The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has announced that there will be a regional earthquake drill Oct. 18 at 10:18 a.m. in the southeast United States, and Virginia has signed on as a participant. Individuals, businesses, schools and organizations are invited to participate. Other states and other areas around the world are also participating in earthquake drills, some at different times.

The soccer team at the new Patriot High School in Nokesville VA completed several service projects in addition to their daily practices and game schedule. Team coaches encouraged the working together on service projects in the community to build a sense of camaraderie among the soccer players both on and off the field. The high school opened in September 2011 and had no senior class for the 2011-12 school year.

Virginia State Park personnel will teach the general public about camping outdoor during the Great American Backyard Campout that will be held this Saturday, June 23, at all 35 state parks. A special group camping experience will be held for novice or firsttime campers at two nearby locations. In Prince William County, the special program will be at Leesylvania State Park off US 1 in Woodbridge. In Fauquier County, the special camping program will be at Sky Meadows State Park off US 17 between I-66 and US 50.

June 18-24 is Virginia Pollinator Week and people of all ages and all across the state are being asked to do something to help save bees, bats, butterflies, birds, moths, beetles, insects and other pollinators - that provide an essential service in making food crops grow. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has put together a list of eight simple things people can do to help the pollinators survive. See below.

Occoquan VA Town Council members and members of the public may be able to see some of the Transit of Venus, weather permitting, on June 5 when the council meets outdoors just across the Occoquan River in Fairfax County VA. Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta plans to provide his personal telescope with sun filters for the community to use at the event beginning at about 6 p.m.

Grant Lattin, a father of nine who had served 4.5 months of his third four-year term on the Prince William County Va. School Board, resigned suddenly last week, citing personal reasons.

Residents are urged to take advantage of the Virginia "sales tax holiday" May 25-31 to get stocked up with all the supplies they may need to weather a hurricane. The season for hurricanes coming off the Atlantic starts June.

The National Park Service has announced it will begin issuing annual passes to active duty military personnel and their dependents at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 19 to show appreciation for those who serve in the U.S. military. In Prince William County VA military personnel may obtain the passes at Prince William Forest Park near Quantico and Manassas National Battlefield Park.