Prince William Living June 2016

PAGE 16

TOASTING THE TOASTMASTERS

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NEW NOVA WORKFORCE CENTER

PAGE 28

TONY’S NEW YORK PIZZA

prince william living June 2016

The premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas

Extraordinary Teens

PAGE 4

Occoquan: A Quaint Town Packing a Big Punch PAGE 12

Monument Coffee Roasters PAGE 20

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table of contents June 2016 Vol. 6 No. 6

FEATURE STORY Extraordinary Teens...............................................4

DEPARTMENTS from the publisher...................................................3 on a high note Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Every Kid, Every Concert, Always Free.................10

12 Photo by Kathy Strauss

destinations Occoquan: A Quaint Town Packing a Big Punch.............................................12 giving back Toasting the Toastmasters .................................... 16 taking care of business Monument Coffee Roasters...................................20 family fun Teaching Your Children While Shopping at the Farmers Market...........................................22

20 Photo by Rob Jinks

lifelong learning New NOVA Workforce Center to Train Governmental, Business and Military Employees...............................................27 local flavor Serving Italian Family Favorites Across Prince William...........................................28 calendar...............................................................32 advertiser index....................................................36

COLUMNS

28 Photo by Delia Engstrom

health & wellness.................................................18 home & hearth.....................................................26 your finances........................................................30 Discover Prince William & Manassas................33

prince william living June 2016 | 1

The premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas

Prince William Living Publisher Rebecca Barnes rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com Contributing Writers Amanda Causey Baity, Paul Keily Helena Kennedy, Colleen LaMay, Dr. Christopher Leet, Ann Marie Maher, Doug Martz, Olivia Overman, Tracy Shevlin, Dan Verner, Marianne Weaver, Bennett Whitlock Editor in Chief Kim Howard, CAE khoward@princewilliamliving.com Copy Editor Apryl Motley Photo Editor Amanda Causey Baity Photographers Delia Engstrom, Rob Jinks & Kathy Strauss Marketing Director Amanda Causey Baity Graphic Design and Production Alison Dixon/Image Prep Studio Online Submission Manager Carole Keily Advertising Account Executive Michelle Geenty Prince William Living, the premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas, is published monthly

by Prince William Living, Inc. The opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Prince William Living.

Prince William Living 4491 Cheshire Station Plaza, PMB 55 Dale City, VA 22193 Phone: (703) 232-1758 Efax: (703) 563-9185 Editorial offices: (703) 232-1758, ext. 2 Efax: (703) 563-9185 Advertising offices: (703) 232-1758, ext. 3 Efax: (703) 563-9185 Editorial Have a story you’d like our staff to cover? Contact Prince William Living editorial staff at (703) 232-1758, ext. 2, or at editor@princewilliamliving.com.

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For further information about Prince William Living, visit www.princewilliamliving.com, or contact Prince William Living at (703) 232-1758.

2 | June 2016 prince william living

Prince William Living launched this new cover story about extraordinary teens by putting a call out to its network this past March. We received several nominations of seniors who are doing wonderful things in their community all while working and keeping their academic studies a priority. Although the decision was not easy, we narrowed the list down to 10. Meet our finalists in this issue.

from the publisher Extraordinary Teens with Community Ties

F

or the first time, Prince William Living is excited to feature “Extraordinary Teens” in our June issue. Applicants had stellar qualifications, including GPA, active involvement in the community and resided in Manassas, Manassas Park or Prince William County. They attend public school, private school and are home schooled. In the end, the winners, all seniors, have one thing in common: a giving spirit. Read about them in our feature

by Paul Keily, page 4.

Encouraging kids to be well rounded can sometimes be tough especially if you have to get them dressed up and spend a lot of money to expose them to culture and arts. Manassas Symphony Orchestra solves that problem by allowing children to experience its music for free. Dress up or casual, the MSO tagline is “Every Kid, Every Concert, Always Free” allowing families to experience the arts, no matter their budget. Learn more in Helena Kennedy’s On a High Note, page 10.

When was the last time you strolled through downtown Occoquan? Olivia Overman shows why you need to check out the big changes in this small town! From new dining to new shops, farmers markets and the River Mill project, Occoquan is a mix of old and new, and worth another visit. Destinations, page 12.

month’s Taking Care of Business by Tracy Shevlin. Shevlin talks to Monument Roasters on what it takes to make the perfect coffee bean and a smooth running business. Learn which roast has the most caffeine and what is needed to make a strong cup of coffee and a strong business. Page 20.

Thank you for being a friend of Prince William Living. It’s people like you that have inspired our next contest: #friendsofpwl.

From June 1 to July 31, 2016, we will be spreading the word about Prince William Living and asking for your help! Visit our #friendsofpwl web page at http://princewilliamliving. com/?p=28532 for contest details. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus, where we’ll recognize the person who currently has the most points. Then, at the end of the contest period, we’ll tally up the points to find the BEST Friends of Prince William Living. We will recognize anyone with more than 100 points at our Friends of PWL event, which will bring together our PWL friends, new and old, to build connections with other area business and community leaders.

Thank you for being a friend!

Sincerely, Rebecca Barnes Prince William Living Publisher

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Extraordinary TEENS

By Paul Keily

extraordinary teens

H

igh school is a time where anything can seem possible, and many young people begin paths toward amazing lives. In this issue we introduce you to 10 teenagers, all attending schools in Prince William County and Manassas, who are on their way to becoming extraordinary adults.

Tatayana Allen Tatayana Allen is an academically talented senior at Forest Park High School. She is a member of the Molly Gill Chapter of the National Honor Society and the Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society. A four-time academic honors student, Allen maintains a 4.1 GPA. She has earned varsity letters in marching band and tennis and won the 2015 IT Student of the Year for Graphic Arts Award.

4 | June 2016 prince william living

As a member of Girl Scout Troop 495, she participated in various service projects, inspiring young people to read with the Summer Reading Program at Prince William County Public Libraries, and helping to encourage academic success and involvement through artistic expression. Allen is an oboist and introduces children in the community to musical performance through the Annual Forest Park High School Tiny Tot Concert and the Arlington County Foster Care and Adoption Annual Holiday Party. In 2015 she represented Prince William County at the National Council on Youth Leadership in St. Louis, Missouri.

Allen will attend the University of Virginia this fall. She plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in pre-health. Family friend Denita Fairley says, “Tatayana leads by

example and places value on helping others reach their potential.

She is an active member of the community and has been recognized at various levels for her academic excellence.”

Cecilia Armoh Cecilia is a senior at Osbourn High School where she is a member of a number of national honor societies. She has held positions in many clubs, including lead chair for the Student Superintendent Advisory Board, director’s board for the Interact Club, treasurer for the Key Club, pep rally/ homecoming chair for the Student Council Association, and leader of The Black Experience. She also plays on the girls’ varsity lacrosse team. She has one letter for lacrosse and two for academics.

Aubrie Sawyer, Cecilia’s lacrosse coach, said, “She is truly an extraordinary young woman. I am consistently impressed and amazed by how Cecilia is able to juggle so much and continue to be extremely successful.”

Christina Bagnati This March, as a part of Woodbridge Senior High School’s Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Program, Christina Banati represented her school’s engineering department in Washington, D.C. Under her leadership a three-person team presented the project, which was a prototype for a device that would prevent a car from shifting into gear before engaging the seat belt, to Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who tested the prototype and spoke to the group about the importance of seatbelt safety.

Bagnati participates in community service through the Advanced Placement Scholars Program, National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. As a junior, she served as the historian for the Norsemen Charity Club. She has also earned varsity letters for participation in her school’s crew team. She maintains a 4.432 GPA and is expected to graduate in the top 2 percent of her class with an Advanced Diploma and a Project Lead the Way Engineering Certificate.

She plans to attend Purdue University this fall and enroll in its engineering program.

After she volunteered last summer at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, her supervisor, Captain Verdal-Baron of the United States Navy, wrote, “Christina Bagnati is an absolute superstar.

It’s obvious that Christina is extremely bright, articulate and dedicated to excellence.”

