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I'm a Northern Virginia-based freelance writer specializing in human interest stories and business profiles. I am honored to write for the most visible and respected publications in the region.
My clippings on this site are arranged by general subject categories, from people, interviews, and history to travel, health, and community. Just scroll through the tabs, and thank you for visiting.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
Jennifer McCall, a North Stafford High School math teacher, is dedicated to helping at-risk students pass the Virginia math SOL.
The University of Virginia and Virginia Tech are both rivals and partners. Commonwealth Cyber Initiative. iTHRIV. Commonwealth Clash.
Where to find antiques in the Shenandoah Valley. Antique shops and vintage shops in Virginia. Antique shops and markets near Shenandoah.
AS THE WORM TURNS By Jill Devine A year ago, a friend told Katie Eibner about a local service that offers customers a five-gallon bucket of "gold" in exchange for a year's worth of kitchen scraps. That seemed like a great deal, so the Belmont Greene mother of three signed up right away.
Ilana Berry uses her field experience as a CIA employee to write her novel, "The Peacock and the Sparrow."
By 2019, Corry Blanc had been pounding out one-of-a-kind, hand-forged carbon steel pans for five years. A meticulous blacksmith, he was constantly improving his design, from the slope of the sidewall to the hammer marks. So later that year, he took to Instagram and began tracing his early days in Charlottesville and the evolution of his carbon steel pans.
Caverns to explore near Shenandoah. Luray Caverns. Skyline Caverns. Shenandoah Caverns. Things to do in the Shenandoah Valley.
Fairfax County's urban search and rescue team, known as both Virginia Task Force 1 and USA-01, has responded to disasters in Turkey, Haiti, Japan, and across the U.S.
High interest rates, low inventory, and multiple competing offers: Four NoVA real estate agents chime in on how to make sense of today's market. Buying and selling real estate in Northern Virginia is a bit like playing chess, with the pieces on the game board being interest rates, inventory, prices, and demand.
Cakes for a Cause By Jill Devine Rosa Tobar says it's all about the smiles. She is the Sterling operations manager of INMED Partnerships for Children, an organization that helps children in need - kids whose lives are topsy-turvy for any number of reasons. In that uncertainty, simple things like a birthday can be overlooked.
The Loudoun County resident leads a team that protects two airports, Washington Dulles International and Ronald Reagan Washington National. Loudoun County resident David Huchler was contentedly serving his 26th year with the Alexandria Police Department when opportunity knocked in 2017. Scott Booth, police chief for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, stepped down, and MWAA needed to fill the position.
Ilia Malinin was only 17 when he did what no figure skater in history had done before: land a quad Axel in competition. If you don't know the name Ilia Malinin already, take note. The 18-year-old champion figure skater from Vienna has jumped and spun his way into sports history, and eyes all around the world are watching to see what he will do next.
Less than four miles from the northern entrance to the Skyline Drive near Front Royal, Virginia, lies a 3,200-acre tract of pretty Shenandoah Valley land that has a lot of stories to tell. Some of which can actually be told.
Sold internationally, Wind River creates more than 1,000 chimes daily. It's a tall order to package the ethereal beauty of Virginia's mountains, shores, rivers, and valleys in a product that can be shipped around the world, but Manassas Park's Wind River has been doing it since 1986.
LAND OF ENCHANTMENT By Jill Devine Allison Simpson claims she doesn't have much of a green thumb, but that doesn't stop her from loving plants. It was an intense passion for one particular blossom - the rare Himalayan blue poppy - that led the Ashburn mom to an astonishing horticulture wonderland known as Longwood Gardens.
Beanstalk is expected to sprout quickly with its innovative technology. A farm replacing a data center in Northern Virginia - is that even possible? This reversal of development trends happened in September, when Beanstalk Farms, the brainchild of Alexandria brothers Mike and Jack Ross, opened at what was an abandoned data center in downtown Herndon.
