in usage, up nearly 50% from last year, rising from 33,625 in attendance during the January-March period in 2019 to 49,644 during the same three months in 2020.

Sky Meadows park manager Kevin Bowman says the 22-plus-mile trail system has been meeting the demands of a restless, cooped-up public. “One of the positives I see coming out of this very trying time is a growing sense of appreciation for, and people’s connection to the outdoors in their local communities,” said Bowman.

Last Wednesday was light. The parking lot at Turner Pond was emp-

PHOTO BY LISA KIPLINGER

Sports editor Peter Brewington enjoys the view from the Piedmont Overlook Trail at Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane. With Shenandoah National Park closed, Sky Meadows has picked up even more visitors. ty at 12:30 p.m., except for us.

Thirty-five minutes after a happily lonely start, we reached the main visitor center. This is where most people start.

We noted about a dozen cars there, and we started to encounter more hikers, seeing people every 20 minutes or so over the next three hours.

We passed by a pair on horseback, two solo hikers, two or three couples, a few groups of parents with their kids and a group of five guys.

The infrequent encounters carried some mild anxiety. While Sky Meadows’ trails are remarkably wide, the act of passing another person can be awkward.

Weeks of COVID-19 news bombardment have told us how contagious the virus is, with masks now encouraged nationally.

So what’s the rule nowadays on a nature trail, which involves passing in sometimes narrow confines?

Bowman didn’t mention masks but he’s encouraging social distancing, stressing hikers keep at least 6 feet

from others at all times. “Alert others of your presence and step aside to let others pass at a safe distance,” he said.

We witnessed various examples of precautions being taken … or not.

Some hikers passed by us, barreling uphill with their heads down, forcing Lisa and me to quickly whip out our home-made masks, cut from Christmas dish towels, loop them over our ears and scurry to the side.

While brief pleasantries were exchanged at times, most meetings were impersonal, characterized by a “Let’s-not-get-too-close-to-eachother” vibe.

It was a tango, characterized by semi-synchronized rhythms and abrupt pauses and done with often very serious faces. Like ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars” in hiking boots.

Late in the hike we met a family of four who, like us, had a strict safety routine. Seeing us, they stopped, pulled into a side area and turned their backs.

“That’s been our tactic,” said Jen Murdoch. “We kind of adopted that

from an older gentleman we saw. It feels a little anti-social, but I think it’s a smart thing.”

“It feels a little rude,” agreed husband Ian. “We feel self-conscious turning our backs. We try to say hi well in advance. We’ve seen the extremes. Some people are completely oblivious, and some are like us and very conscious.”

The Murdochs came down from Brooklyn, N.Y., about six weeks ago and are staying in Warrenton along with their daughters, Isla, 11, and Elyse, 9.

Ian, with a 2-pound camera around his neck, has been exploring local hikes with his three “girls.”

They’ve been to Shenandoah National Park (now off-limits) and Shenandoah River State Park.

“It just takes your mind off everything else. It forces me to try to not do work from home. Forces us to talk and not stare at the screens.

When we’re out here, we’re not thinking about the pandemic and the implications. It takes our mind off everything,” he said.

Pleased with meeting kindred spirits like the Murdochs, we marched onward. After a break for a banana, peanuts and Vitamin Water, we reached Turner Pond about threeand-a-half hours after we started, feeling pleased to get a healthy dose of fresh air and sunshine and lucky that we live so close to such a beautiful place to safely stretch our legs.

Bull Run Occoquan Trail offers 18 miles of natural exercise

By Peter Brewington Times Staff Writer

Who knew there were over 18 miles of semi-uninterrupted hiking trails in Fairfax County?

Meet the Bull Run Occoquan Trail, which is still open, despite some parking inconveniences.

The trail’s length is daunting for weekend warriors tackling it in one day, although die-hards do it. “It’s kind of a rite of passage to walk the whole thing. The majority of use is shorter segments,” said Chris Pauley, parks operations director for NOVA Parks, which owns and operates more than 12,000 acres of parks in Northern Virginia.

Forming the border with Prince William County, the Bull Run Occoquan Trail runs from Bull Run Regional Park on the edge of Manassas Park through Clifton to Fountainhead Regional Park in Fairfax Station.

Other Prince William County hikes

-Mason Neck State Park in Lorton has nine hikes, with the longest at 2.94 miles.

-Leesylvania State Park in Woodbridge has five trails, with the longest at 1.96 miles. The park is right on the Potomac River and has three boat launches.

-Manassas National Battlefield has great trails, including a 6.6-mile Second Manassas Trail and 5.4-mile First Manassas Trail.

-Prince William Forest Park in Triangle has numerous short hikes.

While entirely in southern Fairfax County, its proximity to Prince William means heavy usage

by Manassas and Woodbridge residents. Most jump on for a walk, run, hike or bike ride.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created some logistical challenges. Bull Run Regional Park and

Fountainhead Regional Park are now gated. There is no parking, although people can walk into the park to exercise or use trails.

Pauley mentioned limited parking at Route 28 near Compton Road in Centreville, Hemlock Overlook Regional Park in Clifton or Bull Run Marina in Clifton.

Billed as the longest natural-surface trail in Northern Virginia, at 18-plus miles the Bull Run Occoquan Trail has a reputation as being fairly secluded, with enough hill climbs and rocks to make it a workout.

