The Potomac District Newsletter Holiday 2017 FROM THE OFFICE OF POTOMAC DISTRICT SUPERVISOR MAUREEN S. CADDIGAN

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1 The Potomac District Newsletter Holiday 2017 FROM THE OFFICE OF POTOMAC DISTRICT SUPERVISOR MAUREEN S. CADDIGAN In This Issue District News Fall Tours; Holiday Season at the National Museum of the Marine Corps; Parades and Tree Lightings; Weems- Botts Honored Your Government at Work Holiday Fire Safety Tips; What to do with Leaves; Shelter Open; Adopt-A- Hydrant; Recycle Greenery; In the Spotlight The Department of Fire & Rescue Dear Friends, Welcome to the Holiday Season! I hope you enjoy my last 2017 Newsletter. In this special Holiday edition, there are things to do, people to see (Saint Nick), and places to go. There is a little something for everyone. Maureen Caddigan Potomac District Supervisor mcaddigan@pwcgov.org Office: Donald Curtis Drive Suite 145 Woodbridge, VA Potomac District Website Potomac District Facebook In the Spotlight section, I will be highlighting the Department of Fire & Rescue in this issue. Everyone knows the basic services Fire & Rescue perform, but you might find out a few new things the Department does that helps keep the County safe. The Department has provided good safety tips for having a safe and wonderful Holiday Season. If you have any questions or concerns about the Potomac District or other County matters please do not hesitate to contact my office at or mcaddigan@pwcgov.org. For more current information please like the Potomac District Facebook page or visit my website at both are good resources. Wishing you health, happiness, and prosperity this Holiday Season. Maureen

2 Potomac District Holiday Newsletter 2 District News Fall Cockpit Point Civil War Park Tours on Saturday November 18 th Take a walk back in history where in 1861 Cockpit Point battery housed the soldiers from across the south in the opening months of the Civil War. This strategically placed battery high on a 70-foot bluff known as Possum Nose had clear views in all directions of the Potomac River. Only participating in one known battle Cockpit Point is one of the most unspoiled batteries that sat along the river. Prince William County Public Works Historic Preservation Division would like you to join them on a special tour of Prince William County's newest historic park. Tours of the site will take place at 10 a.m., 1p.m. and 3p.m. Reservations are required for the tours. Tours offered by reservation only and there is a $20 per person fee. Tours will include difficult terrain and off trail style hiking. For reservations, call Busy Holiday Season at the National Museum of the Marine Corps There are many activities going on at the Museum over the holidays. The Children s Gallery Grand Opening is on Saturday November 18 th. This event is free to the public, the celebration hours are 12:00pm to 2:00pm. Come spend a fun filled afternoon of games, entertainment, exhibitors, a puppet show and so much more. There will also be a drop off in the Leatherneck Gallery for Toys for Tots. On the 2 nd and 4 th Wednesday of the month the Museum in honor of the Centennial of World War I, will host WWI Wednesday. The Museum s Education and Community Outreach teams will have on display WWI German uniforms and gear in the Leatherneck Gallery. There will also be a craft project for the children. There are numerous holiday concerts starting in early December. On Tuesday December 5 th the Museum will host the Quantico Marine Band Dixieland Band performing 11:00am to 11:30am in the Leatherneck Gallery. Join the Museum for an evening of holiday music by The President s Own Marine Chamber Orchestra on Friday December 15 th from 7:30pm to 9:00pm. The most anticipated events will happen on Saturday December 9 th and Wednesday December 13 th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm when Santa himself pays a visit to the Museum. Bring your list and wear your best picture outfit because Santa and Mrs. Claus are coming to town. With Santa s extremely busy schedule this time of year, in order to keep him on schedule you must be in line no later than 3:30pm. Do not forget your personal camera, because the Museum does not provide photography. These events like the ones listed above are all free to the public. For more information click here to see the full list of events happening at the Museum.

