Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How new School Board leaders could shape Manassas schools this year
Happening soon: YMS B.O.L.D. Moves Conference 2026 on the Manassas Patch calendar
Good morning Manassas! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How new School Board leaders could shape Manassas schools this year
- How Manassas barbecue is spicing up this murder mystery night
- How much safer are Northern Virginia roads for Manassas drivers now?
Also on today's calendar: YMS B.O.L.D. Moves Conference 2026 and 3 more events.
Find out what's happening in Manassasfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: What did the hammer say after getting an A on a test? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Manassasfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Wednesday: Breezy with partial sunshine, with a high of 60 and low of 29 degrees.
- Thursday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 58, low: 41.
- Friday: A bit of afternoon rain, with a high of 61 and low of 53 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Manassas School Board elects new chair, vice chair (insidenova.com) — Manassas residents have new leadership on the city School Board, with former vice chair Jill Spall unanimously chosen as chair and educator Zella Jones elected vice chair. The moves follow newly adopted term limits and a rotation system for leadership roles, aimed at broadening participation among the seven elected members while maintaining continuity in school governance. 
2. ARTfactory To Present Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre TROUBLE IN DEADWOOD (broadwayworld.com) — A February murder mystery dinner at ARTfactory’s Wind River Theater will feature catering from The Bone of Manassas, giving local diners a chance to enjoy hometown barbecue with their whodunit. Guests can join the interactive show, enter a costume contest, and opt for premium seating with an appetizer reception while supporting ARTfactory’s arts programs.
3. Traffic deaths in the D.C. region are declining to pre-pandemic levels (washingtonpost.com) — Manassas is part of the Northern Virginia region seeing a notable drop in traffic deaths, with 2025 fatalities down from a recent peak. While that’s encouraging, the story stresses that regional road deaths remain as high as a decade ago, keeping pressure on local and state leaders to improve dangerous corridors and pedestrian safety.
4. John McAuliff: Data center growth is fueling a statewide energy crisis (vpm.org) — A new Loudoun-area delegate highlights how some teachers commute from Manassas to jobs in Loudoun and Fauquier, underscoring housing and pay pressures in Northern Virginia. He links those strains to rising energy costs from data centers and outlines plans to tackle energy, education funding, and conservation at the state level.
📸 Around Manassas
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🗓 Upcoming Events in Manassas
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- YMS B.O.L.D. Moves Conference 2026
Magnoliya Grand Conference and Event center, 6991 Infantry Ridge Rd, Manassas
8:00 am
Saturday January 17
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Sip & Sketch with Jortt (Jan 9)
Laconiko , 11301 Braden Dr , Manassas
5:30 pm - Call for Candidates 2026
Manassas and Manassas Park, VA
1:23 pm - Lifelong Learning Institute Registration Begins
, Manassas
9:00 am - Pied Piper Theatre presents Grease
Hylton Performing Arts Center , 10960 George Mason Cir , Manassas
7:00 pm - 41st Annual King Day Program and Celebration January 19th
18410 Chapel St , Triangle
9:00 am
Friday January 9
Saturday January 10
Monday January 12
Friday January 16
Monday January 19
📣 Manassas Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Me Gusta Spanish
Central Library -
10:30 am - Twirls and Tales Story Time
Bull Run Library - Bull Run Community Room A and B
10:30 am - English Conversation-Conversación en Inglés
Central Library , Studio 8601 Makerspace , Manassas Park
11:00 am - Evening English Conversation
Bull Run Library - Group Study Room B
6:00 pm - Baby Story Time
Bull Run Library - Bull Run Community Room A and B
10:30 am - PWC Tech Help
Bull Run Library -
10:30 am - Preschool Story Time at Bull Run Library
Bull Run Library , 8051 Ashton Ave , Manassas
10:30 am
Wednesday January 7
Thursday January 8
Friday January 9
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Manassas PatchAM possible:
- Dogtopia of Manassas — (475) 338-3501
Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness - Bruno's Bounce House — (703) 594-1587
🌞 **Beat the Heat with Bruno's Bounce House Rentals!** 🌊 - Plumbing Services | No Dispatch Fees | AllTech Services — (703) 495-3466
No Dispatch Fees for Plumbing Services! - Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Styles And Smiles —Jerilyn Woelfel Read on Patch
- Update: they both have been found today at 5pm thanks to a cop a amazing person.
They have been checked out by a vet and thankfully not hurt. Thank you everyone who looked out Dogs missing Tora (left) and Gomi (right) ran away… (Nextdoor Georgetown South) - Buenos días, estoy en busca de un Basement de dos cuartos,para dos personas, somos dos mujeres, no andamos niños , ni mascotas.
Cualquier información se los agradecería mucho.! Good morning, I'm looking for a two-room basement, for two people, we are two women, we don't have… (Nextdoor Blooms Mill)
- Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Forklift Operator in Manassas. Apply here.
- Target posted a job opening for General Merchandise, Closing, Fulfillment (T2323) in Manassas. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Manassas here.
Ok Manassas! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I nailed it!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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