Pauley is happy NOVA parks are still open for social distancing walks, but he’s also suggesting people find ways to recreate closer to home.

“We’d love to have you, but parks everywhere are inundated,” Pauley said. “That’s why we got to the point where we had to close gates. We had so many (people) that our usage exploded, and it was difficult to social distance.”

10

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Prince William Times | April 22, 2020

Where do Prince William County’s service workers live?

Food service jobs in NOVA are among the hardest hit by COVID-19

By Daniel Berti

Times Staff Writer

Food service workers have been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis as restaurants have moved to serving takeout orders only, or closed entirely, to comply with state-mandated social distancing measures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

The latest unemployment report from the Virginia Employment Commission shows that more than 24,000 unemployment claims were filed by food service workers in Northern Virginia between Sunday, March 1, and Saturday, April 11, the highest of all the occupations listed in the report for the Northern Virginia region.

Younger workers and female workers have been disproportionally impacted because of their prevalence in the food service industry and other affected industries like retail and health care, Timothy Aylor, senior economist at the Virginia Employment Commission, said in a press release.

People working in personal care and service occupations, which includes jobs like home health

The areas of Prince William County in darker shades of blue have the highest concentrations of service workers, according to the 2018 U.S. Census care assistants, childcare workers and hairstylists, are also filing high numbers of unemployment claims. More than 16,027 personal care workers filed unemployment claims in Northern Virginia between March 1 and April 11, the report said.

Overall, 410,762 workers have filed unemployment claims in the last month in Virginia, with food service and accommodation workers making up the majority of these initial claims, Aylor said.

While the number of unemployment claims filed is still far higher than usual, Virginia unemployment filings for the week ending Saturday, April 11, are significantly lower than those filed during the previous week.

Virginia workers filed 104,619 unemployment claims for the week ending April 11, about 43,000 fewer than the 147,369 unemployment claims filed the week before.

In Prince William County, 6,353 unemployment claims were filed for the week ending April

NoVA Unemployment claims by occupation The food service and personal care industries have been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 crisis in Northern Virginia. The top five occupations in postcoronavirus pandemic filings are: Food prep and related service: 24,061 Personal care and service: 16,027 Office and administrative support: 13,877 Management positions: 13,311 Sales and related occupations: 11,334

11, down from 9,178 filed the week before. So far, Prince William County residents filed 23,706 unemployment claims between Tuesday, March 10, and Saturday, April 11.

Prince William residents working in service occupations, such as food service, are concentrated in the eastern and north central parts of the county, according to 2018 census data, the latest such data available.

In some parts of the county, as many as 30% of adult residents work in the service industry, according to census data.

More than 2,000 file unemployment claims in City of Manassas In the City of Manassas, 601 unemployment claims were filed for the week ending Saturday, April 11, down 874 from the week before. A total of 2,286 City of Manassas residents have filed unemployment claims between March 10 and April 11.

The VEC announced last Wednesday that several changes were being made to the state’s unemployment insurance program as a result of the CARES Act, which is part of the $2 trillion stimulus package Congress passed on Thursday, March 26.

Normally, Virginia offers laid off workers up to $380 per week in unemployment benefits. The CARES Act provides up to an additional $600 for claims effective Sunday, March 29, until Friday, July 31. Increased benefits for eligible claimants under traditional unemployment insurance are now available.

Reach Daniel Berti at dberti@fauquier.com

Some Virginia workers still waiting for checks

By Ned Oliver

Courtesy of the Virginia Mercury

Paul Bombardier has been puzzling over his application for unemployment benefits for a week now.

The IT contractor in Prince William County works with small businesses, nearly all of whom have closed up shop amid the pandemic, leaving him with little work and a dramatically reduced income.

Under the CARES Act passed by Congress last month, he and other self-employed and gig workers are newly eligible for Virginia’ unemployment insurance program, which was previously restricted to workers at traditional employers.

But the application process — clunky in the best of times — still hasn’t caught up to the new rules, official guidance is hard to find and phone lines at the state employment commission are swamped. That’s left applicants like Bombardier with lots of questions and little in the way of answers.

“I’m still trying to work through

it on my own, using whatever reputable info I can find online or from peers who are going through the process,” he said. “But because of variations between states, there aren’t many concrete answers.”

$328 million in relief paid out

As in most states, Virginia’s unemployment system wasn’t built for the historic surge of applications that followed wide-spread business closures. The program, which had been processing closer to 2,000 applications a week before the pandemic, has fielded an unprecedented 410,000 claims since March 15. That’s nearly as many as the state fielded in the last three years combined.

But Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration says the benefits system — which officials acknowledge is outdated and difficult to navigate — is holding up remarkable well, especially compared to other states that have contended with wholesale outages.

The Virginia Employment Commission reported this week that 218,000

people, more than half of applicants who applied since March 15, are already receiving benefits. And Megan Healy, Northam’s chief workforce adviser, said they’ve so far cut $328 million in checks to those workers.

The people benefiting from those quick turnaround times are applicants who meet the traditional criteria for benefits, mainly workers who were laid off or had their hours cut by employers who were paying payroll taxes. Because the state has data on their employment, their applications can be automatically checked and processed, she said.

