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FALL FUN WITH LEAVES
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ARTFACTORY COMMUNITY ART HUB
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BATTLE STREET BISTRO
prince william living October 2021
The premier lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas
An Unexpected Hot Spot for Hauntings PAGE 4
Ethan’s Alopecia Awareness PAGE 12
Prince William Festivals and Pumpkin Patches PAGE 18
princewilliamliving.com
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table of contents October 2021 | Vol. 11 | No. 10
FEATURE STORY An Unexpected Hot Spot for Hauntings: Dumfries, Virginia
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DEPARTMENTS FROM THE PUBLISHER If It Looks Like Fall and Smells Like Fall …
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16
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GIVING BACK Ethan’s Alopecia Awareness: Providing Emotional and Economic Support to Kids with Alopecia
12
FAMILY FUN Fall Fun With Leaves
16
DESTINATIONS Fall Into Autumn at Prince William Festivals and Pumpkin Patches
18
ON A HIGH NOTE ARTfactory: A Community Hub for Everything Art
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LOCAL FLAVOR Battle Street Bistro Welcomes Diners
22
CALENDAR
26
COLUMNS
20
22
YOUR FINANCES HEALTH & WELLNESS HOME & HEARTH
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prince william living Rebecca Barnes
PRINCE WILLIAM LIVING PUBLISHER rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com
Erin Pittman EDITOR IN CHIEF epittman@princewilliamliving.com
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Amanda Baity ONLINE SUBMISSION MANAGER Carole Keily GIVE BACK PRINCE WILLIAM INITIATIVE Melissa Payne, melissa@givebackpw.org Johnnie Barnes, johnnie@givebackpw.org CLIENT CARE SPECIALIST Diane Puigdomenech, dpuigdomenech@princewilliamliving.com VISIBILITY PACKAGES sales@princewilliamliving.com SUBSCRIPTIONS info@princewilliamliving.com
PHOTO EDITOR Amanda Baity CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mia Brabham, Amy Falkofske, Katherine Gotthardt, Jennifer Halter, Rena Malai, Dominique McIndoe, Erin Pittman, Bennett Whitlock PHOTOGRAPHERS Mark Gilvey SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Katherine Gotthardt GRAPHIC DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Alison Dixon/ImagePrep Studio
Prince William Living, the premier lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas, is published monthly by Prince William Living, Inc. The opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Prince William Living. © Copyright 2021 by Prince William Living, Inc. All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced or translated without written permission. Visit the Prince William Living website at www.princewilliamliving.com for reprint permission.
Prince William Living 9994 Sowder Village Square #816 Manassas, Va 20109 Phone: (703) 232-1758
Editorial Have a story you’d like our staff to cover? Contact Prince William Living editorial staff at (703) 232-1758, ext. 2, or at editor@princewilliamliving.com.
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Advertising Prince William Living accepts display advertising. For complete advertising information, contact our sales staff at (703) 232-1758, ext. 3, or at sales@princewilliamliving.com.
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Subscription rate is $20 (Continental U.S.) for one year. Change of address notices should be sent to Prince William Living at info@princewilliamliving.com. Reprints and Back Issues: To order article reprints or request reprint permission, please visit the website: www.princewilliamliving.com. Order back issues by emailing Prince William Living at info@princewilliamliving.com. For further information about Prince William Living, visit www.princewilliamliving.com, or contact Prince William Living at (703) 232-1758.
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October 2021 prince william living
from the Publisher If It Looks Like Fall and Smells Like Fall …
I
t must be fall! Prince William is in official fall mode this month – complete with ghost walks and spine-tingling stories in Dumfries. Read all about the town’s haunting history in our feature. And keep the fall festivities going with the sights and smells of fall at local festivals and pumpkin patches throughout the month. See our list in Destinations. Our monthly calendar has you covered with plenty of events for the whole family too. Battle Street is the place to be this month. Local Flavor brings you the story of Battle Street Bistro and their tasty French cuisine with American flare. And right down the road, you’ll find ARTfactory. Check out all they have to offer in this month’s On a High Note. Prince William youth always inspire us here at PWL. This month you’ll find the story of Ethan’s Alopecia Awareness, a nonprofit organization created by Ethan Stearns, a young man who has alopecia himself, Ethan works to ensure other youth
with the disease never feel alone. Read his inspiring story in our Giving Back section. Looking to inspire creativity in the children in your life? Fall foliage offers ample opportunities for exploration and art projects. Family Fun has six ideas to get you started. Home and Hearth features tips for food safety when shopping, and in Health and Wellness you’ll find an inspiring story of overcoming breast cancer. Last but not least, Your Finances brings you suggestions for navigating the financial side of adoption and in vitro fertilization. We are grateful for your patronage. Did you know you can get Prince William Living delivered to your door each month? For a $20 tax-deductible donation to Give Back Prince William, it will arrive right in your mailbox. Go to princewilliamliving.com/ subscription to subscribe or fill out the last page of the magazine and mail it to us with your payment. All the best,
Rebecca Barnes Publisher
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An Unexpected Hot Spot for Hauntings
Dumfries, Virginia By Mia Brabham
T
he Haunting of Hill House. Paranormal Activity. The Blair Witch Project. American Horror Story. If you’re intrigued by all things spooky and spirited, you’ve come to — or live in — the right place. In Prince William, particularly in the town of Dumfries, there is a fascinating history of haunted folklore. So much so, that the small, beloved town is on the map nationally for those looking for a ghostly place to visit. “Many people visit us after watching Travel Channel and other shows filmed here around 2012,” said Lisa Timmerman, Executive Director of Historic Dumfries Virginia, Inc. and The Weems-Botts Museum.
Paranormal Activity in Dumfries The team has been informed by paranormal researchers that the area of Dumfries is extremely active when it comes to unearthly activity. “Guests and residents have informed us of events that have happened to them, both day and night. I am skeptical of their observations, but it does make for some interesting folklore,” Timmerman confessed. Many members of the local community have shared stories with Timmerman about paranormal events they claimed to have witnessed in their homes or at local businesses, including Dumfries Cemetery and Dumfries Elementary School.
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While the historic house is open year-round for tours, October is the only month the Weems-Botts Museum indulges in the town’s ghostly lore. Ghost Walks are offered every Friday and Saturday night during the month, tickets required. Photograph by Jesse McGill.
"A teacher reported this occurrence to a [Weems-Botts] Museum docent. She explained that she and the children in her class had seen a child outside from the window of their classroom located to the left of the #10 door; the girl was playing around the side,” Timmerman shared. “She was dressed in a long skirt in a style that looked like Colonial period clothes. The children complained that she got to play outside, and they didn’t. The teacher directed the students to turn back to the board. When the teacher looked back at the window, the girl was gone." This is of interest to Timmerman, who knows the location of the sighting has housed schools since the 18th century in Dumfries. “On our Ghost Walk tours in October, we share some of [those] stories with the public,” Timmerman says. “Our popular tours highlight paranormal events that have taken place in our Annex building, Dumfries Elementary School, Dumfries Cemetery and of course, our historic home — the Weems-Botts Museum.” The historic Weems-Botts Museum is said to be extremely haunted and has a rich folklore associated with it. “You have to expect the unexpected when you are investigating our historic home!” Timmerman exclaimed. Jeff Seguin, an independent paranormal researcher and the museum’s volunteer paranormal tour guide, has collected and cataloged these first-person ghost stories and accounts over the years. “Jeff has asked me to text him when events take place that
might be shared on future ghost tours,” she said. “He keeps a logbook of these events to see if there is a pattern, or perhaps environmental factors that might contribute to the ‘activity.’”
