🌱 Free Tax Assistance In Prince William + PWCPD Satisfaction Survey

Hello, Lake Ridge-Occoquan! I'm here in your inbox this morning to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town. In this issue, you'll find:

• Free tax prep assistance for Prince William County residents
• Team PWCPD raises over $110,000 for Special Olympics Virginia athletes at Polar Plunge
• 2023 Legislative Session underway in Virginia

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Cooler; a little p.m. rain. High: 49 Low: 44.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny. High: 82 Low: 48.
• Friday: Mostly sunny; windy, cooler. High: 52 Low: 28.
• Saturday: Cooler with rain. High: 41 Low: 35.

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Here are the top five stories in Lake Ridge-Occoquan:

1. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is offering free tax preparation assistance to Prince William County residents with a 2022 income of less than $60,000. VCW Prince William Center Manager Rebecca Bennett stated that the program is for low to moderate-income individuals, allowing them to get their taxes done at no cost. The Prince William Financial Empowerment Center, which provides financial coaching, workforce services, and workshops, also serves as a VITA site and is supported by the United Way of the National Capital Area. (Press Release Desk)
2. The 2023 Polar Plunge, held on Feb. 18 at Leesylvania State Park in nearby Woodbridge, was a huge success. Team Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) raised more than $110,000 for Special Olympics Virginia athletes. The Prince William County Police Department thanked the community for its support, including participating in the chilly Polar Plunge and the first-ever 5K run as part of the event. (Prince William County Police Department)
3. The Prince William County Police Department will conduct a phone-based Community Satisfaction Survey in the next few weeks to obtain feedback on its services. The survey will be conducted every two years in compliance with national accreditation requirements and will focus on the services of the Police Department, including animal services. Results will be used to enhance police services, guide decision-making, and focus resources to improve service delivery. (Press Release Desk)
4. The 2023 Legislative Session is underway, and Virginia lawmakers are debating a wide range of issues and working through hundreds of bills. The General Assembly will adjourn on Saturday, Feb. 25, and Governor Youngkin will have until Apr. 12 to take action on legislation. Topics of discussion include transgender student rights, abortion, and psychedelic mushrooms. (WSET)
5. Looking for summer plans for the kids? Prince William County Parks, Recreation & Tourism's summer camp guide will be available online as of next Tuesday, Feb. 28. Registration will begin on Mar. 7; visit pwcparks.info for more details, including summer camp Q's and registration tips. (Prince William County Parks, Recreation & Tourism via Facebook)

Coming up in Lake Ridge-Occoquan:

Friday, February 24

• Mobile Meals Packaging 2 Go At The Good News Community Kitchen (5:00 PM)
• Nick Coons Live At Water's End Brewery (6:00 PM)

Saturday, February 25

• Fridge Studios Presents: Community Smash Event At Clearbrook Center Of The Arts (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Heads up, house hunters! Here are the latest properties to hit the Lake Ridge-Occoquan area real estate market. (Lake Ridge-Occoquan Patch)
• Looking for a new career opportunity that's close to home? Several employers near the Lake Ridge and Occoquan area are hiring. (Lake Ridge-Occoquan Patch)
• To help missing pets find their owners, the Prince William County Animal Shelter has posted photos of strays turned into the shelter between Feb. 16 and Feb. 19. (Prince William County Animal Shelter via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• Manassas Symphony Presents "Inspirations" with Pianist Joseph Kingma (March 4)
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Featured job listings:

• Home Companion (Details)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday! I'll see you soon.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.