When snow is forecast for our region, Prince William County Schools has a "snow patrol" team of five headed by Ed Bishop, transportation director. They drive the roads in various sections of the county, determining road conditions so they are able to make a recommendation to the superintendent in time for him to make a decision on school closing or delay and have it disseminated to TV and radio stations for broadcast by 5 a.m.

Forrest Odend'hal completed his one-year term as president of the Prince William Association of Realtors in January. Now he is serving as immediate past president and a member of the Virginia Association of Realtors--and he is still advocating for property rights.

Patricia Richie-Folks, a business manager and daughter of a preacher, will stress economic development in her bid for a seat on Manassas City Council. She is the first candidate fielded by the Democratic Party in a number of years. The election is May 1.

Prince William County, the second largest school division in the state of Virginia, continues to need hundreds of teachers. With the planned opening of a new middle school in Haymarket as well as retirements and the normal anticipated teacher turnover, an employment official with Prince William County schools projects hiring 500 to 600 teachers for fall. In 2011, some 56,000 people applied for teaching positions. Teachers for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) are in high demand.

Staff of Prince William County's Department of Fire and Rescue were recently promoted during a ceremony held at C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge. In all, 41 career personnel from the county's Department of Fire & Rescue and seven support personnel from the Office of Public Safety Communications received job promotions and recognition during the ceremony.

Manassas VA council member Jonathan Way will moderate a panel discussion about the way public funds allocated to each magisterial district are spent when the Prince William Committee of 100 meets on Feb. 16 in Manassas.

April 12, the Thursday after Easter, and April 26 are the days that Prince William County VA public schools have designated to parents to register their children for kindergarten

Round-trip Amtrak Virginia service due to start on the last day of 2012 will mean passenger service to and from Norfolk for the first time in 25 years.