Applications and essays are due this week for the Northern Piedmont Beginning Farmer Program in Virginia This seven-month hands-on, online and in person course backed by the expertise of Virginia Tech and the VA Cooperative Extension Service is designed for people who think they want to farm. Get a down-to-earth picture of what farming involves so you can make an informed decision.

On Saturday, March 17, a Gainesville Middle School 5K Race and 1 mile Fun Run will raise funds to help start a Special Olympics group in western Prince William County VA. Steven Bailey, a mentor to the director for administration at the National Military Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. will be with his family in spirit during the school 's 5K Race and 1 mile Fun Run. “It’s a great opportunity to show support to both the Special Olympics and GVMS,” he said. “Given the time difference, pending weather and any security issues, I hope to run [in Afghanistan] the same day [as the event in Gainesville].”

Officials of Prince William County VA Public Schools say a faulty smoke detector alarm caused the evacuation of Neabsco Elementary School in Woodbridge VA earlier this afternoon. All are safe and have returned to school, according to Irene Cromer, spokesman for the school division.

Moseley Architects, the firm that won statewide honors in Virginia for its design of Patriot High School and T. Clay Wood Elementary School, both in Nokesville, has been awarded the contract to design and engineer the 12th high school in Prince William County VA.

Fire officials in Nokesville VA have given the okay for Patriot High School to resume class and other activities after the school was evacuated earlier this morning for an unidentified "strong odor." The cause of the smell has since been identified, according to Irene Cromer, supervisor of community relations for Prince William County Schools.

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.

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.

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