Shivering Stories Timmerman herself has plenty of stories that may send a shiver down some spines. “Back in November of 2019, I had Jeff stop by the historic home to investigate an odd security alarm fault that occurred mid-week, around three in the morning. One of our front door alarms had been triggered, and I noticed that a colonial-style latch on the inside of the door seemed to have been bent. I thought that perhaps something tried to push the door open from the outside,” she said. Then, something happened. “While we were standing in the Colonial vestry room discussing what may have occurred, Jeff stopped our conversation and directed my attention to the sound of footsteps walking across the wooden floor in the bedroom directly above us. It was as if someone was walking across the Colonial bedroom — toward the stairs — to eavesdrop in on our conversation. We quickly went upstairs, but the room was empty,” said Timmerman. In January of 2020, when Timmerman was giving a historic tour to a guest in the same area, the sound of footsteps directly above them caused her and her guest to look up toward the ceiling. (continues on page 6) prince william living October 2021
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(continued from page 5) “I’m sure both events were merely caused by the wind blowing through our old home, but it was very odd,” she said. Sometimes, it’s not just a noise that Timmerman, Seguin or a guest hears: It’s a touch they actually feel. “In September of 2019, I was wrapping up a final tour in the far side of the house. This area was once an exhibit area for a Dumfries historian, Lee Lansing. As I was chatting with the guests in this exhibit room, I felt a slight tug on the back of my jacket sleeve,” Timmerman explained. “It was odd, but [I] think it was a bug. The same happened a few weeks ago when I felt something on my foot. Although I could not find the bug, I did jump and slightly yell.” Although Timmerman may react, she doesn’t get spooked easily, which makes her perfect for the job. “I feel that all events can be explained through science,” Timmerman said. “However, I continue to report unusual occurrences to our volunteer who is documenting these events.”
Ghost Walks Historic Dumfries Virginia, Inc. was established to catalog, share and promote the history of Dumfries through documentation and artifacts the team has collected throughout the years. Timmerman directs the non-profit historical organization and gives tours about the history of the town and area throughout the year herself. “I keep it strictly a history tour until we give focused Ghost Walk programs in October,” Timmerman stated. October is the only month the Weems-Botts Museum shares stories of the town’s haunted folklore with the public, and the only tours they give during this time are ghost-related. The festive programming is a massive hit, with tours selling out a month in advance every year. “We encourage people to bring their EMF detectors and digital voice recorders to catch their own evidence at the various locations,” Timmerman said. “Many guests also use a particular ghost hunting app ["Ghost Hunting Tools" by Weasel] on their phone during the tour. The app supposedly allows nearby ghosts or spirits to communicate by choosing random words from a 4,000-word dictionary. Some of the words that pop up often relate to the stories being shared, which makes it entertaining and very spooky.” During the 90-minute walking tour of the area, visitors get to hear stories of paranormal events that have occurred in the museum’s Annex building, Dumfries Elementary School, Dumfries Cemetery and the historic Weems-Botts Museum. People in the community have also claimed to have seen and heard unusual things in Merchant Park, located directly behind the home.
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April, the Weem-Botts Museum’s cherished doll, is the source of numerous ghost stories and the star of Ghost Walks every year. Photograph by Jesse McGill.
“One story we tell on our Ghost Tour is of a guest who stopped by our Annex buildings,” Timmerman began. “She was impressed with a costumed Civil War reenactor she had met in [Merchant] Park. The museum staff quickly rushed to the windows, but we could not find the person she was referring to. We informed the guest that we did not have any costumed reenactors and she was very puzzled. Apparently, she had a conversation with this individual, but when the topic of how modern-day events could be compared to events that occurred during his time period, the soldier had an unusual reply. According to the guest, he said, ‘I don’t know too much about that, but the nice ladies in the museum could probably answer that for you.’” For visitors who want a truly unique and potentially chilling experience, the museum also offers a limited number of tickets for a late-night investigation inside the historic Weems-Botts Museum. The guests who embark on this private tour work with Seguin, the independent paranormal researcher, to capture evidence of ghosts that may still occupy the home. “Two years ago, a guest on this tour claimed she was gently ‘pushed’ on her lower back while seated on the floor of the Colonial bedroom with her back to the staircase,” Timmerman confides. “She described the non-threatening touch as ‘purposeful’ and with a tingly, static electricity quality to it. Perhaps someone on the staircase was trying to get her attention!”
While Seguin and Timmerman are purveyors of the paranormal, they are also the protectors. On tours, Seguin tells visitors that ghosts “must be treated with the same respect you would give a living person.” He and Timmerman do not allow guests to provoke or antagonize the resident spirits on any tours. Seguin warns, “If ‘they’ want to interact, it is up to them.” If you are interested in learning more about the haunted folklore of Dumfries or wish to find information on touring the WeemsBotts Museum, head to historicdumfriesva.org. Remember … visit at your own risk. The objects in the Weems-Botts Museum come from both the Merchant family and the Dumfries community, demonstrating the vast history of the house and strong community that comes together to support our non-profit. Photograph by Jesse McGill.
Seguin feels that there is “nothing malicious or ‘evil’ in our historic home or on the property.” He believes that ghosts have varying personalities, and that the supernatural occupants of the Weems-Botts Museum in particular are shy and private. While they tend to keep to themselves, Seguin also recognizes that the ghosts sometimes enjoy interacting with museum guests to ensure their story is being shared authentically and truthfully.
To learn about other spooky locations in Prince William, please visit our website at princewilliamliving.com and search Prince William Hauntings. Mia Brabham is an author, writer and media host. Her debut book, Note to Self, is a short collection of life lessons that is in the hands of readers all over the world. Mia is also the host of Two In The Morning, a podcast that explores and unpacks the cultural questions that keep us up at night. You can reach her at bymiabrabham.com.
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It’s never too early to start planning a special delivery. For you and us, childbirth is a labor of love. At Prince William Medical Center, it’s a process that begins with a stellar maternity team, including 24/7 in-house laborists and highly skilled Magnet nurses who are trained in delivery, post-partum and NICU care. We handle very complex care for mother and baby with our Level 3 NICU and private rooms that ensure a cozy, comfortable stay. After discharge, we support families with post-partum support groups, breastfeeding classes, Baby Cafés and more to ensure a healthy start for your new chapter of life. To learn more or schedule a virtual tour of our birthing suites, visit UVAHealth.com/deliver-in-Manassas.