“It’s working for most people,” she said. “It’s the trickier situations, where they quit or they’re 1099 workers, that we have to do further investigation.”

To deal with the crush, Northam says the state is adding call centers and temporary employees.

So far, no self-employed workers, independent contractors or other gig workers (think Uber and Lyft drivers) have had their claims processed,

Healy said.

She said that’s going to change soon, but the process will still be cumbersome. Self-employed workers will be instructed to apply through the traditional application, which will be rejected. They will then be provided with instructions to apply through the new portal and submit documentation outlining their past earnings.

Those applications will then have to be manually reviewed.

Healy said the state is aiming for a two-week turnaround. While those applicants will have to wait longer to receive their first relief payment, their first check will include benefits for all the weeks they were eligible and out of work.

How does that sound to Bombardier, the out-of-work IT contractor in Prince William?

“Wow. That’s certainly a process,” he said. “The only question I have, and I think it applies to more than the unemployment situation, and certainly more than just myself, is ‘How were we so unprepared?’”

OBITUARIES

Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | April 22, 2020

11

OBITUARIES Barbara June Jeffries Flippo

Mary Ellen Hume

Barbara June Jeffries Flippo, 58 of Remington, VA passed away suddenly on April 16, 2020 at Fauquier Hospital.

She was born on October 3, 1961 to Albert L. Jeffries and Barbara Penwell in Winchester, VA. Barbara is survived by her husband Brook Flippo, her mother and stepfather William Penwell, her children Kimberly Lunsford (Darin) of Winchester, VA and Robert Lunsford, Jr. (Rebecca) of Remington, VA. She is also survived by her siblings, Michael Jeffries, Terri Williams, Jeff Jeffries, and Caleigh Jeffries, her grandchildren Will Lunsford, Demitri Gardner and Rozlynn Lunsford, along with numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

A private graveside service will be held at Remington Cemetery.

Online condolences may be expressed at moserfuneralhome.com.

Mary Ellen Hume, 92 of Warrenton, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday April 17, 2020 surrounded by her loving family.

Mary Ellen was born on June 16, 1927 in The Plains, VA to the late Smith and Mary Leach.

She is also preceded in death by her husband William Richard Hume and her son Gary Stephen Hume.

Mary Ellen is survived by her two children; Lynn P. Webb and husband Tom of N.C. and Timothy R. Hume and wife Susan of Louisa, VA; seven grandchildren, Shannon, Brandon, Patrick, Stephanie, Jonas, Cheyenne and Caylin; best friend, Dwight Ryan and her care giver Brenda Chunik.

A private graveside service will be held at Stonewall Memory Gardens at a later date.

Online condolence may be expressed to the family at moserfuneralhome.com

Vance Spencer Hall Sr. Vance Spencer Hall Sr. 83, of China Grove, NC went to be with the Lord on Friday, April 17, 2020 at Rowan Regional Hospital. He was born October 17, 1936 in Asheville, NC. The son of the late Ollie Jane Hall and Vance William Hall.

He is also preceded in death by his brother Merion Hall, grandson James Clifton Jr, and great grandson Trenton Harris.

Spencer was a devoted loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, and greatgrandfather. He loved the Lord and his church family. He served in the Navy and was a sheriff in Manassas VA. He had retired from the Telecommunication Industry.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce Elaine Hall, three daughters, Pam Burgess and husband George of Salisbury, Sandy Dee Hall of China Grove, Sherry Harris of Jacksonville, son Vance Spencer Hall Jr. wife Lisa of Richfield. Sister Brenda Newell and brother in-law Lyle. Fourteen grandchildren David Crabill, Parris Clark, Elaine Clifton, Anna Hahn, Butch Harris, Michael Harris, Kari Harris, Patricia Hall, Krystal Castillo, Vance S. Hall III, Eric Hall, Hunter Hall, Bricen Hall, twenty-one great grandchildren and Sister in-law Mary Hall Whitley’s Funeral Home of Kannapolis N.C. is taking care of the family.

Gail Miller (Sell) Gail Miller (Sell) passed away peacefully in her home on April 13, 2020 in Midland, VA at the age of 80.

Gail was born on September 30, 1939, in Hambleton, WV, to Julius and Virgie Sell. She married John Miller in 1957. The two settled in Warrenton, VA. In her younger years, she was active with The Scouts. As a leader, she became a mentor to many youth. With her love for gardening, flowers, and nature, it is no surprise she spent her spare time clearing paths on the Appalachian Trail where she enjoyed reading log entries left in cabins by hikers whenever she took a break from blazing trees. In her adult years, Gail worked at Central Elementary where she retired as a teacher’s aide. She was active and dedicated to her group of retired teachers which met for monthly luncheons.

Gail is preceded in death by both her parents, husband John, and two siblings.

She is survived by her three children John Miller, Sherry Baker, and Laura Williamson who remember her as a kind, gentle, patient and driven mother who always encouraged them to pursue their goals. She is remembered by her niece Cindy Burke, four grandchildren Shayne Dinkle, Aaron Taylor, Dora Maines, Austin Taylor, and her ten great grandchildren- all of whom she spoke of often and deeply loved.