When asked about her drive Bagnati said, “I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to grow up in and around the military and have tremendous admiration for those who selflessly defend our freedom. I have also been mentored by many professional teachers in Prince William County. My passion to work hard and aid others is a direct reflection of their influence on me to think big.”

Jazmine Beatty Jazmine Beatty is a senior at Woodbridge Senior High School where she participates in different student organizations and is in the top 5 percent of her senior class. She is a member of several academic honor and service societies. She is active in sports as the team manager of the freshman volleyball team.

In the community she mentors at Antietam and Old Bridge Elementary Schools. She works an exchange student mentor and tutor through USA Connection. At St. Michael’s Church, she is also a religious and spiritual co-teacher.

Beatty started a local chapter of the UN Girl Group program at her school where she mentored more than 50 teen girls from 2013-2016. At Antietam Elementary, she organized and conducts a bi-weekly mentoring program for 5th grade girls to help them prepare for middle school.

Outside of her work in education, Beatty works on a number of community-driven projects. Some highlights include organizing and conducting a baby supply drive and holiday party for pregnant teens in the Washington, D.C. Healthy Babies Project and spearheading a prom dress drive and fashion show to provide free dresses for economically-challenged young ladies in the metropolitan area.

Jazmine’s mother, Felicia Tavares, wrote, “Jazmine has dedicated thousands of volunteer hours toward a better social justice environment by helping those less fortunate than her through her clothing and food drives, mentoring and tutoring students, (continues on page 6)

prince william living June 2016 | 5

(continued from page 5) fitness support projects and beautification arts projects for her school and her community.”

Rachel Hong Rachel Hong is a senior at Battlefield High School where she is accomplished in academics, athletics and community service. She is a member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society and the National French Honor Society. She has been on the Principal’s Honor Roll since she was a freshman and is part of Prince William County’s Gifted Education Program. She has won several academic awards, including the National Merit Commended Student Award, an AP Scholar Award and an Academic Letter Award.

Hong plays volleyball both inside and outside of school. As part of the team at Battlefield, she won three awards: the varsity volleyball MVP, the varsity volleyball coach’s award and the junior varsity volleyball MVP. She served as the captain of the junior varsity team and co-captain of the varsity team. Outside of school she was the captain of the Virginia Juniors Volleyball Club Team and a member of the United States of America Nationals Team, the Amateur Athletic Union Nationals Team and the AllTournament Team at Hokie Super Regionals.

She has helped the community through National Honor Society tutoring and as part of the Key Club. Hong is also active in her church where she was a vacation bible school leader for two years, part of the Joshua Generation Welcoming Committee and an AWANA Leader since 2013.

Hong’s home life has impacted on how she sees the world.

Hong said, “I have grown up in a house where anger, fighting and misunderstanding are a part of my everyday life. Living in this environment has taught me that words can be very hurtful and inspired me to show kindness and compassion to my peers and community.”

Gregory Klatt Gregory (Greg) Klatt is at the top of his class in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at Stonewall Jackson High School with a GPA of 4.43. Klatt is a leader in many other respects. He is the president of his school’s National Honor and Math Honor Societies, the vice president/co-founder of the Engineering Club, the captain of the cross-country team and a supervisor at his job 6 | June 2016 prince william living

at Splashdown Water Park.

Klatt is entering his eleventh year as a referee for the NVSC Soccer League. He plans on studying engineering and computer science at Virginia Tech this fall.

Klatt also pursues a number of volunteer activities. He prepared survival kits for the homeless in the Manassas area.

He also volunteers with SERVE and works with his church to help feed the homeless. Klatt is a Boy Scout and earned his Eagle Scout Rank Award in 2015.

According to Klatt’s teacher Kristin Mackert, “Greg is one of the top math students I have ever taught. His extraordinary academic talents are tempered with his compassion and the leadership he offers the other students at SJHS and in our community.”

Matt Ratchford Matt Ratchford is a senior at Osbourn Park High School where he is captain of the varsity tennis team and an AP Scholar.

Ratchford is also a peer mentor and tutor for at-risk middle school students in the area.

This year Ratchford was elected to chair his school’s National High School Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Fundraiser.

He oversaw and organized the fundraising activities, which included a 5K run, online donations, a talent show, a dodge ball tournament, a carnation sale, door-todoor donations and restaurant discount nights. These events raised $30, 658 in one month.

Ratchford’s leadership teacher, Robert Watters, had high praise for his leadership ability: “Matthew is the most effective leader that I have taught. His intelligence in using the appropriate style or strategy, his resourcefulness in finding innovative ways to achieve his goals and his ability to work with a multitude of different types of people are unparalleled.”

And if he wasn’t busy enough, Ratchford also maintains a job at Nathan’s Dairy Bar. He has been accepted to the University of Virginia and plans to study business and economics.

Jean Recklau Since she first started elementary school 13 years ago, Jean Recklau has been serving the community as a Girl Scout. As a teen, she has worked with her troop to host ACTS Homeless Shelter meals, father/daughter dances and mother/daughter teas.

In 2012, she earned the Girl Scout Silver Award for hosting a kindergarten round up that helped pre-k students prepare for kindergarten.

At Potomac Senior High School, Recklau maintains a rigorous academic schedule as a part of the Cambridge Program. She has been on the academic honor roll since her freshman year. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society (where she was the secretary), and she is the current President of the Student Council Association. Through these positions she has sought to increase awareness of cultural diversity by hosting international nights at her high school.

Her guidance counselor, Mark Williams, praised her work: “Jean’s positive, can-do attitude is infectious, and her leadership qualities and participation have resulted in successful school and community events. She is positive and upbeat, genuine, dependable, adaptable and always willing to help students, teachers and staff in academics and events.”

MacKenzie Reynolds

develop and organize their computer system for coordinating volunteers. Reynolds also works at Tropical Smoothie and frequently babysits. Knowlton concluded, “Her aspirations are to become a doctor, specifically a pediatrician, so she can give back to society and do something good in life. I have no doubt she will succeed in whatever path she takes.”

Nancy Zhou Nancy Zhou is a senior at Gar-Field High School. Zhou was born in Watertown, New York to Chinese immigrants and is multilingual. She grew up speaking Mandarin and English. An avid learner of languages, she takes Spanish in school and is also learning French, German and Italian online.

Zhou’s zeal for languages carries over into her commitment to her studies, leadership and community service. She is the president of the Student Council Association. As student council president, she helped organize the collection of Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas presents for underprivileged community members. On a global scale, she coordinated a book drive for Ghanaian libraries. Zhou is also a peer for Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and is helping to decrease bullying in her school.

Zhou is also the vice president of the SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) club where she tutors students and raises money for the ACTS food pantry.

MacKenzie Reynolds is a senior at Patriot High School.

According to Angel Knowlton, MacKenzie’s neighbor, “MacKenzie is a great role model for her friends, family, neighbors and people of all ages.”

When she isn’t busy with these activities, Zhou is the midfielder and captain for Gar-Field’s lacrosse team. On weekends, she receives firefighting training at the Public Safety Academy.

Reynolds has shown her care for the community for years. Since 2009, she has tutored many students of all grade levels. She is currently a volunteer/teaching assistant at T. Clay Wood Elementary School in Nokesville, Bristow Run Elementary School in Bristow and Patriot High School in Nokesville where she maintains a 4.4 GPA. Reynolds was also a Patriot High School Sinfonia Orchestra representative.

She represented the 70 students of the orchestra and coordinated its volunteer activities and lettering requirements.

Zhou had her eyes set on the future when she said, “I am also in an eager pursuit to create something meaningful for myself, something that will provide me endless possibilities and happiness.”

Outside of school, Reynolds has volunteered with the Haymarket Regional Food Pantry since 2011. She helped the founders

According to Zhou’s mother Valerie Belmonte, “Nancy is a very hard worker. After lacrosse practices, she works at her father’s restaurant most days. Despite how tired she can be, Nancy never complains about balancing her school life with her work life.”