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your finances The Financial Realities of IVF and Adoption By Bennett C. Whitlock III Whitlock Wealth Management
F
or those unable to conceive a child through traditional means, there are alternative options to consider, such as adoption and a more recent development, in vitro fertilization. Both offer possible opportunities to bring children into your life, but there is often a high cost associated with either option. If you are considering your options to expand your family, it’s important to understand the associated financial realities and develop a plan to deal with them.
IVF – Impressive Technology With a High Price Tag
IVF has made a real difference in the lives of many people wanting children. In a recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers found over 85,000 women in the U.S. undergo IVF treatments each year. The total cost associated with an initial treatment is around $24,000. Given that most women require multiple treatments, average costs can run up to $50,0001. Be sure to obtain a clear estimate of expenses from your provider before you make any final decisions. In many situations, your health insurance will not cover the costs, or if it does, often only a portion. Be sure to check with your insurance company to see what type of treatment might be eligible for coverage. Funds set aside in a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account can be used to fund IVF treatments. Personal savings are another source, but try not to put your emergency funds (which should total the equivalent of at least three to six months of income) at risk to meet other needs. If borrowing is necessary to offset the costs, be absolutely clear on the terms of the loan and how monthly payments for an extended period will affect your budget and your other financial goals. You may want to consider exploring loans from family members or a home equity line of credit. Alternatively, many medical clinics also offer lending programs, often with attractive interest rates.
Adoption – Expenses Can Vary
Adoption is a longstanding option for those looking to bring a child into their family. You can anticipate costs with this process as well, but the amount typically depends on your approach. Adopting a child from foster care may run up to $3,000, depending on whether or not you plan to hire an attorney to help with the paperwork. Adoption through a private adoption agency will be on the higher end of the spectrum, with costs
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as high as $30,000 or more2. Other fees may come into play as well. Some employers may offer adoption assistance as a benefit, which can help defray some of the costs. In addition, tax laws allow you to claim an adoption tax credit (up to $14,440 in 20213) for qualified adoption expenses for each child. Eligibility for these credits is subject to income limits. Be sure to check with your tax advisor for more information.
Planning Is Critical
IVF and adoption offer great potential to help fulfill your goals related to adding children to your family. If either is under consideration in your household, planning for the financial consequences is vital. Talk to your financial advisor about developing a workable strategy to deal with the costs. Planning should go beyond the financial commitment involved with the adoption or IVF processes. You’ll also want to consider the long-term financial impact of having another person in your household and how to prepare for that transition. Bennett C. Whitlock III, CRPC®, is a Private Wealth Advisor and Managing Director with Whitlock Wealth Management, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. He offers fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 22 years. To contact him call 703.492.7732 or visit his website at whitlockwealth.com. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Source: FertilityIQ.com, “The Cost of IVF By City,” (https://www.fertilityiq.com/ topics/ivf/the-cost-of-ivf-by-city).
1
United Way, “Adopting a child: Financial Considerations,” (https://www. unitedway.org/my-smart-money/financial-planning/starting-a-family/adoptinga-child-financial-considerations).
2
Internal Revenue Service, “IRS provides tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2021,” Oct. 26, 2020. (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-provides-tax-inflationadjustments-for-tax-year-2021).
3
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giving back ETHAN’S ALOPECIA AWARENESS: Providing Emotional and Economic Support to Kids with Alopecia Amy Falkofske
I
n 2017, a young man with a big heart started losing his hair. The following days, weeks and months were difficult for 12-year-old Ethan Stearns, his dad, Wes, and mom, Lisa, not knowing what was going on. But then, a diagnosis came. It was alopecia, a condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles. Instead of asking “Why me?” Ethan’s first response was, “We need to do some fundraising.” Out of that statement, Ethan’s Alopecia Awareness was born. Alopecia affects 6.8 million people in the United States, and one out of every 1,000 children has the disease. There are three types of alopecia; areata, which is a local spot, totalis, which is total loss of hair in one particular area, and universal, which Ethan has, where you have no hair.
How It All Started When Ethan’s hair started falling out three and a half years ago, Wes and Lisa were spraying on Miss Clairol to cover up the bald spots. A trip to the doctor resulted in Ethan getting a cortisone shot in his head and the doctor’s reassurance that the hair would come back. On the car ride home, Ethan floored Wes when he proclaimed that they had to do some fundraising for kids who couldn’t afford treatment. “Ethan was just about 12 at that time, he's in the back of the car, and he says, ‘We need to do some fundraising.’ I said, ‘What?’ He says, ‘Dad, I know I'm getting treatment, but other kids can't afford it.’ And I was floored. I was like, ‘I can't believe this.’ Instead of saying, ‘Why me?’ he was thinking of other kids. I said, ‘Okay, we can do that,’" said Wes. Ethan’s hair continued to fall out to the point where Wes had to take him to get the rest of it shaved off. Unbeknownst to Ethan, after dropping him off at school, Wes went back to the barbershop and had all of his hair shaved off too. He then came
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back to Ethan’s school with Ethan’s grandfather, who is also bald, and talked to his classmates about alopecia. “Ethan's mouth dropped. He had no idea I was coming back. And we talked to sixth graders who all of a sudden became spokespeople across the whole school about alopecia,” said Wes. Time passed, and Ethan Ethan Stearns, the face of Ethan’s continued with his daily activities like playing hockey, Alopecia Awareness until one day, Wes asked him if he was ready to get started putting Ethan’s Alopecia Awareness together. “There were some good days. There were some bad days. Finally, the hat came off. He's now very solid. And I said, ‘Are you ready to do what you told me?’ And he said, ‘Absolutely.’ And so, we started this Alopecia Awareness with several goals, and we've already done a couple of things and have a lot of other great plans,” said Wes.
The Mission of Ethan’s Alopecia Awareness Ethan’s Alopecia Awareness aims to help other kids who need wigs, micro-blading, medicine and emotional support. Wes tells the story of how they helped a little girl named Maya find her confidence. “We invited a few families to a Nats game, and a little 7-yearold girl named Maya and her family made it. She lost all her
This photos was taken just after Wes shaved his head. He lets Ethan take the clippers to him every now and then.
One of the Stearns’ French bulldogs, Chloe, sporting a signature “no hair, don’t care” hat from Ethan’s Alopecia Awareness.
hair during alopecia, except for maybe a few strands in the back. So, she showed up at the game with her parents, and she had her hair covered, and I looked at her, I said, ‘Oh my gosh, you have more hair than Ethan.’ And she looked up, and Ethan took his baseball cap off. The giggle and the laugh and smile from this 7-year-old girl. who thought to this point she was the only person in the world with this condition, was priceless,” said Wes.
Dealing with the Hard Stuff
Ethan’s Alopecia Awareness seeks to get kids like Maya together so they can be emotionally comforted the way she was. The foundation also has funds to help families dealing with alopecia and is looking for kids in need. They are not limited to kids, however. They are also open to helping adults with the disease.