3 December Kicks Off With a Craft Show and Parades The Town of Quantico will be holding their annual Christmas Parade and Craft Show on Saturday December 2 nd. The Christmas Parade starts at 1:00pm. From 11:00am to 2:00pm you can visit the Craft Show that will be located next to the Navy Federal ATM on Potomac Avenue. This is a wonderful event to get you in the holiday spirit. Potomac District Holiday Newsletter 3 The Town of Dumfries 43 rd Annual Christmas Holiday Parade will be held on Saturday December 9 th. This year s parade theme is Christmas-Holiday Workshop. The parade starts at 12:00pm with the starting line at the Town Hall on Main Street. Later that evening at 5:00pm the Town of Dumfries will hold its Tree Lighting Ceremony. Please join the Dumfries Town Council as they light the Christmas tree at Town Hall. Marker Honors History of House in Dumfries The Weems-Botts House is one of the oldest surviving structures in the Town of Dumfries, according to the marker that was recently unveiled in a ceremony just behind the house at the corner of Duke and Cameron streets. The small, original two-room house, built in 1747, served as the Quantico Church vestry until it was confiscated by the town during the American Revolution. Parson Mason Locke Weems bought the house in Weems was the first biographer of George Washington and authored the famous cherry tree story, but the fable of the cherry tree didn't appear in print until the fifth edition of Weems' book, according to Karleen Kovalcik, the Weems-Botts Museum executive site manager. Benjamin Botts acquired the house in 1802 and used it as his law offices while he defended Aaron Burr during Burr's treason trial. Botts owned the house until he died in the Richmond Theater Fire of The house passed through several owners after Botts died. The Merchant family bought the house in 1869 and built a two-story addition in the 1870s. Their descendants lived in the house until In 1974, the house was slated for destruction, but local residents got together to save the building and opened it as a museum in During the unveiling ceremony for the marker, Ronald Smith of the Prince William County Historical Commission, said it was appropriate to mark the building where so much history occurred. "The Weems-Botts House is a living piece of the county's rich heritage in the Town of Dumfries." Kimbrall Brace, the chair of the Prince William Historical Commission, said there are 95 markers at historic Prince William County sites and the commission is always looking to place more. "One of my goals is to have as many markers as we can. It would be terrible to lose the history. We need to mark it."

4 Your Government at Work Potomac District Holiday Newsletter 4 Department of Fire & Rescue Holiday Fire Safety Tips for the 2017 Holiday Season Thanksgiving is just around the corner; a time when family and friends come together to celebrate all it has to offer including a home cooked meal. Cooking fires is the number one cause of home fires and injuries in the U.S. with Thanksgiving being the peak day for cooking fires. On Thanksgiving Day, more than any other day throughout the year, the average number of home fires more than double, resulting in injuries, deaths and millions of dollars in property damage. One contributor of Thanksgiving fires is turkey frying. Over the years, turkey frying has become extremely popular during the holiday season. Although the industry has made great strides in the improvement of turkey fryers, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states they still are not safe to use due to the amount of oil and high temperatures used to cook a turkey. Even well informed and careful consumers are at risk when using this product. The use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers is discouraged by the NFPA unless used by properly trained professionals such as grocery stores, specialty food retailers and restaurants, who use professional quality equipment. The dangers associated with turkey fryers are hot oil can spill or splash over onto the flame igniting a fire. Make sure the fryer is on steady footing because fryers designed for outdoor use with or without a stand are prone to collapse. Never use in, on or under a garage, deck, breezeway, porch, barn or any structure that can catch fire. Cooking oil is combustible. If heated beyond its cooking temperature (375 ), its vapors can ignite and give proper time for cool down, oil inside a pot can stay dangerously hot for hours after use. Should a grease fire occur NEVER use water to extinguish it! Holiday decorations are wonderful everything is twinkly and bright but here are a few more tips to help celebrate a safe holiday season. Candles are used for a variety of occasions. Although lovely, they can also cause tragedy if not properly handled. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 85% of candle fires could be avoided if you follow a few safety rules. Never leave candles unattended - Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep. Never burn a candle on or near anything that might catch fire - Nothing flammable should be within 12 inches of the candles, e.g., clothing, books, curtains, silk and dried flower arrangements, holiday decorations and Christmas trees. Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets - Young children and pets should never be left alone with flame lit candles. During this time of the year, families begin decorating their homes in preparation for the holidays, a time when fires become more common. Pay attention to where you are placing the tree, one in every four Christmas tree fires the tree was placed too close to a heat source. Electrical issues can cause a Christmas tree and decorations to catch fire, overloaded outlets or faulty wiring cause one in every three holiday fires. For additional information regarding holiday, fire and life-safety information visit, the National Fire Protection Association nfpa.org; the U.S. Fire Administration the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission cpsc.gov/, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture

5 Potomac District Holiday Newsletter 5 What to do With All Those Leaves It's the time of year when the leaves are changing colors and falling to the ground, which means it's also the time of year when people pull out their rakes and spend time picking up leaves. While it's tempting to push the leaves down the storm drains and be done with it, this can cause serious problems. Clay Morris, an engineer with Prince William County's Public Works Department, said putting leaves in storm drains is not an option. "There are several issues with putting leaves in storm drains. The stormwater system is meant to relieve any kind of flooding to surrounding properties. Shoving leaves down there can create a blockage, and that can be problematic and expensive to fix. Not to mention, putting leaves down a storm drain is against the law," Morris said. "The County Code spells out what can go down the storm drain, and only rain is allowed down the drain." There's also the problem of excess nutrients getting into the water flowing into the Chesapeake Bay. Being part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Prince William County is bound by law to keep pollutants out of its waterways. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates how much pollutants and sediments enter a locality's waterways on a given day. Leaves in the storm drain can cause that number to jump, Morris said. "When you're shoving leaves in a drain, that wouldn't normally end up in a stream, it can cause a nutrient spike, which is a problem." The nutrients from leaves decomposing on the ground, however, are filtered by soil, Morris said. So, what can you do with all those leaves? The department's spokeswoman, Deb Oliver, recommends mulching them. "While you can't put them down the drain, you can mulch your leaves and leave them on the lawn, which adds really valuable carbon to the yard." If mulching at home isn't the answer, the county has two facilities that mulch yard waste and turn it into compost. Leaves can be taken to the Prince William County Landfill at Dumfries Road or the Balls Ford Road Yard Waste Compost Facility at Balls Ford Road in Manassas. For more information, visit Winter Shelter is Now Open The Prince William County Winter Shelter, operated by the Department of Social Services, is now open. The shelter is located at Potomac Mills Road, in Woodbridge and operates overnight 7 days a week from 6:30pm to 7:00am until March 31, The shelter serves single individuals only and operates on a first-come first-served basis. Single women may be referred to an overflow program. The intake capacity of the Winter Shelter is 48 clients. The program provides shelter, meals, beds, showers, and referrals to supportive services. During daytime hours Monday - Saturday at the Winter Shelter facility, the Department of Social Services partners with the Cooperative Council of Ministries to provide a "Drop -In Center" for homeless individuals. Services available include mental health referrals, case management services, life skills & career training, peer counseling, wellness information, health care referrals and employment assistance. For more information about the Winter Shelter or Drop-In Center programs, please call

6 Returning in Mid-December the Adopt-A-Hydrant Program The Department of Fire & Rescue in conjunction with Home Depot stores are bringing back the Adopt-A-Hydrant program. In the event of a fire, it is vital that fire and rescue crews are able to quickly gain access to the water supply to extinguish the fire and prevent the loss of life and/or property. We ask that Prince William County citizens shovel the area around their adopted fire hydrant after each snowfall by clearing a three-foot path around the hydrant as well as clearing a path from the street/roadway up to the hydrant so it is visible and accessible to fire and rescue crews. Potomac District Holiday Newsletter 6 If you would like to adopt a fire hydrant, please visit the Prince William County Department of Fire & Rescue s website for an application in mid-december. Once the application is completed, the department will issue a certificate that can be taken to Home Depot and be exchanged for a tall, flexible, orange, snow stick to place into the ground near the hydrant as an additional measure to help emergency crews find the hydrant. What to do With All That Greenery After the Holiday Season...Recycle it of Course! The Public Works Solid Waste Division is busy getting ready for the holiday season. I want to share information with you about recycling fresh Christmas tree, wreath and other greenery. They can have a new purpose by being repurposed into compost, mulch or creating a habitat. The Solid Waste Recycling Team would like you simply to remove all ornaments decorations, tinsel, nails and tree stand and take the greenery to one of designated locations to be recycled or repurposed. The Prince William County Landfill at Dumfries Road in Manassas. Monday - Saturday, 6:00am 6:00pm; Sunday, 8:00am 5:00pm. The facility is closed New Year's Day The Balls Ford Road Compost Facility located at Balls Ford Road in Manassas. Monday - Saturday, 7:30am 5:00pm; Sunday, 8:00am 5:00pm. The facility is closed New Year's Day Leesylvania State Park located at 2001 Daniel K. Ludwig Drive in Woodbridge (off Neabsco Road). Trees may be dropped off at Shelter 2 and will be used for habitat. Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) located at 5399 Wellington Branch Road in Gainesville. Dec. 26 Jan. 8. The drop off area is located in the front parking lot in the area outlined with the orange safety cones. NOVEC will deliver the wood-chip mulch to interested customer-owners at no charge, visit NOVEC. Prince William County Government Offices Holiday Hours Just a reminder that Prince William County offices will close for the following holidays: Friday, November 10 th for Veterans Day Thursday, November 23 rd and Friday, November 24 th for Thanksgiving Monday, December 25 th and Tuesday, December 26 th for Christmas Monday, January 1 st for New Year s Day holiday. For more information, please go to the County website at

