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Good Morning, Dale City! 🌞
Happy Friday! We’ve made it through another week, and suddenly that morning coffee tastes just a little better. Funny how Friday does that.
In today’s Dale City Spotlight:
😂 Make Me Laugh
🏈Who Will Win?
📰 Local News
🎉 Local Events
🏫School News
🚗 Traffic & Transportation
🍏Health-Wise
💰 Smart Money Daily
💡Business Spotlight
🍽️ Recipe of the Week
🌤️ Sky Watch: Weather Forecast
“It's always too early to quit.”
~ Norman Vincent Peale
Reflection: Don't make a permanent decision because of a temporary difficulty.
Make Me Laugh😂
A woman convinced her husband to clean out his closet.
She held up an old jacket.
“You haven't worn this in fifteen years.”
He replied, “But it's still good.”
She held up another.
“What about this one?”
“Still good.”
After an hour she asked, “Is there anything you're willing to get rid of?”
He thought for a moment.
“The hangers are looking pretty old.”
Local News 📰
🩸 Local Families Encourage Blood Donations During Sickle Cell Awareness Month
Prince William families are using September's Sickle Cell Awareness Month to encourage residents to learn more about the disease and consider donating blood.
The issue has particular meaning in the PWCS community following the 2025 death of a Colgan High School sophomore from complications of sickle cell disease.
Blood transfusions can play an important role in treatment for people living with sickle cell disease. Continue Reading →
🍽️ 🎉 Wonder Is Officially Open in Woodbridge
After weeks on our Opening Watch, Wonder Smoketown Station officially opened Thursday.
The restaurant allows customers to mix dishes from more than 20 different restaurant concepts into a single order for dine-in, pickup or delivery.
The lineup includes concepts associated with Bobby Flay, Marcus Samuelsson and Michael Symon, along with Tejas Barbecue, Streetbird and Magnolia Bakery.
🗳️ Early Voting Begins Today
Early in-person voting for Virginia's November 3 general election begins today, September 18.
Prince William County voters initially have two weekday locations:
Prince William Office of Elections
9250 Lee Avenue, Manassas
Woodbridge DMV
2731 Caton Hill Road, Woodbridge
Both locations operate weekdays from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with Wednesday hours extended until 7 p.m. Additional voting locations open later in October.
The final day for early in-person voting is October 31.
🧹 Woodbridge Cleanup & Paper Shred
Saturday | 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Rippon Middle School
15101 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge
A good opportunity to clear out unwanted household items and securely dispose of old paperwork.
And remember: Dale City's own cleanup and shred event is September 26 at the Dale City Commuter Lot on Gemini Way.
Local Events 🎉
🏫School News
🏆 Minnieville Elementary Among America's Healthiest Schools
This is a nice hometown achievement.
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation has named Minnieville Elementary one of its 2026 America's Healthiest Schools.
Five additional PWCS schools were also recognized:
Antietam Elementary
Buckland Mills Elementary
Victory Elementary
Saunders Middle
Unity Braxton Middle
Only 14 Virginia schools received the national recognition this year—and six of them are PWCS schools.
Even more impressive, Antietam, Unity Braxton and Victory earned All-Star recognition for excelling in every award category. Continue Reading →
Friday Night High School Football Returns with Exciting Matchups and Local Rivalries
Get ready for Friday night lights! High school football teams across Prince William are gearing up for an action-packed evening on the field.
This Friday’s Schedule👇
🎓 2027 Graduation Dates Are Official
Families of high-school seniors can now mark their calendars.
PWCS released the complete 2027 graduation schedule Tuesday.
For several of our eastern Prince William schools:
Forest Park — May 27, 9:30 a.m.
C.D. Hylton — May 28, 9:30 a.m.
Gar-Field — May 28, 7 p.m.
Freedom — June 1, 9:30 a.m.
The complete schedule also includes Woodbridge, Potomac, Colgan, Osbourn Park and the rest of the division's high schools.
🚗 TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION
🚧 Major Occoquan Road Closure Starts Tonight
This is the traffic alert to remember this weekend.
Occoquan Road between Horner Road and Old Bridge Road closes to through traffic at 9 p.m. tonight and is scheduled to remain closed until 5 a.m. Monday.
VDOT crews will demolish a portion of the southbound I-95 bridge over Occoquan Road.
The through-traffic detour uses:
Horner Road → Route 123/Gordon Boulevard → Old Bridge Road
Properties along Occoquan Road will remain accessible, but motorists won't be able to travel beneath the I-95 overpass.
🚦 Minnieville Road — Big Change Tuesday
Dale City and Lake Ridge drivers should prepare now.
Starting Tuesday, September 22, most left turns at the intersection of Prince William Parkway and Minnieville Road will temporarily be restricted as construction on the new interchange advances.
If this intersection is part of your morning commute, give yourself some extra time Tuesday.
Health-Wise🍏
Blood Sugar Matters: What You Need to Know
Managing blood sugar is an important part of living well with diabetes. Understanding your glucose levels can help you make informed choices about your daily health. More→
💰 Smart Money Daily
💵The Fed Just Raised Rates for the First Time in 3 Years — Here's What It Means for You
Interest rates are moving higher again. The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate to 3.75%–4.00%, its first increase since 2023, as policymakers continue efforts to bring elevated inflation closer to their 2% goal. More→
Elon's new company is private. These 3 tickers aren't.
The next Apple may already exist. Insider sources say Elon has spent two years building a secret device inside Tesla's facilities — one he claims will be "10x bigger than the largest product in history."
There's just one problem: the company is private, and unless you know Elon personally, you can't buy a single share. That was true until Guardian's research team found three public ticker symbols sitting in the launch supply chain.
Click here to see all 3 tickers, free of charge.
You won't hear these names on CNBC — Wall Street hasn't published a word on the connection. But when the launch hits September 21, that quiet ends.
Some are already calling this the biggest opportunity since AI. For anyone who missed Apple before the iPhone, this may be a second look at that kind of setup.
Business Spotlight🔦
Montclair Family Restaurant
We offer a large selection of menu options, from our hearty breakfast platters and daily specials, to our slow-roasted rotisserie chicken and gourmet desserts.
Down Home Comfort Cafe
At our cafe, we strive to bring you the flavors and traditions of the South through our carefully crafted menu. From classic Southern favorites such as fried chicken, fried and smothered pork chops, red beans and rice, potato salad, collard greens, and cornbread to innovative dishes that blend traditional flavors with modern culinary techniques, our culinary team ensures every dish is a memorable taste sensation. Visit Them Here→
Recipe of the Week 🍽️
🥘One-Pan Garlic Butter Steak Bites & Potatoes
A hearty, fast dinner for a Monday when you don't want to spend all night cooking.
Ingredients (serves 4): 1.5 lbs sirloin steak, cubed • 1 lb baby potatoes, halved • 4 tbsp butter • 4 garlic cloves, minced • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 tsp paprika • Salt and pepper to taste • 2 tbsp chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions: Boil potatoes until fork-tender, about 10 minutes; drain. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, sear steak bites 2-3 minutes per side, remove. Add butter and garlic to the pan, then return potatoes and steak, tossing to coat. Season with paprika, salt, and pepper. Garnish with parsley and serve.
🌤️ Weather
Our newsletter ends here, but whatever you’re working toward doesn’t have to. Give it another day, another effort, another chance. You may be surprised by what happens when you simply refuse to stop too soon. “Persistence has a way.” We’ll see you in the next Dale City Spotlight!
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