Putting in more than $15 million in capital improvements, the Perfect family was able to completely transform Timberline Mountain. The story of how Timberline Mountain, located just a three-hour drive from Northern Virginia, became one of the area's shiniest new snow sport destinations is rooted in a bit of drama.
The third grade teacher from Arlington is beloved for the excitement she brings to her classroom, and her passion for helping kids in Uganda. "Our brilliant sun amongst the stars." That's how veteran teacher Theresa Coffman describes her colleague Ani Arzoomanian, a third grade teacher at Tuckahoe Elementary in Arlington and recipient of the Northern Virginia Magazine Teacher of the Year Award.
The shop sells high-end used bikes, but is also teaching local students to work with their hands. When you peer in the floor-to-ceiling windows at Phoenix Bikes in Arlington, it looks just like other glitzy bike shops in the area.
It's nice to catch up with old friends, which we did 30 years later in White Post, Virginia, to talk again to some unique, world-class car guys. Pull up at One Old Car Drive in the tiny village of White Post, Virginia, and you'll meet the Thompson family, owners of one of the largest and most elite full-service antique car restoration businesses in the country.
THE AXE FACTOR By Jill Devine Photos by Astri Wee Like most attorneys, Suzanne Bassett flings a heavy satchel over her shoulder when she leaves her office for the day. But sometimes Suzie, as her friends call her, isn't simply carrying a big load of case files to review.
PEOPLE
The white, Southern community around her couldn't understand why she was doing it. It was early June 1961, and the young woman from Arlington chose her travel clothes carefully. A few days before, she had flown from Washington, DC, to New Orleans, and the last leg of her trip would be a train ride to Jackson, Mississippi.
The decision that changed Carl Johnson's life came in 1945, and it was one he did not make for himself. It was delivered in an envelope to his home in Bellaire, Ohio, in the form of a military draft notice.
"I love a fun challenge," says tile maker Joan Gardiner, looking up from a set of oversized Van Gogh prints and smiling in anticipation. "And these will be gorgeous." Gardiner is the most sought-after designer of custom tile in Loudoun County.
Hiking the entire Appalachian Trail is something many people muse about as a "bucket list" item, something to daydream about. But Sierra Wharton turned that daydream into a reality. On Sept. 28, the Ashburn native climbed Mount Katahdin in Maine, stretched out her hand and touched the iconic sign that marks the trail's northern terminus.
Loudoun County resident Dr. George Nield, president of Commercial Space Technologies, LLC, became an astronaut for Blue Origin at age 71. Like many kids who grew up during NASA's golden years, George Nield first turned his eyes toward the stars in the 1960s.
Tori Nelson has the kind of hands you might expect of a 12-belt world champion boxer. Broad and thick, they are hands capable of knocking a person flat out - and she has done that 20 times, according to official fight records.
A former 'Kids Baking Championship' contestant, Matthew Merril has amassed a following of over 2.5 million on the social media app. In the kitchen of celebrity teen chef and TikTok sensation Matthew Merril, everything seems to rise and cook fast, including his career.
Behind the scenes of the bubble business. It's hard to pass a display of homemade soap without buying a creamy, scented bar. Every detail of a soapmaker's booth is designed to stop customers in their tracks: wafts of essential oils, swirls of natural colors, and the offer to touch and sample the enticing, moisture-rich products.
Ilia Malinin was only 17 when he did what no figure skater in history had done before: land a quad Axel in competition. If you don't know the name Ilia Malinin already, take note. The 18-year-old champion figure skater from Vienna has jumped and spun his way into sports history, and eyes all around the world are watching to see what he will do next.
From Vienna to Switzerland, this hockey player's Olympic journey has been a long and bumpy road. There will be moments during February's televised Winter Olympic Games when viewers across the world drop everything to watch the screen in quiet unity. Television makes clear what stands in front of the athlete: the competition, judges, scores, and medals.
Maame Biney was also the youngest skater to make the U.S. Olympic women's short-track speed-skating team. She's back this year. There will be moments during February's televised Winter Olympic Games when viewers across the world drop everything to watch the screen in quiet unity.