A Desire to Help Other Kids Ethan is now 15, and he has a passion for supporting other kids with alopecia. “I see myself in a leadership role to help others. For all these young children like Maya, she didn't really think anyone had the same condition as her. She really thought she was the only one. And I just want people to understand that I'm just this person who went through it, and I'm willing to help others. I want to help others fight through it and to understand that it's okay. It's only hair, and you're not the only one,” said Ethan. A huge obstacle for people with alopecia is getting insurance to cover the treatments since they are considered cosmetic. One of Ethan’s goals is to get involved with an ambassador group that meets with legislators to work and get funding for medications that treat alopecia.
Ethan talked about the social difficulties of starting high school and having to answer questions about his hair. “It's a very hard disease to deal with in general because people can say, ‘Oh, he can have cancer, or this or that,’ but some people, I say, just aren't really educated. I mean, that's the really hard part as well, because people can be very mean. It's difficult, but going over that hill, it takes a little while,” he said. Eventually, those in Ethan’s sphere of influence came around. Now he’s just a typical teenager surrounded by friends, plays hockey and has a girlfriend. “Students walk up to me like, ‘Oh, you're the kid who made the foundation. It's really cool.’ But I wouldn't say if you have alopecia, you won't have friends. It's very easy. This is just your hair. Your personality is truly what makes you stand out as a person through your actions,” said Ethan. If you would like more information about Ethan’s Alopecia Awareness or wish to donate, visit ethansalopeciaawareness.com or call 703-675-2836. For those who donate, you’ll receive Ethan’s Alopecia Awareness signature baseball hat that reads, “No hair, don’t care.” You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram, where Ethan connects with other kids who have alopecia. Amy Falkofske is a freelance writer and photographer. She has a Master’s degree in Film-TV with a concentration in screenwriting. She lives in Bristow with her husband, two boys and two Beagle dogs. prince william living October 2021
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health & wellness My Annual Mammogram Saved My Life Provided by UVA Health
N
o one prepares you to be diagnosed with cancer. The call from the doctor telling you they found malignancy on your scans is never expected. And when it comes time for you to begin treatment, you’re thrown into an unfamiliar environment and cared for by a medical team you’ve never met.
the bond I formed with the other women and the team giving me such good care, I felt so comfortable and supported the entire time.”
But, after her 2019 cancer diagnosis, Ginger Sorensen was cared for by her coworkers in the facility she has worked in for the past 20 years. Sorensen, 50, is an assistant nurse manager of women’s and children’s services at Prince William Medical Center and previously worked as a labor and delivery nurse. The mother of three started getting annual mammograms when she turned 40.
What made the difference for Sorensen was the amount of information and statistics her team presented her from the beginning. John Williams, MD, her breast surgeon, provided countless evidence-based studies and Ginger and her husband, Per. encouraged Sorensen to do her own research to attest that she was going to survive this.
In February 2019, Sorensen went for her annual mammogram during one of her shift breaks at Prince William Medical Center. She had no symptoms and no family history of breast cancer, so she was expecting her scans to come back normal as they always had before. She visited with the breast radiology techs and then went back to work. The next day, her primary care doctor, Soujanya Biragoni, MD, a family medicine physician at Bull Run Family Medicine - Haymarket, called saying she needed to come back for some further tests and scans. “That day, I knew I had breast cancer,” she said.
Embarking on a Breast Cancer Journey
On Feb. 19, 2019, Sorensen was diagnosed with stage one invasive ductal carcinoma in her right breast. According to the American Cancer Society, IDC is the most common type of breast cancer and accounts for about 80% of breast cancer diagnoses. Sorensen chose to seek treatment locally. She wanted to be able to lean on her fellow team members for support throughout her procedures and treatment. “I wasn’t ashamed of it,” she said. “And my coworkers supported me every step of the way.” After discussing her options with her treatment team, she underwent a lumpectomy followed by radiation and chemotherapy — all at Prince William Medical Center and surrounding outpatient clinics. While Sorensen may have known her way around the facilities and encountered some familiar faces when she was receiving treatment, she was still riddled with anxiety, fear and vulnerability, just as many women diagnosed with breast cancer are. “When you are receiving radiation, you are stripped down of everything and it’s easy to feel alone,” she said. “But between
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“When your doctor says ‘cancer’, you think the worst,” she added. “But everyone kept telling me the whole time ‘You’re going to be OK.’ And they showed me the research to prove it!”
Annual Mammograms
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is the second most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States, behind skin cancer. One in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. However, the mortality rate for women diagnosed with breast cancer has been trending downward over the last decade and is currently at less than 3%. Along with better treatments, many researchers attribute this decrease to early screenings and increased awareness about the importance of annual mammograms, beginning at age 40. It is because of her annual mammogram that Sorensen is able to see her son, Keegan, pursue medical school, watch her daughters, Chloe and Mia, build their careers and families, take her dog, Lily, for walks and be the best wife to her husband, Per. Today, Sorensen is also studying to become a nurse practitioner with plans to graduate in May 2022. “I’ve been humbled,” she said. “We have to remember to be very tolerant with people around us, whether it’s a patient or someone at a restaurant. You just never know what people are going through.” To learn more about breast care services or make an appointment for your annual mammogram at UVA Health facilities in Manassas, Haymarket or Culpeper, visit UVAHealth.com/my-mammo.
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family fun
Fall Fun
WITH LEAVES
By Jennifer Halter
O
ctober is here, and that means cooler temperatures and opportunities to enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of the season. Now is the perfect time to explore the outdoors as much as possible before the cold winter days have us wanting to hibernate. While you’re out on walks at the park or around the neighborhood, collect leaves of various shapes, sizes and colors, and use them for a variety of fun and educational activities. Here are a few you can try.
Leaf Rubbings
Place the leaf on a hard surface with the vein side up and cover with a sheet of paper. Use copy paper or tracing paper for this activity. Anything thicker will make it more difficult for your rubbings to appear. Grab some crayons (old, broken ones will work great for this!) and remove the wrapper. Lay the crayon flat on its side and rub gently over the paper with the leaf underneath. The leaf shape will appear as you work the crayon around on the paper.
Leaf Journaling
While on your leaf hunt, have children create a journal where they can write or draw about leaves they find. They can share where and how they found each leaf, what the weather was like the day it was found, and the texture and color of the leaf. Then have them tape or glue the leaf into their notebook or sketchpad as a keepsake of the season.
Leaf Pressing
This is an easy way kids can create decorations for your home. Collect a variety of colorful leaves for this project. You will also need waxed paper, an iron, a towel, scissors, and tape or string (optional). Place your leaves between two pieces of waxed paper and put on an ironing board with a towel on top (parental supervision is strongly recommended for
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this project). Use an iron on a medium heat setting to press over your leaves to seal the waxed paper. This should only take about 4 to 5 seconds, but check your leaves before you finish ironing to ensure the wax sealed properly. Repeat ironing if necessary. Allow the leaves to cool completely before handling them. Using scissors, cut around the edge of each leaf, making sure you leave a bit of an edge around the leaf to keep it sealed in the waxed paper. Leaves can be used for anything from window decorations to a fun mobile created with string.