A memorial service will be held at a later date and time, all will be welcome to attend and celebrate Gail’s life at that time.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations on behalf of Gail Miller to Laura Williamson at 6765 Schoolhouse Rd, Bealeton, VA 22712. Condolences can be sent to Gail’s Facebook page.

The family would like to thank Hope Center and Heartland Hospice for their care and dedication.

Online condolence may be expressed at moserfuneralhome.com.

Lela “Helen” Sheppard Lela “Helen” Sheppard passed away on April 5th, 2020 in Warrenton Virginia. She was 95 years old. Helen was born in Caldwell Texas on August 29, 1924 to Darr and Inez Wood.

Helen graduated from Caldwell High School in 1942, and then moved to Kileen Texas to work at Fort Hood at the base exchange. She met her husband Ron Sheppard and was married to Ron for 68 years. Helen moved from Killeen, to San Antonio, Germany, Atlanta GA, and Dallas, Texas where they lived for 50 years.

Helen was a member of John Calvin Presbyterian Church where she served on the session and in many other roles. Helen was also involved in many music bands that Ron played in, motorhome clubs and dance clubs. Helen’s greatest joy in life, besides Ron, were her two children, Barry and Gay and her grandsons.

Helen is predeceased by her husband Ron Sheppard, and also all of her brothers and sisters.

She is survived by her son, Dr. Barry Sheppard (Deborah); and daughter Gay Henson(Joe). She was a loving grandmother to three grandsons: Carson Sheppard & Sam and Ben Henson. Helen, or Aunt Helen to so many, will also be missed by many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and other family members and friends. In the current situation, Helen will be laid to rest at the DFW National Cemetery in Dallas Texas.

A full memorial with military honors for spouses will be held at a later date.

Stephen Hamilton Semple On April 10th, 2020 Stephen Hamilton Semple passed away unexpectedly at his home. He was 58. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 8th 1961, Steve was a gregarious soul with a distinctive voice and an infectious laugh.

He loved animals, music and at an early age developed a love of gardening from his mom.

Steve moved to Warrenton Virginia with his family in 1976 where he attended Fauquier High School. After graduation he attended Johnson School of Technology where he learned the finer points of carpentry design and construction. Steve grew into a skilled and gifted craftsman installing high end cabinetry in homes across Northern Virginia eventually making custom furniture and cabinetry out of his home workshop.

Steve is predeceased by his loving parents Joan Seltzer Semple and J. Brooks Semple.

He is survived by his son Griffin Patrick Semple of the residence and three brothers Charles B. Semple (Carol) of Boulder, Colorado, Barry S. Semple (Lynn) of Boise, Idaho and Andrew D. Semple (Shannon) of New Bern, North Carolina. He is also survived by his maternal aunts and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Due to the COVID virus no services are planned at this time. A Celebration of his life will occur at a later date.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to Warrenton SPCA, PO Box 733 Warrenton Va. 20188 or a donation can be made to your favorite charity honoring his memory.

Online condolences may be made at Moserfuneralhome.com

12

CLASSIFIEDS

Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | April 22, 2020

PRINCE WILLIAM

CL A SSIFIEDS ADVERTISING DEADLINES: Business Directory: Thursday at noon, All other Classified ads: Monday at 3 p.m.

To place your ad, Call: 540-351-1664, Toll Free: 888-351-1660, Fax: 540-349-8676, Email: classifieds@fauquier.com Rentals —

001 Apartments

273 Pets

Business

350 Services

Legal Notices Marshall. Professional, 1 bedroom apartment for rent. $1400 plus electric. Beautiful and updated. Amenities include full kitchen, DW, full size range. Large living room with gas FP. Full Bath and W/D unit. Den/study. Private entry and parking.

Close to I66. No smoking/pets. Please call 540-729-0001.

022

Rentals — Houses

Old Town Warrenton.

2BR, 1BA plus extra space. Deck, fenced yard. $1500/mo. Call/ text 540-222-2530 Miscellaneous

256 For Sale

Master Built Pro 30” Duel Fuel Smoker.

Smoke food with propane or charcoal.

Flame disk bowl for use with wood chips or charcoal. Push button ignition. Four chrome coated smoking racks.

Used once - $180.

If interested call 540-270-0599.

POOL FOR SALE. Above-ground pool.

Oval 18’x33’. Includes all equipment & supplies. You disassemble & move. $750. Call 540.205.3479.

Riding Mower 46“ cut, fully automatic.22hp.

Cub Cadet, 15 hours total run time, like new.

975. 540-359-5793

GROW YOUR BUSINESS.

JENKINS EXCAVATING & LOGGING. Free Estimates, Class A Contractor, Commercial, Residential. Demolition, land clearing, ADOPT site prep, roads, VOLUNTEER drives. 540-661-0116 DONATE Miller´s Tree Servic, complete tree serADVOCATE vice. Renoval, www.pwspca. mulching, storm damage, bucket org truck, firewood.

540-222-2089 North´s Custom MaBusiness 350 Services sonry. Retaining walls, stone work, patios, repoint ing brick, chimneys, driveways.

ADAMS CUSTOM SER540-533-8092 VICES, LLC. Siding, Windows, Roofing. North´s Tree Service & Visit us online at Landscaping. Comadamscustomserviceplete tree service. All s.com. or call phases of landscaping.

540-349-8125. Free 540-533-8092 estimates POTOMAC WINDOW GO WITH THE BEST!!!

