Arlington Magazine Jul/Aug 2020

“Every journey has adversity. It makes you stronger.”

CON TENTS

n FEATURES

36 Extraordinary Teen Awards 2020

Even during dark times, there is hope. These accomplished teens are precisely the kinds of leaders, innovators and doers our future needs.

53 Guide to Giving

The coronavirus has delivered a brutal blow to small businesses and our area’s most vulnerable residents. Promote rebuilding and healing by supporting these local nonprofits on the front lines.

HOME

66 A River Runs Around It

Situated on a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, this stunning vacation home is a cool drink of water with 180-degree water views.

FOOD & DRINK

74 Feasts to Go

Takeout options exploded in the age of social distancing, and some are so popular they may be here to stay. Try these family-style dinners to go.

ON THE COVER: Photo by Michael Ventura.

STRONG

Your health and safety is our highest priority. Don’t postpone your health. We are ready, day and night, to take care of all your general health, surgical and emergent needs. Go to vhcupdates.com for the newest information on COVID-19 procedures, visitation guidelines and Telehealth Visits. Our community and Virginia Hospital Center are better together. together.

CON TENTS

The worst of times has brought out the best in us—stories of

24

In January, epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding tweeted that the novel coronavirus had a “thermonuclear pandemic level” of infectiousness. Some said he was crying wolf. 28 My Life

“Blacks are dying disproportionately from this disease. I feel the health system took a gamble on my life.” 94

Fresh air and sunlight can do wonders for the psyche. These outdoor spaces offer both, with an aesthetic inspired by California vineyards.

96 Prime Numbers

The area’s most expensive home sales, and real-estate trends by ZIP code.

Take comfort in the little things and shop local. These wares are made by artisans in our community and sold by independent retailers.

When you have a 230-year-old piece of American history in your backyard…

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Thematic Investing is a progressive departure from common Wall Street practice. It examines how the world is changing, determines which companies will be advantaged, and invests accordingly. Thematic Investing anticipates where the world is going, not where it has been.

To learn more, call Stacy Murchison at 240.497.5008 or visit us online at ChevyChaseTrust.com.

letter from the publisher

#BenStrong

WE LOST A CLOSE FRIEND , Ben, to cancer on Sunday, April 19. His family is part of our treasured Glebe community—our daughters’ elementary school and the source of so many wonderful friendships. Making his passing even more difficult was the realization that we couldn’t mourn with each other and support his family in traditional ways because of the pandemic. So, a few friends conceived a brilliant plan that led to an incredibly moving experience. I would like to share it with you.

The following Sunday, after sundown, about 20 families gathered up the block from Ben’s home. We were instructed to assemble in three waves, organized by our last names, to ensure social distancing. Each person was carrying a lit candle and we were asked not to speak.

I remember it was a dark, still night; it had rained earlier in the evening and there was heavy cloud cover. Ben’s wife, Beth, and their three children were standing in their front yard, waiting for the procession of mourners to pass by.

As we started the walk and entered their block, we saw that the neighbors had assembled as well. They were standing in their yards, silent, also holding candles. Many of them had placed candles on their stoops or luminaria displays along the curb.

One of Ben and Beth’s daughters started to sob as we approached their house. Beth was

softly thanking us as we passed by. Otherwise, it was silent. Because the night was so dark, you couldn’t recognize faces—it was just a river of dark shapes and flickering lights, slowly winding its way down their street. It might sound eerie, but it was as beautiful and comforting as it was solemn and sad.

We made our way to the end of the block, turned the corner, walked back to our car and drove home in silence. The organizers had also requested that our families, as well as a much wider circle of friends and family, light candles, place them on our own stoops and post a photo on social media with the hashtag #BenStrong. I marveled at the number of posts that evening and the tremendous display of love and support.

This is such an unprecedented and distressing time in our lives. People are getting sick and dying. Businesses are suffering. Unemployment is soaring. Despite it all, we are still finding creative ways to support each other, mourn our loved ones and celebrate friendships during an otherwise isolating time. These are the experiences that give us hope and will carry us through.

Greg Hamilton Publisher

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n contributors

Matt Mendelsohn

LIVES IN: Arlington (Country Club Hills)

CREDS: A seasoned photographer, formerly with UPI and USA Today, Mendelsohn has photographed heads of state, war zones, celebrities, the White House, major sporting events and more.

LONG SHOT: His latest project, “Not Forgotten: The Yorktown Seniors of 2020” (on Instagram @yorktownseniors_2020) sought to capture every member of Yorktown’s 2020 graduating class. Student portraits were shot from 15-20 feet away, with a long lens, over a period of eight weeks. The series was covered by local, national and international news organizations, and this magazine.

THE STORIES: “It’s so much fun learning about these kids. I shot one girl with the world’s greatest dimple. Turns out she practices the ancient Japanese martial art of kendo. Another who rows talked about her love of frigid water hitting her face on the Potomac before sunrise. These students are way more passionate and talented than I ever remember being in 1979. It’s humbling.”

IN THIS ISSUE: Photographed two of our Extraordinary Teen Award winners. (Variations of the same portraits are included in Mendelsohn’s “Not Forgotten” photo project.)

ON CAMERA: “If the lens were flipped and pointed at me, I’d pose with my daughter dressed in her ice hockey gear. I’ve spent 10 happy years driving her to games and practice and I’m so proud of her.”

ONLINE: mattmendelsohn.com and Instagram @photomatt22

Jennifer Sergent

LIVES IN: Arlington (Lee Heights)

IN THIS ISSUE: Writes about a beautiful vacation home in Oxford, Maryland, and an Arlington residence with outdoor spaces inspired by California wine country. We all need an escape.

REMEMBERING: “My father, Sterling Ruffin Maddox Jr., who died of Covid-19 in the form of a sudden heart attack at his assisted-living facility on March 24. We didn’t even know he had the virus until the test results came back eight days later.”

MOVING FORWARD: “Grief is not linear, and neither is joy. They are intertwined. I’m finding joy in all the pictures of my dad, the incredible outpouring of love from friends and family, and helping our 18-year-old, Henry, prepare for his freshman year at Christopher Newport University.”

SPEAKING OF HENRY: He was one of the very first Yorktown seniors to be photographed by Matt Mendelsohn (left) for the “Not Forgotten” project. Mendelsohn also shot the portrait above.

HOME SAFE: “My husband and I spent three years working on our house after we bought it in 2016. It’s become a refuge of happiness and calm amid all the anxiety. Home is more than a pretty picture. A well-designed home, decorated with items that bring you joy and tell your story, is so key to how well you function everywhere else. Investing in your home is really like investing in your soul.”

ONLINE: Read Sergent’s tribute to her father and her oldest son at jennifersergent.com/popular-posts/ images-of-loss-and-hope/.

PUBLISHER & PARTNER

Greg Hamilton

PARTNER

Steve Hull

EDITOR

Jenny Sullivan

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Susan Hull

ART DIRECTOR

Laura Goode

DESIGNER

Kari Mason

WEB PRODUCER

Erin Roby

DINING CRITIC

David Hagedorn

COPY EDITOR

Sandy Fleishman

WRITERS

Matt Blitz, Sue Eisenfeld, Christine Koubek, Rina Rapuano, Jennifer Sergent

PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS

Tommy Brophy, David Burroughs, Beth Kennedy, Andrew Knops, Matt Mendelsohn, Alex Sakes, Angie Seckinger, Michael Ventura, Jenn Verrier, Stephanie Williams

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Traci Ball, Alison York

FINANCE MANAGER

Jill Trone

AD PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Meghan K. Murphy

MARKETING ASSOCIATE

Leigh McDonald

CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER

Onecia Ribeiro

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Portraits Resilience of

The worst of times prompted many local residents to step up. In these acts of kindness and humanity, there is hope.

Not Just for Kicks

Their season was canceled and fields closed, but that didn’t stop the 15 players on the 2007G Arlington Soccer Association DA team from running more than 400 miles, collectively, in May. The team of mostly seventh-graders organized a charity marathon called Kickin COVID and raised more than $9,000 for the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) by securing sponsorships from friends and family. Each player ran 26.2 miles over a period of two weeks, as did their coach, Gerardo Ramirez.

“We thought it was a good way to raise money for the community while staying active,” says co-captain and forward Sienna Merrill, who broke her marathon into a series of 5Ks, running from Clarendon down through Rosslyn. “We chose AFAC because we know Covid-19 has made it harder for families to access healthy foods.” Since February, AFAC has seen a 30 percent increase in active referrals.

Co-captain Sienna Merrill on one of her fundraising runs

A Conversation on Race

George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police on Memorial Day. In the wake of his death, Arlingtonians of every ethnicity and from all walks of life turned out for a series of peaceful protests, joining a nationwide call for unity and an end to racial injustice. The Arlington March

for Floyd, which took place June 4, on the eve of this issue going to press, saw hundreds marching in solidarity from Courthouse to Clarendon. The difficult conversations must continue. Visit ArlingtonMagazine.com to read and contribute to our new essay series on racial equity.

Great Escapes

The governor’s stay-at-home order meant that Audrey and Sully Portner couldn’t go to playgrounds, parties or swim meets, but it didn’t prevent the 10-year-old twins from picturing themselves in those fun settings. They turned their family’s driveway in Overlee Knolls into a blank canvas, creating (and starring in) a prolific series of chalkart murals, with scenes depicting places and activities they missed—from soccer games and sleepovers at their grandparents’ house to carnivals, dance recitals and beach trips. The brother and sister, both rising fifth-graders at the Langley School in McLean, also used their artistic talents to vent a few quarantine frustrations—like the proverbial fight over the bathroom. See more of their driveway masterpieces on Instagram @dailydoseofchalk.

Audrey and Sully Portner “at the park”

Bundles of Joy

Sometimes hope springs from tragedy, as it did after Jennifer Bush-Lawson, an Arlington mom of three, was struck and killed in a traffic accident outside Nottingham Elementary School in 2014. Since then, the foundation that bears her name has supported economically vulnerable mothers and babies by working to increase their access to quality maternal and infant care. With the arrival of the coronavirus, the Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation launched its Baby Bundle program, which provides infant car seats, portable cribs, baby carriers, diapers and other supplies to lowincome families welcoming newborns during the pandemic. The nonprofit has also formed a Feeding Families initiative that employs otherwise outof-work kitchen staff in cooking and delivering meals to struggling families with new babies at home. jenniferbushlawsonfoundation.org

Fortifying the Front Lines

By June 1, Arlington County had seen more than 375 hospitalizations and 116 deaths from Covid-19.

Understanding the burden being shouldered by health care workers, the community rallied around Virginia Hospital Center. Kids sent hand-painted rocks for the hospital’s Healing Garden. Families posted signs of gratitude on light posts surrounding the medical campus. In-kind donations—fielded through a military-style command center at the hospital—included thousands of masks, gloves, gowns, caps, shoe covers, 3D-printed face shields, hand sanitizer, hand cream and more.

And there was plenty of food, thanks to an outpouring of support from more than 50 local restaurants, catering companies and meal delivery services—which, in turn, received community donations large and small to keep their kitchens

Volunteers Michelle Altman and Jose Ramirez delivering Baby Bundles

Treats donated by Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe

operational. By the end of June, the hospital expects to have seen upward of 10,000 meals donated to its workers and their families, from graband-go sandwich packs in break rooms to dinners delivered to employees’ homes.

“I’ve never seen anything like it in 30-plus years,” says Anthony Burchard, president of the Virginia Hospital Center Foundation.

“It’s been huge for morale. Working a 12-hour shift under this level of stress and anxiety is exhausting. This is keeping them going. One nurse was in tears. She said that it’s not just the meals—it’s knowing the community has her back.”

As of June 1, the hospital’s foundation, having issued an appeal to the community, had received more than $686,000 in financial contributions with a goal of $1 million. “We’ve already spent over $3 million in unbudgeted expenses related to Covid-19,” Burchard says, including additional PPE, testing, pharmaceuticals and the capital costs of reconfiguring patient rooms for infection control.