Ashburn native Ashley Caldwell shares how her life in NoVA took her from gymnastics to skiing to the Olympic Games. There will be moments during February's televised Winter Olympic Games when viewers across the world drop everything to watch the screen in quiet unity.
"Hey, are you the crochet lady?" It's a question that Jessica Judkins is asked a lot lately. "I take my crochet bag everywhere I go, like the pool or playground with my kids, but when people started recognizing me, I realized I must be making an impact," Judkins said.
HISTORY
Less than four miles from the northern entrance to the Skyline Drive near Front Royal, Virginia, lies a 3,200-acre tract of pretty Shenandoah Valley land that has a lot of stories to tell. Some of which can actually be told.
Loudoun County has seen many changes throughout history, but one thing has remained constant: the unyielding beauty of the Potomac River that defines its northern border. The sun that shines on its sparkling waters today is the same sun that shone on 19th-century Loudoun boatsman Bazil Newman.
A testament to suburbia in the heyday of Frank Sinatra, martini bars, and Tupperware parties, the mid-century modern community of Hollin Hills runs counter to the buttoned-up colonial revivals that proliferated here during that era. Here, you'll find no fluted columns, center halls, or white picket fences.
145 YEARS OF WORSHIP By Jill Devine About two years ago, Randy Poland put on his Sunday best and drove to a little historic chapel on Ashburn Road to attend his daughter's wedding. The venue wasn't a random rental, however. It was the place his family had worshiped for generations - Ashburn Presbyterian Church.
FAMILY CONNECTIONS By Jill Devine Broadlands resident and retired Loudoun County math teacher Lisa Bond always wanted to unravel a family mystery. "Most of my life, I wondered who my father was," Bond said. "My mother's husband always denied I was his child."
The history of the state is all around us. Virginia's affinity for wrought iron began as far back as 1607, when Capt. John Smith wrote of the Jamestown settlement: "Our best commoditie was Yron which we made into little chissels."
A jug made by Winchester's White House Foods is said to have survived the sinking of the Titanic. In 1908, apple cider vinegar was a staple in every pantry, including the White House kitchen in Washington, D.C.
The officer who responded to the accident in White Post, Virginia, must have been new to the area. He pulled up to the intersection of Berry's Ferry and White Post Roads, where locals were gathering, and he began to fill out a report.
By Jill Devine Anyone who enters Ashburn's Steuart W. Weller Elementary School will notice a feature that is unique in Loudoun County schools - a large custom-laid mosaic lion that graces the foyer floor.
Stephen Hanna, professor at University of Mary Washington, is at work on a new book detailing how plantations can improve education on slavery. Do plantation museums do justice to the memory of the enslaved?
Early last year, Jack Gray and his family were out for a walk when they noticed old headstones in the woods near the golf course at Brambleton Regional Park. The Brambleton family had stumbled upon the remains of the Lyons Family Civil War Cemetery.
TRAVEL
LAND OF ENCHANTMENT By Jill Devine Allison Simpson claims she doesn't have much of a green thumb, but that doesn't stop her from loving plants. It was an intense passion for one particular blossom - the rare Himalayan blue poppy - that led the Ashburn mom to an astonishing horticulture wonderland known as Longwood Gardens.
It's morning in the tiny village of Waterford, an hour from bustling Washington, D.C., and Linda Landreth pauses to check on her sheep before rattling open the weathered door of Waterford Market, built in 1883. Landreth pokes some wood into the cast iron stove and readies her spinning wheel.
This quaint 18th-century town provides the perfect romantic getaway. Fragrant blossoms, sparkling wines, terrace dining, and spectacular views - it's springtime in Paris, and a trip there is closer and more affordable than you might think.
Some historic treasures don't fit inside a museum. Take the 300 miles of gravel roadways that wind through Loudoun County's pastures and ridges. "These are the same paths traveled by early colonists, Revolutionary War soldiers, and George Washington when he surveyed the Shenandoah Valley," says Douglas Graham, an award-winning photojournalist who is among those spearheading their preservation.