CLEANING. Inside & Brian´s Tree Service. out, By hand. Power LICENSED, INW a s h i n g .

SURED, FREE ES703-777-3296 LiTIMATES. Tree recensed, insured, moval, trimming, bonded deadwooding, stump removal, lot clearing.

Home Senior discounts 376 Improvement 540-937-4742 or 540-222-5606 G R A V E L : A L L Affordable Roofing with PROJECTS. Topsoil; Terry´s Handyman fill dirt; mulch. No job Services, LLC. Litoo small.540-825censed & Insured.

4150; 540-219-7200 Commercial & residential. Senior discounts.

JBS Excavation & 540-937-7476 Clearing, Free estimates, tree removal, Design/build services. horse arena, New, renovations, d r i v e w a y s & additions for residenlandscaping. No job tial. Commercial rentoo big or too small. ovations & tenant up703-582-0439 lifting. Licensed & i n s u r e d .

540-428-3050 www. s o u t h s t a r It took 6 YEARS construction.com Remodels; New Homes; Windows; to graduate. Find Painting; Garages; B a t h r o o m s ; Kitchens; Decks;. a job in about Class A. Lic & insured. GMC Enterprises of VA, LLC. 6 MINUTES. 540-222-3385

Prince William SPCA

Times Classified This ad could be working for you.

Call 540-351-1664 classifieds@fauquier.com

347-4222 or Fax 349-8676

Culpeper, 3000 SF, 3BR, 2BA ranch, finished bsmt, well & septic. $315K.Call for details 540-812-2771 Rentals — Houses MAIN FLOOR ONLY, move in cond, fresh paint, 3BR, 2BA, gas FP , new appliances, Formal DR, lg family/LR, brick rambler, Town of Warrenton. owner pays ALL UTILS & TAKE CARE OF LAWN. $1750/mo, credit report, no smkrs, some pets OK/ owner approval. Owner lives in lower level, but no access to main level. Lg parking area.540-229-7808, leave message w/ contact info. Available Now.

385 Lawn/Garden GORMANS TREE AND LANDSCAPING SERVICES. Seasonal Clean up. Snow removal, grinding, mowing, take downs.

Free estimates.

540-222-4107; 540-825-1000 Total Lawn Care, home services. Cranium Services giving you peace of mind. Call Glenn 571-839-8495; glenn@ craniumservices. com; cranium. services.com

Notice of Non-Discriminatory Policy as to Students Notice of Bethel Lutheran Preschool admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available the students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, and athletic and other schooladministered programs.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ148770-01-00 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re OLIVARES CALVI, JOSELYN The object of this suit is to: JOSELYN OLIVARES CALVI BORN 2/14/2006 TO JULIETA CALVI ANDIA IS A CHILD WHOSE CUSTODY IS A SUBJECT OF CONTROVERSY AS PROVIDED BY 16.1-241A3 OF THE 1950 CODE OF VIRGINIA AS AMENDED It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) JULIETA CALVI ANDIA appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 05/07/ 2020 10:00AM Justine Bailey, Deputy Clerk

Legal Notices ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ148770-01-00 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re OLIVARES CALVI, JOSELYN The object of this suit is to: JOSELYN OLIVARES CALVI BORN 2/14/2006 TO JULIETA CALVI ANDIA IS A CHILD WHOSE CUSTODY IS A SUBJECT OF CONTROVERSY AS PROVIDED BY 16.1-241A3 OF THE 1950 CODE OF VIRGINIA AS AMENDED It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) GUSTAVO ARMANDO OLIVARES appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 05/07/2020 10:00AM Justine Bailey, Deputy Clerk

Services —

391 Miscellaneous Excavating, driveways, barn pads, clearing, ponds, tree removal, house sites, polo fields & more. Lee Brothers S e r v i c e s .

540-522-8846

640 Motorcycles YAMAHA - VW TRIKE Runs good. Tow bar, New front brakes. $4000- Will Deliver.

540-221-1302

Announcements Did you know...

Prince William Public Library offers...

BOOK SALES & MEMBERSHIPS

For the latest information on upcoming book sales, including dates, times and locations, can be found at the Website listed below.

pwcgov.org/library

Proceeds from book sales help to sponsor many Library programs and special events.

Classified Ads Work Call 347-4222

Legal Notices ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ148784-01-00 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re ARIAS CAMPOS, CARLOS The object of this suit is to: DETERMINE CUSTODY AND MAKE FATUAL FINDINGS RELEVANT TO SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) CARLOS ULISES ARIAS CRUZ appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 05/21/2020 10:30AM Stephanie Wilson, Deputy Clerk

Classified Has It!