Every little bit helps. “One of my favorite stories,” he says, “was a young girl here in Arlington who did a socially distanced lemonade stand. She put it at the end of her walkway with a sign asking people to donate. She raised $60. Here’s a young lady who wanted to support the hospital where she was born. It’s just one of hundreds of ways people are doing what they can.”

vhcfoundation.com/covid19

Meal donations from La Madeleine

Thank-you cards

A handmade sign

HUNGRY, a meal-delivery platform created by Arlingtonbased entrepreneur Jeff Grass, has provided thousands of chefprepared meals to hospital employees and their families. The effort is funded, in part, by a $50,000 donation from Sands Capital, as well as a GoFundMe campaign launched by local business owner Sean Steele that raised more than $6,000 from more than 50 individual donors.

n neighborhood watch

Windows to the Soul

In March, Busboys and Poets founder Andy Shallal began painting messages of hope and gratitude on the windows of his D.C. restaurants, using the hashtag #PaintTheStorefronts

Soon, he was hiring fellow artists to create more temporary murals, including Vy Vu, whose painterly shout-out to teachers, restaurant staff and health care workers graced the façade of

Busboys and Poets in Shirlington. Shallal began encouraging other businesses to do the same.

And so they did. In May, the Crystal City Business Improvement District launched a neighborhoodwide art campaign dubbed #LoveNationalLanding, rendering its public spaces more colorful. Area restaurants and shops saw their windows transformed by artists Cris Clapp Logan, Jeff

Huntington (aka JAHRU), Patrick Owens, Juan Pineda/Criomatic, Eric B. Ricks and community arts organizer Chelsea Ritter-Soronen (Chalk Riot), currently a resident artist at The Kennedy Center’s Moonshot Studio.

Curated by Tom Pipkin, the vivid installations also include monumental-scale vinyl wraps and more than 100 sidewalk decals by the muralist collective BroCoLoco.

A botanical storefront on 23rd Street in Crystal City by Chelsea Ritter-Soronen

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Art by Patrick Owens

Art by Vy Vu

Mural by Jeff Huntington (JAHRU) and Julia Gibb

“Courage” by David Amoroso

Words as Pictures

As special projects curator for Arlington Cultural Affairs, artist Cynthia Connolly handles programming for, among other things, the Arlington Art Truck. When the pandemic forced the truck into park mode, she and local mixedmedia artist Sushmita Mazumdar began contemplating other ways to engage the public in a creative project that was “interactive without being interactive in a traditional, face-toface way.”

The solution: Words to Art, a social media exchange in which county residents were invited to post single words describing how they felt during lockdown, which Mazumdar and other artists then translated into visual works. Over a period of four weeks, the project received more than 200 single-word submissions from people expressing a spectrum of emotions—words such as homebound, adrift, chastened, angry, nonessential, breakdown, binge, transcendent, grateful, silent, persistent, anxious, tolerant.

Mazumdar, who lives in Arlington’s Buckingham neighborhood, along with fellow artists David Amoroso (Douglas Park), Maribeth Egan (Ballston/Virginia Square), Kate Fleming (Maywood) and MasPaz (Arlington Ridge) each then chose specific words to depict in visual form. As they worked, many posted sketches and videos, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the artmaking process. By the end of May, they had created 20 powerful images, which speak for themselves and speak to the time. See them on Instagram at #wordstoartarlington

“Anxious” by Kate Fleming

“Community” by MasPaz

Looking for more ways to help your community cope, heal and rebuild? Turn to our Guide to Giving on page 53.

Food on the Table

Sudden layoffs, furloughs and bankruptcies have catapulted many local families into crisis, with record numbers applying for food assistance. Others, including the elderly and people with compromised immune systems, have had difficulty gaining safe access to food during this time of social distancing.

In mid-April, Volunteer Arlington, a publicprivate partnership of the Leadership Center for Excellence and Arlington County, launched Buy a Neighbor Lunch, an initiative that allows donors to go online (volunteerarlington.com) and order $10 restaurant meals to be delivered to those in need. (The program has the added benefit of keeping restaurant workers and delivery drivers employed.) It’s just one of a growing number of local food resources under the umbrella of the newly formed Cooperative for a Hunger Free Arlington (arlingtonva.us/ covid-19/food-assistance), a coordinated effort to make sure all Arlingtonians have access to food that also includes programs such as the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Arlington Public Schools grab-and-go meals, the Arlington Food Assistance Center and Meals on Wheels deliveries, as well as PTA and faith community food pantries, and restaurants that are offering free meals to those in need.

Mask Makers

In March, alarmed by news reports of dire shortages of masks and other personal protective gear, even in health care settings, Arlingtonians Vanessa Fulton and Christina Headrick revved up their sewing machines and launched the Million Mask Challenge. Their effort now has more than 4,600 “craftivists” in Virginia, Maryland and the District making, collecting and donating hand-sewn masks to medical facilities and others in need of protective wear. On May 4, they hit a significant milestone: 100,000 masks.

They aren’t slowing down. As the pandemic continues, the requests for masks (scrub caps, too) keep coming, the organizers keep innovating (their website includes patterns, supply lists and instructions) and their legions of volunteers keep growing—and sewing. The effort “has empowered thousands of people to do something practical,” says Fulton, “to show love and support for those on the front lines of the fight against Covid-19.” For details, visit millionmaskchallenge.com

Delivering mask kits to makers

Masked health care workers

A donation to The Virginia Home in Richmond

A Cut Above

Graduations, birthdays, Mother’s Day—they all happened in spite of the lockdown. And Arlington teen Hannah Portner created more than 270 handmade cards to mark the occasions. “Having more free time during quarantine allowed me to figure out how to use our family’s [die-cutting] machine,” says Portner, a rising ninth-grader at Yorktown High School (and sister to twins Audrey and Sully; see page 15).

Once she got the hang of it—each card takes 25-30 minutes to cut and assemble—she began selling her creations and donating the proceeds to Feed the Fight (feedthefight.org), a grassroots effort that funds restaurant meals for health care workers in the greater D.C. area. As this issue went

to press, she was busily crafting new cards for Father’s Day and had already donated more than $2,500.

“My good friend’s family owns several restaurants in our area,” Portner says. “We’ve heard how

Stroke

Oral Health Diabetes Alzheimers

Pre-Term Babies

devastating Covid-19 has been... to local restaurants. Feed the Fight helps restaurants by providing some business while simultaneously offering some relief [healthy, prepared meals] to exhausted front line workers.” n

Welcome back, Arlington friends! We grew stronger in our time apart.

Let us help you lower your risk factors for optimal health.

Hannah Portner

familiar faces n by

Sue Eisenfeld

The Tweet Heard Round the World

Arlington epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding warned in January that Covid-19 could be catastrophic. Some said he was crying wolf.

THE MEDIA WHIRLWIND began with a tweet. On Jan. 20, Eric Feigl-Ding began typing out a frenzied SOS from his home in Arlington.

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, it began.

For some three weeks, Feigl-Ding had been monitoring social media in China, where he has relatives, and

hearing anecdotes about hospitalizations and deaths there—“signals getting stranger and stranger of a potential disruptive outbreak of a new disease in Wuhan,” he recalls.

Then he came across some online data in a new scientific paper that “affirmed how bad I thought it was.”

When the World Health Organization (WHO) initially declined to declare Covid-19 a public health emergency, Feigl-Ding decided to “shout from the mountaintop” in a way he thought journalists and thought leaders would hear—using Twitter as a megaphone. This disease was thermonuclear pan-

demic level bad, he tweeted, referencing the reproductive number, or infectious level (“R0”), of the novel coronavirus. The latest report had placed its R0 value at 3.8, meaning that each infected person could spread the disease to an average of 3 to 4 other people.

We are now faced with the most virulent virus epidemic the world has ever seen, he shouted to the Twitterverse.

Feigl-Ding, 37, holds a Ph.D. in epidemiology—the study of the incidence, distribution and control of diseases. Among the honorary titles on his résumé, he’s a visiting scientist at Harvard’s School of Public Health and a senior fellow at the Federation of American Scientists in Washington, D.C.

In his day job, he works as a senior adviser for epidemiology and health economics at a consulting firm in

Northern Virginia. He describes his life’s work as focusing on the intersection of public health and public policy, as well as behavioral interventions for disease prevention.

Twitter, however, is not a sanctioned platform of the scientific community. His tweetstorm drew immediate backlash from other scientists, the media and respected opinion leaders who questioned his credibility.

It didn’t help that the authors of the study he’d cited had already lowered the estimated R0 value for Covid19, making some of the numbers in his missive out of date. In his haste to post, he’d also made typos and mistakes.

One Harvard epidemiology professor called Feigl-Ding a “charlatan” who was only interested in “self-promotion.” Another epidemiologist characterized

the tweets as “fearmongering hyperbole, and borderline public health malpractice.” (Neither Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top coronavirus expert, nor the Virginia Department of Health Office of Epidemiology could be reached for comment for this article.)

This wasn’t Feigl-Ding’s first rodeo as a whistleblower and public health crusader.

In 2006, while a Ph.D. student at Harvard, he published a study in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggesting that the pharmaceutical company Merck should have known the serious health risks of the painkiller Vioxx years before the company stopped selling it—“if careful safety monitoring of the data had been carried out,” according to Harvard’s press release. (Merck removed

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the drug from the market in 2004 after a study showed it could cause heart attacks and strokes.)

In 2016, in reaction to the Flint, Michigan, water crisis, Feigl-Ding founded Toxin Alert, “the first geosocial network and public alert system for drinking water toxic contamination,” according to the Harvard Gazette. By then, he was a researcher with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Nutrition Department.

Soon, through his current consulting job, he’ll be publishing a study examining the influence of industry payments to physicians on prescribing habits and opioid overdose deaths.

At the time of Feigl-Ding’s first pandemic-oriented tweet, not one case of Covid-19 had been reported in the United States, although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) knew about an outbreak of respiratory disease in China.

“I don’t necessarily fault people for not realizing what was coming,” he says, explaining that he had access then to sources that researchers in western academia wouldn’t have had.

What he hoped, though, was that national and international bodies would take action sooner and that the U.S. would begin to stockpile masks, personal protective equipment and ventilators.

Instead, 10 days passed before WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern. It would be 11 days before the U.S. announced a public health emergency. The rest is history.

If Feigl-Ding has been vindicated, he takes no pleasure in it. By some estimates (including a CDC journal paper set for release in July, which was previewed by the scientific community in April), the median R0 value of Covid19 in the early days of the outbreak in Wuhan was 5.7—far worse than the number he first tweeted.

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The pandemic is unchartered territory for all of us. We are in it together and need to do our part. We are committed to keeping everyone safe and healthy and providing smooth transactions from start to finish.

It’s also critical to continue giving to community organizations during this crisis. Here are 3 organizations providing essential services to people in need. Thanks in advance for considering supporting one or more of these groups. Your support will make all the difference.

It’s a tricky metric to pinpoint. The infectious rate can vary from place to place and day to day. On average, the R0 for Covid-19 is currently believed to be 2 to 2.5, which is still nearly twice as high as flu. Research at the National Institutes of Health indicates the median R0 value for seasonal influenza is 1.28.

Now Feigl-Ding is a frequent guest on CNN. He’s appeared on BBC World News. The governor of New Jersey called him on his cellphone recently.

Arlington resident Josh Kaplowitz, a lawyer who works on climate change issues and knows Feigl-Ding through community affairs circles, describes the epidemiologist as “maybe one of just a handful of experts in the U.S. who saw clearly the catastrophe that was headed our way.”

But saying it out loud sounded ludicrous back in January. “People were not even on the same reality plane,” FeiglDing says in retrospect. “I might as

well have said ‘Aliens’ and ‘Area 51’— that would have been just as crazy as imagining this level of pandemic shutting down the world.”

He may be controversial, but he’s no slouch. Feigl-Ding grew up in Pennsylvania and finished college in three years, earning a degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University. He completed dual Ph.D. programs at Harvard—in nutrition and epidemiology—by age 23, then attended medical school at Boston University for two years while simultaneously teaching in the medical school at Harvard.

He has published more than 100 scientific papers and, among other honors, was invited to join the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers program, an international network of young individuals committed to doing their part to help shape a better future.

Elizabeth O’Day, founder and CEO of the biotech company Olaris and a

fellow Global Shaper, remarks that, “Eric’s work as a scientist, political leader and entrepreneur reflect [the] commitment of [that program].” The fact that his warning wasn’t heeded, she says, “is a tragedy.”

Still, Feigl-Ding persists. One of his current side projects, he says, is helping to get FDA approval for a randomized controlled trial for a potential Covid19 treatment as a not-for-profit drug.

