County roundup

Poster contest promotes

drug-free theme

The Prince William County Office on Youth, Prince William County Community Services and the Prince William Substance-Abuse Prevention Task Force are sponsoring their annual poster contest, "Ask Me, See Me, Be Me! I'm Drug Free." The poster contest encourages middle and high school age teens to support underage drinking and drug prevention efforts by designing a poster. The submitted poster must support the theme of "Ask Me, See Me, Be Me! I'm Drug Free."

Posters must be submitted by Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. Entries must be on poster board, no larger than the standard poster board 22 by 28-inch.

The entrant's name, age, address, telephone number, and school must be printed on the back of the poster. Youths do not need to be enrolled in the public school system to enter the contest.

Posters will be judged on the "Ask Me, See Me, Be Me! I'm Drug Free" theme and for artistic merit. There will be two age categories, 12 to 14 and 15 to18. All entries will become the property of the PW Substance-Abuse Prevention Task Force. Entries can be dropped off in person from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday or mailed to the PWC Office on Youth at 4379 Ridgewood Center Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22192 or to Community Services, Attn: Angie Mendez, 7969 Ashton Ave., Manassas, VA 20109.

Posters will be displayed and awards will be presented at the annual Remembrance Day program on Dec. 13 at 1:30 p.m., in the atrium of the McCoart Building in Woodbridge.

For more information, go to the Office On Youth's website at pwcgov.org/youth, or please call the office at 703-792-6095.

Sixth Harvest Festival

at Rippon Lodge set for Oct. 25

The Prince William County Department of Public Works, Historic Preservation Division will host its sixth annual Harvest Festival at Rippon Lodge Historic Site on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The lodge is located at 15520 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge.

Admission is $5 per person and children, under age two get in free. On-site parking is limited and requires a permit that can be requested by calling 703-499-9812. Additional parking will be available at Mary G. Porter Traditional School, 15311 Forest Grove Drive in Woodbridge. Free round-trip shuttles between the school and Rippon Lodge will run throughout the day.

Rippon Lodge, a circa 1747 historic home, will be open for tours throughout the day. Featured performers and activities include the Sword Masters, Signora Bella, 18th-century music performances, colonial crafter demonstrations, storytelling, cemetery tours, hay rides, a pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, face painting, educational displays, crafts and games. Prince William Historic Preservation Foundation Inc. will hold a silent auction. The Museum Shop will also be open.

The Harvest Festival will be held rain or shine. For more information please contact 703-499-9812 or historicpreservation@pwc gov.org.

Board of Supervisors

slated to meet Tuesday

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors will meet on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Board Chamber of the James J. McCoart Administration Building.

During the 2 p.m. meeting, the board will hear presentations on the Employee of the Month, Crowding Issues and Budget Implications, Quarterly Project Report, 2008 Home Buying Information Fair and the HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Program. In addition, the board will vote on several resolutions regarding various budget and appropriate items, and conduct other routine county business.

At the 7:30 p.m. meeting, the board will conduct public hearings on several land use issues, including a proffer amendment for Camp Glenkirk in the Gainesville Magisterial District, a special use permit for Youth for Tomorrow in the Brentsville Magisterial District, a special use permit for McDonald's in the Neabsco Magisterial District and a rezoning at the Village on the Parkway in the Coles and Neabsco Magisterial District.

Prior to the meeting at 11:30 a.m., the board will attend the opening of the expansion of the Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center.