Summer Fun, Summer Safety
Tips for averting summer danger.
It’s a familiar call. The sun beams down from mid-summer sky. Temperatures rise above 95 degrees Fahrenheit, but safety conditions start to plummet.
Parents’ Role in Educating about Alcohol and Drugs
Suggestions for talking to teens about staying safe.
Graduation, prom and the summer before heading off to college are some of the highlights of a teen’s high school experience. While the season brings landmark events, it can be marred by the consequences of engaging in harmful activities.
Potomac: Local Builder Receives National Honor
Anthony Wilder Design/Build received a national Contractor of the Year award.
A minimalist yet elegant design that includes a wall of glass with dramatic views of a woodsy landscape received top honors recently. Anthony Wilder Design/Build, in Cabin John, received a national Contractor of the Year (CotY) award from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry for transforming a bland bathroom into a serene spa retreat.
Healthy Relationships for Life
Researchers say meaningful friendships help preserve health.
Bill and Betty Kenealy, of Springfield, make it a point to socialize regularly with their long-time friends, many of whom are other couples they met through work and through the activities of their five children. They’ve watched their children become adults, worked, retired and even survived cancer. Now they’re living together in a retirement community in Springfield. Bill is 85 and Betty is 81.
Potomac: County Council Honors Local Small Businesses
Montgomery County Council Member Roger Berliner recognized small businesses in Montgomery County earlier this week.
Summer Fun for Adults
The region offers a wide range of programs for adults.
Summer fun is no longer reserved for children. Whether one’s interests lie in exploring nature and hiking in the woods or immersed in history, art and literature on a university campus, the region abounds with warm weather opportunities.
How to Prepare for Summer Camp Away
Many emotions arise when a child leaves for camp.
Julie Kaminski remembers the language from her desperate letters to her parents: “I love you. I want to come home now!” She recalls penning a dramatic plea to be rescued from residential summer camp more than 40 years ago. Today, Kaminski is preparing for her daughter's first camp experience away from home this summer.
Potomac Home Sales Slow But Steady
Appearance and pricing are keys to selling.
The residential real estate market in Potomac didn’t have quite the boom this spring that some Realtors had predicted. The first four months of 2015 have brought slow, but steady sales.
Potomac Business Outlook: Little Growth
High cost of doing business makes survival a challenge.
The state of the business environment in Potomac has changed little in recent years as the cost of doing business in the area makes it difficult for small businesses to survive, say those familiar with the area’s business climate.
Staged to Sell
Real estate agents give the lowdown on getting your home ready for the market.
When a Burke family hired E. Diane Neustrand to sell their home, she did her standard walk-through of the house to assess it, but when she reached the dining room, she stopped cold.
Trendy Bathroom Transformations
Designers share the hottest ideas in lavatory design.
Imagine stepping into a resort inside the comfort of your own home. Contemporary, spa-like bathrooms with clean lines and features such as floating vanities, open shelving, innovative storage and low-maintenance materials are on trend this year in bathroom remodeling projects.
Moving for Academic Excellence
Researchers say frequent physical activity can lead to success in school.
Inside an elementary school classroom in Bethesda, Md., a class of third grade students is divided into small groups and given a task: to cross a desert using a limited supply of tools that often include a jump rope, a foam noodle or a scooter. Their mission is to devise a plan to cross the desert without touching the sand.
D.C. Design House
McLean showcase home opens to the public April 12.
Local interior design enthusiasts will have an opportunity to tour a much-anticipated unveiling this weekend when the 2015 Design House opens in McLean on Sunday, April 12 at noon, with ticket sales benefiting the Children’s National Health System.
Potomac: Local Workshops Provide Help for Parents
Local parent workshops make the challenges of parenting easier.
Workshops are held at the YMCA’s Bethesda office as well as local libraries. Trained staff are available to lead workshops tailored for specific groups and address specific issues.
‘The Big Event:' A networking opportunity for Potomac-area business owners
A networking opportunity for local business owners.
Potomac business owners will have an opportunity to introduce themselves to the greater community later this month at “The Big Event.”
Fit for the Golden Years in Potomac
Fitness programs for seniors are part of a trend
One night each week, Sue Thompson can be found dribbling a basketball down the court, leading her team, the Nova United, to victory. Thompson, who is in her 60s, is one of the youngest players in her league, the National Senior Women’s Basketball Association.
The Right Fit: Choosing a Summer Camp
How parents can ensure positive summer experiences for their children.
Though the official start of spring is still days away and the frigidity of winter is still recent on the minds of many, Janelle Wright, a Potomac, Md., mother of two, has already mapped out the summer for her children.
Luxury Apartments Popping Up All Over Northern Virginia
Renters want resort-like amenities and access to transportation.