Place Legal Notices ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ148826-01-00; JJ14882701-00 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re EARLE, FIONA ELIZABETH; EARLE, LIAM RICHARD THOMAS The object of this suit is to: OBTAIN CUSTODY OF FIONA ELIZABETH EARLE; LIAM RICHARD THOMAS EARLE It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) ERIC RICHARD EARLE appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 05/18/ 2020 10:00AM Laska Via, Deputy Clerk

Your

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TODAY

Call For Legal Notices ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ148834-01-00; JJ14883501-00 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re AYALA-VASQUEZ, MADELINE RAQUEL; AYALA-VASQUEZ, ANDREA GISELLE The object of this suit is to: OBTAIN CUSTODY OF MADELINE RAQUEL AYALA; ANDREA GISELLE AYALA It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) JAVIER ENRIQUE AYALA appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 05/19/ 2020 10:00AM Laska Via, Deputy Clerk

Employment Advertising And Classified Advertising 347-4222 or FAX 349-8676

CLASSIFIEDS

Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | April 22, 2020

13

Legal Notices ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ148919-01-00 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re FLORES RAMOS MAYNOR ERNESTO The object of this suit is to: GAIN SOLE LEGAL AND PRIMARY PHYSICAL CUSTODY OF YANCI AND MAYNOR It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) ROGELIO FLORES CARCAMO appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 06/05/2020 10:00AM Laska Via, Deputy Clerk

ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ148783-01-00 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re HERNANDEZ ZAVALA, FERNANDO A The object of this suit is to: OBTAIN CUSTODY OF HERNANDEZ ZAVALA, FERNANDO A It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) JORGE ALBERTO HERNANDEZ AYALA appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 05/21/2020 10:30AM Theresa Robinson, Deputy Clerk

ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ148918-01-00 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re FLORES RAMOS, YANCI ELISSETH The object of this suit is to: GAIN SOLE LEGAL AND PRIMARY PHYSICAL CUSTODY OF YANCI AND MAYNOR It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) MIRIAN RAMOS MARROQUIN appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 06/05/2020 10:00AM Laska Via, Deputy Clerk

ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ148783-01-00 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re HERNANDEZ ZAVALA, FERNANDO A The object of this suit is to: OBTAIN CUSTODY OF HERNANDEZ ZAVALA, FERNANDO A It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) SANTOS ISABEL ZAVALA IRAHETA appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 05/21/2020 10:30AM Theresa Robinson, Deputy Clerk

ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ148786-01-00 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re ROBLERO PEREZ, JOSE The object of this suit is to: OBTAIN CUSTODY OF JOSE PEREZ ROBLERO It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) ELEAZIN PEREZ PEREZ appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 05/29/ 2020 10:30AM Rakia Goldsmith, Deputy Clerk Classified Ads Work Call 347-4222

ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ148787-01-00 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re ROSALES FAUSTINO, HILDER The object of this suit is to: OBTAIN CUSTODY OF HILDER ROSALES FAUSTINO It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) ATILIO ROSALES DIAZ appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 06/04/ 2020 10:30AM Rakia Goldsmith, Deputy Clerk

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY SUPERVISORS ONE COUNTY COMPLEX COURT PRINCE WILLIAM, VIRGINIA 22192 April 28, 2020 Public Hearings 7:30 p. m.

1.

Agricultural and Forestal Districts AFD2019-00002, Farmview Enterprise, LLC: A request to modify the Agricultural and Forestal District AFD #91-1 to add ±4.05 acres per VA Code Section 15.2-4307. The property fronts Farmview Rd. and is located + 290’ southwest of the intersection of Farmview Rd. and Rt. 28. The site is addressed 13209 Farmview Rd.; identified on County Maps as GPIN 7493-17-8304; zoned Agricultural; and designated Agricultural or Estate in the Comprehensive Plan – Brentsville Magisterial District – Planning

2.

Agricultural and Forestal Districts AFD2019-00003, TCB Land Management LLC: A request to modify the Agricultural and Forestal District AFD #91-1 to add ±80.17 acres per VA Code Section 15.2-4307. The property is located +1400’ south of the intersection of Rt. 28 and Farmview Rd. between the railroad tracks & Nokesville Park. The site is addressed 13063 Hickerson Ln. identified on County Maps as GPIN 7493-35-9065; zoned Agricultural; and designated Agricultural or Estate and Environmental Resource in the Comprehensive Plan – Brentsville Magisterial District – Planning

3.

Chapter 2 (Administration) Title X Continuity of Government: To consider the adoption of Chapter 2 (Administration) Title X Continuity of Government Ordinance pursuant to Section 15.2-1413 of the Code of Virginia, which is to be effective immediately – County Attorney’s Office

For additional information, contact Andrea P. Madden, Clerk to the Board of County Supervisors, at 703-792-6600. A copy of the proposed amendments to Chapter 2 (Administration) Title X Continuity of Government Ordinance will be available for review by the public in the Clerk’s office and will be posted online when the agenda is published. Member of the public may appear at the Board of County Supervisors’ Chamber in the McCoart Building, One County Complex Court, Prince William, Virginia, at the designated time to express their views.

ACCESSIBILITY TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: The hearings are being held at a public facility believed to be accessible to persons with disabilities. Any persons with questions on the accessibility of the facility should contact Andrea P. Madden, Clerk to the Board, at One County Complex Court, Prince William, Virginia, or by telephone at (703) 792-6600 or TDD (703) 792-6295. Persons needing interpreter services for the deaf must notify the Clerk to the Board no later than Thursday, April 23, 2020.

Run Dates: April 15 and April 22, 2020

Classified Ads Work Call 347-4222

Classified Ads Work Call 347-4222

This Could be Your Ad! Call 888-351-1660

IF YOUR AD ISN’T HERE.

