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Pair of robbers strike two banks in North Stafford
Many baskets needed for Eggsplosion
10 North Stafford girls kick off season with win
MARCH 25, 2016
VOLUME 28, NUMBER 2
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School board OKs day off for Veterans Day TRACY BELL
Stafford County Sun
Bob Woodson, standing center, an Aquia Harbour resident and former Stafford County supervisor, asks Timothy J. Baroody, left, deputy county administrator and director of economic development, about details of the county’s dealings with developers of Aquia Town Center, during a town hall meeting Tuesday evening at the Harbour Inn. ALEKS DOLZENKO| STAFFORD COUNTY SUN
Harris Teeter coming here — maybe
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Harris Teeter grocery store may be coming to North Stafford, but first the residents of Aquia Harbour have to agree to open another road into their gated community of about 2,300 homes. That’s a non-negotiable point before Harris Teeter will commit to a store at Aquia Town Center, said Eron Sodie, a principal of Mosaic Realty Partners, the developer of the commercial portion of the center. He said that along with a back road to Aquia Harbour, Harris Teeter would like to locate at the back of the Town Center, where Regal 10 cinema is currently located. Sodie said that the cinema is open under a month-to-month lease. Some of the residents of Aquia Harbour were not too happy to hear the news at the Tuesday evening town hall meeting. Some said they were hearing of the back road for the first time. However, Aquia Harbour Property Owner’s Association director Chris Greene said that the directors gave approval to a back road “in concept,” nothing was put in writing. The additional road would apparently
necessitate another security gate and staff. He explained that the road would be only for Aquia Harbour residents and not even freight trucks to supply the grocery story would have access. Sodie said that no construction on the commercial aspect would begin until there is a commitment from Harris Teeter as the anchor store. A fall-back plan was not mentioned. Aquia 15 Apartments’ owner-operator, the Franklin Johnston Group, came to the meeting with a complement of personnel, including the site manager. Tom Johnston said the 256 rentals are geared to a middle-income clientele, with a onebedroom apartment starting at $1,150 a month. One of only 24 three-bedroom apartments would go for $1,570. He said the complex is geared to people who work in the community, such as teachers, firefighters and hospital workers, and should be finished by August. He said the apartments are not meant for the demographics of a Loudoun County. While the rental cost is on the level of a Chevette, he said, the amenities are outstanding, including granite
countertops, hardwood floors, walk-in closets and a swimming pool with a club house. Tenants will be limited to two persons per bedroom and all will be vetted, including for criminal records. The apartments are expected to be finished by August, he said. Several Aquia Harbour residents were upset that no additional access to U.S. 1 would be constructed, pointing out that the extension of the EZPass lanes on I-95 cause a traffic jam at the entrance to Aquia Harbour. They noted that an additional 500 cars could be expected to use the current three entrances onto U.S. 1. Stafford County Supervisors Paul Milde, Aquia Harbour, and Jack Cavalier, Griffis-Widewater, defended the development. Both said this arrangement was the best that could be achieved. A resident’s observation that there would be an influx of children attending local schools and pushing the studentteacher ratio beyond the division’s plan was dismissed by Cavalier. He said the division would be within bounds, but added that redistricting could alleviate any problems.
eterans Day will be a holiday for students and staff in the 2017-18 school year, according to a Stafford County School Board vote Tuesday. The board voted unanimously for option two after a brief discussion of the school year calendar. Option two proposed Veterans Day as a day off and Dec. 21 as an early release day. The alternative was swapped, with Veterans Day as an early release day and Dec. 21 — the first day of winter break, as a day off for staff and students. Previously, the board discussed the options’ pros and cons. Some noted that teachers make full use of honoring veterans on Veterans Day when students are in class. The flip-side opinion was that veterans should be honored on Veterans Day by making the day a holiday. A calendar committee met and discussed several variations of a traditional school calendar and considered pre- and postLabor Day options for the start of school. The committee’s consensus was to select one of the post-Labor Day options, and Superintendent Bruce Benson chose one of those options. Also at the meeting, the school board: ■ discussed the possible redistricting of the APU 188 England Run and Warrenton Road area from Ferry Farm Elementary School to Hartwood/Falmouth Elementary School. The redistricting would mitigate further student hardship faced with long bus rides to FFES, the SCHOOLS PAGE 13 board said.
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