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Dumfries Magisterial District Newsletter
From the offices of Maureen S. Caddigan, Dumfries Magisterial District Supervisor
Prince William County, Virginia
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Dear Neighbors,
As always, I welcome the opportunity to share information with the community.
National Museum of the Marine Corps
Since its opening the Marine Corps Heritage Center reports that over 250,000
visitors have toured this magnificent new museum. I hope each
and every one of you has taken the opportunity to do so as well.
We are fortunate as a County to have a facility like this
especially in the heart of our District in Triangle. The museum
will be significantly enhanced by the passage of the bond
referendum providing for the widening of Route 1 to six lanes
from Joplin Road northward to Brady's Hill Road. Progress on
the project is underway. The Board of Supervisors approved
the design in February, 2007. The design was completed and
forwarded to VDOT on March 7th and actual construction will
begin in the summer of 2009 following property acquisition
and utilities relocation.
Marine Corps Toys For Tots
Another beautiful facility planned for Triangle is the National
Headquarters for the Toys For Tots Foundation. The new building
will be completed in late 2007 or early 2008. "This building
will enable the Foundation to grow and provide the type of
support that has come to be expected by the coordinators of
the ever-increasing number of local campaigns across the
United States". I had the privilege of participating in the
groundbreaking ceremony on March 23, 2007. During that event
Lt. General Matthew Cooper, USMC (Ret), President and CEO of
the Toys For Tots Program, stated that nearly $6 Million
provided through donations and fundraisers will fund the
three story 21,000 square foot building comprised of two
upper floors of office space with storage at ground level
for toys. The building will mirror the two beautiful
Quantico Gateway buildings constructed by the Mike Garcia
Construction Company. Mike Garcia is a quality builder and
I am confident that his new undertaking for the Foundation
will result in a third first class building in the same
neighborhood adjacent to Richard T. Spooner's famous
Globe & Laurel Restaurant.
Commuter Parking
The timeline for the Park & Ride lot expansion at Route 234
near Route 1 is as follows. Final Design approval was accomplished
in February, 2007. Advertisement for construction followed for
work to begin in the summer, 2007 with an expected completion
in the fall, 2008. Progress updates will be available on my
web site.
Cardinal Drive
The planting of trees in the median continues
with the installation of crepe myrtles by the Dumfries Nursery.
Supervisor Jenkins and I share the cost of that program and
hope the daily commuters using that road enjoy the efforts
to make it more enjoyable. A groundbreaking ceremony for the
new Brightwood Elementary School to be constructed at the
intersection of Cardinal Drive with Benita Fitzgerald Drive
was conducted on April 30, 2007.
Ongoing Dumfries District Projects
The old water tower
at the intersection of Waterway Drive and Route 234 will be
demolished by mid-June. The quarter acre site has been an
eyesore for some time. VDOT, at my request, has reviewed
the traffic volumes and turning movements at the
intersection of Van Buren Road with Mine Road. An all-way
stop had been requested due to sight restrictions approaching
the intersection. VDOT's analysis however resulted in their
placement of signage cautioning drivers to be aware of the
intersection. They will continue to monitor the issue and
make improvements as deemed appropriate. Plans are progressing
for the widening of Minnieville Road from Cardinal Drive to
Spriggs Road.
A median crossover has been added at Bobcat Court
as a design exception approved by VDOT. A median
crossover was selected by the Cardinal Station Home
Owners Association as the entrance of choice at Statler
Drive. There are remaining issues including the need to
acquire over 58 parcels of land and extensive utility
relocation. You can keep updated by periodically checking
my web site. The Williams Ordinary was purchased by the County
in January and is sure to be an asset to both the Town of
Dumfries and the County. I remain always available to you
and can be reached at 703/792-4645 or by e-mail at
mcaddigan@pwcgov.org.
Warm Regards,
Maureen
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from Paul E. Ruecker, Dumfries Representative to the
Prince William County Service Authority (PWCSA),
and Keenan Howell of the PWCSA.
The new Forest Park Water Tank has replaced the aged Montclair South
Water Tank, which sat just off of Dumfries Road. The new tank is hidden
by trees and adds more than one million gallons of water to the Service
Authority's distribution system.
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New Water Tank
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There are several advantages to the new tank. However, the most significant
benefit is that the Service Authority will no longer need to purchase a
portion of its drinking water from another supplier to accommodate the
needs of customers in the Independent Hill area, which will result in
a $100,000 annual savings. The larger Hydropillar-style tank and the
eventual addition of booster pumps inside the super-sized cistern
will allow the Service Authority to supply its own water to customers
rather than that of an outside source. |
Several sites were considered for the Forest Park Water Tank, but
the location just off of Route 234 next to National Park Service
land was eventually chosen for reasons including aesthetics, technical
and economic requirements, and minimized impacts to the community.
Supervisor Caddigan as well as Congressmen Frank Wolf and Tom Davis
helped negotiate with the Park Service for the site.
"There was reluctance on the part of the National Park Service and
Park Authority, and any time you do something like that and it's
a large tower, there can be uncertainty," said Congressman Wolf.
"But, ultimately, it was a win environmentally. It was a win for
water. It was a win for the County, and it was good for citizens."