After a long, hard day at work, Jordan Coleman comes home to a large apartment with modern amenities, including a 24-hour concierge, ample living space, a state–of-the-art fitness center and a pool. The apartment features high-end appliances and finishes as well as an open, flowing layout and large walk-in closets. Coleman – a lawyer and Capitol Hill staffer – shares the pricey rent with a friend. The complex is owned by Avalon, which has properties in Arlington, Fairfax, Herndon, Falls Church, Tysons Corner and Vienna, Virginia, as well as Bethesda, Maryland, and Washington.
Black History Month Celebrations
Local students learn about the history and accomplishments of African-Americans.
Fourth grade student Eli West crafted a poem this month that was modeled after Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous, “I Have a Dream” speech.
Remodeling Expands Amount of Useful Space
Trend emphasizes open designs.
Open, airy and clean — that’s the look that a Potomac family wanted when they decided to remodel their dark and dingy, 1970s era kitchen.
Workshop for Potomac Parents on Managing Family Stress
Feb. 11 event is part of Parent University.
Mental health specialist Elizabeth DuPont Spencer believes stress is a topic familiar to most busy families.
Potomac Real Estate Market Taking Off
Local Realtors report increasing home sales.
Homes sales are expected to increase this spring, say area realtors. It’s a sign that buyers are feeling increasingly secure about home purchases.
Backyard Dreaming
Local tastemakers say winter is the best time to plan an idyllic backyard retreat.
Spring may seem light years away from the frigid January temperatures, and lounging in your backyard is probably the last thing you want to do at the moment, but landscape designers say now is the time to start planning a summer retreat.
Keeping Health and Fitness Resolutions in Potomac
Local experts offer advice about how to make resolutions last all year long.
Many Americans begin the new year with vows to lose weight, eat healthier and exercise. For some, keeping those resolutions can become a source of stress, and by February, gym memberships and new fitness equipment often sit unused.
Top Fitness Trends for 2015
Here are some low-cost and mobile routines.
The beginning of a new year is often a time when many resolve to begin a fitness plan or to ramp up their current routine. Officials at the American College of Sports Medicine rang in the New Year by releasing the organization’s annual survey of the top fitness trends for 2015.
An Essay To Remember
Local educators offer advice on acing independent school admission essays and interviews.
While many are knee-deep in wrapping paper and eggnog, some students are holed up with computer keyboards and books of quotations. In addition to driving to the mall for holiday shopping, some parents are throwing rapid-fire questions at their children to make sure they are fast on their feet.
Battling Holiday Bulge
Nutritionists offer tips for avoiding weight gain.
With the merriment of the holidays comes food, friends and fun. But from office parties to family dinners, opportunities for overeating and weight gain abound. In fact, the National Institutes of Health reports that the average American gains an extra pound every year that he never loses. Those pounds add up over a lifetime of holidays, but a few local nutritionists offer the skinny on weight-gain culprits and strategies to keep them at bay.
An Exceptional Education
Exceptional Schools Fair offers parents a chance to learn more about schools for their children with special needs.
Maureen Kleinman wandered from booth to booth, speaking with representatives from schools that cater to students who have special needs. She asked questions about each school’s resources and environment.
Encouraging Girls to Pursue STEM
Holy Child will host female speakers in science, technology, engineering and math fields.
When Trish Whitcomb’s daughter Colleen began to express an interest in engineering, she and her husband were at a loss as to how to foster her academic and career aspirations.
Literary Essay Collection Explores Life-Changing Travels
Local authors discuss unexpected adventures.
A group of local writers contributed to a collection of literary travel essays, Destinations & Discoveries, which was released earlier this month. Meghan O’Neill edited the collection.
Turkey Carving 101
Local chefs offer advice for slicing the star of the Thanksgiving table.
Few things symbolize Thanksgiving like a whole roasted turkey on a platter, but when it’s time for dinner, neatly sliced pieces of meat look even more appealing. Whether it’s sliced at the table or in kitchen, turkey carving can be a daunting task, however. A few local chefs share their favorite turkey-carving methods to create an impressive holiday platter.
Thanksgiving Tablescapes
Ideas for giving thanks in style.
Whether one’s taste in table settings is subtle or over-the-top, it is possible to give thanks in style. From centerpieces to table runners, local designers say the right combination of accessories can create a Thanksgiving table that guests will remember long after the holiday.
Gifts for the Hostess
Stylish ideas for saying thank you.
If you’re planning to be a guest rather than a host for Thanksgiving dinner this year, you don’t want to arrive empty handed. For those who are still searching for the perfect hostess gift, local tastemakers come to the rescue with presents that are stylish and thoughtful.