7 Department Spotlight Department of Fire and Rescue Prince William County s Department of Fire and Rescue (DFR) must be prepared to rescue citizens in unusual or challenging situations or to identify and mitigate chemical and biological hazards that can harm citizens or our environment. To accomplish this mission, the Special Operations Section oversees three teams of uniformed DFR firefighters and EMS providers that have taken advanced training in one of three disciplines: Hazardous Materials, Technical Rescue or Water Rescue. Potomac District Holiday Newsletter 7 The Hazardous Materials program consists of over 80 Hazardous Materials Technicians and Specialists. These personnel have taken classes in the identification and mitigation of incidents involving chemical, biological and radiological materials. Accurately identifying an unknown substance that has leaked from its container is one of the greatest challenges with hazardous materials incidents. To accomplish this mission, the Hazardous Materials program is equipped with advanced detection and monitoring technologies. Protecting the environment is also an essential function of the Hazardous Materials program and it works closely with our State and Federal partners, and the person responsible for causing the leak, to ensure any hazardous material is properly removed and the environment returned to its natural state. The Technical Rescue program is tasked with rescuing victims from areas that are typically inaccessible and delivering them to advanced EMS care. To accomplish this mission, our technical rescue personnel are trained to operate and perform rescue operations involving building and trench collapse, confined spaces, specialized rope operations and vehicle extrications. DFR Technical Rescue personnel are specially trained and equipped to stabilize and extricate victims from accidents involving tractor-trailers, large construction equipment such as dump trucks, buses, trains and even industrial machinery. During times of natural disaster or even a vehicle driven into a building can cause the building to suffer a partial or even complete collapse. Technical Rescue personnel are trained and equipped to shore up a building or a construction trench to prevent further collapse and rescue victims. Some of the most challenging rescues involve victims trapped high on towers or down in ravines. These rescues usually require one to two Technical Rescue personnel to climb or be lowered using rope rescue systems. Over the past year, the Department of Fire and Rescue has taken delivery of 5 new engines that replaced out of date equipment. Built by Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton Wisconsin, the new Arrow XT cab engines each meet the latest National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards and regulatory guidelines. Each carry 750 gallons of water with a 1500 GPM Hale Pump, and 80 gallons of foam, used for Class A and B fires. In addition, the department has three (3) additional units on order with Pierce. Two are 107 ladder trucks and one is a heavy rescue. Delivery of the rescue and one of the trucks is expected by the end of the calendar year, with the second truck expected mid The Water Rescue program is further broken down into two areas of specialization: River Rescue and Inland Water Rescue. The River Rescue Program focuses on the Potomac River and the county s river shoreline and many marinas. The Inland Water Rescue personnel are trained and equipped to operate in flood and swift water situations as well as flat-water operations as found on Lake Montclair or Silver Lake. Both Water Rescue programs perform search and rescue operations in all type of weather.

8 Potomac District Holiday Newsletter 8 5 November Calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Daylight Savings Time Ends Change out Batteries 6 7 Election Day Planning Commission Hearing 7:00pm-10:00pm McCoart Board Chambers Veteran s Day County Offices Closed Planning Commission Hearing 7:00pm-10:00pm McCoart Board Chambers National Museum of the Marine Corps Marine Corps Birthday Cake- Cutting Ceremony 12:00pm-12:15pm Free Event National Museum of the Marine Corps Children s Gallery Grand Opening 12:00pm-2:00pm Free Event Board of County Supervisors Strategic Planning Session DSB 202-2:00pm County Offices Closed 24 County Offices Closed 25 Land Use Public Hearing McCoart - 7:30pm Board of County Supervisors Meeting McCoart Building 2:00pm & 7:30pm* *Optional Meeting If Needed 26 Planning Commission Hearing 7:00pm-10:00pm McCoart Board Chambers 30

9 Potomac District Holiday Newsletter 9 December Calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 Town of Quantico Christmas Parade 1pm in the Town Craft Show 12:00pm to 3:00pm 3 New Dominion Choraliers Concert 3:00pm preshow For more information Click Here 4 5 Board of County Supervisors Meeting McCoart Building 2:00pm & Meeting with State Delegation 7:30pm Board of County Supervisors Meeting McCoart Building 2:00pm & 7:30pm* *Optional Meeting If Needed 6 Planning Commission Hearing 7:00pm-10:00pm McCoart Board Chambers 13 National Museum of the Marine Corps Visit With Santa 2:00 to 4:00pm Free Event National Museum of the Marine Corps Holiday Concert The President s Own Marine Chamber Orchestra 7:30pm to 9:00pm Free Event New Dominion Choraliers Concert 7:15pm preshow For more information Click Here Town of Dumfries Christmas Parade 12:00pm on Main Street Tree Lighting at 5:00pm At Town Hall National Museum of the Marine Corps Visit With Santa 2:00 to 4:00pm Free Event County Offices Closed 26 County Offices Closed Planning Commission Hearing 7:00pm-10:00pm McCoart Board Chambers

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