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"I have talked to the homeowners associations along the corridor
and I have told them that, in time, the old tank would be taken
down. And I assured them that it would not be put on their
property," said Supervisor Caddigan. "It's in a perfect spot;
you can't even see the new tower as you ride along 234."
Construction on the Forest Park Water Tank began in April 2005
and was completed last January. The old tank was dismantled
last month. The new tank stands more than 100 feet high and
has an approximate diameter of 100 feet around the bowl.
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Old Water Tank |
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Contributed by Christine Rodrigo, Potomac & Rappahannock Transportation Commission
After years of planning, PRTC buses will be equipped with electronic
fareboxes in mid-June. The installation of the new fareboxes is the first
step toward establishing a regional transit network that will allow PRTC
customers to use a single, rechargeable farecard - known as a SmarTrip
card - for travel throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland and the District
of Columbia.
After the new fareboxes are installed, OmniRide and Metro Direct
commuter bus passengers will initially continue to pay their fares
with cash or metal tokens. However, passengers riding the local
OmniLink bus may have to change their fare medium. Because the new
fareboxes will not accept plastic tokens, OmniLink passengers will
pay fares using cash or new paper tickets that will temporarily
replace the plastic tokens. OmniLink plastic tokens will no longer
be accepted starting July 1, 2007. The fareboxes also will not
accept pennies.
While SmarTrip cards are already in use on many other regional
transit providers, they are currently capable only of storing cash,
not of providing multi-trip packages or discounted rides. In the
future, when the electronic fareboxes are able to offer discounted
fares for those who buy their trips in bulk, PRTC will start
accepting SmarTrip farecards and will introduce a variety of
discounted trip packages. At that time, PRTC also will phase
out OmniRide and Metro Direct tokens. OmniLink passengers will
be able to pay fares with cash, a SmarTrip card or new metal tokens.
PRTC has produced a brochure in English and Spanish with detailed
information about the new fareboxes. Brochures will be available on
the buses and at the PRTC Transit Center in Woodbridge, the James J.
McCoart Administration Building, the Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Building,
and area libraries.
For more information about the new electronic fareboxes - including
tips for first-time users – see PRTC's website at
PRTCtransit.org, or
call Customer Service at (703) 730-6664.
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Prince William County at Wikipedia
Summer Fun
Support our troops!
Marine Corps Heritage Museum
Visitor Information from the PWC/Manassas Convention and Visitors Bureau
Air Force Memorial
Iraq Blogs A first-hand view of Iraq from the online weblogs
of soldiers and civilians who are there now.
Azalea Charities.
The Azalea Charities Aid to Wounded Soldiers project provides comfort and
relief items for soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines sick, injured or
wounded from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Check donations are used
to purchase the exact type, size and quantity of items requested by
military and VA medical centers and rehabilitation centers. All donations
are tax deductible. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return
of a donation receipt. Checks should be sent to the following address:
Azalea Charities Aid for Wounded Soldiers, P.O. Box 579, Dumfries, Virginia
22026. Point of contact is George Kraus at 703/680-3557, email
blackgeorge@comcast.net.
AnySoldier.Com. This is a
fantastic site where service men and women post messages describing their
unit, its mission and specific things that "Any Soldier" (...Sailor, Airman
or Marine) would appreciate receiving from home. It's worth a visit to this
site just to read the listings, some of which are truly inspiring.
Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund. A DC-based organization "
founded in order to provide support to surviving U.S. Military children
and spouses that have lost a loved one in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars
or those that have sustained a serious disability.
America Supports You. Send
a message to support the troops!
At Soldiers' Angels
you can adopt a soldier to support for 6-8 months or longer.
Freedom is Not Free supports organizations that
meet the needs of wounded and injured military personnel as well
as the needs of families that have been affected by the injury
or death of a loved one serving in the military.
Operation USO Care Package.
Through Operation USO Care Package, you can sponsor a care package for just
$25 and send along with it a personal message of support and thanks to a
service member.
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Recipe of the Month
J.R.'s Rough and Ready Chili
By J.R. Knudson, Granite Bay, California
J.R. Knudson of Granite Bay, California was
crowned World Champion at the 2006 International Chili Societys (ICS) 40th annual World's Championship Chili Cookoff
Ingredients:
3 pounds beef tri-tip, chopped
2 ounces sausage
1 ounce rendered beef fat
1 medium onion, diced
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 green Ortega pepper, remove seeds and dice fine
1/2 ounce salt
1/4 teaspoon fine black pepper
2 ounces Gebhardt(R) chili powder
1/2 ounce California chili powder
1/2 ounce New Mexico powder
1/2 ounce cumin
1/2 teaspoon pequin powder
1 - 2 14 ounce cans chicken broth
1 six ounce can Hunt's(R) Tomato Sauce
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Tabasco sauce to taste
Directions:
Saute onion and green pepper in rendered beef fat in a 3 quart pot.
Add garlic powder and half of chili powder. Add half a can of chicken
broth, mix well and set aside. Brown sausage and beef in a skillet
about one pound at a time. Drain and add meat to onion mix. Add
remaining chili powder and remaining can of chicken broth. Cook
for 30 minutes on low heat. Add tomato sauce, cumin, cayenne
pepper and pequin powder. Add more broth as needed and cook
until meat is tender, about two to three hours. Add a dash of
Tabasco sauce if needed for heat.
From The International Chili Society.
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