Site clearing is under way for county's 59th elementary school which is scheduled to open in September 2016. The School Board, other elected officials, and members of the school community are expected to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the "Ferlazzo" Elementary School on Friday, Sept. 29 at 9:30 a.m. The event is open to the community.

Leading up to the 40th anniversary celebration, Principal Kirsten Fisher recently held a birthday party at Pattie Elementary School to teach students about the school’s history.

Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) released the following statement after becoming a lead co-sponsor on the Federal Employees Retroactive Pay Fairness Act Sept. 22. This bipartisan legislation is slated to be introduced next week and is sponsored by Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) and will shield federal workers pay in the event of a shutdown.

Manassas City Animal Shelter, 10039 Dean Drive, will conduct a $10 rabies clinic for dogs and cats on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Congregation Ner Shalom will host a candidates night on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 7 to 10 p.m. A meet-and-greet with refreshments will be followed by a formal question and answer forum. Hank Silverberg, a freelance journalist and author, will moderate.

Seafood fraud worrisome. The fraudulent labeling of Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean blue crab meat has a detrimental impact on an industry that plays an important role in the Virginia and Maryland economies, generating nearly $30 million annually in ex-vessel revenue for commercial watermen in Virginia and over $58 million annually in Maryland, the release said.

Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) voted on Sept. 11, 2015 against the approval of President Obama’s proposed agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, according to a news release from his office in Washington. The legislation failed by a vote of 162-269.

Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) released the following statement after voting against the president’s Iran Nuclear Agreement Sept. 11. A bipartisan majority of the House opposed the president’s deal, voting against it by a margin of over 100 votes - 162-269-1.