How and why does he do it all?

“After receiving the diagnosis of a terminal illness at age 17, I was literally given a second chance at life, and I didn’t want to waste it,” he explains.

The large tumor in his chest, initially believed malignant, turned out to be benign. But the experience had lasting physical and emotional consequences.

“Life is about what you do,” he says. “I went into public health to solve problems.”

Was he qualified to send that sky-is-

falling tweet back in January? Some are still debating that point. Feigl-Ding says he did what he felt was necessary.

“Science has an impact,” he says. “I wasn’t in a policy position at [the time] to force any changes.” But others could have.

Had that been the case, perhaps the scientist and his family might have been out on Arlington’s Bluemont and Glencarlyn bike trails this spring, as in normal times. Instead they were social distancing like everyone else.

“Science without public policy leadership,” he admonishes, “is toothless.” n

Sue Eisenfeld (sueeisenfeld.com) writes, teaches and consults from her home in Arlington. She is the author of Wandering Dixie: Dispatches from the Lost Jewish South and Shenandoah: A Story of Conservation and Betrayal. This story first appeared on Arlington Magazine.com.

These uncertain times have impacted us all. Even in the midst of so much change, hope carries on.

From the Virginia Cancer Specialists family to yours, THANK YOU. The unwavering support from our shared community has filled our hearts as we continue to care for cancer patients. Your thoughtful outpouring of encouragement to our staff is a testimony to how strong we are together.

We also want to thank the other heroes serving on the front lines, ensuring we all get the critical care and supplies we need.

Virginia Cancer Specialists is now offering virtual appointments for routine office visits and remains open to our patients and to our community. Because together, we’re proving that hope carries on.

Editor’s Note: These essays first appeared in Covid Chronicles, an online essay series (arlingtonmagazine.com/ category/covid-chronicles) documenting community voices in the time of coronavirus.

changing at the last minute, and their support is cut short. The rules regarding skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding change as new evidence emerges, impacting the mother-infant bond. Other patients are fearful of coming into a hospital to deliver.

We work very hard to minimize exposure to a positive patient. That translates to nurses taking on tasks often done by other team members. We bring in meal trays and empty waste containers. Sometimes we bring a phone into the room so doctors can video chat with the patient. It’s not ideal, but why expose multiple staff members when one person can accomplish what’s needed?

As nurses, we understand, but that does not mean we are not afraid. It wears us down. The longer this goes on, I see nurses becoming almost hollow while still doing the best they can.

Love in the Time of Covid

I’m a nurse. I haven’t hugged my kids in weeks.

THERE ARE NO emergencies during a pandemic. That lesson, shared by a nurse who worked during the Ebola crisis, is one we have to learn now.

As a nurse, I am part of a team that provides support during intubations and extubations. No matter how desperately a Covid-positive patient needs care, staff must take the time to fully protect themselves prior to entering a room. This lost time is anguishing for medical staff,

whose first instinct is to provide care. I am primarily an obstetric nurse. We have started receiving our first positive patients, who bring with them the challenge of a new host of procedures to protect the babies and staff, while also providing the special care that mothers require and deserve.

This is a confusing time for new parents. Many plans they have made throughout their pregnancies are now

I fear getting sick, but I am even more terrified that I will infect my family. I have written advance directives. I enter our house in Falls Church in a mask and retreat into my room amid distant yells of “I love you.” I shower, eat and distract myself with humor in order to dispel the fear. I keep a small fridge and microwave in my room and wash dishes in the bathroom sink to minimize my family’s exposure to me.

I haven’t hugged my kids in weeks. Sometimes we open the doors to our bedrooms and sit where we can see each other at a safe distance.

I miss spending time with my kids. I feel I don’t know what is truly going on inside their minds through this. Am I being a bad mother by trying to be a good nurse? Would I be a bad nurse if I spent less time at work and focused more on my family?

Then I remember: There are no emergencies during a pandemic. I try to support my kids from afar, after a 12- or 14-hour shift. One kid leaves me a meal by the door and I am grateful. My dishes and flat iron sit, side-by-side, on the bathroom sink.

This is the new normal. n

The writer asked to remain anonymous.

Race for Testing

Blacks are dying disproportionately from this disease. I feel the health system took a gamble on my life.

BY KRYSTA JONES

FOR MOST OF my life I have been an advocate on issues that did not always affect me directly.

Covid-19 changed that.

On March 9, I went to urgent care with flu-like symptoms. They ran several routine tests (although not a coronavirus test) and determined that I would be fine. Four days later I received an email notification that I had been at an event on March 6 where someone had subsequently tested positive for Covid-19.

A few days after that I began to feel worse. I continued to exhibit symptoms for about 10 days, but was denied testing for the virus.

I am thankful I have health insurance, that the initial doctor’s visit cost me $50, that I am employed, could take sick leave, and then work from home.

But considering that blacks are disproportionately dying from Covid-19, I feel the health system took a gamble on my life because there were not enough tests to go around. Now we are seeing younger people with no preexisting conditions dying from this disease. I live alone. What if my symptoms had gotten worse and I could not get to the hospital in time? If I did get there, would it have been too late?

Much of the racial inequity in the

health care system is due to systemic factors. What is less known is why blacks who are not low-income are still suffering from Covid-19 at higher rates than people of other ethnicities.

This crisis has forced me to question our humanity as a country and frankly, our intelligence.

In the early 2000s I lobbied Congress on behalf of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to protect scientific research at the National Institutes of Health from political influence. I never could have imagined that, 20 years later, we would be making the decisions we are today involving a worldwide pandemic. It

is unbelievable that, in the middle of a public health crisis, scientists are advising continued stay-at-home orders and social distancing while politicians are reopening beaches and restaurants where social distancing is close to impossible.

We all have our own reasons why Covid-19 will change us forever. I hope that I will become an even stronger advocate against the inequities that I thought I personally could escape, and fight for policies that will change our systems for the better. n

Krysta Jones is a radio host, author, advocate and civic leader in Arlington.

Little Boxes of Hope

During quarantine, I’ve been thinking about fishing more than ever.

BY MARK WHITTINGTON

I FIND IT HARD to sleep these days. I search for positivity amid the uncertainty. When I do sleep, I wake up with a feeling of trepidation, like the morning of a root canal. You know there will be discomfort and pain. It is coming.

This has been a month of root canal days. I try to stay positive, screw on a smile, laugh and joke. My wife keeps asking me, “Why are you not taking this seriously?!” I am. I am just searching for sparks of hope. Little boxes of hope to feed my soul.

The other day I welled up with tears over that damn Walmart commercial with folks working to keep the shelves stocked to the tune of David Bowie’s “Heroes.” The lyrics have suddenly taken on new meaning. We can be heroes…just for one day.

In fact, there are heroes all around. Selfless patriots—the nurses, doctors, truckers, EMTs, grocers and all the “essential” folks keeping our country moving forward at great risk to themselves.

My respect for everyday heroes has been magnified by this crisis. I hope it sticks for all of us. We need that respect for one another, regardless of job, station in life or any characteristic or identifier. We are back to basics.

We all make the wheel turn for someone out there. We are all dependent on someone, somewhere. The supply chain of interdependence is now indelible.

I’m a fly fisherman. This quiet, lonely time represents a chance to rig up. Tonight I looked at my unkempt fly boxes and started to organize them. I found myself smiling, thinking about these flies I have cast thousands of times. They represent hope to me— the optimism that you can fool a trout with a tiny bit of feather and thread if you put it out there just right, with the right drift, with the right conditions, if you are just good enough to get that fish to bite.

We fly fishermen experience those sparks of hope hundreds of times, every time we go out. It’s like a religion, really.

I find myself thinking about fishing more than ever these days. On the nights I actually sleep, I dream of standing in a stream, the movement of water over rocks, and those little fly boxes of hope. They are beautiful. n

Mark Whittington is a fly fisherman, rabid Caps fan and hockey dad, as well as a self-described “shabby musician” in the Arlington dad band Manther.

Clarity Amid Uncertainty Professional Q&A:

Professionals share insight on navigating this unprecedented time.

Diane Lewis

REAL ESTATE AGENT

The Lewis Team, LLC

Washington Fine Properties

1364 Beverly Road, Suite 100

McLean, VA 22101

703-973-7001

Diane@LewisTeam.com www.LewisTeam.com

Q: How have you changed your business during the pandemic?

A: Technology has become more important than ever, not only for marketing our listings but also for closings. We have enhanced our marketing by providing videos and 3D floor plans for each listing and hosting virtual open houses on social media, giving buyers a unique experience as they evaluate homes online. Once a home is under contract, we are using mobile and online notaries to execute documents in the safety of our clients’ homes. Many of these changes have made buying and selling a home more convenient, and we plan to continue these practices when things get back to normal.

Brian Wendroff

CPA, MANAGING PARTNER

Wendroff & Associates, CPA 2900 S. Quincy St., Suite 350 Arlington, VA 22206

703-553-1099

www.WendroffCPA.com

Q: What has you most concerned these days, and how has your firm adapted to the “new normal”?

A: We’re extremely concerned for our community’s wellbeing. These are unprecedented times, but we have tremendous faith in Arlington’s resilience. Our fellow entrepreneurs have innovated in dazzling ways—offering new products and services and creating meaningful collaboration through technology. Their ingenuity inspires us to do better. We’ve adapted by being more proactive with clients and creating a COVID Tax Resource Center, webinars and a special consult focused on the Paycheck Protection Program. We don’t know what the future holds, but our faith in this amazing community makes us confident we will return from this stronger.

Carole C. Krogmann

PARTNER, LAWYER

Masterman Krogmann PC 1760 Meadow Road, Suite 310 McLean, Virginia 22102

703-827-5500

MastermanLaw.com

Q: How have you changed your business practices to keep your clients safe?

A: This certainly has been a challenging time for everyone. We have to be resourceful and rise to the occasion. That is certainly what we have done at Masterman Krogmann, PC to better serve our clients.

In mid-March, prior to the implementation of the stay-at-home order, our firm chose to forego person-toperson meetings in an effort to better protect our clients and staff. We have still been “meeting” with clients and “appearing” in Court via audio and video, and we have taken all steps necessary to effectively serve our clients.

Christopher Tucker

AIA, ARCHITECT

MODE4 Architecture

201 North Union St., Suite 110

Alexandria, VA 22314

703-474-0321

MODE4architecture.com

Q: How can homeowners safely engage an architect to plan their renovation?

A: We look for creative approaches to ease the stress during these worrisome times. We follow CDC guidelines with masks and proper social distancing for site visits, but homeowners can also send us a detailed video for a virtual tour. We’ll produce some initial drawings from that video, then host a shared-screen conference with our clients and, if appropriate, one of our preferred builders. Together, we’ll discuss every aspect of the existing house and brainstorm the most effective renovation using sketching software to “draw” new ideas onto each frame.

Lisa A.K. Kirchenbauer

CFP®, RLP®, CeFT® FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

Omega Wealth Management, LLC

200 N. Glebe Road, Suite 730 Arlington, VA 22203

703-387-0919

www.OmegaWealthManagement.com

Q: Given all the uncertainty in the markets and economy, is this a good time to retire?

A: Frankly, the answer is it depends. Planning for a successful retirement isn’t just about your portfolio and what’s happening in the economy right now. Getting ready to retire requires a top-to-bottom look at both your personal and financial situation. A full review of your ability to retire looks at everything from your emotional readiness to cashflow planning, the right Social Security strategy, insurance planning and the best portfolio structure to support your needs. The Certified Financial Planners & Certified Financial Transitionists at Omega are here to help you navigate all aspects of planning your transition to “what’s next.”

Victoria Carrasco

VICE PRESIDENT

Preston’s Pharmacy 5101 Lee Hwy. Arlington, VA 22207

703-522-3412

www.PrestonsPharmacy.com

Q: How have you changed patient care during the pandemic?

A: When the outbreak began, the community came to us for their essential medications, immunizations, and flu and strep testing. We immediately faced the challenge of meeting increased demand for providing care in the safest way possible. Our team found creative solutions early on, such as homemade barriers for the registers, new signage and texting services. We make it a priority to anticipate the community’s health needs and work hard to ensure hand sanitizer, personal protective equipment and COVID testing are all available through our curbside services.

Brian R. Subach

MD FACS

Subach Spinal Solutions

1635 N. George Mason Dr., Suite 150 Arlington, VA 22205

571-732-0044

www.SubachSpinal.com

Q: How can individuals avoid neck pain and low back pain?

