Marilyn Campbell | Stories

Back to profile

Marilyn Campbell

Stories by Marilyn

Potomac Neighborhood Outlook: High Rent Limits Business Choices

A recent reopening of a Potomac restaurant in a location outside of Potomac Village is a sign of the local business climate, says real estate expert David D. Freishtat. Potomac Village Deli is now operating in Kentlands Market Square. The move comes with a lower rent and enables the deli to serve the same clientele.

Removing a Barrier to Pomp and Circumstance

Gowns for Grads program at George Mason provides regalia for needy graduates.

When Muntaha Choudhary walks across the stage during George Mason University’s graduation ceremony this May she will celebrate not only her bachelor’s degree, which has been eight years in the making, but also the fact that she is the first person in her family to graduate from college.

Tease photo

Potomac: A House Expanded

A cramped, dated home is transformed into a spacious, modern abode.

When the owners of a Bethesda home realized that they’d outgrown their one-story, mid- 20th century abode, they decided to remodel and expand rather than relocate. A family-friendly neighborhood and high-performing schools were two of the reasons they wanted to stay.

Luxury Condos are a Growth Market for Seniors

Active retirees seek options for independent living, including condos in Alexandria, Arlington, Tysons, Reston, McLean, Bethesda and Chevy Chase, among others.

When Joyce and Don Lipman decided to move out of their Potomac, Md. home, they opted for a high-end townhouse instead of a retirement community.

Tease photo

Potomac: In the Kitchen with Terri

Local cooking school offers classes in preparing elegant and seasonal meals.

Creamy gruyere cheese flows through a box grater followed by long shards of russet potatoes. Both are piled on a platter. The potatoes gain a deep crunch after sizzling in hot oil, the cheese melts on top of the potato crust and the concoction is topped with grassy, deeply green asparagus. Such is the beginning of an asparagus frittata at Terri's Table.

Private Schools: When Leaving Unexpectedly

Spring is time to commit to one’s school of choice.

When Ashley and Clark Leonard enrolled their son in a local independent school, they were excited about the prospect of him thriving in a new, smaller academic environment.

‘Do You Keep a Gun in Your Home?’

Starting conversations about gun safety can help prevent play date tragedies.

Starting the conversation felt awkward. After all, she didn’t want to offend another parent.

It Takes a Village

Campaign designed to end homelessness in Fairfax County.

When speaking with Kathy Albarado, one might not guess that she’d experienced periods of homelessness as an adolescent.

Tease photo

Nanny Suites Add Value

High-end live-in quarters attract au pairs and can increase property values.

When Peggy Delinois Hamilton relocated to the Washington, D.C. area and began working full-time after spending eight years as an at-home mother of two children, childcare was one of her top concerns.

Small Lifestyle Changes Can Have Big Impact

Researchers found that moderate weight loss improves health.

Dropping as little as five percent of one’s body weight can lead to significant health improvements, according to a new study published in the Cell Metabolism journal.

Tease photo

Managing Medication Can Be Challenging

“Let’s Talk about RxSM” helps seniors avoid prescription drug mishaps.

It was around 2 a.m. on a frigid winter night when Janet Russell was awakened from her sleep by the sound of woman calling for help.

Uncovering the Roots of Slavery

Local student creates slave index to help descendants trace family history.

A local college student is spending much of her senior year scouring the last wills and testaments of residents of Northern Virginia.

Tease photo

‘Star Wars’ Fans Flock to Local Classes

Movie's popularity leaves fans wanting to feel "The Force."

Beams of neon light flash around a dark room. Young Star Wars fans from a galaxy not so far away wield light sabers and move with carefully choreographed steps.

Tease photo

Time To Plan for Kids’ Summer Camp Adventures

Local camp fair offers sampling of summer programs.

Under a blanket of February frost, summer might seem light years away, but it’s closer than one might think.

Tease photo

Stylish Valentine’s Day Table Settings

Flowers and candles create romantic designs.

Fresh flowers and candles are an easy way to add elegance and romance to a Valentine’s Day table. From dramatic to understated, local tastemakers offer suggestions for setting the mood for a memorable dinner.

Tease photo

Bringing Order to Household Chaos

Clever design solutions for hiding clutter.

Wires, cable boxes, soccer cleats, pet bowls and other items are life’s necessities, but they can be unsightly and disrupt the aesthetic of an elegant living space.