Paul Keily (pkeily@princewilliamliving.com) recently served as Prince William Living’s online submissions manager and is an educator in the county. prince william living June 2016 | 7

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on a high note Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Every Kid, Every Concert, Always Free

By Helena Tavares Kennedy | Photos by Rob Jinks

W

alking into a recent Manassas Symphony Orchestra (MSO) performance at the Hylton Performing Arts Center, I was excited about listening to music from the British Isles while not having to leave not only the country but not even Prince William County. It wasn’t my first time visiting our local beautiful Hylton Performing Arts Center, but it was my first time hearing the Manassas Symphony Orchestra perform.

I was worried about whether my family and I had dressed appropriately and if my youngest daughter would be able to sit quietly for the two-hour performance. I wasn’t worried about my older child, who had been at many two-hour theatrical performances before and was usually the one “shushing” others.

Luckily, all that worrying was for naught. Some people were dressed up in suits and dresses while others wore jeans and sneakers, so it seemed that no matter how you were dressed, you fit in. What a relief! As for my youngest child, she enjoyed hearing the music quite a bit, but after an hour, I was glad I brought a pen and notebook, which she used to draw pictures of the instruments she saw in the orchestra. And my older child, well, she said, “Is it over already?” when the concert ended. She said she “loved how it was one concert but with many songs in it so that I could hear a variety of music.”

So while I enjoyed a lovely evening out with my husband listening to beautiful music performed by talented musicians from our area, my kids were widening their horizons as well.

Did I mention that kids all the way through college (from any county) get into all Manassas Symphony Orchestra performances for free? As Manassas Symphony Orchestra notes as its tagline on performance programs and its website, “Every Kid, Every Concert, Always Free.” They also provide discounted tickets for seniors and educators, keeping their concerts affordable.

10 | June 2016 prince william living

Manassas Symphony Orchestra was the first orchestra in Virginia to be awarded the American Prize for Orchestral Performance by a Community Orchestra.

Award Winning Just this January, the MSO was the first orchestra in Virginia to be awarded the American Prize for Orchestral Performance by a Community Orchestra. This is a prestigious national award at that recognizes the group as one of the best such ensembles in the country. In past years, the MSO had been beaten by some organizations that have won recording contracts, so winning the award this year was very exciting for the group.

The orchestra played its first concert in 1992, and though its name, performance location, conductors, board members, etc. have changed over the years, they have been playing ever since.

The Musicians The sounds the musicians produced evoked all sorts of emotions depending on the piece being played. On this particular “British Isles” evening, we quietly tapped our feet to some upbeat rhythms that made it tough not to want to get up and dance, while we listened to one instrument or a few instruments play beautiful soft movements at other moments.

Listening to the wonderful music, I couldn’t believe that the musicians are all volunteers and not paid. You can tell the musicians are there because they want to be.

The conductor, James Villani, and members of the orchestra who serve as personnel manager and librarian, receive a small stipend for their work. The board of directors currently has 15 people, who are all volunteers like the musicians.

One of the musicians, who also volunteers as the MSO Public Relations contact, Andrew G. Loerch said, “James Villani has really built this up over the years, making it now top-notch. We now have to audition, which raised up the level of musicians.

And he asks us to play challenging music, so it attracts more top musicians who want to be challenged.”

Loerch was a bassoon player as a kid but went to engineering school and didn’t play for 28 years. He became interested in music again when his son started playing the clarinet in school.

This time, however, Loerch chose to learn the bass horn, which he has been playing ever since. He joined MSO in 1998 and has retired from serving as an Army Colonel and now teaches engineering classes at George Mason University.

“The group is a mixture of people from different career paths,” Loerch said. “We have amateur musicians who have other careers like medical doctors, non-music teachers like myself, and, of course, music teachers who can get continuing education credits by playing in the orchestra. Many of the other orchestras in the Northern Virginia area have a group of paid players (often called “ringers”), but we never have that. There is a great sense of community and equality, and we all know each other within our instrumental groups.”

Hear Them Play!

So now that we have an award winning orchestra that performs in an amazing space right here in Prince William County that you can enjoy at a very reasonable price (or free for kids!), what are you waiting for?

This summer, you can see the MSO perform in a free outdoor concert at the Harris Pavilion in Historic Manassas on a Sunday summer afternoon (usually last Sunday of August, but check the MSO website or the Harris Pavilion calendar for dates and times).

MSO also has popular annual family concerts each December.

“These concerts are geared toward the younger members of our audience, although they are enjoyed by all,” said Loerch. In these family concerts, the orchestra usually debuts pieces that are commissioned and composed by local composers. The most fun part for families? They are often based on children’s books that are read with the music providing the background. The family concerts can also include some performances by local students, either as soloists or accompanied by the orchestra. “This provides a great opportunity for area music students to perform on the Hylton stage,” said Loerch.

You can get details on all upcoming concerts on the MSO’s website at manassassymphony.org.

Looking to hire a brass group, wind group, woodwind group, string quartet or other MSO musicians for an event, like a wedding, funeral, birthday, graduation, corporate event or another event where talented musicians are in need? You can hire MSO’s musicians for your event; just contact them via the website manassassymphony.org

While there are about 80 members in the MSO, the number of musicians that play in the orchestra depends on the piece, as some only play when a particular piece calls for their instrument.

“The orchestra is dedicated to performing new music, most of which is commissioned by the group itself, so playing in the ensemble is never boring,” said Loerch. “We perform pieces that are outside the standard repertoire, giving the audience the opportunity to hear pieces that are infrequently performed.

Every concert is different, new music.”

Helena Tavares Kennedy (hkennedy@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance writer and nonprofit communications director who used to play clarinet what seems to be hundreds of years ago and has lived in Manassas for over 15 years. She is no longer afraid of bringing her young children to a “proper” MSO performance, and they keep asking when they can go to the next concert! prince william living June 2016 | 11

destinations

OCCOQUAN

A Quaint Town Packing a Big Punch

By Olivia Overman | Photos by Kathy Strauss

P

oised on the edge of Prince William and Fairfax Counties, the quaint town of Occoquan is not only steeped in history but has all the necessary ingredients for an eclectic destination spot. With restaurants, shops, businesses and its local government, Occoquan is a place where old meets new, and the townspeople want to know your name.

A natural gateway to Prince William via the Route 123 Bridge, Occoquan was voted Best Tourist Spot in Prince William County in 2015. With easy access from the interstate and the water, this quaint little town packs a big punch when it comes to what it has to offer.

A Trail of History Occoquan was founded in 1734 as a trading post, and there is over 300 years of history within this little oasis nestled neatly away from the hustle and bustle of Northern Virginia life. Once a bustling business center with the Occoquan Falls stimulating growth within the town, a fire on August 25, 1916, caused $50,000 in damages and brought the community to its knees.

The fire wiped out the majority of the 18th- and 19th-century buildings in the town, leaving all but the foundations. Only a few of the original buildings were damaged and are still in use today. Rockledge Mansion built in 1757 by industrialist John Ballandine, a local industrialist who hired William Buckland, a master builder to construct the mansion, is now a location where individuals and groups can hold special events, weddings and community meetings. The Mill House, across the street from the Rockledge Mansion, became the nation’s first automated gristmill in 1788. Today it is home to the Occoquan Historical Society’s Museum. And Hammill Hotel on Union Street is now home to a woman’s accessory and jewelry store, Lil’ Bit of Posh.

While strolling through the town, historical facts can’t be missed on the numerous historical markers and register plaques that mark significant buildings and sites. It is as simple as following the Historic Occoquan Self-Guided Walking Tour (historicoccoquan.com). Mixing old with new, Earnie Porta 12 | June 2016 prince william living

From the weekly farmers market to the annual arts and craft fair, the town certainly does not have a shortage of events planned for residents and visitors alike.

commenced work on Quick Response barcoding of historical markers for the town a few years ago. “I’m doing the QR code project in Occoquan through the Occoquan Historical Society.

The markers are simple QR codes… [that can be] read with a free app common to almost all cell phones now. The QR code directs the viewer to a web page on the Occoquan Historical Society website optimized for mobile devices. The advantage of the QR code marker is that the website can include historic photographs and more significant amounts of information than can typically be displayed with a traditional sign or marker.

Furthermore, when new information is discovered, or an error is identified, it is far easier to update a web page rather than it is to buy a whole new sign,” Porta said.