A: With many people working from home, now is a good time to focus on your posture and core. To restore normal neck posture, extend your neck like you are looking up at the sky, bring your jawline to horizontal, then relax your shoulders. The stress on your low back can be tremendous. Avoiding injury requires four components: core, flexibility, strength and low-impact cardio. You don’t need to train all four aspects daily, but you should do something every day to make yourself better!

3001 Washington Blvd., Suite 400 Arlington, VA 22201

703-200-3631

www.SellWithCoral.com

Coral@SellWithCoral.com

Q: How have you changed your business practices to keep your clients safe?

A: The health and safety of my clients and the community at large is paramount. I’m still showing and selling houses, but requiring masks and bringing sanitizer. I carry extras! I video all listings and provide 3D visual tours to minimize exposure for my sellers. That also includes no overlapping showings and no in-person open houses. If a buyer is seriously looking, they are welcome to make an appointment or do a Facetime tour. Right now, we have to balance helping people move with keeping ourselves and others safe.

Kevin Dougherty

OWNER & PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR

Pillar to Post Home Inspectors

7203 Belton Court, Suite 150 McLean, VA, 22101

703-291-0344

KevinDougherty.PillarToPost.com

Q: How have you changed your business practices to keep your clients safe?

A: As soon as the pandemic hit, we implemented new protocols during our home inspections. First, no sellers, buyers, family members or real estate agents are allowed in the house or on the premises during the inspection. Second, the Home Inspection Report, along with supporting images, is sent electronically on the same day as the inspection. I schedule a conference call with the buyers and agent to review the findings. Third, I wear gloves and a respirator the entire time I am in the home. Safety and quality are my top priorities.

Susan Wisely

OWNER

Choose Wisely Group of Compass 6849 Old Dominion Dr., Suite 400 McLean, VA 22101

703-927-3126 www.ChooseWiselyGroup.com

Q: How are you adapting your business to help sellers during the pandemic?

A: Technology is the key to helping sellers in today’s market. For example, I use online brochures, special feature pages, social media videos and posts, virtual opens, and, most importantly, 3D tours. All of these tools are very important so buyers have the opportunity to experience viewing a home in a unique way without even stepping foot on the property. Safety is also a top priority. Each of my listings has a basket with safety products and a specific protocol to follow, such as being pre-qualified before in-person viewings.

Juan Tuason

PRESIDENT & CEO

Paragon Home Care

6704 Old McLean Village Dr., Suite 200 McLean, VA 22101

703-942-8950

www.ParagonHomeCare.com

Q: How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your business the most?

A: Aside from the focus on infection control, it’s been the level of anxiety and fear among our clients and caregivers. Our Emergency Team is focused on communicating and implementing safety protocols. We’re also making daily check-in calls to address questions and concerns. There are fewer seniors in need of help now, but those who do are counting on us more than ever. Overall, we feel blessed to have such a courageous and dedicated team, and we are grateful that we can continue to serve others during this unprecedented crisis.

Susan Hicks

PARTNER, LAWYER

Hicks Crandall Juhl PC 3201 Jermantown Road, Suite 200

Fairfax, Virginia 22030

703-691-4848 www.HCJ-Law.com

Q: If an individual is laid off due to the pandemic, how does that impact his or her child support obligation?

A: The law of Virginia provides that any material change in circumstance is a ground to have your child support obligation modified. If you were laid off through no fault of your own, you are entitled to request a downward modification. Though the courts are not currently hearing child support matters, the court may retroactively apply any change in support back to the filing date. You are required to continue paying the full amount until a court affirmatively modifies your child support, however. We can help you request such a modification.

Brian L. Mackin

CFP®, CCO & RELATIONSHIP MANAGER

West Financial Services, Inc.

2010 Corporate Ridge Road, Suite 530 McLean, VA 22102

703-847-2500

www.WestFinancial.com

Q: How should individuals manage retirement accounts in a bear market?

A: Bear markets are a natural part of a healthy, cyclical market that should be expected. Navigating a bear market requires fine-tuning your investment approach. Generally, if you are still working and contributing to your retirement accounts, continue to invest in an effort to improve the quality of your holdings. Contributions are being invested at lower levels and will likely appreciate over time. Retired investors should balance living expenses against life expectancy and identify opportunities to reduce or suspend distributions so your investments have time to recover and continue to grow.

Suzanne Manlove

CEO & PRINCIPAL DESIGNER

Arlington Home Interiors 3414 8th Street S. Arlington, VA 22204

703-589-8488

www.ArlingtonHomeInteriors.com

Q: How has your business shifted to meet your clients’ needs?

A: Zoom is our new best friend! We’re now offering virtual interior design services, including online consults, presentations and virtual site visits. Working virtually has provided us with new opportunities such as hosting design webinars, servicing clients living aboard and remotely designing vacation homes. When we need to visit clients’ homes, we follow all recommended safety precautions. We know making changes within an individual’s home requires a huge amount of trust–now more than ever. We appreciate that clients continue to select Arlington Home Interiors for their design needs.

Dick Nathan

ASSOCIATE BROKER

CRS, ABR, SRES

Long & Foster Realtors

4600 Lee Hwy. Arlington, VA 22207

703-284-9318

www.DickNathan.com

Q: Why are relationships built on respect and trust so critical, especially in uncertain market conditions?

A: I've always felt that relationships of trust are the backbone of every positive real estate transaction. Sellers and buyers have a lot invested – financially and emotionally – and both need an agent they can depend on and sometimes lean on. Without trust and respect, these dynamics would not be present.

The more stress there might be in a particular transaction, the more the agent might become the ballast, providing guidance, stability and evenness during whatever the rough patch or time of uncertainty might be.

Declan Leonard

LAWYER

MANAGING PARTNER

Berenzweig Leonard, LLP 8300 Greensboro Dr., Suite 1250 McLean, VA 22102

703-760-0469

DLeonard@Berenzweiglaw.com

Q: As a business/employment lawyer, how have you helped your clients during the pandemic?

A: Our firm has focused on providing trusted and relevant legal guidance, so our business clients not only survived but thrived during this time. My colleagues and I at Berenzweig Leonard have done this by:

• Assisting with the Paycheck Protection Program process, including the good faith certification and the loan forgiveness application.

• Explaining the new CARES legislation and how it helps companies provide leave to employees in need.

• Drafting return-to-work policies, so the reopening process can be both medically and legally safe.

Awards

The coronavirus arrived just as Arlington Magazine issued the call for nominations for our sixth annual Extraordinary Teen Awards. Then schools closed on March 13. Suddenly, the grand nale of senior year was swept away in a tide of pandemic fears, economic stress, social distancing mandates and the quest for disinfectant wipes.

For the Class of 2020, there would be no prom, no spring sports or spring musicals, boat parties, Beach Week, senior experience or packed auditoriums for cap-and-gown ceremonies. But that doesn’t diminish the collectively spectacular achievements of this year’s graduating class. In fact, quite the opposite. In a time of crisis, our shortchanged seniors showed not only academic, athletic and service leadership, but resilience, stamina, optimism and grace.

Says one of our 2020 award winners: “Every journey has adversity. It makes you stronger.” Words to live by, as we push forward.

Allegra Abizaid

St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School

Allegra “Lili” Abizaid is like a walking United Nations, and not just because her family tree extends to England, Lebanon and Mexico. The Arlington teen speaks English, Arabic, French, Italian and Spanish proficiently—and she spent time during the coronavirus school closure learning Portuguese, Japanese and Haitian Creole.

The latter might come in handy for her nonprofit, The Marot Foundation, which she founded with a friend following a service trip to Haiti to deliver school supplies in 2018.

“We found that we were helping

kids fix their shoes with duct tape and hair ties and thought, it’s a simple, small problem that we could hopefully help out with,” says the 17-year-old.

Since then, the foundation has collected more than 200 pairs of shoes for Haitian children—an effort that landed Abizaid an invitation to a state dinner (although she was unable to attend because she was interning with a studyabroad program in Verona, Italy).

and a 4.12 GPA. She also loves tennis, photography and film, and worked on costumes and makeup for her school’s theater department before she graduated.

At the University of Chicago, she plans to major in political science and minor in art history while keeping up with languages, all with the goal of attending law school.

Abizaid was chosen to attend the Virginia Governor’s School/Spanish Academy last summer. She taught French to schoolchildren and has won gold medals in national French and Spanish competitions. While she was predictably a leading member of her school’s Model UN chapter, there’s more to her than language accolades

“RBG has been a huge influence on me,” she says of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. “I think it’s amazing to have leading women, and she inspires me every day.”

Michael Carter, her college counselor at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes says plainly: “Lili Abizaid is now and will continue to be a force for good in our world.” –Rina Rapuano

n extraordinary teens

Neshmeeya Abbas

The Madeira School

When Neshmeeya Abbas started playing squash as a freshman at The Madeira School, she was inexperienced, asthmatic and smaller than most of the other players. That didn’t stop her.

By her sophomore year, the Falls Church teen had risen to varsity cocaptain and held the No. 2 spot on the team.

She won a U.S. Squash Association Scholar Athlete Award three years in a row and expects to win a fourth time this year (winners will be announced in September), for a straight sweep.

“I’m really proud,” she says. “I really struggled a lot because of my physical problems.”

She’s a champion in other areas to boot. As a first-generation PakistaniAfghan American, Abbas is dedicated to empowering girls and women in her parents’ native countries. She vol-

unteers with the State Department’s Summer Sisters Exchange Program, which encourages female Pakistani high school students to pursue an education in the U.S.; travels to Pakistan to teach girls English; and has helped raise funds to build cancer hospitals there.

“The girls there have so many less opportunities than here,” says the 17-year-old.

During her sophomore year, Abbas interned with Brightview Senior Living in Great Falls, where she developed a mobile app to help residents with memory issues.

She also volunteers for Best Buddies and donates her travel photography to Habitat for Humanity to adorn the walls of newly built homes.

She will likely go to UCLA or one of the European schools she’s waiting to hear back from, and plans to study economics and international relations.

“I’m looking for a career that can incorporate a lot of my travels and bettering girls’ education,” she says.

–Rina Rapuano

Max Gieseman

Washington-Liberty High School

Combine tenacity, problem-solving and heart, and you get Max Gieseman.

During a family trip to Belize in 2017—inland, beyond the pristine beaches—the Arlington teen noticed crumbling infrastructure and unpaved roads between villages. He returned the following two summers with a church group to help build schools and provide summer camps for rural youth.

As a sophomore, after spending his first varsity basketball season on the bench, he doubled down with a trainer, put soccer (his other sport) temporarily on hold to play AAU hoops in the off-season and practiced every day. “I wanted to be a starter,” he says.

He finished out his senior year as W-L’s leading point scorer and rebounder (and captain for two years straight), leading the team to state playoffs for the first time in 53 years and scoring 70 points in four regional playoff games. He was named first team all-district for two years, all-region in 2020, and the Sun Gazette “Player of the Year” for 2019/2020. The Better Sports Club of Arlington named him 2020 High School Boys Basketall “Sportsman of the Year.”

In late 2017, not long after that trip to Belize, Gieseman’s dad, Ben, was diagnosed with Stage IV melanoma in his brain, liver and lungs. Gieseman took the helm of W-L’s annual Hoops for Cancer basketball tournament fundraiser, doubled participation and increased the proceeds (benefiting the V Foundation for Cancer Research) by 75%.

He credits his parents, Ben and Beth, as his mentors, his greatest champions. “They’ve always motivated me to be the best I can be, to broaden my mind, to have a strong work ethic, to show interest in a lot of different things,” says the 18-year-old. “After his diagnosis, my dad made me promise not to dwell, and to

stay focused on the other important aspects of my life. Every journey has adversity. It makes you stronger.”

Ben died in April. Gieseman graduated with a 4.4 GPA and this fall will head to the University of Miami, where he plans to study finance. He’s determined to find ways to fund more infrastructure projects in Central America.

“Without support, it’s hard to overcome hardship,” he says.

He was awarded the college’s Isaac Bashevis Singer scholarship, a fullride academic prize named for the Nobel Prize-winning author.

Over the summer he plans to read The Hunchback of Notre Dame , his dad’s favorite novel.

