Alexandria Celebrates Its 265th
The City of Alexandria hosted its annual birthday celebration at Oronoco Bay Park on Saturday evening, July 12.
Alexandria Home Sales: June, 2014
In June 2014, 268 Alexandria homes sold between $2,200,000-$116,000
Alexandria Home Sales: June, 2014
Letter: A Job-creation Candidate
To the Editor
I have known Delegate Barbara Comstock, candidate for Congress from Virginia’s 10th District, for over a year now. She has always impressed me as a bright, serious and pragmatic candidate who was focused on addressing the important issues affecting our community rather than just giving speeches, repeating talking points or pandering to specific groups.
An Errant Automobile Strikes Again
Has Hunter’s Bar and Grill, long a favorite Potomac dining establishment, become a drive-thru restaurant? For the second time in four months a car driven by a customer has jumped the curb and crashed inside the building. “I was at the bar having a cheeseburger,” co-owner Murray Berman said. “I thought the ceiling was falling in. The whole place was shaking.”
Letter: Silver Line - At What Cost?
To the Editor
As a transit commuter living in Reston, I appreciated the honesty in the opinion piece by Ken Plum, “Silver Line No Silver Bullet” [Reston Connection, July 2-8, 2014]. Still, among all the positive notes about the benefits of the Silver Line, I continue to see public officials ignoring the huge increase in costs for daily transit riders in Reston (not just drivers on the Toll Road).
Potomac Home Sales: June, 2014
In June 2014, 68 Potomac homes sold between $2,500,000-$419,000.
Potomac Home Sales: June, 2014
Week in Springfield
Weekly happenings in Springfield.
World War II Weekend
Explosions and gunfire abound at Sully Historic Site.
The sounds of explosions and gunfire became almost commonplace on July 12 and 13, as Sully Historic Site celebrated its 9th annual World War II Living History event. At the event, visitors witnessed a view of the war through reenactments. At Sully Historic Site, several such major events are held each year and each is planned “for anywhere from four to 12 months,” said Barbara Ziman, events coordinator. Sully Historic Site showcases facets of Fairfax County history from the 19th century through the mid-20th century. Richard Bland Lee, General Robert E. Lee’s uncle, completed the main house at Sully in 1799.
Letter: Deer Hunting Contradicts Reston’s Values
To the Editor
It seems ironic that the RA approved bow hunting of deer less than a 1/2 mile away from Reston’s prized multi-million dollar Nature Center [“Bow Hunting to Help Deer Management,” Reston Connection, July 2-8, 2014]. The mission of the Nature Center is “to provide good environmental stewardship.” ”Does that not include stewardship to the inhabitants of our environment? Bow hunting can result in a slow painful death. Why choose that when humane alternatives exist?
Advising Senior Citizens
Carla Rollandini assists those in their “Golden Years.”
When she is not making her rounds and visiting sick patients and their families at the hospital, Carla Rollandini is working as a self-employed professional and began her endeavor of “Carla Care, Inc.” in 1993.
Coty Dickson to Exhibit at Katie’s Coffee House
Oil paintings of Virginia landscapes by Great Falls artist Coty Dickson are on view Aug. 1-31 at Katie’s Coffee House (The Old Brogue), 760 Walker Road, Great Falls.
Serving Alzheimer’s Patients for 30 Years
Insight Memory Care Center offers respite care, support groups and education classes.