There are currently two QR markers in the town, one in front of the Town Hall and the other in front of a building on the north side of Commerce Street between Ellicott and Union Streets.

The Historical Commission has, however, provided a grant to put in more than 50 additional markers, which Porta hopes to have completed this summer.

The Future is Bright Occoquan is a town where changes are coming about rapidly.

Mayor Elizabeth Quist described the advances made in some of the largest projects currently underway in the town. “We’ve got a lot of projects going on in Occoquan right now, some that are highly visible, and others that are not,” Quist said. Most visible in the town is the River Mill Park project, which Quist said is progressing nicely. When open, the park will include a small event pavilion, a stone dust trail, restroom and storage facilities and incorporate updates to the footbridge.

“The project has been a long time coming for us and is made possible by a cooperative relationship with both Prince William County, providing the capital funding, and Fairfax Water, removing the industrial tanks and providing us with favorable lease conditions. The Town has incorporated the operational expenses of running and maintaining the 1.1-acre property into

its annual operating budget. And, we’re planning to launch a summer concert series and other community programming for the park in 2017 as well. Through a matching grant, we will also be able to construct, finally, a canoe and kayak ramp this summer that was originally proposed as early as 2010, if memory serves,” said Quist.

Other major projects include The Potomac Science Center, The Occoquan Regional Park and The Packard Occoquan Center. “While these aren’t technically a part of the town, they represent a significant revitalization effort occurring all along the Occoquan River corridor,” Quist said.

A Little Town Packing a Big Punch “We have welcomed several new businesses to town. Bar J’s is a new Tex-Mex restaurant located at 125 Mill Street,” said LaVerne Carson, owner of The Golden Goose in Occoquan and president of the Business Guild of Occoquan. “They are bringing many customers to town to rediscover, after so many years, their delicious fare. Another new business to the town is Good Hair Day, a salon and spa now located on Mill Street.”

From the weekly farmers market to the annual arts and craft fair, the town certainly does not have a shortage of events planned for residents and visitors alike. Coupled with the cafes, restaurants, various art galleries, wine shops, jewelers, antiques and home décor stores, it’s tough to leave empty-handed.

Former town council member and past president of Historic Occoquan, the late Robert Lehto, described the town of Occoquan like this: “With a history spanning a period almost as long as Virginia itself, Occoquan provides a unique mixture of pre-revolutionary, Victorian and modern aspects of life resulting in a living charm, which no restoration or modern city can equal.”

A graduate of American University’s School of Communication, Olivia Overman (ooverman@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance writer for both online and print publications. prince william living June 2016 | 13

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giving back

Toasting the Toastmasters

By Dan Verner

According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Death is number two. Does that seem right? That means to the average person, if you have to go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.

—Jerry Seinfeld

J

erry Seinfeld didn’t get it entirely right (several different studies place the fear of death no higher than number six), but he made a valid point. The prospect of speaking in public petrifies most people, but help is available through Toastmasters International, a 92-year-old nonprofit educational organization, which operates 15,400 member clubs with 332,000 members in 135 countries worldwide.

Elke Tucker, Division F Director, District 29 of Toastmasters International and a resident of Prince William County, has been helping speakers of all ages dry their sweaty palms, shed their fear and speak publicly as comfortably as if they were in their own living rooms. She coordinates division activities, sets division goals, and helps train area and club leaders. (District 29 includes 144 Elke Tucker, Division F Director, Toastmasters clubs and more District 29 of Toastmasters than 2,500 members and runs west from the Capital Beltway to International Leesburg, west to Front Royal and south to Fredericksburg.)

“Like many people, I joined Toastmasters to overcome shyness,” Tucker mused. “Since then, I have seen many people transformed from wall flowers into blossoming roses in as little as six months. Today, my shyness is completely gone. If I had to do it all over again, I would have joined much, much sooner… ideally during college.”

16 | June 2016 prince william living

She first heard about Toastmasters 10 years ago, but didn’t join until two years later when she read an article about the Lake Ridge Toastmasters Club. “I went to the meeting as a guest and joined after the very first meeting. Today I am a member of three clubs.”

A typical Toastmasters club includes 15 – 20 people, who may be business people, students, IT specialists, retirees, home workers, teachers and all kinds of individuals from different cultural backgrounds. The minimum age is 18, but Toastmasters also runs youth leadership programs to introduce the program to those under 18.

The Toastmasters program has two tracks: communication and leadership. As members work through the Toastmasters program, they earn awards, the first being the Competent Communicator award, achieved after completing ten speeches from the Competent Communication Manual.

At the same time, members can work toward Competent Leader status, which is earned by filling all the roles at a club meeting.

After members earn a CL Award, they can enter the advanced leader program and earn Advanced Leader Bronze (ALB) and Advanced Leader Silver (ALS) awards, which lead toward the Distinguished Toastmasters award.

Toastmaster members also make extemporaneous speeches through an activity called “Table Topics,” which helps members develop their ability to organize their thoughts quickly and respond to an impromptu question or topic. After prepared speeches, the Toastmaster introduces the Topicsmaster, who gives a brief description of Table Topics and then calls on members at random. Those selected stand next to their chairs

and speak for as long as two minutes. Speakers may be asked to: n Pick a really bad movie they have seen. They then must persuade the audience to see it. n Answer the question, “What do people think they know about your birthplace that isn’t true?” n Come up with a convincing definition of a very obscure (but actual) word from the dictionary. n Pull a coin from a bag of pennies and talk about the mint year stamped on the coin, either something from history or something that happened to the respondent that year.

A Toastmaster’s meeting isn’t all serious business. A number of clubs include “A Moment of Humor” in which members tell a joke or funny story lasting no more than a minute. And then, funny things happen during speeches. A Toastmaster told this story: “One of our members attended a luncheon and sat at the table with the main speaker, also a Toastmaster. As the meal wound down, she noticed he had a piece of broccoli between his teeth.

She told him about it and also said it was a good idea to check in the mirror before giving a speech so that nothing will distract the audience. The man thanked her, and she thought nothing more of it.

“The next week, she was to give the main speech on another occasion and blithely stepped to the podium without heeding her own advice. Sure enough, she gave her entire speech with something stuck between her teeth. When a friend told her

about it after she had finished, she asked to speak to the group again and told them the whole story, ending by saying, ‘Like they told us in drivers’ ed, “Check your mirror before you start!” They all had a good laugh over it and learned something important for anyone who speaks in front of groups.

Looking toward the future, Elke Tucker concluded, “I am very optimistic about Toastmasters since we keep growing and are adding new clubs every year. We will add a Spanish-English club and a club for authors this Toastmaster year. Toastmasters has a bright future.”

If you are a beginning teacher facing your first class, a recent graduate starting work at a local company or a retired pilot taking a real estate class to earn your realtor’s license, you need Toastmasters. Join them and start losing that fear that Jerry Seinfeld joked about that is really no laughing matter. You owe it to yourself. And Toastmasters will be right there to ease the way.

For more information about Toastmasters Clubs in the area, go to http://tmd29.org/division_f.html.

Dan Verner (dverner@princewilliamliving.com) is the author several books and was named “Best Writer in Prince William County (Virginia)” for 2014 and 2015 by readers in a “Best of Prince William” poll taken by Prince William Today newspaper.

Find out more about him at danverner.com. prince william living June 2016 | 17

How Healthy Are Our First Responders?

By Dr. Christopher Leet

Y

ou may not think about the overall health of a first responder. But, if you are in a crisis and require rescue, don’t you want to be sure that the person taking care of you is healthy and will stay that way until you get the help that you need? Yes, it’s a selfish thought. However, the overall health of our local first responders impacts their ability to care for citizens in crisis.

Over the past few months, I have had the opportunity and privilege of assisting in the physical evaluation of first responders throughout the Northern Virginia area. While specifics are not appropriate, some generalizations can be made. Along with the general physical evaluations, all of the personnel underwent diagnostic stress evaluations with ECG and blood pressure monitoring, along with treadmill testing.

Roughly 300 personnel have been evaluated over this time.