By Jill Devine Visiting West Virginia's Blackwater Falls State Park in the winter is a bit like stepping into a Currier and Ives holiday card - or maybe one of those ornamental snow globes.
Weatherproof your vacation with a trip up North for endless adrenaline-pumping water slides, wave pools, and splash zones. Superlatives matter, so when a place touts itself as the largest indoor water park in the nation, you naturally want to pack a swimsuit and go check it out.
Last year, a new adventure zone brought 25 giant inflatables and a sandy beach area to this longtime favorite area for water sports. Almost heaven, West Virginia ... it's almost impossible to not sing the old lyrics while meandering along the country roads leading to Tygart Lake State Park.
Dodge the water cascading from the splash park's 40-gallon bucket, skip through fountains, and leap from floating mountains at this fun zone-or spend a quiet afternoon angling. Spectacularly perched on the east rim of the Bluestone River Gorge in southern West Virginia, Pipestem Resort State Park checks a lot of boxes when it comes to lakeside vacation destinations.
Old Rag has been named one of the top hikes in the world, but you'll now need a little more planning to hike it. It's nice to be popular, but for Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park, enthusiastic visitors are almost loving it to death.
Skip the crazy holiday airport traffic and enjoy a European getaway in neighboring West Virginia. Picture this: a timbered Bavarian chalet, cradled by snow-kissed evergreens and perched high above a frosty, winding river. A romantic European getaway? It could be, but this is actually in nearby Shepherdstown, West Virginia, less than two hours from Northern Virginia.
By Jill Devine Seeing a 10-million-year-old shark's tooth in a museum is cool, but who wouldn't rather find one at the beach? Look no further than Calvert Cliffs State Park in Lusby, Md., where finding such fossils is an everyday occurrence. About five miles north of Solomons Island, the park entrance is less than a two-hour drive from Ashburn.
Like a classic lake oasis on steroids, this mammoth resort has everything from Jet Skis to water skis-if it floats, you'll likely find it here. Smith Mountain Lake has over 500 miles of gorgeous shoreline, so it's no wonder boating is one of the most popular activities here.
Enchant Christmas is back at Nationals Park, ready to make Christmas bigger and brighter. When it comes to festive Christmas light displays, Enchant Christmas takes the cake. With millions of lights scattered throughout Nationals Park, the larger-than-life light maze will bring out your inner child just in time for the holiday season.
It's got one of the most scenic ends to a hike in all of Virginia. Flip through any calendar or coffee table book of Shenandoah National Park, and you will likely find a photo of one of the park's most iconic features: a 70-foot cascading waterfall, spilling like silver ribbons over moss-covered boulders to misty pools in the forest below.
Every summer, tens of thousands of tourists head to Williamsburg to see the historic colonial sites and buildings and go on tours led by actors - called "historical interpreters" - wearing tri-corner hats or linen aprons. From Ashburn, it's roughly 175 miles to Williamsburg.
Believe it or not, an affordable and easy day trip to the beach is possible. Here's how to dodge the traffic and that overpriced, reheated Boardwalk pizza (yes, we said it!). No matter where you live in Northern Virginia, the sand and surf of an ocean beach are just a few hours away.
BUSINESS
By 2019, Corry Blanc had been pounding out one-of-a-kind, hand-forged carbon steel pans for five years. A meticulous blacksmith, he was constantly improving his design, from the slope of the sidewall to the hammer marks. So later that year, he took to Instagram and began tracing his early days in Charlottesville and the evolution of his carbon steel pans.
Not all canoes are created equal, and master woodcrafter Jim Dodd, owner of Lazy River Canoes in Buchanan, is proving that point. Dodd specializes in hand-built solo wood strip canoes, which he says are traditional in "big water" states in the north and west, but not commonly seen in Virginia.
IN A SNAP By Jill Devine It was an "a-ha" moment for photographer Stephanie Newberger. She was in the middle of a bus tour of the American West with her husband to promote their product called a Snap Mounts - an innovative magnetic camera mount.