Marking American Heart Month

Month-long observance raises awareness about cardiovascular disease and the role of aerobic exercise in preventing it.

Music is thumping, sweat is dripping and hearts are pounding. In a packed aerobic dance studio, students move in the name of health.

Tease photo

High Rent Among Challenges for Potomac Businesses

New government regulations could also have an impact.

Local businesses in Potomac will remain relatively stable, but could face new hurdles in 2016, predicts Potomac Chamber of Commerce President Adam Greenberg.

Tease photo

Potomac Snapshot: Contest Helps the Needy

Tree decorating designs donated to local charities.

A snowman and the Grinch helped brighten this past holiday season for some community members in need.

Tease photo

Design Trends for 2016

Local style gurus predict the elements that will be popular this year.

The start of the year offers an opportunity to ring in new trends, particularly when it comes to a home’s interior.

Tease photo

Color of the Year

Pantone honor bestowed on two colors for 2016

Two colors, Serenity (light blue) and Rose Quartz (pale pink), were recently named the Pantone Color of the Year selection for 2016.

Tease photo

Lessons in Charitable Giving

Conversations, modeling behavior and hands-on actions can help teach children about benevolence and compassion.

Matthew Mamalian’s holiday shopping list included some items that might seem atypical for a 12-year-old middle school student: shampoo, socks, soap and a few snacks.

Tease photo

Ideas for Decking the Halls

Local designers create opulent holiday designs.

From traditional to glamorous, fresh to faux and high-end to old school, local tastemakers tell how they create dazzling holiday design extravaganzas.

Merry and Fit

Support groups help members maintain fitness during season of indulgence.

Just after 7:30 on a recent Sunday morning, the steady beat of Cold Play’s "Viva la Vida" pulsed through the warm, sleepy air.

Potomac: Coat Drive for Those in Need

Potomac community asked to donate gently used coats through Dec. 15.

Some members of the community are working to help local families stay warm this winter. The owners of RE/MAX Success in Potomac Village are organizing a coat drive that will run through Dec. 15.

Tease photo

Potomac: Study Correlates Happiness and Good Grades

St. Andrew’s students participate in pioneering study.

Some local school children are helping adjust the way educators view school environments. In fact, they received national recognition for their efforts.

Tease photo

Potomac: SNAP Week at Wayside Elementary School

Event designed to foster acceptance.

Students at Wayside Elementary School got a lesson in acceptance recently during the fifth annual Special Needs Awareness Program (SNAP) Week, which was held earlier this month.

Tease photo

Potomac: Interfaith Works Prepares for 'Empty Bowls'

Students bake bread to donate to charity event in Potomac.

Interfaith Works, a nonprofit organization with a mission to address homelessness and poverty in Montgomery County, will host an “Empty Bowls” fundraiser at the Julia Bindeman Center in Potomac on Thursday, Oct. 22.

Tease photo

Potomac: Food Drive To Benefit Children's Inn

Bethesda-based Case Design/Remodeling, Inc., recently held a food drive to benefit The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health, also in Bethesda.

Tease photo

Potomac: A Taste of Serbian Culture

Serbian food and entertainment among the offerings at SerbFest DC.

Saint Luke Serbian Orthodox Church offered the community a bit of Serbian hospitality last weekend when parishioners hosted the First Annual SerbFest DC.

Tease photo

A Perfect Fit

Potomac resident celebrates 40 years in the upscale lingerie business.

Dressed in a baggy t-shirt and jeans, a middle-aged woman opens the door of a lingerie boutique in Chevy Chase and take a few steps inside before come to an abrupt halt.

Tease photo

It Takes a Village

Local groups help seniors socialize, manage everyday tasks.

When Penelope Roberts, 73, of Alexandria, Virginia, had knee replacement surgery last month, she knew she would be out of commission for several weeks.

Tease photo

Serbian Festival Coming to Potomac

This weekend, visitors can sample Serbian food and drinks and enjoy traditional performances.

The event will include Serbian food, drinks, traditional Serbian dance and music performances, and boutiques selling traditional Orthodox religious items and Serbian gifts.

Tease photo

Thinking of Downsizing?

Free seminar will focus on moving to a smaller place without sacrificing style.

Homeowners considering a move from a large home to a smaller dwelling will have an opportunity to receive expert advice on their transition later this month.

