Sunday, September 21, 2008

Public Is Invited To Immigration Forum

An initiative meant to address the local immigration debate will be unveiled next weekend during a public meeting at George Mason University's Prince William Campus.

On Saturday, residents of Manassas, Manassas Park and Prince William County are invited to attend a meeting from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. to learn about the Prince William Study Circles on Immigration initiative.

The initiative is meant to get people with various views on immigration together to discuss possible solutions and create plans that will address the immigration issues facing the area.

The Prince William Study Circles will build upon the community's involvement in recent immigration-related programs, including the four-weekend immigration film series that aired at George Mason in June.

Saturday's informational meeting will be in Room 130 at Bull Run Hall, at 10900 University Blvd. in Manassas. For more information, contact Bill Corbett, at 703-927-0531 or BillCorbett@VoterDeliberation.org; or Dexter Fox, at 703-368-5225 or mail@unityitc.org.

Manassas officials are warning residents of a curb-painting scam that has occurred in the area.

According to the city, a company called Community Address Painting Service has distributed fliers soliciting residents to get their house numbers painted on their curbs. The fliers make it sound as though the city is requesting the painting, which is not the case.

Curbs and gutters are city property, and Manassas officials do not support painting house numbers on them, according to city documents.

No address or phone number is listed on the fliers. In similar scams, however, residents are often asked to make checks out to "CAS" -- which represents curb address service -- and the solicitor then adds an "H," cashes the check and doesn't return to do the job.

Anyone who has been victimized by the scam or might have information about those behind it is asked to call Manassas police at 703-257-8000.

College fairs will take place at two Prince William County schools within the next few weeks.

Osbourn Park High School will host the first college fair from 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow. The second fair is scheduled at Woodbridge Senior High School from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 7.

More than 100 representatives from various colleges, universities, technical schools and the military will be present.

Students and parents from Manassas, Manassas Park and the western part of the county are invited to attend the event at Osbourn, 8909 Euclid Ave. For more information, call 703-365-6500.

Residents in the eastern part of the county are asked to attend the event at Woodbridge, 3001 Old Bridge Rd. For information, call 703-497-8000.

-- Compiled by JENNIFER BUSKE