The Insight Memory Care Center in Fairfax has come a long way in the past three decades. Thirty years ago this month, the day program for Alzheimer’s patients was launched in the basement of a local church. What started as a support group for families of Alzheimer’s patients has evolved into a full-fledged day program for 40 patients per day. Insight, a non-profit organization that also provides free Alzheimer’s support groups and education classes, will be celebrating its landmark birthday at its Merrifield location on July 24. "We were started in 1984 in the basement of a church out of an Alzheimer's support group," Robin McGlothin, director of donor development, said. "It was family members of Alzheimer's patients that that thought it would be really great to have respite during the day." Since Day One in that church basement, IMCC has added much to its offering. Not only is it a day health care program, but there are also programs for those in early stages of the disease as well as community education and support classes. Executive Director Joel Bednoski said in his two years at Insight, he has seen some of these changes. “I have been with IMCC for over two years,” Bednoski said. “We have added to our programming. This includes a Music and Memory program, a multi-sensory environment and a new early stage program called Reconnections. We have also increased the number of education and support services we provide.” The more things change for Insight, the more things stay the same. Although the staff is planning for a move to a larger location next year, the goals and heart of the organization remain the same. “The core values and basis of the organization are still true today,” McGlothin said. "We are still serving the families that need the support that they are not getting. We are enhancing lives. Even though it is an awful disease, people are just trying to find the best quality of life that they can. “We are open from 7:30 in the morning until 5 at night, with therapeutic activity throughout the day, two meals and snacks,” McGlothin said. “There is a recreational therapist on staff who provides all of our programming. We do cognitive stimulation, redirecting different behaviors.” Bednoski said IMCC is unique among the 17 adult day health centers in the D.C. metropolitan area. “IMCC is the only center in the area to provide a minimum of 1-to-4 ratio of staff to participants, improving on the state licensure requirement of 1 to 6,” Bednoski said. “IMCC’s adult day health center provides a safe, engaging, and therapeutic environment for individuals with memory impairment. Without meaningful activity, individuals with dementia become bored, restless, and often exhibit behavior challenges that lead to impossible caregiving situations. Our adult day health care center allows individuals with memory impairment to remain in the earlier stages of the disease for a longer period of time through mentally stimulating activity, physical exercise, and socialization.” Nights and weekends are also busy at center. “We provide education classes and support groups for the families as well as community training,” McGlothin said. “We provide boot camp on Saturday for our caregivers. We also provide free consultations to our families or any individual that calls and wants information about newly diagnosed Alzheimer’s patients with referrals. “As one of our family members shared, ‘the fact that this center has been taking such wonderful care of my mother, I am able to take care of my own needs at work, et cetera,’” Bednoski said. “IMCC provides care to support the whole family affected by memory impairment.” Both McGlothin said Bednoski said IMCC would not be where it is today without the support of its community. McGlothin said the 30th anniversary party is not only to celebrate Insight but also for its community whose support has been vital to its growth and success. “We really want to celebrate and thank all of the families and the community that has supported us,” McGlothin said. “This is a free event at our center. We are going to provide a barbecue meal and we will also be able to provide a tour through the organization.” Bednoski said he foresees IMCC playing an increasing role in the Alzheimer’s Northern Virginia community in the next 30 years. “With the rate of Alzheimer’s disease expected to increase by 22 percent in Northern Virginia by 2025, the demand for our programs and services is dramatically increasing,” Bednoski said. Regardless of the growth that IMCC will experience in the upcoming years, Bednoski said it will always stay true to its founding principles that have guided its founders and staff over the first 30 years. “IMCC remains dedicated to our founding principles: enhancing the lives of individuals and families living with memory impairment, providing holistic and collaborative care for our participants and families, anniversary party is not only to celebrate Insight but also for its community and caring for individuals who are not being served by existing community services,” Bednoski said. “IMCC’s programs allow individuals and families affected by memory impairments to achieve the highest quality of life, in all stages of the disease. As each disease progresses in its own unique way, IMCC staff is trained in all forms of dementia care.”
Commentary: Inova Alexandria Hospital Honored in National Surveys
Hot off the presses, the latest “Best Hospital” survey by U.S. News and World Report magazine hit newsstands this month, and I’m proud to announce that Inova Alexandria Hospital is again ranked among the nation’s best for providing highly skilled inpatient care. U.S. News ranked us #6 among hospitals in the Washington metro area, #8 in Virginia and a high-performer in six areas of clinical care (health.usnews.com/best-hospitals).
30 Years Later, Springfield Family Still Thankful to Children’s National
After being a patient at Children’s National as a child, Justin Golart giving back through 5K.
After raising $712,000 last year, Children’s National Health System has set a goal of raising $1 million through the 2nd annual Race for Every Child in September. Ashley Husich, the race manager for the event, said that last year, the inaugural year for the race, surpassed expectations with 3,946 participants, and this year they are hoping to have 5,000.
Week in Vienna
Weekly happenings in Vienna.
Scholarship Winners
The McDonald’s Family Restaurants of Greater Washington, D.C. awarded 42 scholarships to students in the region. More than 500 applications were received and reviewed by a panel of judges that included Greater Washington, D.C. McDonald’s owners and operators.
Letter: Wrong Starting Point
To the Editor
Letter: Focus on Academics, Not Lights
To the Editor
Letter: Partnerships Support School Success
To the Editor
Shakespeare Company Extravaganza Returns to Reston
The trio’s annual visit to RCC’s CenterStage has made them a favorite with Reston audiences.
In celebration of Reston’s 50th Anniversary, Reston Community Center (RCC) has announced a 10-day Reduced Shakespeare Company Extravaganza. The festival will include eight performances by The Reduced Shakespeare Company, a comedy boot camp and several opportunities to meet members of the internationally-known comedy ensemble.