SAY CHEESE By Jill Devine As the official photographer for the Washington Commanders football team, Emilee Fails is used to working with the latest and greatest cameras and equipment. So a couple of years back, why was she scrambling to find some old-fashioned disposable cameras?
Stores closing early, toilet paper limits coming back, NoVA cities passing plastic bag taxes-as grocery shopping gets complicated, here's everything you need to know. At one time, few routines in life were as predictable as shopping for groceries: make a list, follow a budget, fill the cart, and unpack the items once home.
When Richmond furniture maker Sallie Plumley mentions being gifted, she's not talking about her considerable talents. Plumley's favorite gifts came from her grandfather: his wedding band, with instructions to give it to the man she wanted to marry someday; a classic wood bed frame he built himself; and his woodshop, complete with tools.
Ashburn barber Ethan Del Hierro knows the mirror never lies, so it's the first place he looks when he's finished with a cut. "I wait for the smile," said Del Hierro, the new owner of the Grooming Store on Ashburn Road.
By Jill Devine Photos by Natalie Whitehead Photography "It's not about what it is, it's about what it can become." ― Dr. Seuss, Like every item displayed in Ashburn's A New View Home Decor, the large eucalyptus wreath hanging in the foyer holds a bit of history.
How an Arlington-based company found fans around the globe. Lauren Cleary was decorating her daughter's nursery and wanted to add a splash of natural color, so she gathered some dried flowers into bundles and fashioned them into a circle for the wall.
By Jill Devine Whether you're in New York City, Los Angeles, London or here in Loudoun County, the next time you're dining out at a nice restaurant, look at the place setting. Pick up the stemmed water glass. Feel the weight of the fork and knife.
Goats eat between 3 and 9% of their body weight each day, and put on a bit of a show while they do it. No, Goat Busters isn't a movie (yet!), but the spectators are gathering. In fact, one Buckingham County (Virginia) family plans its annual vacation around what one goat farmer is calling agri-tainment.
by Jill Devine Sometimes a happy accident can take your life in a whole new direction. Last year, Ashburn Farm mom Jenna Myers was searching for the Dollar Tree in the Broadlands Village Center when she noticed a storefront sign announcing that Board & Brush Creative Studio would be opening soon.
Getting expensive lawn equipment prepared for winter storage.
By Jill Devine Imagine this scenario. You've driven to Dulles International Airport, parked in the long-term lot, checked your luggage, made your way through security, hopped a train and finally arrived at your gate - only to hear an announcement that your flight is delayed. Maybe it's just a short delay.
Metro Flower Market's Margaret Fleegal has some insider tips and tricks that could make your at-home displays swoon-worthy. Flowers and happiness go hand-in-hand. Behavioral research studies confirm that flowers have the ability to relieve stress, reduce anxiety, improve mood, increase productivity, and enhance personal relationships.
By Jill Devine Francesca Maniff was relaxing on her living room sofa in early 2019 when she had a "lightbulb" moment that changed her life. Her pup, Chewey, a Maltese-Yorkshire terrier mix, had climbed on her Roomba vacuum cleaner and accidentally turned it on.
DINING
By Jill S. Devine Juan Carlos Sanabria, owner and chef of Aldie Mexican food restaurant t'KiLa Latin Kitchen & Bar, says that his customers tend to fall into two camps: those who know what Mexican mole is and those who do not.
Nothing says fall like a drink made with real pressed apples. Sip the season at these amazing cideries, pubs, wineries, and more. Apples are a gift that keeps on giving. Long after the fruit is picked, the pies are baked, and the leaves have fallen, apple juice, ciders, wines, and cocktails keep the party going all year long.
Customize your beer head. No drink should be naked, according to Ripples, an Israeli-based company that produces a machine originally designed to print images on lattes but that now dresses up beer foam heads and cocktails as well.