Looking back on his father’s final days, he says the quarantine was a gift. “My older sister was home from college, my younger sister and I were out of school, and we spent every day together as a family,” Gieseman says. “We got to spend quality time with my dad until we couldn’t anymore. It was a blessing in disguise.” –Jenny Sullivan

n extraordinary teens

Miller Hollinger BASIS Independent McLean

“The first time I made a game, I was in first grade,” Miller Hollinger recalls.

He laughs about it now, confessing that it was basically a renamed version of tag with a few tweaks. But it took off with the other kids—and Hollinger was hooked. “I would print out little paper pieces and sit at the kitchen counter and cut them out,” he says of his early game-making. “The rules were usually pretty incoherent, but my dad would play anyway.”

His father later bought him a gamedesign book that helped Hollinger realize he could parlay his passion into something more than a hobby. Last fall, one of his card games, Royale, was chosen by game-maker Button Shy as a competition finalist and selected to be published.

“They’re going to produce a thousand copies of the game, which was kind of a shock for me,” says the young entrepreneur, whose restless mind has him constantly dreaming up new card games, board games, video games and apps.

Before the school year ended, Hollinger could often be found providing tech support for teachers and students at his school in McLean. He founded the Computer Science Club, participated in the Problem Solving Club, was coleader of the National Spanish Honor Society, maintained a 3.91 GPA, was a National AP Scholar and participated in national mathematics competitions. This fall he’ll be studying computer science at U.C. Berkeley.

Since his final trimester at BASIS Independent required research and an internship, he jokes that his time in quarantine ended up feeling a lot like normal life for a gamer.

“My research is virtual reality, so I experienced zero disruption from coronavirus,” says the 18-year-old, “except for [the challenges of] getting groceries and seeing friends.” –Rina Rapuano

Claire Brophy

Wakefield High School

Claire Brophy is, shall we say, presidential. Prior to her graduation in May, she served as senior class president at Wakefield, not to mention president of three other school groups—the Interact Club, Women at Wakefield and Girl Up. The last one, she explains, “raises money and awareness for girls in developing countries who don’t have access to health care, equality and education.”  Does she have political aspirations? “I honestly am not opposed to it,” says the Arlington 17-year-old. “But I definitely want to do the military first and see where that leads.”

With her 4.34 GPA and strong extracurriculars, including varsity soccer and swim, plus volunteer work with Best Buddies and the Special Olympics, Brophy has been accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy. She’ll be following in the military footsteps of her parents, siblings and many other family members.

“The Naval Academy pushes and shapes you into a leader—or makes you into a better leader,” she says.

She’s already demonstrated her mettle. As class president, she helped revive Wakefield’s homecoming parade and tailgate, which hadn’t happened for a few years, and launched a “get involved” campaign, encouraging fellow classmates to join clubs and attend school events. Her long -

time goal of raising school spirit and getting students more engaged was finally coming to fruition at the beginning of the spring semester—making the truncated school year an undeniable disappointment.

But Brophy is not one to brood. Instead, she stayed positive and pivoted, transforming her school’s planned Earth Week activities into an online effort. “It’s just really fun bringing a lot of people together volunteering,” she says.

Now she’s on to the next chapter. “Claire will take these amazing attributes and apply them to a life serving our country,” says her soccer coach, Ashley Neal. “I hope that one day we will see Claire Brophy with a ‘Madame’ in front of the word President.” –Rina Rapuano

Claire Brophy at Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada, where her dad is stationed

Caroline Alpi H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program

As an accomplished actor, director and award-winning playwright, Caroline Alpi is a triple threat. Her work strikes a chord with many—perhaps because her fearlessness often leads her to explore difficult and uncomfortable topics.

In 2017, the Arlington teen traveled to Myanmar to interview people about democracy for a journalism program.

During her junior year at H-B Woodlawn, Alpi won second place in a regional playwriting competition for her play Behind the Bookshelf, which portrayed two students hiding during a school shooting; it was subsequently performed by professional actors in a New York festival.

Playing the male character Reuben in her school’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat prompted her to research gender equality and female representation in the musical theater industry for a semester.

Even her Girl Scout Gold Award project, which she dubbed Pink Ribbon Playwrights, involved meeting with breast cancer survivors and high schoolers for eight weeks to work through their stories with readings, games and written reflections.

“At the end of the program, we performed for a live audience a collection of pieces written by the group,” recalls Alpi, 18, who plans to attend Columbia University this fall. “That was just a really amazing experience for me to be a leader in something I was really passionate about, to learn from people I don’t interact with every day, and hear and learn from their experiences.”

Like most of this year’s seniors, she is disappointed about all the events that were canceled due to Covid-19. Will she write about it?

“I’m sure I will,” she says, with a laugh. “Yes.” –Rina Rapuano

Eli Waldman

Yorktown High School

At 18, Eli Waldman has already worked himself out of a job.

In eighth grade, Waldman, who has celiac disease and a severe peanut allergy, founded a support group for Arlington kids with food allergies, which he convened monthly for five years. Now, as he heads off to Stanford University, he’s passed the facilitator role on to two of his peers, but he’s not even sure the group in its current form is still needed. He’s charged his successors with reinventing the model.

“Five years ago, the attitudes toward food allergies were drastically different,” he explains. Going out to eat or to a friend’s house could be deadly. “Today you can go to a restaurant and they get that there are serious consequences. The curriculum I made is outdated. Before the [stay-at-home order] the group was already starting to lose members because it wasn’t needed anymore. Which is amazing.”

Waldman, meanwhile, has plenty of other ambitions. A talented documentary filmmaker, he interned at Arlington Independent Media (he credits AIM videographer and instructor Nathan Bynum as one of his most formative mentors) and, in the course of his high school career, created films on topics ranging from Arlington’s World War I heroes to the journey of a D.C. man moving from incarceration back to society. The subject of the latter film, now a friend, will be released from parole next year.

Waldman also spent a summer interning at USC’s Shoah Foundation, which was founded by director Steven Spielberg (after he made Schindler’s List ) “to develop empathy, understanding and respect through testimony.” One of Waldman’s primary roles as an intern was formatting testimony from Ho-

Caroline Alpi with playbills from past productions

locaust and genocide survivors, from places like Cambodia and Rwanda, so that it could be posted on the foundation’s website.

What drives this Arlington teen, who graduated from Yorktown with a 4.2 GPA? Fundamentally, curiosity.

“A lot of people are motivated by

someone telling them they can’t do something and the need to prove that they can,” Waldman says. “I’m the complete opposite. I’ve been fortunate to be able to pursue the things that deep down I just really want to do.”

Is college in California a path to becoming a professional filmmaker? Maybe.

But for now, Waldman says he’s looking forward to sampling the riches of Stanford’s liberal arts program.

“It could change my trajectory,” he says. “I could take a class in something completely different and fall in love with it. It’s an opportunity to explore everything.” –Jenny Sullivan

n extraordinary teens

Ela Gokcigdem

Wakefield High School

On a spring break trip to the beach during her sophomore year, Ela Gokcigdem dove into the ocean and hit her head on the seafloor. The resulting concussion changed her life—but in a good way.

She became noise sensitive and decided to put her love of technology, the environment and entrepreneurship to work by inventing noise-canceling earbuds made with recycled plastic.

Gokcigdem has so far sold around 300 sets of earbuds through her website, epearltech.com, with plans to start selling them on Amazon now that she’s 18.

“I like to keep busy,” says the Arlington teen, grateful to have moved be-

yond that frustrating concussed time when she couldn’t look at screens or keep up with her studies.

Environmental stewardship is a passion for Gokcigdem, who has organized kayak cleanups of Four Mile Run and is a member of the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability.

Her latest venture, a nonprofit called the Youth Environmental Society (YES), centers on an environmental literacy course that awards a certification to participating high school students. She hopes it will inspire more teens to “integrate a sustainable mindset into any career path.” She expects it to launch in Arlington this August.

In addition to winning numerous business and entrepreneurial awards, including being named a Harvard

Business Academy Best Entrepreneur, Gokcigdem speaks four languages, plays eight instruments and was active in numerous clubs and organizations. Among them: the History Honor Society, Wakefield’s varsity tennis and swim teams, Northern Virginia Symphonic Winds, the National Honor Society and the Arlington Sustainability Committee.

She’s headed to Babson College in Massachusetts this fall to study business, with a focus on environmental sustainability and social justice. Predictably, she has big dreams.

“I’d love to be a big billionaire and really set the path for social entrepreneurship,” says Gokcigdem. “I feel like that’s the only way a business can survive, especially with the current state of our environment.” –Rina Rapuano

Ela Gokcigdem, wearing the eco-friendly earbuds she invented

Natalie Martin

The Potomac School

Natalie Martin visited a battery lab at MIT during her sophomore year of high school, and something clicked.

“I just fell in love with it,” says the McLean teen, now 18, who finished high school with straight A’s. “There’s so much room for improvement well beyond the current technologies we have today.”

That exposure prompted Martin to develop multiple research proposals that landed her an opportunity in the U.S. Army Research Laboratory last summer. She would also attend several prestigious scientific gatherings, including the International Battery Association Conference in San Diego, where she got to meet 2019 Nobel Prize winner Stan Whittingham, developer of a major component of the lithium-ion battery.

“Searching for answers on the surface is not Natalie’s way,” says Doug McLane, head of Upper School at The Potomac School. “She digs deep until she has exhausted every bit of data, every plausible answer to a question.”

Martin dug even deeper with an independent research project as part of her school’s Science and Engineering Research Center (SERC) program. She says that while most battery research aims to optimize sales, she wanted to change the way scientists think about batteries. “I didn’t want to commercialize anything,” she says. “I wanted to push the knowledge of how we can make safer systems.”

This spring, she took third place in the regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, a tri-service STEM competition sponsored by the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force.

At the same time, her interests extend beyond power sources. During her years at The Potomac School, Martin played varsity soccer, basketball and lacrosse, headed the student paper, tutored in the school’s Math and Science Collaboration Center, participated in Model Congress and volunteered with Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity and Women Giving Back.

But she does plan to make battery

research her life’s work after studying chemistry at Harvard. She loves collaborative problem-solving—it’s one of the things she missed most when schools closed due to the pandemic.

“I’m hoping to run a lab that invites as many different types of scientists as possible to really rethink the way scientists approach the problems in our world,” Martin says. –Rina Rapuano

n extraordinary teens

Rebeka Rafi

McLean High School

Rebeka Rafi caught the volunteer bug in elementary school. Back then, the McLean resident would head to her community’s soccer field and pitch in with coaching. As the kids became familiar with her, she started tutoring and later became a Fairfax County summer camp counselor.

“I just really enjoy communicating and working with kids,” says Rafi, 17, who has received a Presidential Scholarship to American University’s Public Health Scholars Program.

“My parents raised me to believe that when I’m in a position to help others, why not? They drove me to

get out there and do whatever I can.”

Before her senior year was cut short, Rafi worked as managing editor and advertising manager of her school’s award-winning newsmagazine. She ran track and field and played softball for her school teams, maintained a 4.3 GPA, and plays soccer with a year-round rec league.

A graduate of the Leadership Arlington Youth Program, she also participated in the Fairfax County Youth Leadership Program and volunteered on environmental cleanup efforts organized by Friends of the Occoquan. She now hopes to put her leadership skills and philanthropic leanings to work in the medical field.

“My grandfather was basically always sick, and we always saw him in

the hospital,” she recalls of her mom’s Iranian father. “The lack of communication and the language barrier fueled [my desire to pursue a career in medicine] to improve the overall treatment of patients.”

She’s already taken the initiative to help elders in the community. During an internship last year with the National Older Worker Career Center in Arlington, Rafi leveraged her social media acumen to help the organization raise a record-breaking $200,000 on Giving Tuesday—“the highest dollar contributions in NOWCC’s 22year history,” according to NOWCC president and CEO Cito Vanegas. “I cannot wait to see what the future holds for such a bright individual.” –Rina Rapuano

Danny Arabshahi

Washington-Liberty High School

Danny Arabshahi was in elementary school when he started volunteering with the Cherrydale Health and Rehabilitation Center in Arlington. He already had considerable experience working with memory-care patients when he discovered a museum that was using art therapy to help individuals suffering from memory loss and decided to replicate the program in his hometown.

Plus, it was personal.

“My grandfather had Parkinson’s. My great-aunt and a great-grandmother had Alzheimer’s, and both passed away

from that,” says the teen, now 18. “I have a strong passion for neuroscience because of family experience, and I wanted to help out in any way I could.”