The overall conditioning level of this group appears to be 10 to 15 percent higher than that expected in the general population. The age range of the participants was between 16 and 60. An interesting phenomenon is that the average conditioning level does not seem to be very much different throughout. Indeed, the fitness level of the 40- to 50-yearolds is generally similar to that of the 20-year-olds.

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There appears to be very little high blood pressure, hardly any smoking history, and the percentage of obese participants is about 15 percent, compared to an ordinary population of 30 to 40 percent.

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taking care of business

Monument Coffee Roasters

By Tracy Shevlin | Photos by Rob Jinks

A

lycia Otte grew up surrounded by the coffee business.

Her father, David Campbell, owned two coffee shops in Oregon and passed his knowledge and passion for coffee on to Otte. After managing one of his shops and working at another during college, Otte, along with her husband Jay, brought her expertise to the Manassas area and opened Monument Roasters in 2014.

Operating primarily as a wholesaler, the company’s coffees can be found in local coffee shops, restaurants and small specialty grocery stores. Prince William Living spoke with Otte to learn more about Monument Roasters.

PWL: Many of us enjoy coffee every day, but know very little about roasting coffee beans. Can you tell us more about that?

Otte: Roasting coffee is a craft. It’s a bit like making a craft beer. It is a balance of art and science. The time, temperature and airflow during the roast will greatly affect the outcome. We are a single-origin, small batch roaster, which means we roast one type of bean at a time, and each batch is 30 pounds or less.

Roasting in small batches allows us greater quality control and ensures a higher quality product.

Alycia Otte brought her coffee expertise to Manassas after managing one of her father’s coffee shops in Oregon.

the distinct flavors of the beans. For example, African coffee beans have a citrus or fruity flavor, South American beans have a nutty flavor, and Indonesian beans have an earthier flavor.

PWL: How do you locate your suppliers?

We specialize in light to medium roasts, which allow more of the natural flavor of the beans come through. However, we do make some dark roast coffees at the request of some of our clients. It is true that darker roasts of coffee do lose some of their caffeine in the roasting process.

Otte: We buy coffee beans from all over the world with the help of a specialized coffee broker. He and his partner visit the small farms and broker the deals for us. It is helpful to have a broker who is an expert in import and export matters. It saves us from having to maintain those types of licenses.

The important quality to note about freshly roasted coffee beans is that the coffee is much more flavorful. One can clearly taste

Some of the farms that supply our beans are on less than acre of land, and the farmer lives on that land as well. It’s amazing

20 | June 2016 prince william living

Monument Coffee Roasters offer over a dozen hand roasted brews.

really. On most of these small farms, the coffee beans are processed by hand or with rudimentary equipment out of the farmer’s home. On these tiny farms, farmers must form a co-op, and combine their beans in order to have enough product to sell.

We are happy to be able to support these small farmers. It suits us not only because we are a small batch roaster, but it’s also in keeping with our core value: “buy local, shop small.”

PWL: Who do you sell to?

Otte: While anyone can buy our coffees online, our focus has been to develop relationships with small shops, restaurants and independent specialty grocery stores and other small outlets where the freshness and quality of our coffees are a good match for the customer base.

We list on our webpage locations where our coffee can be purchased either by the bag or enjoyed by the cup. These include shops across the area in Manassas, Haymarket and Middleburg. This summer we will also be selling our coffee at the Manassas and Reston farmers markets. We hope that in the future, we will be able to open our facility to the public for special tasting events.

PWL: Most business owners know that starting a new company can be a stressful venture. What resources have been most valuable to you?

Otte: We have learned so much from attending 1 Million Cups meetings. 1 Million cups is an organization of entrepreneurs that meet each Wednesday from 9-10 a.m. at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. We have coffee, provided by Monument Roasters, and solve practical problems that affect local business owners. It is also 100 percent free to attend.

At each meeting, one of the members presents a problem that his or her business is facing. For the remainder of the meeting the

rest of the attendees can ask questions or help problem solve the issue. Some of the topics we have discussed include marketing and sales tactics, employee retention, scaling and expansion of business.

It has been extremely rewarding and educational. We have learned so much! I would encourage any entrepreneur to attend.

PWL: You mentioned that you support some local charities through your coffee sales. Can you elaborate?

Otte: Absolutely! Our values center around supporting our community in how we do business, but also in giving back.

While we normally roast one type of bean and minimize blended coffees, we have been creating signature blends each quarter to support local charities.

We created our Warrior Blend to support the Warrior360 organization. We met at the Badwolf Brewing Co., brewfest where we each had a booth. We loved their cause, and they loved our coffee, so it seemed a perfect match.

Warrior360 provides physical, financial and other assistance to military personnel who need help upon returning home from deployment. The organization’s mission is to support others who selflessly serve our country. We are proud to give to this organization though our coffee sales and special blend and have also included a link to its webpage on our site.

To learn more about Monument Roasters, please visit their website at monumentcoffeeroasters.com.

Tracy Shevlin (tshevlin@princewilliamliving.com) is a native Virginian and long-time Manassas area resident. She is a graduate of George Mason University where she is also an office manager.

Follow her on twitter @nvalady1. prince william living June 2016 | 21

family fun Teaching Your Children While Shopping at the Farmers Market

By Amanda Causey Baity

T

aking your kids to the farmers market can be a fun outing, but that’s not all. It can also be a great learning experience for them. Here’s how.

From an early age, I began taking my children to the farmers market to explain how farmers grow things and why eating healthy is important as well as teaching them about supporting local businesses. Here are a few activities that you can try with your family. I’ve also included a recipe with farm fresh ingredients.

1. What is local food?

Understanding what local food is gives kids a sense of appreciation for their meals, and shopping at a local farmers market can make this concept a little more concrete. By asking the farmers where their farms are located, they will understand that food is grown local to where they live. As a parent, you can share with them the importance of eating locally-grown foods to support financially the family farm and local community, as well as to reduce environmental impact by purchasing foods that require less gas mileage to get from the production to the consumption site.

2. What goes into making a meal?

How does that food get to the table? Eating isn’t a matter of microwaving something or boiling it. Food goes from ingredient to recipe to table. Children can learn more about that process, including picking out a recipe, shopping for the ingredients and then preparing the meal. For older children teaching the actual reason for including individual ingredients and the science that is involved with cooking is a way to keep them engaged.

3. What different types of farming are used?

There are quite a few adults who don’t understand how organic 22 | June 2016 prince william living

and conventional farming differ, but you and your kids can learn first hand. If you point out which foods offered are organic, it will spur a conversation about the differences between organic and conventional farming and also turn the conversation to the many different ways farmers treat their crops. For more details about different farming techniques in Prince William, please reference our August 2015 issue.

4. Do foods have different seasons?

Strawberries in January? That’s not natural... and your kids can learn that if you teach them about seasonality. As children visit farmers markets on a regular basis, they will see the availability of certain foods at certain times of the year, rather than all foods being available at all times like in a supermarket. They can ask the farmers questions about why foods grow better at certain times of the year due to weather and growing conditions. (continues on page 24)

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(continued from page 22) 5. What’s the difference between a fruit and a vegetable?

The simple act of learning the names of all the fruits and vegetables can be a powerful teaching moment for you and your children. If you don’t know what to call it, how likely is it you will eat it? While getting your children to eat brussels sprouts is not likely, teaching them about how fruits and veggies grow and taste differently is a good idea. Talking about icky vegetables may increase the likelihood of a taste or two!

Directions On a greased cookie sheet, lay bacon flat and bake for about 15 minutes in a 400-degree oven, flipping with a fork halfway between. Drain bacon and crumble.

In a pan over medium high heat, cook sausage until there’s no pink. Drain well on a paper towel (or else you’ll have grease floating in your soup.) Set aside.

In your soup pot over medium heat, cook the potatoes, onion, garlic, chicken broth, and water until potatoes are cooked through.

Tips for your trip to the farmers market: Go early. You’ll beat the crowds and snatch up the best-looking produce.

Throw in cooked sausage, half the bacon, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper.

Simmer for about 10 minutes.