Drink industry trends, tips, and tastemakers. Save the bees with a sip of your mead at Melo Lion Meadery. The refreshing, semisweet acidity of Melo Lion Meadery's Blackberry Mead is reason enough to enjoy a glass of the bestseller. Tack on the knowledge that your purchase supports local beekeeping, and you have yourself a deal!
Creating cocktails with lower alcohol content. A new study by the London-based International Wines and Spirts Record found that more than half of Americans want to reduce their alcohol intake. Yet low- and no-alcohol products currently account for only 0.5 percent of the total domestic beverage alcohol market.
From giant heart-shaped gingerbread cookies to fruit Bavarian cake, the desserts from these bakeries both capture the spirit of the holidays and instantly elevate your celebrations. In the idyllic world of Betty Crocker, holiday baking is something that brings families together.
Business spotlight on beloved local restaurant
EDUCATION
The University of Virginia and Virginia Tech are both rivals and partners. Commonwealth Cyber Initiative. iTHRIV. Commonwealth Clash.
The third grade teacher from Arlington is beloved for the excitement she brings to her classroom, and her passion for helping kids in Uganda. "Our brilliant sun amongst the stars." That's how veteran teacher Theresa Coffman describes her colleague Ani Arzoomanian, a third grade teacher at Tuckahoe Elementary in Arlington and recipient of the Northern Virginia Magazine Teacher of the Year Award.
Get your little one ready for success as they start their education. When it comes to significant life transitions, sending a child to day care or preschool for the first time nearly tops the list.
Maureen Cura remembers exactly when and where she was the first time she saw a Little Free Library. It was 2016 and she was attending the National Book Festival in Washington when she spotted a dollhouse-sized wooden box built with the sole purpose of sharing books and spreading a love of reading.
In a challenging year, students at Virginia Virtual Academy never skipped a beat.
Based in Alexandria, the program teaches children introductory flying instruction at no cost. The world looks different when viewed from a Cessna cockpit high in the sky. Problems below suddenly appear smaller, while the horizon ahead expands with possibilities.
Article about student docent program at National Air and Space Museum
Neurodiversity is a concept in which neurological differences are recognized and respected as any other human variation. These differences can include those identified with dyspraxia, dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyscalculia, Asperger syndrome, autistic spectrum, and Tourette syndrome, among others .
By Jill Devine "There is no success without hard work." Those are the words of Samvrit Rao, an eighth-grader at Stone Hill Middle School in Ashburn. But Samvrit isn't just any eighth-grader. In the world of science, he's something of a superstar - coming up with ideas and creating inventions that could one day change the world.
Recognizing nearly 200 of Virginia's public and private schools. Every year, we research the programs, achievements, and curriculum of schools across the state to create a snapshot of education in Virginia. Late last year, asking schools to tell us the good things happening on campus sounded like an impossible request.
Local teacher promotes literacy through nonprofit StoryBook Treasures
By Jill Devine Five years ago, a teacher at Briar Woods High School gave her students an assignment - spend 20 percent of their time in class exploring something they were passionate about and turn it into a project.
Junior Ian Wallace skipped the usual landscaping project to instead teach students how to build their own computer. It was an enormously satisfying moment that 16-year-old Ian Wallace says he will never forget.
RECREATION
Likely you know somebody who plays pickleball. Find out what the fascination is all about. Just about anyone who plays pickleball will tell you it's an easy sport to start, but a hard one to quit. So it's no wonder it's been called the fastest-growing sport in the nation.
Extending across over 10 cities and towns, this 45-mile trail has some worthy stops along the way. If you've spent any time in NoVA, you've likely crossed paths with the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park -or, more commonly, the W&OD-at some point.
THE AXE FACTOR By Jill Devine Photos by Astri Wee Like most attorneys, Suzanne Bassett flings a heavy satchel over her shoulder when she leaves her office for the day. But sometimes Suzie, as her friends call her, isn't simply carrying a big load of case files to review.
Schoolyard sports are making a comeback among adults eager to play. Remember the sports we loved growing up, back when getting a game together was as simple as calling a few friends or heading over to the rec center?