As part of a school project, Arabshahi proposed that the Arlington Arts Center (AAC) create and implement a memory-care art program. He then researched, developed a timeline and budget, and assisted in the development of what would become the fully operational Creative Encounters program at AAC.

During his time at W-L, Arabshahi also played varsity tennis, served as co-president of the Chinese club, cofounded the Card Magic Club, volunteered at Virginia Hospital Center and

interned at the social cognition lab at George Washington University and The Nature Conservancy.

These accomplishments, plus a 4.4 GPA, earned him a spot at the University of Virginia, where he intends to study neuroscience.

With an Iranian-born father and an Ashkenazi Jewish mother, it’s no wonder that Arabshahi also lists languages and culture among his passions. He’s studied Farsi, Hebrew, Spanish and Mandarin. He hopes the latter will provide an edge in his career.

“Chinese researchers are leading the way in neuroscience,” he observes. No doubt his language skills will prove useful indeed. –Rina Rapuano

Danny Arabshahi at Arlington Arts Center

n extraordinary teens

Skye Ferris

Bishop O’Connell High School

In the spring of her junior year, Skye Ferris helped carry Bishop O’Connell’s

varsity softball team to its eighth straight division championship. In the process she earned first team all-conference and second team all-state honors.

That wasn’t the centerfielder’s only sport. Every day, after softball practice,

she beelined to another practice, for her Grit Volleyball club team, getting home each evening around 10 p.m.— all while taking a grueling course load of AP and honors classes.

“It took an emotional and physical toll, but I’m glad I did it,” she says in retrospect. “Everyone told me I would be overwhelmed, but those teams were like my family. They were one of the reasons I woke up every morning.”

As a senior, Ferris was named MVP of O’Connell’s varsity volleyball team— as well as first team all-conference and all-state—after taking the squad to both conference and state semifinals. Teachers and counselors at the school unanimously laud her as the whole package— a superb student, athlete, leader, team player and mentor for others.

Though the coronavirus squashed the Knights’ hopes of clinching another softball championship (and, for Ferris, the goal of going four for four), it did little to damper her athleticism. She started running on the W&OD trail, which passes by her house in Falls Church. In April, she ran a half-marathon.

“I’m a goal-oriented person. I like to set little milestones and push myself,” says the 18-year-old.

Perhaps it’s just in her DNA. “My mom played softball at Catholic University and my dad was a competitive swimmer,” she says of her parents, whom she reveres as role models. One older sister is in the Coast Guard, and another plays field hockey at the University of Mary Washington. Her brother, Luke, who has autism, is a swimmer (pool and open water) and a Special Olympics athlete. He was partly the inspiration behind Ferris’s commitment, throughout high school, to serve as a peer mentor for a fellow student and friend with special needs.

“It’s important to surround yourself with people who inspire you to be the best version of yourself,” she says.

Ferris graduated with a 4.56 GPA and was named “Praetor of the Year” (third in her class). This fall she’ll begin her freshman year at the University of Virginia. –Jenny Sullivan

Dominick Cocozza

Yorktown High School

The summer after seventh grade, Dominick Cocozza attended a prestigious art program at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, having secured one of only 12 international spots for his age group in the advanced drawing and painting program. He recalls the experience as both motivating and humbling.

“I was always used to being one of the more advanced people in my arts classes,” says the Arlington teen, “and that was a really eye-opening experience because I was kind of in the middle. It pushed me to be better.”

Since then, Cocozza has racked

up accolades for his work, much of which centers on multicultural themes and social justice issues, including the plight of immigrants and Dreamers. He won first place in the Congressional Art Competition (his winning painting now hangs in the U.S. Capitol Building); attended the Governor’s School for Visual and Performing Arts; and was named Grand Champion in the fine arts and crafts category in the Arlington County Fair.

He maintains his own website (dcocozzastudios.com) and has been interviewed by CNN and the BBC.

Last fall, Cocozza landed a competitive internship at the Smithsonian Institution’s Hirshhorn Museum and gave a gallery talk at the National Gallery of Art. His dream, he says,

is to one day have his work in permanent museum collections.

He also managed to find time for varsity swimming and cross-country at Yorktown, and to serve as a board member and creative director of High School Minority Leaders United.

During quarantine, he continued painting classes (via Zoom) with his mentor, Gavin Glakas, of Yellow Barn Studio in Glen Echo, Maryland.

Now 18, he plans to attend the Rhode Island School of Design, where he’ll concentrate on painting. He credits his parents with encouraging his entrepreneurial spirit, and hopes will give him an edge in the art world. “I’ve been focusing on promoting myself,” he says. –Rina Rapuano n

“I cannot even begin to thank you enough for how seamless you have made this transition (to virtual learning) by preparing the students, hosting live classes, and helping them manage their work. I have 100% noticed the forethought and preparation; Commonwealth’s appproach to this unique situation is nothing short of a state-ofthe-art solution.”

We’re so proud of our graduates!

This fall, Burgundy’s Class of 2020 will attend high school at: Bishop Ireton, Field School, Flint Hill, Georgetown Day, Gonzaga, Landon, New School of Northern Virginia, Phillips Academy Andover, Sidwell, St. James, St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes, T.C. Williams, The Madeira School, Thomas Edison, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, West Potomac, Whittle School & Studio, and W.T. Woodson.

Your child could be a Burgundy graduate, too!

Guide to GIVING

As this issue went to press, Arlington County, Fairfax County and the City of Falls Church had nearly 13,500 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and Virginia’s unemployment rate was above 10 percent. The nonprofits that follow are providing support to those hit hardest by the pandemic. Consider making a financial donation or volunteering your time.

■ guide to giving

A-SPAN

A-SPAN (a-span.org) seeks to end homelessness in Arlington by helping to secure permanent housing and providing life-sustaining services for vulnerable individuals through outreach and relationships built on trust and respect. Its current needs include personal protective gear, masks, thermometers and hospital-grade cleaning supplies.

Headquartered: Arlington

Serves: Arlington County

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $100 buys commercial-grade Covid-19 cleaning supplies for the A-SPAN commercial kitchen.

❱❱ $250 buys extra cleaning supplies for more frequent deep cleaning at the Homeless Services Center.

❱❱ $750 buys supplemental food supplies in this time of additional capacity for all meal programs at the Homeless Services Center.

Volunteer opportunities: Single-day, weekly and monthly opportunities available, all following Covid-19 emergency and safety protocols. Volunteers prepare and serve bagged or hot meals; serve as shelter assistants, clothing room or program monitors; assist with front desk and mail duties; and sort donations and toiletries.

AHC Inc.

AHC (AHCinc.org) provides quality affordable housing communities for more than 3,000 low-income families. It also offers educational programs and social services. AHC is currently seeking funds to help families suffering nancial hardship to cover critical living expenses.

Headquartered: Arlington

Serves: Arlington County

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $35 provides a deserving child with literacy-building games and reading packets to help make learning fun while school is out.

❱❱ $150 provides emergency groceries to a family struggling with new hardships.

❱❱ $500 supports a college eld trip (once travel conditions are safe again) or mobile tech devices for high school students.

Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers provide homework and studying support to elementary and middle school students and mentor college-bound students. They also teach life skills and SAT preparation, and provide organizational support including staf ng AHC’s food distribution sites, delivering school backpacks and serving holiday dinners.

Animal Welfare League of Arlington

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington (awla.org) seeks to improve the lives of animals and people by providing resources, care and protection, so that all may live together humanely and harmoniously. Amid the pandemic, AWLA has increased its pet pantry, vet assistance and safekeeping to accommodate families affected by Covid-19. It is currently facilitating virtual pet adoptions.

Headquartered: Arlington

Serves: D.C. metro area

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $250 buys insulin for a diabetic cat, physical therapy for a dog recovering from surgery or lime dip for ringworm treatment.

❱❱ $500 buys hernia repair surgery for a dog, dental care with extractions for a cat or one day of food for 100 shelter animals.

❱❱ $1,000 buys one month of lab work for shelter animals, hip surgery for a dog or X-rays for seven cats.

Volunteer opportunities: During normal operations, volunteers educate future pet owners, match animals with adoptive families and keep animals happy during their shelter stay. Some volunteers train to work with dogs, cats or small companion animals, while others may foster animals in their homes. Check for updates as social distancing guidelines change.

Arlington Community Foundation

The Arlington Community Foundation (arlcf.org) seeks to promote, protect and improve the quality of life of those who live or work in Arlington. ACF provides philanthropic leadership and raises capital for grants and scholarships to strengthen local nonpro ts and address the most critical issues of our time. Last year, ACF awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to support more than 100 nonpro ts and 180 scholarship students. Individuals, families, nonpro ts and corporations may also work with the foundation to establish their own charitable funds. At press time, ACF had disbursed more than $800,000 in grants through its Covid-19 Prompt Response Fund to Arlington nonpro ts providing emergency services.

Headquartered: Arlington

Serves: Arlington and beyond

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $500 supports a small community grant.

❱❱ $1,500 provides one college scholarship or a prompt-response grant (e.g., a replacement washer and dryer for a homeless shelter).

AFAC Canned goods donations

A-SPAN Nurse practitioner Kasia with a patient, Laura

❱❱ $10,000 or more can start a permanent scholarship fund or charitable giving fund (to be named by the donor) to support the donor’s charitable interests.

Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers assist with fundraising events, community outreach and professional services, and serve on grant or scholarship review committees.

Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC)

The Arlington Food Assistance Center (afac.org) feeds neighbors in need by providing dignified access to supplemental groceries. Since 1988, AFAC has remained dedicated to its simple but critical mission of obtaining and distributing groceries, directly and free of charge, to people living in Arlington who cannot afford to purchase enough food to meet their basic needs. With the Covid19 outbreak, AFAC has seen a profound increase in the demand for food, and a record number of new family referrals.

Headquartered: Arlington Serves: Arlington County

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $200 provides weekend and holiday meal packs to needy children in Arlington Public Schools for one year through AFAC’s Backpack Buddies program.

❱❱ $750 provides fresh fruits and vegetables to 55 families in one month.

❱❱ $1,350 provides groceries to an AFAC family for one year.

Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers organize food drives; help with re-bagging bulk purchases of produce; glean vegetables at local farms and garden through the Plot Against Hunger program.

Arlington Free Clinic

Arlington Free Clinic (arlingtonfreeclinic. org) provides free, high-quality health and dental care to low-income, uninsured Arlington County adults. Since 1994, the clinic has been filling the gap in health care access for the community’s most vulnerable residents. Covid-19 has made this mission more important than ever.

Headquartered: Arlington Serves: Arlington County

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $250 pays for 40 digital thermometers or five blood pressure cuffs for patients’ at-home health monitoring.

❱❱ $1,000 covers 16 emergency visits for patients whose dental needs cannot wait.

❱❱ $10,000 covers three months of generic medications. Most medications (about $3 million worth each year) are donated, but some cannot be accessed for free. AFC patients, including those with hypertension, diabetes or cancer prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, still need access to life-saving medications.

Volunteer opportunities: AFC currently needs volunteers to sew and donate cloth masks. Check back for a wide range of additional medical/nonmedical opportunities once social distancing mandates have been lifted.

Arlington Neighborhood Village

Arlington Neighborhood Village (arlnvil. org) is dedicated to helping older Arlington residents continue living in their own homes, safely and independently.

Headquartered: Arlington

Serves: Arlington County

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $250 covers six months of benefits

for a low-income senior, including running errands, providing rides to medical appointments and friendly phone calls to reduce feelings of isolation and depression.

❱❱ $2,000 funds independent background checks on volunteers.

❱❱ $20,000 would meet the expected increased demand on ANV’s 2020-21 Financial Aid Fund, which allows the most vulnerable and in-need seniors to have access to all services and programming.

Volunteer opportunities: During the Covid19 crisis, adult volunteers are running errands for at-home seniors, shopping for groceries and picking up prescriptions; providing transportation to critical medical appointments; and connecting with isolated seniors via telephone visits. Training is provided. Volunteers also help with information technology, website maintenance, communications and marketing, fundraising, office support and special programs.

Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing

The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (apah.org) is committed to developing innovative, attractive and safe apartment buildings. Today APAH provides 1,813 homes to lower-income individuals and families at 17 properties. The nonprofit is working to integrate health, workforce success, education, community engagement and housing to achieve better outcomes for all. With the Covid-19 outbreak, APAH has seen increased demand for eviction prevention services and emergency financial assistance. In April, more than 350 households could not pay their rent, and

Arlington Free Clinic

Medical director Joan Bowes Ritter conducts a telehealth visit.

■ guide to giving

many were struggling to put food on the table. APAH’s Resident Emergency Fund has been stretched to meet the immediate needs of residents, and it has committed to not evicting any families for nancial reasons during the pandemic.

Headquartered: Arlington

Serves: Arlington County and the broader D.C. metro area

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $100 meets a small family’s basic grocery needs for a week.

❱❱ $250 helps families stay connected to school and support by phone and internet.

❱❱ $500 covers fees for nine residents to expand their employment prospects by learning basic computer skills.

❱❱ $1,000 buys three months of a daily after-school enrichment program at one property.

Volunteer opportunities: Assistance is needed with child care, grocery distribution, literacy programming, affordable housing advocacy, and volunteer management and recruitment.

Arlington Thrive

For more than 45 years, Arlington Thrive (arlingtonthrive.org) has kept Arlington County’s most vulnerable residents from losing their homes, their health and their families during times of personal crisis. At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Thrive created the Arlington Emergency Relief Fund to reach even more people with rapid nancial assistance.

Thrive’s nancial support gives people access to whatever is most needed—a rent payment, medicine, uninterrupted power and water, a ride to work or a visit to the doctor.

Headquartered: Arlington

Serves: Arlington County

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $100 pays for a prescription for a homeless individual in Arlington.

❱❱ $250 covers medical care or emergency dental work for an uninsured Arlington resident.

❱❱ $1,000 restores utility service for six families who, due to temporary unemployment, are unable to pay for their heat and/or electricity.

❱❱ $5,000 pays the rent for ve Arlington families facing eviction so they do not become homeless.

Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers are needed to organize events and community activities; and to raise funds via social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

Aspire! Afterschool Learning

Aspire! Afterschool Learning (aspire afterschool.org) provides daily afterschool and summer programs to South Arlington children who are at risk of falling through the achievement gap. School closures resulting from Covid-19 have put many kids at even greater disadvantage—particularly those for whom English is not their (or their parents’) rst

language. Aspire! has responded by moving its programs online to provide critical social-emotional and academic support to students.

Headquartered: Arlington

Serves: South Arlington

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $50 supports online learning for a student for one month.

❱❱ $250 purchases online materials and curriculum for one virtual classroom.

❱❱ $500 provides one month of supplies and materials for summer camp.

❱❱ $1,000 provides 10 hours of specialized summer reading/math instruction to students in need.

Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers are currently needed to provide virtual reading, math and homework support online.

Bonder and Amanda Johnson Community Development Corp.

The Bonder and Amanda Johnson Community Development Corp. (facebook. com/BAJCDC) has been promoting economic and social development in and around Arlington’s Nauck community since 1999, focusing on education, healthy living, nancial empowerment and community involvement. The organization provides emergency assistance, supplemental groceries, case management, employment assistance and nancial counseling. Covid-19 has brought increased need for emergency nancial assistance to cover rent, utilities and especially food. Many BAJCDC clients are in crisis, having experienced job loss.

Headquartered: South Arlington

Serves: Arlington County residents

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $250 provides groceries for approximately ve families.

❱❱ $1,000 provides groceries for approximately 20 families.

❱❱ $10,000 provides groceries for approximately 200 families.

Volunteer opportunities: BAJCDC is an AFAC supplemental grocery distribution site. Every Saturday, from 11 a.m. to noon, staff and volunteers distribute groceries to neighbors in need of assistance. Call 703-229-5650 for details.

Borromeo Housing Inc.

Borromeo Housing (borromeohousing. org) provides an education- rst and safe transitional housing program for single homeless mothers (ages 16-22) and their children. BHI’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty two generations at a time by empowering residents to achieve

Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing

New housing under construction

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n guide to giving

self-sufficiency through education. Families living at BHI attend school and also take part in life skills training, parenting classes and counseling, with the goal of being able to live healthily and independently. The nonprofit is more than 93% privately funded, relying heavily on donations, and is bracing for a surge in need due to coronavirus-related hardships.

Headquartered: Arlington

Serves: D.C. metro area with an emphasis on Arlington County residents

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $50 provides diapers for one child for one month.

❱❱ $100 provides groceries and toiletries not covered by federal assistance (WIC) for a family for a month.

❱❱ $250 provides educational supplies for two young mothers to attend school for one semester.

❱❱ $1,000 provides a month of shelter care for one family, including utilities and household goods.

❱❱ $10,000 pays the safe home’s residential mortgage for five months.

Volunteer opportunities: During normal operations, volunteers serve as guest chefs, infant care supply coordinators and skills presenters (weekly), and mentors. In this time of quarantine, BHI needs volunteers to do yard work (from a distance), and to provide meals or supply drop-offs. Individuals with skills that can be taught over Zoom can participate in one of BHI’s “Virtual Group Nights.” Grant writers and researchers are also needed to pursue additional funding opportunities.

Bridges to Independence

Bridges to Independence (bridges2.org) leads individuals and families out of homelessness and into stable, independent futures. Founded in 1985 as the Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless, Bridges renamed itself several years ago and now offers a continuum of support to help families attain housing, financial security and selfsufficiency. Bridges operates Sullivan House, Arlington County’s largest emergency family shelter. Through its rapidrehousing program, Bridges works to find people safe, affordable and permanent housing. Supportive services programs focus on financial empowerment, workforce development and youth development. Bridges currently needs gift cards (for food and personal supplies), financial donations to cover utilities and rent, and job coaching support for those seeking employment opportunities.

Headquartered: Arlington Serves: Arlington County

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $100 provides healthy snacks for 20 youths in after-school programming, including tutoring, mentoring and Bridges’ Kids Empowered programming.

❱❱ $250 provides appropriate attire, résumé preparation and transportation to job interviews for three adults experiencing homelessness.

❱❱ $500 funds partial stipends for two youths participating in the Youth Leadership Academy internship program.

❱❱ $1,000 covers three months of supplies for the shelter, housing approximately 45 parents and children.

Volunteer opportunities: Current virtual opportunities for volunteers 18 and older include creating anti-boredom bundles for youth, launching virtual food drives, helping with data entry and serving on event committees.

Capital Caring Health

As the region’s largest nonprofit provider of hospice and advanced illness care, Capital Caring Health (capitalcaring.org) is there for patients and families 24/7. The Covid-19 crisis has given rise to a whole new set of patient needs requiring immediate response.

Headquartered: Falls Church

Serves: Arlington County, as well as a broad swath of Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $168 covers a week’s worth of meals (three per day) for a patient who is unable to leave home.

❱❱ $250 covers two registered-nurse virtual visits to a hospice patient.

❱❱ $1,000 provides personal protective

gear for 75 nurses.

A pre-pandemic lemonade stand fundraiser. (This year’s charity event will be a virtual art auction.)

❱❱ $10,000 covers 25 days of acute hospice care for two patients at one of Capital Caring’s four inpatient centers.

❱❱ $50,000 buys a decontamination machine to throroughly clean patient rooms and centers.

Volunteer opportunities: Essential services include comfort and companionship for individuals facing advanced illness; respite support for family members; art or music therapy; and counseling for those facing the loss of a loved one. Volunteers also maintain the gardens at the Capital Caring Halquist Center in Arlington (the longest-running inpatient hospice center in the country), and sort, price and sell donated items in the nonprofit’s thrift store in Arlington.

Communities in Schools NOVA

Communities in Schools (cisofnova.org) empowers students to stay in school and achieve in life. Under normal circumstances, school-based counselors bring resources into schools to remove barriers that put students at risk of dropping out. School closures stemming from Covid-19 have left at-risk students more vulnerable. CIS site coordinators are currently providing online mentoring, and checking in with students and their families via phone and video chats. The nonprofit is working with community partners to provide critical food assistance to 225 food-insecure students.

Headquartered: Alexandria

Serves: Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $250 provides school supplies for 10 students.

❱❱ $1,000 provides supplies and snacks for an after-school program for 50 students.

Bridges to Independence

❱❱ $2,500 provides summer learning and enrichment opportunities for 50 students.

❱❱ $5,000 funds a Saturday Academy tutoring program for 500 students.

❱❱ $10,000 funds the coordination of dental, hearing and vision exams for 500+ vulnerable families.

Volunteer opportunities: When schools are open, tutor and homework buddies work with students at partner schools. Volunteers also serve as guest speakers at career events and assist with outreach, marketing and development.

Culpepper Garden

Culpepper Garden (culpeppergarden.org) provides quality affordable housing, assisted-living services and programs to lower-income older persons. It currently serves 267 independent-living residents and 73 assisted-living residents in a caring community where they are able to age in place with dignity. Amid the pandemic, its residents are looking for new ways to stay socially connected while physically distancing from family, friends and neighbors.

Headquartered: Arlington

Serves: Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $100 provides equipment and cleaning supplies to sanitize as an ongoing precaution to protect residents from the threat of Covid-19.

❱❱ $250 provides a month of healthy, nutritious dinners delivered to residents’ rooms while sheltering-in-place.

❱❱ $350 provides an iPad lending library to virtually connect seniors with family, services and other virtual programming.

❱❱ $700 provides seven days of supportive services for one frail, low-income assisted-living resident who can no longer afford the cost of care.

Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers 18 and older can serve as friendly callers to residents who may be isolated and in need of social connection. Culpepper Garden is also seeking volunteers to make and donate homemade fabric face masks for seniors in need.

Doorways

Every day in Arlington, thousands of families, youth and survivors live in unsafe

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and unstable environments. Founded in 1978, Doorways (doorwaysva.org) provides pathways out of homelessness, domestic violence and sexual assault, offering advocacy, shelter and housing with wraparound services, for as long as needed. Its mission is to help members of the community live safe, stable and

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n guide to giving

empowered lives. School/day care closures and layoffs stemming from Covid19 have created added hardship for clients in Doorways’ HomeStart Supportive Housing Program. More are needing help with essential expenses such as rent, groceries and baby care items. Doorways has moved clients from its shelters to hotels to allow for social distancing in accordance with CDC guidelines and needs support to cover those unanticipated expenses.

Headquartered: Arlington Serves: Arlington County

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $50 provides a fresh set of clothing and a welcome kit for a survivor of domestic or sexual violence.

❱❱ $120 provides an art- or play-based therapy session to a child or teen at the Family Home, which provides safe shelter for youth and families experiencing homelessness.

❱❱ $1,260 ($105 per month for 12 months) provides six months of financial counseling for a family building independence and self-sufficiency.

❱❱ $10,000 supports survivors of domestic violence by providing court advocacy for 25 petitions for protective orders, child custody and child support. Volunteer opportunities: Once normal operations resume, volunteers who are 18 or

older and have graduated high school can assist with shelter coverage, children’s activities, interpretation, administrative support and fundraising. Those working directly with clients must complete at least 40 hours of training and a background check. Community groups, including youth and children, can help by organizing collection drives and fundraisers.

Dream Project

Founded in 2011, the Dream Project (dreamproject-va.org) empowers students whose immigration status creates barriers to education. The organization helps students gain access to and succeed in college through scholarships, mentoring, family engagement and advocacy. The Dream Project’s mentoring program focuses on the college application process, financial aid, scholarships and building habits and skills that promote success. Each year, the Dream Project Scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership, community involvement and perseverance in the face of adversity. This year the nonprofit awarded 100 scholarships of $2,000 each, for a total of $200,000. It is currently seeking financial resources to cover essential needs, gift cards to grocery stores and financial aid for summer courses.

Headquartered: Arlington Serves: Virginia

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $50 covers the cost of a college visit for one student.

❱❱ $100 allows one Dream Scholar to attend the Dream Summit conference.

❱❱ $500 allows one student to participate in our mentoring program.

❱❱ $2,000 provides a Dream Scholarship to one student.

Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers serve as mentors to Dream Project students, serve on committees and assist with fundraising events such as the Annual Holiday Dinner.

EcoAction Arlington

EcoAction Arlington (ecoactionarlington. org) protects water and open air by promoting stewardship of our natural resources and by connecting citizens to sustainable lifestyle solutions. The work is community-based and designed to empower individuals with resources, training and collaboration. During this time of pandemic, the group has developed a virtual process for coordinating socially distanced cleanups that help preserve the environment while eliminating the dangers of working in the same space.