Leaf Painting
This is a great two-for-one craft that children will surely enjoy. Grab some dry leaves of various colors and sizes. You will need paintbrushes, washable paints and paper (construction paper will work best). Kids can paint the leaves, completely covering the surface, and before the leaf dries, have them press it with the paint side down to make colorful prints. Once dried, they can reuse their painted leaves to make a new masterpiece by adding designs or even faces using more paint.
Tree Color Progression
Do you have a favorite tree in your yard or nearby? Take a photo of your tree each day this month or for the rest of the autumn season and observe how the colors of the leaves change. Save all of the photos in a file and create a slideshow to watch the progression of the leaves changing color and eventually falling to the ground. Tip: Be sure to take your photos in the same spot each day and at a similar time if possible. Enjoy the outdoors and the beautiful sights and sounds this month brings! Jennifer Halter is the Publisher of Macaroni Kid Woodbridge and Macaroni Kid Gainesville/Manassas, free online calendars and resources to help you find your family fun all year round.
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Fall Family Fun Night
Saturday, October 16th 6:00pm-8:00pm Bring the family out for a night of fun, games, s’mores, a hayride around the park, and more! $15 per household.
Trunk or Treat
Sunday, October 31st 2:00pm-4:00pm An evening of fun activities and safe trick-or-treating at the Community Center. Vendors needed to hand out candy! Contact Kaitlyn at K.Collier@manassasparkva.gov Manassas Park Community Center 99 Adams Street Manassas Park, VA 20111 703.335.8872 ww.mpdpr.com
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destinations
Fall Into Autumn at Prince William Festivals and Pumpkin Patches By Dominique McIndoe
P
rince William is the center for all things autumn during the month of October. We've got fall festivals and cultural celebrations happening all month long. And our local pumpkin patches offer fun opportunities for you to bring home a piece of the season. Here are a few can't-miss events and spots.
The 38th Annual Fall Jubilee The 38th Annual Fall Jubilee will be held on Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Historic Downtown Manassas. This longrunning community gathering is lauded as a community‑spirited, family‑oriented event celebrating fine arts and crafts. Shop from more than 100 craft vendors for locally made products and take home a taste of fall from their specialty food vendors offering tasty options like breads, fudges and cheeses. Support local nonprofit organizations at their community booths. Children can play games, enjoy rides and attractions, and take part in kidfriendly activities. Enjoy live music and entertainment from local music, singing and dancing acts on the community stage. In case of severe weather, the rain date for the event will be Oct. 9. Address: 9431 W. Street, Manassas, Virginia 20110.
Old Town Manassas Holiday Crafts, Desserts & Sweets On Oct. 30, Manassas will be hosting the Old Town Manassas Holiday Crafts, Desserts & Sweets fair on the lush, green lawn of the Manassas Museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is — just as its name suggests — full of crafts, desserts and sweets
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for the whole family to indulge in. Arts, crafts and food vendors, independent consultants, small businesses and entertainment acts will set the stage for a fun-filled day for festival goers. Don’t miss the kids costume parade and awards starting at 1 p.m. You can even bring your furry family members for the pet Halloween parade from 2:30 to 3 p.m. Address: 9101 Prince William St, Manassas, Virginia 20110.
2021 Manassas Latino Festival What better way to welcome the autumn season than with cultural enrichment? Come out to celebrate the latter half of Hispanic Heritage Month at the 2021 Manassas Latino Festival. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 9 at the Loy E. Harris Pavilion, enjoy tasty cuisine from diverse Latin American communities, watch talented performers like Mariachi Los Amigos and Armonías Peruanas, and participate in family-fun activities like Zumba. Help further and support the mission of Abriendo Puertas, the Virginia non-profit organization and host of this festival, to celebrate the heritage and contributions of the Latin American community to Manassas, to the state and to our country as a whole. Address: 9201 Center St, Manassas, Virginia 20110.
Yankey Farms Pumpkin Patch The Yankey Farms Pumpkin Patch can fill all of your pumpkin-picking needs. They are open throughout the month of October. Bring the whole family down to Nokesville to pick
out your favorite orange fruits — of all shades, shapes and sizes — to use as autumn decorations inside and outside of the home. In addition to pumpkins, they have apples, honey, corn, straw bales, gourds and other ornamentals available for sale. Before securing your perfect pumpkins, the kids can make their way through the corn maze scavenger hunt and the small animal exhibit. Ride around the farm on the cow train and play in the fun farmyard activity area with corn boxes, hay piles, slides and a pedal tractor track. A fall day trip to Yankey Farms is a great way for families to celebrate the season together. Address: 14039 Owls Nest Rd. Nokesville, Virginia. / Hours: Saturdays 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sundays-Fridays noon-6 p.m.
2021 PetOberfest
Festival at the Farm at Mount Vernon is sure to be a treat for those looking for a history-themed fall adventure. Celebrate autumn with 18th-century activities like “meeting” General George Washington, learning about Washington’s fisheries and how fish were salt packed, and hearing about 18th-century textiles and how they were dyed. Watch beer making, cooking and spinning demonstrations. Explore the whole farm with family and friends. The festival spans two days, Oct. 23 and 24. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Address: 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121. Dominique McIndoe (mcindoe@princewilliamliving.com) is an assistant production editor at Rowman & Littlefield and a longtime writer.
Pet lovers can involve their furbabies in some seasonal fun at the 2021 PetOberfest at Stonebridge. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 16 at Potomac Town Center, enjoy family and pet friendly activities including a pet parade/costume contest, animal rescues, pet-friendly exhibitors, a lure course for dogs, children’s entertainment, store discounts and prizes. The fall fest will also feature a pet photo booth, and donations will go to the Prince William SPCA. All pets must be on a leash throughout the event. Address: 14900 Potomac Town Pl, Woodbridge, Virginia 22191.
Fall Harvest Festival Though just outside of Prince William, the Fall Harvest
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on a high note
ARTfactory
A Community Hub for Everything Art By Rena Malai
C
reativity takes courage, according to Henri Matisse, the renowned French painter. During the course of Matisse’s career from the early 1900’s, art was largely assumed to be a male-dominated area where regular art instruction — or indeed exposure to it — was not easily attainable for the masses. Fast forward to the future, and Matisse would likely approve of the ARTfactory’s mission to be a community enriched through the creative arts, where everyone is welcome to explore their creative side, without even leaving Prince William. “The ARTfactory is a place for you to explore your creative interests and your point of view,” says ARTfactory Executive Director Beverly Hess. “We work with everyone individually, and whether they’re interested in our visual art, dance or theatre art offerings, we find a place for them.” Situated in a former candy factory, the ARTfactory is a space in the heart of Manassas offering classes in art, dance and theatre, art exhibitions and theatre performances, and is also a community within a community for professional artists and novices alike.