Tease photo

Potomac Mansions on Tour

Event will benefit local charities.

Four Potomac mansions will open their doors to the public next month for the 59th Potomac Country House Tour.

Tease photo

Workplace Fitness

Employer-based health and wellness programs are good for business.

It’s Wednesday afternoon and a cohort of George Mason University staff, students and faculty hit the pavement. Clad in attire ranging from running shorts and brightly colored sneakers to neutral walking shoes and business suits, the group takes part in “Who’s Walking Wednesdays,” part of an initiative to get moving for health and wellness.

Tease photo

Potomac Event Brought in Supplies for the New School Year

More than 1,000 Montgomery County school children began the school year with new backpacks and school supplies thanks to the generosity of some Potomac residents.

Tease photo

Potomac: Animals Can Help Patients with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Animals can help patients with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders heal.

Wearing her long dark hair in pigtails and a backwards baseball cap, Leah Schuman peered curiously over a low fence into a pen of miniature llamas.

Tease photo

Checking the Back-to-School Healthcare Blocks

Local governments, clinics offer free immunizations for all and physical exams for the uninsured.

As the lazy days of summer wind down, beach trips, lemonade stands and lax bedtimes give way to alarm clocks, textbooks and backpacks. Public health officials say that a back-to-school list should include more than pencils and paper. For many, the first order of business is a well-child physical, a dental exam and required immunizations.

Tease photo

Potomac: Local Mansion Opening to Public for House Tour

Tour will raise money for local charities.

A French provincial home, often used for elegant entertaining, will be open to the public for a few days this fall.

Potomac: Backpack Drive To Benefit Needy Children

Couple hosts ice cream social to get all children ready to start school.

When Margo Fonoroff worked as a teacher, media specialist and principal in Montgomery County Public Schools, she recalls the first days of school as being filled with excited children clad in new clothes and shoes and carrying new backpacks. They had pencils and notebooks and calculators and were ready to begin a new school year. For some students however, the start of the school year brought shame.

Tease photo

Function Meets Beauty

Wheelchair accessible bathroom doesn’t have to be utilitarian.

After Curtis Brand was diagnosed with amyotrophic laterals sclerosis (ALS) and he could no longer climb stairs, he and his wife, Judith, had to make the difficult decision to sell their home in northwest Washington, D.C. They then purchased a two-bedroom, two-bathroom property on the 18th floor of Turnberry Tower in Arlington.

Tease photo

Teams in Training

Getting in shape while raising money for charity.

Rain poured from a gray March sky. Drenched racers wound their way through Washington, D.C. before spilling across the finish line at R.F.K. Stadium, their running shoes heavy and soaking wet.

Tease photo

Unscheduling Summer Play

Experts praise the benefits of free play for children.

What was once a time for catching fireflies, swimming and exploring has evolved into a period of elite day camps, academic enrichment classes and top-dollar sports clinics.

Tease photo

A House by the Sea

Design ideas for beach homes.

As the sweaty days of summer slog on, many are dreaming about a home by the sea, a wistful retreat where cares flow as freely as an ocean breeze.

Tease photo

July 4th Safety

From swimming to fireworks, safety precautions for a festive Independence Day.

It was a near accident at camp last summer that sparked action by one parent. Elementary school-aged campers splashed in the pool. Everyone was having fun. Then tragedy almost struck.

Ideas for Summer Learning

Experts offer suggestions for avoiding summer brain drain.

While summer is opportunity for fun, it can also be a breeding ground for stagnation.

Tease photo

Trending in the Garden

Local landscape architects offer suggestions for updating.

As summer gets underway, so does time spent outside. The American Society of Landscape Architects recently released the results of its 2015 Residential Landscape Architecture Survey, a list of trends in outdoor design that yields a bounty of backyard design ideas. From adding a pond to planting a garden, local landscape gurus explain how these trends can be used to transform an outdoor space into a favorite escape.

Tease photo

Potomac: Luxury Condominium Clubhouse Opens

Quarry Springs model grand opening set for June 28.

The developers of a new, luxury condominium complex unveiled the project’s clubhouse recently.

Potomac: Midyear Financial Checkup

Local financial experts offer advice for assessing financial health.

For those who set financial goals in January, perhaps as part of a New Year’s resolution, the beginning of summer provides an ideal opportunity to re-access those targets, say financial experts.