Where To Find Beautiful Wreaths
Local artisan custom creates holiday wreaths and centerpieces.
Though Christmas comes but once a year, for Linda Hobbins, it’s a year-round passion. She custom designs fresh, dried and silk arrangements, wreaths, holiday trees, hurricane lamps, centerpieces and other holiday decor items.
Quarry Springs Reopens with New Amenities
New, luxury development offers the finest in condo living.
Home buyers looking for luxury and elegance without maintenance in the D.C. area now have another option. Quarry Springs recently announced the relaunch of its estate condominiums on River Road in Bethesda.
McLean Location for 2015 DC Design House
House will benefit Children’s National Health System.
The new country estate at 956 Mackall Farm Lane in McLean will be the location for the 8th annual DC Design House, a project that raises money to benefit Children’s National Health System. The 2015 DC Design House will be held from April 11 to May 10.
New Interior Design Book Features Local Tastemakers
Interior designers offer advice on creating an elegant home.
Fall not only brings vibrantly colored leaves and pumpkins, but it also ushers in a slew of new book releases. Among those is an interior design book featuring local designers.
Cookbook Offers Hearty Dinners
Local chefs use seasonal produce to create new dishes.
When the weather turns chilly and the produce at farmers’ markets change from bright orange tomatoes to thick skinned squash and pumpkins, Dorothy Myers faces a culinary conundrum.
Natural Treatments for Anxiety
Experts say complementary medical treatments can help relieve anxiety and other mental disorders.
When 35-year-old Andrea Evenson decided to try meditation, exercise and yoga to deal with her anxiety, she had already been on a myriad of anti-anxiety medications.
Christmas Comes to Potomac
Two local home decor stores to hold holiday open houses.
While many are making last minute preparations for Halloween, some local merchants are putting the final touches on their Christmas displays.
Help at a Touch of a Button
Local residents say it will keep them safer.
A car accident changed Kenneth Kelley’s outlook on life, but not in the expected way. He was an entrepreneur who was working to bring a new product that he thought would be lifesaving to market.
Ghoulish Treats
Easy Halloween treats to make at home.
Halloween is the holiday when Judy Kleinman lets her spooky culinary imagination run free.
Decking the Halls – Halloween-Style
Local designers say it’s not too late to turn your house into a spooky horror.
Halloween is little more than a week away, but if you still haven’t decked out your home with spooky decor, it’s not too late.
Getting Children Excited for Halloween
Local experts offer advice for keeping trick-or-treating fun, not scary, for small children.
For many children, Halloween is one of the most anticipated holidays of the year. From Power Rangers and athletes to princesses and pirates, dressing up in their spookiest or most imaginative attire and trolling the streets in search of treats is a major part of the fun for school-age children. For younger children, however, the ghosts and goblins who are meant to entertain can cause too much of a fright.
The Private School Admissions Process
Local educators offer insider tips on how to select and get a child admitted to the perfect school.
While this school year might still feel new, some parents are already thinking next fall. Or if they’re not, they should be. For parents who are considering sending their children to one of the area’s private schools for the 2015-2016 school year, the application process should be underway.
Experiencing Life with Special Needs
Potomac school program teaches empathy and acceptance.
A classmate led Sophia Collins across the gym floor during a physical education class at Wayside Elementary School in Potomac last week. Sophia tried to pick up a golf ball and put it in a cup. This may sound like an overly simple task for a first grade student, but Sophia needed help because she couldn’t see.
Suggestions to keep outdoor spaces functional through the fall
As the air turns crisp and we settle into fall, the time is ideal for creating a cozy setting, whether it’s elegant or rustic or modern. Many people have adapted part of their landscape as an outdoor room.
Planting for Fall
Planning your autumn garden and yard.
As the first few weeks of fall unfold, carrying with them the promise of rich and vibrant colors, many local residents are starting to plan their fall gardens, both ornamental and edible. Pruning and and overall garden cleanup will make way for fall plants. In fact, this is the perfect time to clear away summer foliage and plant, horticulture gurus said.
Riding To Fight Cancer
Local patients and supporters bike through the National Capital Region to support cancer research.
In July of 2013, Seth Edlavitch of Potomac says he received the shock of his life. After experiencing headaches for several months, he visited his doctor and after a series of tests and finally brain surgery, doctors discovered that Edlavitch had a non-Hodgkin's, blood-based lymphoma form of brain cancer.
Conference Celebrates Local Businesswomen
Power Conference offers advice, networking opportunities.
Nancy Regelin, a Potomac-based attorney, decided to give women-owned businesses a boost, so she coordinated an event at the Convention Center in North Bethesda. Now in its fifth year, the Power Conference: Women Doing Business is a women’s business development conference.