Art’s All In Hess says the ARTfactory has it all under one roof — whether someone wants to do theatre or art, they cover it all. “Most places tend to be either an art shop, or a theatre company, or an art school, but we have everything here,” Hess said. From drawing to painting to digital arts, they offer a wide range of art instruction, says ARTfactory Education Director Candace Penders.
Blue Heron Splash a watercolor on rice paper by artist Carol Wait, part of the ARTfactory's 2021 Becoming Summer exhibit.
drawing, watercolor and plein air painting, which occurs outdoors at Windy Knoll Farm in Nokesville. Besides learning art, the ARTfactory’s Caton Merchant Family Gallery showcases buyable works from local and regional artists. Each art exhibit is professionally executed, complete with an artist’s reception to connect artists to the community, and vice versa. “The gallery is free and open to the public,” said ARTfactory Gallery Director Jordan Exum. “If artists are interested in having their work showcased, we encourage them to submit exhibit proposals for consideration.” The gallery opened in 2002, Exum adds, and is possible due to the space the facility now has.
“We have a very customized approach,” Penders said. “If someone isn’t quite sure what kind of art they’re interested in or what kind of class they should join, we will assist them in finding the class or area of art that best suits them creatively.”
ARTfactory also offers volunteers and students real world practice — such as assisting instructors, attending workshops on matting and classes in portfolio development — for those hoping to pursue a professional career in art.
The courses offered are for personal enrichment, Penders says, and students of all ages can choose from art classes like charcoal
“They have the chance to work with professional artists and better envision a future in the arts,” Penders said.
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Rosy Summer Sunset watercolor on shikishi board by artist Charlene M Fuhrman-Schulz, part of the ARTfactory's 2021 Becoming Summer exhibit.
The Becoming Summer exhibit featured at the ARTfactory.
Theatre Arts
for everyone.
ARTfactory offers three theatre groups — Pied Piper Theatre, Rooftop Productions and PastTime Prime Time Players — as well as classes in dance, voice and how to audition. Each theatre group at the ARTfactory is specific to an age range. Children from 8 years of age to senior citizens can flex their drama muscles and have the chance to perform in productions throughout the year in front of a live audience. Shows include well known favorites like Aladdin, Sweeney Todd and Fiddler on the Roof. According to Hess, it’s not just about putting on a great act, but about community and the unique creative energy surrounding each show. “We’ve had children in the Pied Piper group grow up and later come back to ARTfactory to be directors. They come back to give back,” Hess said. “This type of community offers a special platform, so a hobby becomes an enriching life-long endeavor.”
Whether folks are interested in learning, buying art or simply curious about what they are all about, Hess says the ARTfactory welcomes everyone looking to add a little art and creativity to their lives. “Come over and experience what we have,” Hess says. “We’re open every Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.” The ARTfactory regularly posts schedules of theatre productions, exhibits and classes online, but people are welcome to also call and ask if they’d like more information or have any questions. “We are happy to talk to anyone if they need some help deciding what the right class would be for them, artwork for sale or anything else,” Exum said.
Through the instrumental efforts of Anne Ridgeway, who recently retired as ARTfactory’s theatre director, Hess says the legacy of Ridgeway’s 30-year career will always be remembered through the award-winning Pied Piper Theatre.
The ARTfactory, founded in 1984 by a group of artists and art lovers, is a nonprofit organization. The ARTfactory relocated to Manassas in 2002 and is located at 9419 Battle Street. They give special thanks to the Merchant family, who donated the Hopkins Candy Factory building to the City of Manassas, where Artfactory now resides.
“She created Pied Piper and made it into what it is today,” Hess said. “The philosophy is the process and journey are more important than the product.”
“We can’t thank the Merchants enough for allowing us the opportunity to be in this wonderful location in the heart of Manassas,” Hess says.
Theatre goers can look forward to ARTfactory productions in locations such as Windy Knoll Farm and the Hylton Performing Arts Center.
Visit virginiaartfactory.org or call 703-330-2787 for more information.
Planning a Visit
Rena Malai is a freelance writer. She has covered a variety of topics ranging from national news to food, to technology. She lives in Prince William and is a native Washingtonian.
The ARTfactory is located directly across the street from the Manassas Virginia Railway Express station, allowing easy access
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local flavor
Battle Street Bistro Welcomes Diners By Rena Malai
H
usband and wife team Sarah and David Devight, owners of Battle Street Bistro in Old Town Manassas, have dreams. And those dreams involve great food and building a restaurant empire.
“We don’t cut corners,” Devight says. “Everything we make — from sauces to desserts — is made in house.”
“We’ve always wanted to have multiple restaurants,” says Sarah Devight. “We really like Old Town Manassas, and it was an opportunity for us to set down roots in a top dining area of Prince William.”
The last few months have been extremely busy for the Devights. Since they opened Battle Street Bistro, business has boomed, and they hope the community comes to see the restaurant as a neighborhood go-to, whether diners are looking for a quick lunch or a leisurely brunch.
In May, Battle Street Bistro had their official ribbon cutting ceremony and opened up their doors for diners to experience a delicious menu, with authentically French-based cuisine. It is the sister restaurant to the Secret Garden Cafe, echoing similar service styles and made-from-scratch specialty food and drinks.
The building that houses Battle Street Bistro used to be an office space. But the Devights had the vision to turn it into a welcoming, cozy bistro, complete with a roof-top terrace.
A Trip to France According to the Devights, while Battle Street Bistro’s menu is French themed, it has an American flare. “We do our best to make it as authentically French as possible,” Sarah Devight says. “It may not be exactly like in Paris, but it’s pretty close!” The restaurant’s French cuisine style stays close to her family roots. Her father is French, and she not only grew up eating lots of French food, but she also learned how to cook it at a young age. This was perhaps early job training, as she is the head chef at Battle Street Bistro.
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No Battles Here
Diners need not worry about any Battles going on at Battle Street Bistro, Sarah Devight jokes. The name of the restaurant was the brainchild of her mother, who thought to name the establishment for the road it’s located on — 9402 Battle Street. “We were discussing possible names — we didn’t want to call it anything ‘garden,’'' Devight said. "So, my Mom said, why not name it after the street? That’s how we came up with Battle Street Bistro.” The service style at Battle Street Bistro is similar to the Secret Garden Café — each server pays close attention to all customers and all tables, ensuring a seamless meal service with diners receiving prompt attention throughout the course of their meal.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony at Battle Street Bistro in May 2021.
Eat It Up Battle Street Bistro serves up lunch, dinner and breakfast/ brunch. From French Toast to Quiche Lorraine and their signature Bistro Burger, the restaurant keeps up with classic French favorites along with other twists like Shakshouka — a savory egg and tomato breakfast stew — Fish and Chips, and Shrimp and Grits. Vegetarians can choose from both vegan and vegetarian options offered, such as vegan Scampi and vegan Moroccan Couscous. Devight’s favorite thing on the menu is the Poutine — similar to “Disco Fries” — a lovely combination of French fries, cheese curds and gravy. The dish is said to have originated in Quebec and is a popular item at Battle Street Bistro. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. To make reservations, which are especially recommended on weekends, call 703-369-7501. Goat Cheese Salad “Although we started [at Secret Garden] with sections, all our servers helped each other out and it set the tone,” Devight said. “So, we decided to work as one team, and it’s been working out well for eight years so far! Hearing our staff speak about what works best for them is crucial. They are the backbone of our business.”