Sri Kolla first learned a love for badminton from his parents when the family lived in his native India. He carried that love with him when they moved to the United States when he was about 12 and settled in Ashburn Village.
Does your ride need a refresh? From the whimsical (handlebar streamers!) to the wise (a bike lock in the prettiest shade of tangerine), add some pop to your trail presence. Now that bike season has officially started in NoVA, make sure you take your next ride in style.
Whether commuting daily to work, riding for pleasure, competitively training, or pedaling the distance, here's the on-trend gear that will actually improve your ride. It's not your imagination-bicycles are everywhere these days. During quarantine, those who already had bikes rediscovered the joy of pedal power, while others stood in line to buy them.
Ray Pugsley, owner of Potomac River Running and a beloved figure in the local running community, tells us all his favorite and overlooked spots. Anyone who owns running shoes in Northern Virginia has likely encountered Ray Pugsley at some time or another, either through one of his 10 Potomac River Running Store retail locations or at one of the hundreds of local races or running events that his company supports.
When retired IBM executive Dave Bauer moved from his long-time Fairfax City home to Ashburn's Ashby Ponds in December 2016, he wanted to stay active and make friends. An invitation from another resident to play pickleball, a sport that combines elements of tennis, ping pong and badminton, delivered more friends, fun and fitness than he ever expected.
"As the demand for bicycles continues to exceed the supply, bikes remain a prime target for criminals," says Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman. Not long ago, finding a shattered lock dangling from the rack where you parked your Schwinn was more of an annoying lesson learned than a financial setback.
FAMILIES
Congratulations! The test came back positive, and you're going to have a baby. Whether it's your first pregnancy or your fifth, you will want support as you deal with a range of emotions, questions and decisions. Should you deliver at home or in a hospital? Will you choose natural birth or pain medication?
A new study has named D.C. and Virginia as some of the most expensive places to raise kid. Four families around NoVA share how they deal with the rising costs of child rearing. It's an old saying most of us have heard before: "If you wait to have kids until you can afford them, you'll probably never have kids at all."
COVID isn't over, but as we head into fall, working from home might be. Here's a psychologist's advice on how to cope with the changes. Lisa Kelly knew this day was coming, but that didn't make it easier.
By Jill Devine There's something about an autumn corn maze that can make even the busiest families put on the brakes. Every fall, Lansdowne mom Malinda Mahaffey's calendar fills up with back-to-school and sports obligations. "So much to do, but I make sure we block out time for our family to be together," Mahaffey said.
By Jill Devine Watching 17-year-old Amya Caldwell gracefully float across the stage in a beaded ball gown at this year's Miss Teen USA pageant, it's tough to believe she ever struggled with self-esteem or confidence.
CULTURE
As we near Cinco de Mayo, the DMV's favorite mariachi band is sharing the importance of the genre in the U.S. True mariachi is a serious music genre that deserves much more than an annual flirt on Cinco de Mayo.
"Life as I would like it to be." That's how Norman Rockwell, one of the most beloved American illustrators of the 20th century, described his signature images of an idyllic America.
SWEET HARMONIES By Jill Devine It seems just about everyone likes a good cry - especially if it's motivated by a moving message of love. "We walked into a cookie shop in Purcellville and started singing to the designated person - the target," Bob Arbetter said. "She was so moved by the presentation.
In the competitive world of fine arts, it can take years of education and training before a serious artist can even hope to have his or her work displayed in a gallery or bought by a collector. Buer is proof that sometimes all an artist needs to succeed is determination and talent.
Everything from seriously extra signage to open-cockpit plane rides are available in NoVA. Want to really wow your sweetheart this Valentine's Day? Then trade in that box of chocolates for a memory that will last forever. Northern Virginia offers plenty of ways to make that special someone swoon.
ANIMALS
By Jill Devine The handful of dog treats in her coat pocket made Heidi Cummings' heart crumble on Valentine's Day this year. She scooped some beef-flavored nuggets out with her car keys as she prepared to drive home to Virginia, and the tears started to fall. "I cried all the way home," Cummings said.