While many accuse the media of publishing only negative news, at Bristow Beat, we want to look back at the positive news of 2012.
Upscale Stores and Restaurants at the Promenade:
Western Prince William residents were ecstatic to hear that new stores and restaurants would be opening at the Promenade at Virginia Gateway. The Peterson Company announced new stores including the high-end women’s clothing store White House/ Black Market and Charming Charlie jewelry and accessories. In addition, the Promenade promises to bring to the area white tablecloth restaurants, such as La Tagliatella, a gourmet Italian restaurant out of Spain; Bar Louie, an urban style eatery; and Pinkberry Yogurt, an L.A.-based dessert restaurant.
Teachers Negotiate Pay Raises:
Despite the General Assembly’s requirement that school districts contribute to the Virginia Retirement Fund, the School Board agreed to give Prince William County teachers and other salaried educators a step increase for the 2012-13 school year. The struggle was hard-fought as many local educators, including those at Battlefield High School, participated in a “work to rule,” in which educators worked only to their contracted hours. The fight was led by a group of educators outside of the Prince William Education Association (PWEA), although the PWEA eventually joined the effort. After much public petitioning, the School Board negotiated the salary increase. However, many educators say they cannot accurately call it a raise, as the Board also increased their work hours by 30 minutes a day.
Farmers Markets Vie for Bristow Local:
This year, Bristow saw the rise of farmers markets. Last winter, Smart Markets moved from the Virginia Gateway Center to the Bristow Montessori School. Finding success in Bristow, Smart Markets had to seek a new Bristow location from which to grow. However, not all vendors wanted to move, and thus two markets were born. Smart Market took up temporary residence in Nokesville until partnering with Piney Branch Elementary. Prince William County Schools, having already announced their new healthier lunch and breakfast menus, were happy to join forces to support Virginia farmers. Meanwhile, the Devlin market, renamed itself the Bristow Farmers Market, and continues to remain active as well in their Bristow Commons location.
Home Prices on Rise; Taxes Remain Steady:
After years of declining home values, and a national housing market overstocked with short sales and foreclosures, Western Prince William made headway towards a major recovery. According to local realtor Bill Denny of Long and Foster, Bristow led a recovery with home values increasing by 50 percent since 2009. According to Susan Jacobs of Prudential Pen Fed Realty, “The Bristow real estate market has been holding strong for sellers,” with an average increase of more than 13 percent on single family homes. However, while real estate values rose, Chairman-At-Large Corey Stewart and Gainesville Supervisor Pete Candland of the Board of County Supervisors fought to keep taxes flat. While their initiatives did not pass, republicans on the Board are still looking to keep real estate taxes low, looking at the actual tax bills, rather than tax rates.
Coming Together for Local Charities:
The people of western Prince William County gave much back to their communities in 2012. In Feb., Autumn’s Army, coordinated a benefit dinner to support the family of a young T.Clay Elementary girl, Autumn Hoeft, who lost her life to cancer. The Ruri-Teens and Ruri-Youth clubs were founded at Marsteller Middle School. On St. Patrick’s Day, they helped support the fight against cancer with a St. Baldrick’s Day head-shave at Chick-fil-A Bristow. Residents supporting Eme’s Army participated in an effort to cure congenital blindness for one Nokesville girl, Emerie Mitchell Butler, and others who suffer from the disease. PR and Partners in Bristow, the salon, held a fundraising evening supporting the family of a elite Navy Seal Aaron Vaughn who was killed in the line of duty. Friends also walked in memory of 16-year-old Owen Wicks, and donated funds raised to the National Children’s Hospital. Over the holidays, House of Mercy, SERVE and H.O.P.E. provided holiday meals, toys and gifts to hundreds of children in need. Furthermore, local businesses and visitors helped to make Youth for Tomorrow annual Country Fair fundraiser a success.
Breaking Ground on Nokesville K-8:
Despite controversy over the building of the Nokesville K-8 school, the School Board approved the new school and construction crews have broken ground on the new facility set to open in 2014. Nokesville K-8 will replace the antiquated, though beloved, Nokesville Elementary School.
New Development Comes to Bristow/Nokesville:
While residents lament that western Prince William is growing too quickly, leading to traffic and overcrowded schools, new developments are planned for the next few years. Avendale, formerly a part of Nokesville’s Rural Crescent, will soon be a suburban community. Meanwhile, Bristow might see development of the new Stone Haven community that has been proposed. While some community members would rather slow development, most have agreed that new homes, parks and professional buildings are preferable to industrial facilities near to existing homes. Moreover, residents of neighboring communities participated in the process of planning the proposed blueprint for Stone Haven.
Presidential Politics Come to Bristow: With the Presidential election expected to be a tight race in Virginia, both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney paid special attention to Prince William County. While Mitt Romney campaigned in Manassas at the Harris Pavilion in Old Town, Obama visited Centreville High School, George Mason University, Woobridge's Pfitzner Stadium and Bristow's own Jiffy Lube Live. There the President was joined by former U.S. President Bill Clinton and musician Dave Matthews. On election day, Prince William County showed an especially high turnout.
Summer Concerts at Jiffy Lube Live: Jiffy Lube Live rebounded in the summer of 2012 after modifying a ban on tailgating in 2011. This season's big shows included Linkin Park, DC101's Kerfuffle with Offspring, Sublime and Garbage. Of course, the biggest draw of the season was Jimmy Buffett, who brought along his beach-combing parrot head tailgaters in hula skirts, hawaiian shorts and sand shark fins.
It’s truly been an honor for us at Bristow Beat to provide our readers with coverage of the events that affect the people of our area. Through covering the news for you this year, we have come to realize that there is no shortage of news, events, and passionate individuals who make a difference in our community. And, if you are still looking for a New Year’s Resolution, we invite you to get involved in 2013.
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