Be spontaneous. Sure, you know a few things you have to pick up when you get there, but if your kid eyes a gorgeous basket of peaches, don’t say no.

Add kale and cream. Let soup heat through and serve with the other half of the bacon. Sprinkle with Parmesan.

Bring reusable bags. Most vendors at farmers markets don’t have bags, so be prepared by bringing your own.

Carry cash. Some farmers market vendors accept credit cards, but not all of them do. Be prepared with cash for easier transactions.

Let your kids pick the best-looking produce. Tell them what you need, and one at a time, let them examine the fruits and veggies and make their selections.

It may make your trip take a little bit longer, but it’s a great way to teach the kiddos how to make a good pick.

Plan your meals from the market.

Make that smartphone do some work.

Once you’ve seen the selection the market has to offer, pull up your favorite recipe app and let the kids help you decide what you’re going to cook for the next few nights (using the fresh produce from the market, of course).

Ask the vendors questions. Chances are, if they grow it, they eat it. If you run into a piece of produce you’re not familiar with, ask the vendor what it tastes like and how they like to prepare it.

Shop around. If you’re at a farmers market with a lot of vendors, don’t snatch up the first pretty red tomatoes you 24 | June 2016 prince william living

see. Look around for the best prices and selection before you pull out your wallet.

Try something new. Chances are, there’s plenty at the farmers market you haven’t tried. Try to select something new every time you go.

Visit our website for a list of local farmers markets.

Zuppa Toscana Soup When I was in college, I worked at Olive Garden. I loved working there, and my love for Italian cuisine came alive. An instant favorite was their Zuppa Toscana soup and I created a recipe that is almost identical. Almost every ingredient came from local farmers markets including the bacon, sausage and cheese! Hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients 5-7 slices of bacon 1/2 lb. hot Italian Sausage 5 medium russet potatoes, washed and thinly sliced 2 cups kale, chopped 1 cup heavy whipping cream 1 qt. water 2 cans chicken broth 1/2 large onion, finely chopped 4 medium cloves of garlic, minced 2 tsp. red pepper flakes salt and pepper grated Parmesan for sprinkling

Amanda Causey Baity (abaity@ princewilliamliving.com) is Prince William Living’s marketing director and photo editor. She lives on a farm (vandorenfarms.com) in Manassas with her family.

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home & hearth Four Garage Accessories that Every Active Family Needs

By Doug Martz

H

ow does your garage rate on a scale of one to ten with helping your family manage their daily activities?

If you’re not giving yourself at least an eight and you don’t let the kids in the garage without adult supervision for fear of injury, it may be time to get control.

We have roots, where others have branches.

Here are four garage accessories that can help you quickly tame your garage and turn it into functional space that is safe and beneficial for the whole family.

Wall organization systems Wall organization systems get everything off the floor. Wall hanging storage systems are ideal for organizing everything in your garage. n Keep gardening tools and supplies together. Instead of

standing rakes and shovels against the wall where they can fall and create a danger, store them on racks that keep them up off the floor and clean and dry.

n Group athletic equipment by sport using baskets and

racks for bats, balls, mitts, cleats, hats, etc., so nothing gets misplaced.

n Each family member can have their own section for their

specific sport or hobby with lower baskets for little ones, so they can put things away without needing help.

n Install low shelves for wet and muddy footwear to

eliminate piles of shoes and boots on the garage floor.

n Even without enclosed or locking cabinets, you can keep

dangerous tools, chemicals or products out of reach of children and pets. Take advantage of unused vertical space. Overhead storage is especially good for large and awkward shaped items that don’t fit into garage cabinets.

Specialty hooks Specialty hooks come in all shapes and sizes and work with wall hanging systems. Many items can hang on hooks, but for big things, such as bikes, skateboards, skis and golf bags, getting custom hooks designed to safely and securely manage the weight and bulk of specific items ensures safe and damage-free storage.

Storage cabinets and shelving Cabinets capture usable space and provide behindclosed-doors storage, hiding unsightly clutter and maintaining order. Designing cabinets around parking stalls, workbenches, countertops and laundry appliances provides storage right where it’s needed, keeping necessities close at hand.

Doug Martz (dmartz@tailoredliving.com) is president of Tailored Living.

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lifelong learning New NOVA Workforce Center to Train Governmental, Business and Military Employees

By Colleen LaMay | Photos by Delia Engstrom

B

y fall businesses and their employees will be able to take full advantage of a new training center at Northern Virginia Community College in Woodbridge. The Regional Center for Workforce Education and Training still is hiring for key positions, such as an event coordinator, a testing coordinator and an operations manager. Filling these positions coincides with its effort to ensure the showpiece facility offers the programs and credentialing most useful to regional employers.

“We’re not ready for prime time yet with the business community,” said Steve Partridge, vice president of workforce development for the center. “We are trying to be strategic in our planning. We want to offer training that employers need, not programs no one wants or will use.”

Thus far the center has seen light use, mainly by the public sector.

In February, The Prince William Chamber of Commerce brought 150 people to the center for its annual Women’s Leadership Conference. “It’s got the technology and the space we need for our bigger events,” said Kaitlyn Britton, event coordinator for the chamber.

In March, more than 200 people gathered for the official opening of the 55,000-square-foot center, which will offer mainly programs to ensure workers stay up-to-date on technology, including cybersecurity, information technology, program management and health care. They came to get a good look at the state-of-the art center, which was open for self-guided tours.

“The regional center has been a long time coming, and worth the wait,” Sam Hill, provost of the Woodbridge campus, told the crowd in March. According to him, “the idea for such a facility began in 2006.” At that time, a legislative task force recommended the $29 million center as a way to help meet the needs of a growing military workforce at two of the nation’s key bases, Marine Corps Base Quantico in Prince William County and the Army’s Fort Belvoir in neighboring Fairfax County.

A number of people spoke at the nearly hour-long dedication ceremony. The speakers were from NOVA and the community college system, the state General Assembly, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and several other Prince William government agencies. Businesses also sent representatives to the ceremony. Among them were SkillSource Group Inc., a non-profit organization for employers and job-seekers, Todos Super Market in Woodbridge, Logis-Tech Inc., which offers information technology and other services to businesses, and MDA Technologies Group.

MDA works with the Department of Defense on project management, among other services.

Speakers emphasized the role of community colleges in helping non-traditional students, such as those who come to the U.S. from other countries, to build new lives. “If you ever come into my office, the first thing you are likely to see is a picture of Ellis Island. For so many generations, it was a beacon of hope. It was a launch pad into the American Dream. In many, many ways, the community college has become America’s Ellis Island,” said Glenn DuBois, chancellor of the Virginia Community College System.

With a professional background in workforce development, Scott Ralls, president of Northern Virginia Community College, said he had a unique perspective on the Woodbridge center. “This is one of the best—if not the best—workforce training centers in the United States That says something about how proud we should be of this particular place,” Ralls said.

The Workforce Development Center is more than just a beautiful new building, speakers emphasized. It has appropriate training programs tailored for the region. Virginia soon will be the 20th state to get state funding for non-degreed workforce programs.

Instead of degrees, participants get professional certifications.

“This one-time public infrastructure investment will produce outstanding returns in highly skilled human capital needs for decades to come,” said David Hunn, president and CEO of the SkillSource Group Inc. “The primary beneficiaries will be local employers, along with individuals and families, that will now have families making greater incomes and having greater job stability in Prince William County and greater Northern Virginia.”

Colleen LaMay (clamay@princewilliamliving.com) worked for nearly 30 years for a daily newspaper in Boise, Idaho. She moved to Virginia in 2010 with her family. prince william living June 2016 | 27

local flavor Serving Italian Family Favorites Across Prince William

By By Marianne E. Weaver | Photos by Delia Engstrom

T

here might be a pizza shop in every strip mall in Prince William, but there is only one Tony’s New York Pizza. Technically, there are three—Mathis Avenue in Manassas, Bristow Center in Bristow, and Dominion Valley in Haymarket—but all three locations serve the same Italian D’Agostino family favorites.