Breakfast/brunch is served Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rena Malai is a journalist and freelance writer. She has covered a variety of topics from technology and policy to food and lifestyle. She lives in Prince William and is a native Washingtonian. prince william living October 2021
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home & hearth Healthy Homes Start With Shopping By Katherine Gotthardt, adapted from USDA’s “Food Safety: A Need-to-Know Guide for Those at Risk”
A
s the weather gets cooler, it’s easy to put food safety on the backburner. No longer do we worry about leaving potato salad on the picnic table too long in the heat, and since ice packs don’t thaw quite so quickly, sandwich meats are less at risk. But no matter what time of year, it’s important to remember that health starts with what we eat. And what we eat usually is purchased at grocery stores, farmers markets, online or through other retail outlets. So, when considering health, it’s important to shop with food safety in mind.
Health, Safety and Shopping
To understand best practices for grocery shopping, it’s important to know why food safety is so important to health. The short answer is when certain disease-causing bacteria, viruses or parasites (often called pathogens) contaminate food, they can cause foodborne illness. Foodborne illness, known as food poisoning, comes from eating contaminated food. While this might be common knowledge, what isn’t often known is this: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, foodborne pathogens cause up to 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths in the United States each year. Many of the people affected are children, older adults or individuals with weakened immune systems, who may not be able to fight infection normally. So especially if you or a loved one falls into one of these categories, food safety is paramount — and it starts in the shopping cart.
Selecting Safe-to-Eat Food
While we frequently take it for granted that food we find in markets is okay to eat, this is not always the case. To help ensure food is healthy and safe, follow these practices while you shop: n Carefully read food labels while in the store to make sure food is not past its sell-by date. Keep in mind, these foods will have to be consumed in time to ensure freshness unless you plan to freeze them. n Put raw packaged meat, poultry or seafood into a plastic bag before placing it in the shopping cart, so the juices will not drip on and contaminate other foods. (If the meat counter does not offer plastic bags, pick some up from the produce section before you select your meat, poultry and seafood.) n Pasteurization kills harmful bacteria without removing nutrients, so choose pasteurized milk, cheese and other dairy products from the refrigerated section. When buying fruit juice from the refrigerated section of the store, be sure the juice label says it is pasteurized. n Purchase eggs in the shell from the refrigerated section of the store. Remember you will need to store the eggs in their
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original carton in the main part of your refrigerator once you are home. n Never buy food displayed in unsafe or unclean conditions. If the refrigerator is dirty or appears to be broken, for example, the food could be unsafe. n When purchasing canned goods, inspect them closely. Make sure they are free of dents, cracks and/or bulging lids. Check the lids for extensive soiling and staining as well. You will need to clean the lid before opening the can at home, and if you cannot clean it, you should select a different can. n Purchase produce that is not bruised or damaged. Damaged produce can go bad faster. The general rule of thumb is, if you suspect food is old, contaminated or unsafe, go with your gut and don’t buy it.
A Note on Keep Times
Reading labels is a critical part of shopping with food safety in mind. But dates on food labels are good guidelines and not, strictly speaking, official health guidelines. Therefore, once home, it is best to follow recommended storage “keep times.” That takes good planning, though. How can you know keep times and plan meals accordingly, especially in the middle of the grocery store? There’s an app for that! Developed by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service with Cornell University and the Food Marketing Institute, the FoodKeeper app can help you understand differences in label dates, storage safety and more. Get details on the app, including where to download it, at foodsafety.gov/foodkeeper. Remember, your health and the health of your loved ones depend on what you bring to the checkout counter. Shop safely, stay healthy. Social Media Director for Prince William Living, Katherine Gotthardt (kgotthardt@princewilliamliving.com) is an awardwinning writer, poet and author, as well as president of Write by the Rails, the Prince William chapter of the Virginia Writers Club. Learn about her work at KatherineGotthardt.com.
OmniRide Express is a stress-free and convenient bus service from eastern Prince William County, the Manassas area, Gainesville, Haymarket, and Stafford to points in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. OmniRide Local is a personalized bus service designed with your travel needs in mind! It’s your link to Dale City, Dumfries, Woodbridge/Lake Ridge, Manassas and Manassas Park.
Join the OmniRide
Transit Family! OmniRide.com • (703) 730-6664 Virginia Relay Center–TDD, call 711
OmniRide Metro Express routes connect Woodbridge, Manassas and Gainesville/Linton Hall with nearby Metro stations. OmniRide East-West Express travels between Eastern Prince William County and the Manassas area, with access to medical facilities, offices, shopping and other destinations. OmniRide Ridesharing Service saves you time and money by helping you locate the carpool or vanpool that fits your needs. It’s easy and FREE!
OmniRide participates in the Guaranteed Ride Home and SmartBenefits Programs.
Remember to bring your mask
Transit services provided by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission.
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calendar Making the Most of Prince William Living
Online – On Demand Are you an advertiser with Prince William Living or interested in becoming one? Now online, our publisher Rebecca Barnes will help you discover how to “Make the Most of Prince William Living.” Meet the people behind greater Prince William’s premier lifestyle magazine. Visit princewilliamliving.com/ lunchwiththepublisher.
City of Manassas Farmers Market
october
Thursdays | 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Harris Pavilion 9201 Center St., Manassas Saturdays | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Commuter Car Park 9024 Prince William St. The City of Manassas Farmers Market will be held Thursdays at the Harris Pavilion and on Saturdays at the Commuter Car Park.
Dale City Farmers Market
Sundays | 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dale City Commuter Lot 14090 Gemini Way, Dale City Since 1987, Dale City Farmers Market, run by the Prince William County Department of Parks & Recreation, has been at the forefront of serving Prince William County residents.
Haymarket Farmers Market
Sundays, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Haymarket Town Hall 15000 Washington Way, Haymarket Haymarket has added a farmers’ market on Sundays at Town Hall.
38th Annual Manassas Fall Jubilee
Sat. Oct. 2 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Historic Downtown Manassas This year’s Jubilee will include an assortment of fun for both kids and adults with more than 100 craft and community booths, live music, entertainment and
more! The Fall Jubilee is free to the public. Bring your family out for a day of fun — play games, shop at unique craft booths and so much more!
Fall Classic: Historic Baseball at Ben Lomond
Sat. Oct. 2 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ben Lomond Historic Site 10321 Sudley Manor Dr., Manassas Fall means baseball, and as America prepares to crown the next World Series champion, visit Ben Lomond Historic Site to learn about the origins of America’s pastime. Visitors can participate in 19th century baseball games, build their own 19th century baseball, visit with local baseball mascots and enjoy lunch from a local food truck. Advance registration recommended: 703-367-7872.