490

Legal Notices

490

Legal Notices

ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ148488-03-00 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re CORBIN, SOPHIE ANN The object of this suit is to: OBTAIN CUSTODY OF SOPHIE ANN CORBIN It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) SARAH CHRISTINE NEFF appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 06/18/ 2020 1:30PM Laska Via, Deputy Clerk

Legal Notices ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ145927-03-00 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re MARITNEZ, ISABELLA CHARLIE The object of this suit is to: OBTAIN CUSTODY OF ISABELLA MARITNEZ It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) AMY TIE ROACHE appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 05/11/ 2020 10:30AM Rakia Goldsmith, Deputy Clerk

YOU GIVE YOUR BUISNESS TO SOMEONE ELSE

ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ148814-01-00 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re TAMAKLOE, PENIEL ELRAM KPORKU The object of this suit is to: OBTAIN CUSTODY OF PENIEL TAMAKLOE It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) NICHOLAS TAMAKLOE appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 06/11/ 2020 10:30AM Rakia Goldsmith, Deputy Clerk ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ148814-01-00 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re TAMAKLOE, PENIEL ELRAM KPORKU The object of this suit is to: OBTAIN CUSTODY OF PENIEL TAMAKLOE It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) ANNA ADUKWEI ADDD appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 06/11/ 2020 10:30AM Rakia Goldsmith, Deputy Clerk

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To advertise in the Times Community Newspapers Job Update Call 540-347-4222 or FAX 540-349-8676

14

CLASSIFIEDS

Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | April 22, 2020

Legal Notices ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ148825-01-0 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re SILLAH, SAUDATU The object of this suit is to: SAUDATU SILLAH It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 05/18/2020 10:00AM Laska Via, Deputy Clerk

492

Public Notices

492

Public Notices

ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ148812-01-00 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re TICAS LOPEZ, MARIA The object of this suit is to: OBTAIN CUSTODY OF MARIA TICAS LOPEZ It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) MIGUEL ANGEL TICAS FRANCO appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 06/03/2020 10:30AM Rakia Goldsmith, Deputy Clerk

492

Public Notices

492

ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316 CASE# JJ148863-01-00 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY J&DRJUVENILE ( ) General District County (X) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re FIGUEROA MORALES, HECTOR I The object of this suit is to: OBTAIN CUSTODY OF HECTOR IMANOL FIGUEROA MORALES It is ORDERED that (X) the defendant (X) HECTOR ALFONSO FIGUEROA appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 05/19/2020 10:00AM Laska Via, Deputy Clerk

TARGET Your Market Call to advertise

540-351-1664

Public Notices

Employment Full Time

545 Employment

Full Time

545 Employment

HIRING

● ● ● ● ● ●

FOREMEN TRUCK DRIVERS PIPE FOREMEN PIPE CREW LABORERS EQUIPMENT OPERATORS GUARANTEED TIME!!

EXCELLENT PAY AND BENEFITS. Call 540-364-4800

Millimeter-Wave Engineer

Small Charlottesville business is currently accepting resumes for a Millimeter-Wave Engineer. BScEE Preferred. Job involves RF Engineering activities related to the production and testing of 100-1000GHz Transmitters and Receivers. Recent grads are encouraged to apply.

Retirement and health benefits provided. EOE. Send resume as pdf to: rfengineer2@gmail.com

YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! CALL YOUR REP TODAY TO PLACE YOUR AD 540-347-4222

Flaggers Full time, to provide traffic control & safety around construction sites. A valid driver license & clean driving record a must.

Starting $13/hr & scheduled raises.

Company-paid medical & dental premiums.

Please fill out an application at careers.trafficplan.com or come to our office Tuesdays or Thursdays (8am-10am).7855 Progress Ct., Suite 103; Gainesville, VA

SYSTEM/INDUSTRIAL ENGINEER Small Charlottesville business is currently accepting resumes for an entry level System/Industrial Engineer. BSc Preferred. Job involves tracking & analysis of production and new product introduction (NPI) cycle times, activities related to corrective-and-preventive actions (CAPA) for engineering changes, general quality management system responsibilities, activities related to inventory control, oversight of USAbased technical outsourcing activities, and efficiency improvement studies related to mmWave standardized products production & testing. Recent grads are strongly encouraged to apply. Excellent retirement and health benefits provided. EOE. Send resume as pdf to: rfengineer2@gmail.com

Utility Systems Repairer-Operator (USRO) The Smithsonian Institution, Office of Facilities Management and Reliability (OFMR) is seeking an experienced USRO, salary ranging from $26.27 - $30.53 per hour; closing on May 5, 2020. This is a full-time permanent position; duty location is Front Royal, VA. The incumbent will perform a full range of basic operations, maintenance, troubleshooting and repairs to include performing preventative maintenance and repairs on equipment and component parts of refrigeration, air-conditioning, heating, high pressure steam distribution, humidification systems, and boiler systems along with performing fire pump and emergency generator testing. To apply to www.usajobs.gov; create a USAJOBS Profile; search for Jobs and enter the Job Announcement listed above. To obtain information on the Federal Hiring Process for this position or to review other Smithsonian vacancies, visit www.si.edu/ohr. The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin and/or disability. Final candidate selection will be subject to the applicant’s successful completion of a prescreen background check and subsequent background investigation.