“We have set up our restaurants with the concept of giving people home cooked meals with healthy, fresh products, produced from scratch on location, for a price that beats having to buy ingredients at the grocery store, having to prepare the dish, and then having to deal with clean up,” said Joe D’Agostino, part-owner and son of founder Antonio (Tony) D’Agostino. “We want to do it all for families as well as hard working single people who just don’t have time to cook at home.”

His parents, Tony and Rosaria, moved from Naples, Italy, to Brooklyn, NY, in 1974. Tony went to work at his uncle’s pizza shop, Sal’s Pizza, in Brooklyn. With that experience, plus his wife’s recipes, Tony set out to take New York style pizza and Italian dishes to southern towns, opening restaurants in Waynesboro, Penn.; Baltimore, Md., Martinsburg, WVa.; and Leesburg, Va., before settling in Prince William.

The first Prince William location opened on Mathis Avenue in 1989, followed by Bristow and the third in Dominion Valley.

Twenty-seven years after opening the doors in Manassas, the original location is still the busiest.

“We have gone to the one on Mathis Avenue since it opened,” said Mary Lalli of Manassas. “My husband once commented that their Italian food is better than that at the high price restaurants, and since he is 100 percent Italian, that is quite a recommendation. Great pizza, focaccia and fettuccine alfredo.”

“Ahhhh … focaccia bread,” Tony D’Agostino laughed, upon hearing that review. “I don’t think anyone else has that around here.”

28 | June 2016 prince william living

Tony’s New York Pizza has three locations in Prince William: Manassas City, Bristow and Dominion Valley, pictured here.

Pizza, he said, is the most popular item on the menu. Patrons have lots of style choices: New York, Sicilian Pan and Focaccia style plus rigatoni pie and rustica pie. By the slice or pie, topping selections are numerous: sausage, pepperoni, meatball, ham, bacon, Canadian bacon, onion, green peppers, banana peppers, spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, black olives, anchovies, pineapple, jalapenos and grilled chicken. Tony’s special is sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions and green peppers.

“We order from there all the time.” said Julie Kelly of Dumfries.

“My husband, who is a New Yorker, drives 30 minutes to the Manassas store to get pizza.”

Transplanted New Yorkers aren’t the only ones to visit Tony’s for a taste of home. Tony’s has also managed to replicate a Philadelphia favorite.

“I’m a Philadelphia girl and can vouch that their Philly cheesesteaks are very good,” said Eileen Imorde of Bristow.

“They use the right kind of rolls, which is very important and makes all the difference. There aren’t many places around here that I can say that about either, so kudos to Tony’s.”

Tony’s offers more than pizza pie and sandwiches.

Upon hearing that review, Tony smiled, noting that he had initially tried to “import” the traditional Amaroso rolls from Philadelphia. “But we had to keep them frozen,” he said, adding that the freezing option didn’t live up to his all-fresh standards. He then found Cardinal Bakery in Sterling, a family-owned operation that also traces its roots back to Italy, to supply fresh rolls.

More than Pies and Sandwiches The restaurant might be named for pizza, but Tony’s also offers a wide selection of traditional Italian dishes. Joe hesitated to name one favorite dish, “To simply have me pick one dish from our menu isn’t fair to the rest of the dishes. We really aren’t a one hit wonder,” he said.

He said he likes Pasta e Fagioli Soup, “a simple white bean soup that all Napolitans will eat at least once a week and one of my favorites since childhood,” quickly adding that steak and cheese sub is great. But, when pressed to name one, he picked Misto di Mare.

“This is a dish that incorporates a whole lobster, calamari, clams and shrimp prepared in a lightly spicy marinara sauce and served over linguine pasta,” he explained. “We all want something that no one is willing to prepare at home, and this is the ultimate dish. It is enormous! We use the freshest ingredients, and with a nice glass of wine, the only thing left to do after you eat this dish it take a nap because it will be difficult to move.”

Eight-year old Kaylee Reynolds of Bristow is also a fan of Tony’s seafood, but opts for calamari. “Whenever it’s on the menu, she orders it as her meal,” said her mother, Nova.

On any given night, the restuarants are filled with families– babies in high chairs, elementary-age kids with their parents and high school students gathered around a table with their friends and families. And that is exactly how the D’Agostinos manage their restaurants—as a family.

Family Business “The best part of this is that we get to work together as a family,” said Joe, who grew up in the business. “I have photos as early as

7 years old making pizza.” He said in the early days, his father put video game machines in the stores. “I would spend my days playing soccer in the back of the shopping center with my cousins and playing video games with dad and uncles during the down times.”

But when business picked up, he said, so did his responsibilities.

“I was helping hand out orders and helping the other employees at whichever station was backed up. It was more fun for me than work at that age,” he said.

After graduating from college, he returned in 2000 as general manager. Now, he said, he is teaching the business to the next generation by taking his 15- and 16-year-old sons to work whenever possible. Not only does he want them to learn the family business, but he said he also wants them to learn multitasking skills and how to work as a team.

“It isn’t just work but a lifestyle for us. We get to know our customers, many on a first name basis. They all feel like friends when they come to the store,” he said. “Prince William County citizens have been very good to my family and have recognized and appreciated the hard work we put into our stores. They walk in knowing a D’Agostino family member will always be there.

It’s great being part of something like that and to carry on the legacy that my father has created.”

The Manassas restaurant (703-330-8109) is located in the Manassas Shopping Center at 9108 Mathis Avenue. The Bristow restaurant (703-367-0022) is located in the Bristow Center at 10314 Bristow Center Drive. The Haymarket restaurant (571-248-6290) is located in the Dominion Valley Market Square. Menus and other details can be found online at tonysnewyorkpizza.com.

Marianne Weaver (mweaver@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance editor and writer. She earned a B.A. in English from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.J. from Temple University. She lives in Gainesville, Va., with her husband and two children. prince william living June 2016 | 29

your finances Five Financial Tips for Stay-at-Home Parents

By Bennett Whitlock, CRPC® Private Wealth Advisor

P

utting your career on hold to be a stay-at-home parent can be rewarding, but this decision may come with significant lifestyle and financial changes. It’s important to review your family’s spending patterns and set goals when transitioning from two household incomes to one. Here are five tips for parents undergoing this change: 1. Estimate your timeframe. Decide if this change might be permanent and create your financial plans accordingly. If you plan to go back to work, establish the amount of time you expect to be at home and ensure that you’re still able to maintain your financial goals during this period. If there is a gap, you may want to explore other employment options like working part-time or contracting work. It’s also a good idea to stay in contact with your professional network in case you do decide–or need–to go back to work.

2. Make sure you’re insured. Examine your spouse’s insurance benefits and make sure that you and your children are adequately covered in the absence of your benefits. If possible, plan to have life and long-term care coverage for you and disability insurance for your spouse in the event that something would happen to either of you and you’re no longer able to work or care for your children.

3. Understand your value. A single-income family doesn’t mean that only one spouse is contributing financially. As a stay-at-home parent, you save your family many costs associated with working-parent households like daycare, cleaning services and other expensive conveniences. You may even find that in your new role you have more time to devote to money-saving activities like comparison shopping and cooking rather than dining out.

4. Keep your long-term goals on track. Your household budget may need to be adjusted, but don’t neglect your long-term goals. Consider working with a financial advisor who can help plan a family budget, prepare for the retirement of both spouses and set realistic financial goals based on one household income.

5. Communicate with your spouse. It’s important to communicate your plans, desires and financial concerns with your spouse. Together, acknowledge the benefits and challenges that will accompany the decision to become a stay-at-home parent. Make sure you are aware of any possible career or salary changes that may arise in the future for your spouse before you commit to staying at home.

Bennett Whitlock, CRPC ®, is a private wealth advisor and managing director with Whitlock Wealth Management, a franchise of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Learn more at WhitlockWealth.com or call 703-492-7732.

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calendar Breakfast with an Expert June 2 | 8 a.m.

PWAR 4545 Daisy Reid Avenue, Suite 150, Woodbridge Join us for a cup of coffee, a bagel and information from an expert who will give you actionable advice you can put to work immediately in your business.

RSVP princewilliamliving.com/ breakfastwithanexpert.

Manassas Chorale: “Postcards from America”

June 3 | 7:30 p.m.

