Maureen Loftus, executive director of LearningRx of Vienna, Va., and Reston, Va. is leading the kick-off of the Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce (TRCC) job shadow program for 11th and 12th grade students of Oakton, Madison and Marshall high schools in Fairfax County, Va., where students will shadow professionals in various industries in January and February. The program received a Blue Ribbon Award from Fairfax County Schools in 2014. Loftus is heading up the program as she is the chair of the TRCC’s Youth and Education Committee. For more information, go to www.learningrx.com.

Students of the Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) of Alexandria and Lorton, Va. will debut their first, student-directed, produced performance on Fri., Jan., 16 at 7:30 p.m., Sat., Jan. 17 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sun., Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at The Atlas Performing Arts Theatre at 1333 H Street., NE, in Washington, D.C. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased online at www.metropolitanarts.org.

The Last Five Years is a live production of Jason Robert Brown's masterpiece, which was recently rated one of the top five musicals of this decade. It premiered at Chicago's Northlight Theatre in 2001 and was then produced Off-Broadway in March 2002. The story explores a five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein, a rising novelist, and Cathy Hyatt, a struggling actress.

Winter weather is here for the Manassas, Va. area and the City of Manassas Utilities and Public Works Department is well armed with salt, sand and trucks. The City of Manassas Utilities and Public Works Department annually budgets approximately $225,000 for snow treatment and removal, and is prepared with 21 snow-removal trucks, 20 contract equipment, 1500 tons of road salt and 500 tons of sand. For details, go to www.manassascity.org or call 703-257-8219.

“We all remember the long winter last year, so we’ve prepared to clear and pre-treat our roads to allow for safer and easier access to roads,” said Mike Moon, director of public works and utilities for the City of Manassas.