CLASSIFIEDS

Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | April 22, 2020

15

BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY In celebration of two important events in April,

Companion & Homemaker Services:

National Older Americans Month and National Parkinson’s Month.

Bathing Meal Prep/Housekeeping Licensed, Bonded, Insured 24/7 Care Accepts Long-Term Care Insurance

Acti-Kare Responsive In-Home Care is making a special offer to help ease the burden of those who care for our seniors.

For the month of April receive five hours of service with a minimum commitment of 40 total hours for free.

(A $107.50 savings)

Heating and Air Conditioning

Excavation

Lawn

Lawn Maintenace • Planting • Mulching Bed Design • Spring/Fall Cleaning • Seeding Aeration • Dethatching • Top Soil • Sod Fertilization Programs • Trimming/Pruning Gutter Cleaning • Debris Removal

540-727-0024 Piedmont.ActiKare.com

Family Owned & Operated • Licensed and Insured

Heating and Air Conditioning

540-347-3159 •703-707-0773

Lawn Totalkjsl;asd Total Lawn care, home services. " Giving you peace of mind!"

Call Cranium Services.

Glenn at 571-839-8495

glen@craniumservices.com ; cranium.services.com

Handyman Heating and Air Conditioning

Construction

Landscaping

 

For all your

Heating and Cooling

SIDING

needs, call on

RC’S A/C SERVICE & REPAIR (540) 349-7832 or (540) 428-9151

Builder

Windows

ROOFING

VISIT US ONLINE AT ADAMSCUSTOMSERVICES.COM or call (540) 349-8125 to set up your free estimate

     

 



Home Improvment Driveways

G RAVEL ALL PROJECTS

  We deliver days, evenings and even weekends!

CALL ANYTIME

Michael R. Jenkins

540-825-4150 • 540-219-7200 mbccontractingservices@yahoo.com

NUTTERS PAINTING & SERVICES -SPECIALIZING IN •Painting (Int&Ext)  • Siding  

    

    

CALL ERIK 5405223289 FREE ESTIMATE 20 YEARS EXP.• LICENSED/REF’S AVAILABLE DISCOUNT PRICING | NUTTERSPAINTING@AOL.COM

Home Improvment

 

Landscaping Mowing, Lawn Maintenance, Trimming, Topping, Spraying, Removal, Stump Grinding, Mulching, Pruning, Cabling, Planting, Grading, Seeding, Power Washing, Retaining Walls, Patios, Walkways

540-923-4087 540-214-8407

Licensed & Insured Free Estimates All major credit cards accepted

GEORGEDODSON1031@GMAIL.COM

www.DODSONTREECAREANDLANDSCAPING.com

Excavation

Masonry

Excavation

Moving/Storage

Builder

Construction •

Advertise Here And Watch Your Business GROW

keep it classy Advertise in the classifieds.

540-351-1664 540-349-8676 (fax) classifieds@fauquier.com

Advertise Here And Watch Your Business GROW

16

CLASSIFIEDS

Painting/Wallpaper

Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | April 22, 2020

Tree Service/Firewood NORTH'S TREE SERVICE & LANDSCAPING

If you want a Classy Job call ...

Painting & Decorating, LLC

• Home painting & carpentry repairs • 30 years of hands on experience • Small company with personal service Free Consultations & Estimates.

Creative • Professional • First Class Painting Services

Call today! 540-349-1614 or 703-444-7255 Fully licensed & Insured

Power Washing

Family Owned & Operated for Over 30 yrs.

Quality Work Guaranteed CALL ABOUT - COMPLETE TREE SERVICE OUR

- ALL PHASES OF LANDSCAPING 25% OFF - All phases of Masonry - Gravel & Grading Driveways - Fencing

SPECIALS

540-533-8092

Honest and Dependable

Free Estimates • Lic/Ins • BBB Member • Angie’s List Member

Tree Service/Firewood Steve Dodson Warrenton, VA

SINCE 1977

540-341-0144 Free Estimates

THE ORIGINAL

Takedown, Topping, Trimming, Mulching, Fertilizing, Deep root Feeding, Shade Trees, Lot Clearing, Brush Haul, Rock Walls, Retaining Walls, Topsoil, Seeding, Sodding, Planting, Driveways, Deck Cleaning, Bore Spraying, Painting, Stump Removal, Hedge Trimming, Firewood

LICENSED & INSURED

Roofing

Tree Service/Firewood

Roofing

Windows Cleaning POTOMAC WINDOW CLEANING CO. No damage residential window cleaning

Inside & Out by hand LICENSED, BONDED, INSURED

30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

703.777.3296

Ask about out low pressure, no damage, power washing service for brick, stone, concrete, & wood using a soft brush to remove the embedded dirt that the power washer won’t get.

Tile

Professional Services Fauquier Community Food Bank & Thrift Store Donations - No Monday Tues - Friday 9:00 - 3:00 Sat 9:00 - 1:00 249 E. Shirley Ave. Warrenton, VA 20186 540-359-6054 Fauquier_thrift@yahoo.com

Tree Service/Firewood

Professional Services If only the Batterer would think of Themselves as the Cake Mix Battering the Icing on the Cake, maybe Domestic Violence Would Be Wiped Out In This Decade!

Watch the Battered Women Music Video by B’anne Phillips and busy little bees at www.sinnerstage.com and on YouTube.