Hylton Performing Arts Center 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas The Manassas Chorale’s season concludes with a patriotic and joyful tribute to America. Join the Chorale on a journey across the country as they “travel” to various states and salute the U.S.A. and its citizens. $20 & $18 Adults.

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June

22nd Annual Manassas Heritage Railway Festival

June 4 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Historic Downtown Manassas Center Street and Church Street area, Manassas This family celebration of rich railroad history features train memorabilia, specialty vendors, and live performances.

Free to attend; Excursion Train tickets available for purchase.

Occoquan Spring Craft Show

June 4 & 5 | 10 a.m.

Historic Occoquan 314 Mill Street, Occoquan Over 300 contemporary and country crafters from Occoquan and all over the United States. Free; family-friendly. occoquancraftshow.com

Prince William Living Network – After Hours June 14 | 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar 15001 Potomac Branch Dr., Woodbridge Join our Network! Meet the people behind the award-winning magazine, Prince William Living. Enjoy non-alcoholic beverages and light appetizers. Start a tab and make plans to stay for dinner! RSVP princewilliamliving.com/network.

Prince William Living’s Lunch with the Publisher

June 15 | 11:30 a.m.

Prince William Chamber of Commerce 9720 Capital Court #203, Manassas Are you an advertiser with Prince William Living or interested in becoming one? Learn about: Getting your press releases published, Tying into the power of our social media presence. Visibility packages that increase your reach to targeted consumers. Tips on how to focus on your message. Lunch Provided

by Okra’s. RSVP at princewilliamliving. com/lunchwiththepublisher.

Charity Skateboard Tournament

June 18 | 10 a.m.

Jennie Dean Skate Park 9503 Dean Park Lane, Manassas Amateur charity skateboard tournament to raise funds for Children’s Hospital Cancer Research Center. To pre-register, email jdawgtourney@yahoo.com

and wine and craft vendors along with local food vendors. For ticket information, visit visitmanassas.org/event/12thannual-manassas-wine-jazz-festival.

Chaplin, Lloyd & Keaton Movie Night

June 25 | 7 - 10 p.m.

Rippon Lodge 15500 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge Chaplin, Lloyd, and Keaton Movie Night Gates open at 7 p.m.; movies begin approximately at 8:15 p.m. Free admission, donations welcomed. Come and enjoy a movie night under the stars with three masters of physical comedy.

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Forgotten Civil War Battles of Northern Virginia Bus Tour June 18 | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park 10708 Bristow Road, Bristow Join local historians as we explore many of the smaller, hidden battles that took place in our region from 1861 to 1865. $80 per person (lunch included); reservations required. 703-366-3049.

12th Annual Manassas Jazz & Wine Festival June 19 | 12 – 7 p.m.

Manassas Museum Lawn 9101 Prince William Street, Manassas The festival will feature Virginia wineries

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Have an event? Visit princewilliamliving.com/events to submit details to our online calendar.

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Discover Prince William & Manassas

DiscoverPWM.com

J

une means the kids are out of school, and it’s time to barbeque with family and friends.

Spend quality time with Dad and the family this Father’s Day by taking advantage of all the great activities in Prince William and Manassas.

If you are looking for a little adventure this summer, join the Marine Corps Marathon on June 4 for the Run Amuck Event, a 4-mile mud filled race through the trails at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Experience the thrill of a race first hand at the USA Stars & Stripes National BMX Tournament on July 1-3.

Celebrate your dad this Father’s Day by participating in the Potomac River Blockade Boat Tour and lunch on June 18 at Leesylvania State Park. Board a pontoon boat and travel back in time to 1861 when General Robert E. Lee ordered a Confederate blockade of the vital waterway.

If Dad wants a more relaxing evening, try out the 12 annual Wine and Jazz Festival on June 19 in Historic Downtown Manassas. Held on the Manassas Museum lawn, the event will feature jazz artists and the opportunity to taste and purchase awardwinning Virginia wine. th

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Get the family together and explore over 640 acres of wildlife at the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Bike or drive through the established trails or roads, talk to volunteers, or take a picture on Marumsco Creek. The observation platform overlooking the Potomac River will take your breath away.

Bring your blanket and set up on the lawn of Rippon Lodge for Family Movie Night under the stars, Saturday June 25. Movie admission is free. Popcorn and movie snacks will be available for purchase.

Ann Marie Maher is the president/CEO of Discover Prince William & Manassas.

For more information about what’s going on in Prince William and Manassas, visit DiscoverPWM.com and like us on Facebook.com/pwcmanassas.

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703.392.6260 www.vintagemoving.com Advertiser Index ACTS...........................................................................................36 Ameriprise–Whitlock Wealth Management.............................30 Apple FCU..................................................................................30 Artisan Laser Skin Care.............................................................15 Beautiful Moments by Amy......................................................36 Beitzell Fence.............................................................................34 Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute............................................. C2 Blooming Secrets......................................................................32 Brennan’s Heating & Air Conditioning......................................3 Brookdale Senior Living Solutions...........................................14 CASA...........................................................................................36 City of Manassas Park—Parks & Recreation.............................9 Competitive Edge......................................................................18 Dance Etc....................................................................................33 Discover Prince William & Manassas......................................33 East to West Embroidery & Design..........................................18 Everest College..........................................................................34 FURR Roofing.............................................................................32 Greater Prince William Community Health Center.................36 Habitat for Humanity.................................................................33 Historic Manassas........................................................................9 Hometown Estate Planning......................................................23 Hylton Performing Arts Center.................................................15 Imagewerks................................................................................36 Leadership Prince William........................................................35 Magnificent Belly Dance...........................................................36

36 | June 2016 prince william living

Mark Gilvey Creative.................................................................36 Martinsburg-Berkley County CVB..............................................8 Merry Maids...............................................................................14 Miller and Smith........................................................................31 NOVEC........................................................................................19 NVP, Inc......................................................................................25 Okra’s .........................................................................................31 Patriot Scuba..............................................................................34 Peggy and Bill Burke, Virginia Realty Partners, LLC...............26 Potomac Shores Golf Club..........................................................9 Prince William Chamber of Commerce...................................14 Prince William County Parks and Recreation....................19, 35 Prince William Courage.............................................................36 Prince William Ice Center............................................................9 Prince William County Library System ...................................18 PRTC Transit.................................................................................8 Rebounderz................................................................................24 Robert Jinks Photography........................................................34 Semper K9..................................................................................36 Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center.....................................31 Tackett’s Mill..............................................................................31 Tailored Living...........................................................................35 Tribute at Heritage Village....................................................... C4 Vintage Moving & Storage.................................................19, 36 Westminster at Lake Ridge.......................................................23 WineStyles.................................................................................34 Yellow Cab.................................................................................36

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Occoquan District 10890 Mason Bull Run Hall, Rm 147, Manassas Neabsco District Manassas ParkGeorge – Parks andCir., Recreation Ruth John D. Anderson Jenkins 99 AdamsNorthern Street, Manassas Virginia Community College 2241-K Tackett’s Mill Drive, Woodbridge 4361 Ridgewood Center Drive, Prince William Campus, 6901 Sudley Road NorthernManassas Virginia Community College Woodbridge District Woodbridge Campus, 15200 Neabsco Mills Road Occoquan District Manassas Campus, 6901 Sudley Road Frank J. Principi Ruth Anderson Woodbridge Campus, 15200 Neabsco Road Prince William Association of Mills Realtors Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Building 4545 Daisy Reid Avenue, Woodbridge 2241-K Mill Drive, Woodbridge 15941Tackett’s Donald Curtis Drive, Suite 140, Woodbridge Prince William Association of Realtors Prince William County Woodbridge District 4545 Daisy Reid Avenue, Woodbridge Prince William Ice Center McCoart Administration Building Frank J. Dale Principi 5180 Boulevard, Dale City Prince William 1 CountyCounty Complex Court, Prince William Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Building McCoart Administration Building 15941 Donald Curtis Drive, Suite 140, Woodbridge 1 County Complex Court, Prince William Prince William Ice Center 5180 Dale Boulevard, Dale City

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