Occoquan Penguin Paddling Tour
Sat. Oct. 2 | 4 to 6 p.m. Penguin Paddling 201 Mill St., Occoquan This guided trip is approximately two hours in duration and launches from behind Madigan’s Waterfront Restaurant in Old Town Occoquan. This paddle trip will leave the start point and take you past the old Occoquan Mill Ruins, Occoquan Regional Park and along a beautiful river scene packed with waterfowl, fish and other critters. While traveling along the waterfront of Old Town Occoquan, past the historically significant river crossing, you will see remnants of yesteryear.
Open Mic Night
Wed. Oct. 6 & 20 | 6 p.m. Eavesdrop Brewery 7223 Centreville Rd., Manassas Eavesdrop’s Open Mic Night is hosted by Lee Jones and is a welcoming space with craft beer, good eats and a lively crowd! All talents welcome to attend. You may bring your own equipment or use the sanitized microphone available.
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park Tours
Sat. Oct. 9 and 23 | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun. Oct. 10 and 24 | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park 10708 Bristow Rd., Bristow Bristoe Station Battlefield staff and volunteers will provide guided tours of this hallowed ground that contains camps, cemeteries and battlefields. Learn about Camp Jones and the battles that took place in 1862 and 1863. Tours begin at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and depart from the kiosk in the parking lot on Iron Brigade Unit Avenue. The last tour leaves at 3 p.m. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Insect repellant is encouraged. No pets, please. For more information, call 703-366-3049.
Manassas Chorale: The Roaring Twenties – Then and Now
Sat. Oct. 9 | 7:30 p.m. Hylton Performing Arts Center 10960 George Mason Cir., Manassas Join the 100-voice Chorale, its smaller Ensemble, and the top choirs from select local high schools as they celebrate popular tunes from the 1920s, as well as favorite stage and screen melodies of 2020. Tickets: hyltoncenter.org
Movie Night
Sat. Oct. 9 | 7 to 9 p.m. Winery at LaGrange 4960 Antioch Rd., Haymarket Head to Winery at LaGrange for the 2021 movie night in the vineyard. Hocus Pocus will be playing on a giant outdoor screen. You must be 21 or older to attend this event. Tickets: wineryatlagrange.com/ event/movie-night/.
Trivia Night in River Mill Park Fri. Oct. 15 | 6 p.m. River Mill Park 458 Mill St., Occoquan
Have an event? Visit princewilliamliving.com/events to submit details to our online calendar.
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Bring your “quaranteam” of up to six people and rent your 10-foot space in a socially distanced picnic circle in the park. Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta will MC. Gate opens at 6 p.m.; trivia begins at 6:30 p.m. Purchase your tickets at eventbrite. com/e/trivia-night-in-river-mill-parktickets-152541474657.
Prince William Little Theatre: Dial “M” for Murder Fri. Oct. 15 | 8 p.m. Sat. Oct. 16 | 8 p.m. Sun. Oct. 17 | 2 p.m. Hylton Performing Arts Center 10960 George Mason Cir., Manassas Set in the early 1950s in London, tennis pro Tony Wendice marries beautiful Margot, who has exactly what Tony loves: beauty and money. The suspenseful plot thickens as Tony schemes to murder his wife for her money and an American mystery writer, plus a cool, inquisitive investigator enter the picture. Tickets: hyltoncenter.org.
32nd Annual Haymarket Day
Sat. Oct. 16 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Haymarket Town Hall 15000 Washington St., Haymarket Enjoy a hometown street festival including a parade featuring local schools, performers and law enforcement, led by the Grand Marshal. Hear local music talent at the two main stages. A beer garden sponsored by 2 Silos, along with food vendors, will be located at each stage. Rain or shine event.
PetOberfest 2021
Sat. Oct. 16 | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center 15201 Potomac Town Pl., Woodbridge All are welcome to attend and enjoy free family- and pet-friendly activities including a pet parade/costume contest, a lure course, an agility course, pet-friendly exhibitors, children’s entertainment, store discounts, prizes and much more. Pet photo booth donations will benefit the Prince William SPCA. All pets in attendance must be leashed. For event and exhibitor information, visit sptcpetoberfest.com.
Adapted Paint Nite
Fri. Oct. 22 | 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Birchdale Community Center 14730 Birchdale Ave., Dale City A fun, creative social event! Participants will leave with an original 11 x 14 canvas painting. Hot tea and cocoa will be offered as you paint your masterpiece and share with friends. This program is designed for teens and adults with disabilities.
Mega Paper Shred
Sat. Oct. 23 | 8 a.m. to noon Pfitzner Stadium 7 County Complex Ct., Woodbridge Free community wide paper shred at Pfitzner Stadium. Open to residents only, no business or commercial shredding. Accepting confidential documents only. Limit four boxes, size 18”x12”x15” or smaller. Non-confidential documents
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Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Back to the Classics
Sat. Oct. 23 | 7:30 p.m. Hylton Performing Arts Center 10960 George Mason Cir., Manassas The Manassas Symphony Orchestra returns to Merchant Hall with a program featuring classical music royalty. With a few months left in Beethoven’s 250th anniversary year, the MSO celebrates with acclaimed violinist Emil Chudnovsky, performing Beethoven's extraordinary Violin Concerto in D Major. Tickets: hyltoncenter.org.
Old Town Manassas Holiday Crafts, Desserts & Sweets
Sat. Oct. 30 | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Manassas Museum Lawn 9101 Prince William St., Manassas Just in time for kids’ candies celebration, come to a delectable excursion in the world of crafts, sweets and desserts! Because Halloween is around the corner, there will be a kids’ costume parade with best costume prize from 1 to 1:30 p.m., and a pets’ Halloween costume parade from 2:30 to 3 p.m.
Your PWPLS Digital Library Audiobooks, e-books, music, movies, and more: all available on your devices, all free with your PWPLS library card.
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Have an event? Visit princewilliamliving.com/events to submit details to our online calendar. prince william living October 2021
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October 2021 prince william living
Never miss an issue. Stay current on the people, places and events that make Prince William a wonderful place to live, work, and play. A subscription to Prince William Living keeps you up-to-date with everything our region has to offer.
For an annual $20 donation to Give Back Prince William (a 501c(3) non-profit organization), you can get YOUR community magazine delivered to your door! Already get it? Make sure you continue to get it by subscribing. Show your support and help us continue the work we do. Name ______________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________ City ________________________________________________ State _________________________
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It’s never too early to start planning a special delivery.
For you and us, childbirth is a labor of love. At Prince William Medical Center, it’s a process that begins with a
stellar maternity team, including 24/7 in-house laborists and highly skilled Magnet nurses who are trained in delivery,
post-partum and NICU care. We handle very complex care for mother and baby with our Level 3 NICU and private
rooms that ensure a cozy, comfortable stay. After discharge, we support families with post-partum support groups, breastfeeding classes, Baby Cafés and more to ensure a healthy start for your new chapter of life. To learn more or schedule a virtual tour of our birthing suites, visit UVAHealth.com/deliver-in-Manassas.
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