Headquartered: Arlington Serves: Arlington County

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $250 buys and plants one tree.

❱❱ $1,000 buys materials to improve the energy- and water-efficiency of the homes of 25 low-income families.

❱❱ $10,000 provides hands-on environmental education programs for 4,000 Arlington students.

Volunteer opportunities: Single-day projects include stream cleanups, invasive plant removal and storm drain-marking projects. Service projects can be customized for business and community groups, including school groups and Scout troops. The Energy Masters program trains volunteers to improve energy efficiency and water conservation through community outreach and building improvements in affordable-housing complexes. This program requires a one-year commitment and is available to both community volunteers and high school or college students, ages 16 and up.

Edu-Futuro

Edu-Futuro (edu-futuro.org) empowers disadvantaged Latino and other immigrant children, youth, first-generation college students and families to succeed and fully contribute to their community.

Doorways

A Doorways client and her daughter

Founded in 1998, the nonpro t emphasizes education, leadership development, parent engagement and workforce development to break the cycle of poverty and overcome the achievement gap. Edu-Futuro is currently providing individual case management to program participants who have lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 crisis. That includes coordinating assistance with rent, utilities, food and other emergency needs.

Headquartered: Arlington Serves: D.C. metro area

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $100 provides one month of internet access for a student whose parents lost their jobs due to Covid-19.

❱❱ $150 covers the registration fees for 10 middle school students to participate in a regional Robotics LEGO League competition.

❱❱ $300 covers the cost of a Chromebook for a student who does not have a computer at home and needs it to access distance learning and research.

❱❱ $500 covers a stipend for a low-income high school student to hold an internship (currently remotely) before beginning his or

her college studies.

❱❱ $1,000 provides two rst-semester (fall 2020) college scholarships for underserved students.

❱❱ $1,500 covers the rental fees of two buses, enabling 90 underserved students to tour a college campus in fall (travel restrictions permitting).

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$5,000 covers the monthly rent of three low-income families where the parents lost their jobs due to Covid-19, allowing their children to study from home.

Encore Learning

Encore Learning (encorelearning.net) is dedicated to providing high-quality lifelong learning and social opportunities at a reasonable cost. The nonpro t offers daytime, college-level courses, clubs and special events for anyone over 50 in the D.C. metro area. Courses are taught by working and retired scholars and business professionals. Donations and member fees provide scal support. With the Covid-19 outbreak, Encore has seen an increase in demand for virtual activities, and correspondingly, a greater need for technical exper-

tise among staff, volunteers and members. The pivot to virtual learning has increased expenses due to acquisition of supporting technology and the cancellation of in-person classes, which led to a short-term revenue loss.

Headquartered: Arlington

Serves: People 50 and older in the D.C. metro area

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $175 provides a scholarship for an annual membership and one class per semester for a limited-income student.

❱❱ $850 provides a laptop for part-time staff.

❱❱ $5,000 covers the cost of one semester’s catalog production: graphic design, printing and postage.

Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers run the organization, with administrative support from part-time staff. Volunteers serve as course instructors who develop, then teach semester-long courses over a 4to 10-week period in weekly sessions of 1½ to 2 hours. Volunteers also recruit new instructors; seek exhibits, speakers and performances for special events; write and edit course catalogs; initiate

n guide to giving

and maintain clubs; advise on office technology; organize social functions; and recruit, train and support class aides.

Homestretch

Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, Homestretch (homestretchva.org) empowers homeless families to secure permanent housing and attain the skills, knowledge and hope they need to achieve self-sufficiency. The nonprofit’s most pressing needs at this time are food gift cards (Aldi, Giant, Safeway), diapers, baby wipes, laundry detergent and toilet paper.

Headquartered: Falls Church Serves: Falls Church City and Fairfax County

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $250 buys shoes for 15 children or 10 gas cards or Metro cards ($25 each) for working parents in the program.

❱❱ $300 buys groceries for three Homestretch families for one week.

❱❱ $1,000 funds much-needed dental work for two or three homeless adults, or car repairs for parents who need their cars to get to work.

❱❱ $15,000 covers nearly all of one family’s housing costs for one year.

Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers tutor adults or children, teach life skills classes, prepare apartments for incoming families, organize donation drives, assist with property landscaping and other service projects, help in the preschool or nursery, cook meals for the after-school teen program and provide pro bono expertise in their given professional fields. Service projects can be adapted to fit school community service commitments or learning credits.

La Cocina VA

La Cocina VA (lacocinava.org) trains, certifies and places low-income immigrants in meaningful jobs in the food-service industry. Most clients are women who have suffered from domestic violence, human trafficking or chronic unemployment. The program has an 85% job placement rate. During the pandemic, however, 90% of program graduates have lost their jobs in restaurants and hotels and are in dire need of economic support. La Cocina VA is building an emergency fund to help its clients pay for rent, utilities and food. It is also creating recovery programs to support them once the sheltering-in-place period is over.

Headquartered: Arlington Serves: D.C. metro area

What a donation provides:

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$250 provides the necessary ingredients for program participants to prepare 50 healthy meals, which are then donated to local families in need.

❱❱ $750 pays for a full month of incubator services for a low-income entrepreneur (access to commercial kitchen, equipment and capacity building training).

❱❱ $3,500 provides culinary training, food certification and job placement for one student.

Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers currently drive and distribute meals daily to affordable housing units and shelters in South Arlington.

Literacy Council of Northern Virginia

The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia (lcnv.org) teaches adults the basic skills of reading, writing, speaking and understanding English so they can access employment and educational opportunities and more fully and equitably participate in the community. Adhering to social distancing guidelines, LCNV is now providing live-streamed group instruction with interactive and whiteboard capabilities. Individuals with technology limitations may also receive instruction through oneto-one phone calls or assignments that are emailed or texted and then returned for teacher feedback.

Headquartered: Falls Church

Serves: Northern Virginia

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $85 provides a student scholarship.

❱❱ $100 trains two volunteer instructors.

❱❱ $500 supports five families in LCNV’s Family Learning Program.

❱❱ $1,000 provides a distance learning opportunity to 22 students.

❱❱ $10,000 covers an intensive survival and job readiness literacy class for 10 refugee women.

Volunteer opportunities: Under normal circumstances, volunteer teachers lead classroom instruction two to three times a week per three-month semester. Class aides support learners in the classroom once or twice a week. Tutors provide supplemental instruction before or after class. Assessment specialists assess learners for appropriate program placement and measure their progress six times a year. Others help with class registration, outreach, office tasks and special projects.

New Hope Housing

New Hope Housing (newhopehousing. org) serves more than 1,600 people a year by providing shelter, rapid rehous-

ing, permanent supportive housing, support services and outreach programs for homeless individuals across Northern Virginia. In 2019, the nonprofit helped rehouse more than 400 people. New Hope works to end the cycle of homelessness by offering the services people need to change their lives. Covid-19 has produced an immediate need for food, clothing and personal protective equipment. However, organizers anticipate that the biggest needs will soon be funds for rental assistance and security deposits to stave off evictions in the fall.

Headquartered: Fairfax County Serves: Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church and Fairfax

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $250 provides a new bed for someone moving out of homelessness.

❱❱ $1,000 subsidizes a month of housing for a formerly homeless individual.

❱❱ $10,000 provides up to 30 employment scholarships allowing recipients to obtain certifications needed for better employment opportunities.

Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers can still assist with meal preparation and delivery, tutoring, résumé writing, job search assistance and virtual game nights. Organizers hope to soon reenlist volunteers for building repairs and maintenance, landscaping, yard work and office tasks. Commitments can be one-time or ongoing. Internships are available for students focusing on careers in social services or communications and marketing.

OAR of Arlington, Alexandria and Falls Church

OAR (OARonline.org) works with participants of all genders who are returning to the community from incarceration. The nonprofit works to ensure a safe reentry, offering alternative sentencing options to youth and adults to reduce incarceration through community service. It also seeks to promote equity in the legal system and in society as a whole by addressing systemic injustices created by racism.

Headquartered: Arlington Serves: Arlington County, the City of Alexandria and the City of Falls Church

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $100 provides pro-social activities for five participants recently released from incarceration.

❱❱ $250 provides ID retrieval for at least six participants, which is needed to secure housing and employment.

❱❱ $500 provides up to three months of

case management for one participant.

❱❱ $1,000 provides up to one month of transportation for up to 15 participants.

❱❱ $2,500 provides up to a year’s worth of reentry services for one participant.

❱❱ $10,000 covers the cost of one parttime employment specialist for one year.

Phoenix Bikes

Phoenix Bikes (phoenixbikes.org) educates youth, promotes bicycling and builds community through its full-service bike shop on Columbia Pike. Its free, year-round Earn-a-Bike program teaches bike repair basics to youth ages 12-17, and enables them to earn a bike for themselves. The youth programs are currently suspended, but the organization is looking into restarting some classes online.

Headquartered: Arlington Serves: D.C. metro area

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $20 provides a new floor pump for youth learning how to fix flat tires.

❱❱ $40 provides one U-lock and helmet for an Earn-a-Bike program graduate.

❱❱ $150 provides new cables (for shifting

and braking) for 15 Earn-a-Bike students. Volunteer opportunities: Check the website for updates as social distancing restrictions are lifted.

Phoenix House Mid-Atlantic (PHMA)

Over the past 58 years, Phoenix House (phoenixma.org), formerly Vanguard Services Unlimited, has helped more than 50,000 patients reclaim their lives from the ravages of substance use disorders and related mental health issues. Locally, the nonprofit has five locations that house nine programs, including classes, outpatient counseling, day treatment and residential care. Demeter House treats women, including pregnant women and moms with young children. Nuevo Dia serves Spanish-speaking men. The Phoenix Program provides residential treatment for men. With the arrival of coronavirus, PHMA has seen an increase in calls to its welcome center for treatment information, as well as an increase in the number of assessments being performed by clinical staff. It is seeking donations of personal protec-

tive equipment, masks, disinfectant and gloves to keep patients and staff safe and healthy.

Headquartered: D.C. metro area

Serves: D.C. metro area

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $250 provides needed Covid-19 supplies for patients and staff.

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$1,000 provides residential and outpatient services for an uninsured or underinsured patient.

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$5,000 provides much-needed computer hardware and software for the provision of telehealth services.

Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers serve on PHMA’s board and committees, and help with administrative duties in marketing and fundraising. PHMA offers unpaid internships for students interested in counseling, finance, marketing and fundraising careers.

Postpartum Support Virginia (PSVa)

Postpartum Support Virginia (postpartum va.org) provides educational programs, outreach and recovery resources for women suffering from perinatal mood

■ guide to giving

Food donations for health care workers from local restaurants

Virginia Hospital Center

and anxiety disorders (PMADs). PMADs are the No. 1 complication of pregnancy and childbirth, affecting more than 20% of childbearing women, yet for many remain undiagnosed and untreated.

PSVa works to ensure that women are screened for PMADs and provides free social support groups, peer mentors, links to specially trained mental health professionals and more. PSVa is the only Virginia nonpro t focused specically on maternal mental health.

Headquartered: Arlington

Serves: All of Virginia, with 32 support groups statewide and speci c training programs for nurses and mental health providers throughout the commonwealth.

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $100 funds the operation of PSVa’s Warm Line for one week.

❱❱ $250 pays for one month of free support group meetings.

❱❱ $500 pays for a one-day nurses training session on how to talk about and screen for PMADs.

❱❱ $1,000 provides a full-day training session for peer mentor and social support volunteers.

❱❱ $10,000 funds a full-year program for a hospital or community center that includes a twice-monthly social support group, staff education, information cards

and postpartum planning packets for distribution to moms.

Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers are trained to lead social support groups or become peer mentors, or to eld calls to the PSVa Warm Line. They also assist with fundraisers and special events, community outreach, social media support and administrative tasks. Internship opportunities and service hours are available for high school and college students.

PRS and PRS CrisisLink

PRS (prsinc.org) provides behavioral health, crisis intervention and suicide prevention services throughout Northern Virginia. Its vision is to change and save lives by empowering hope, safety, recovery, wellness, independence and community integration. Services include the PRS CrisisLink hotline, textline and chat, as well as Recovery Academy day programs, employment and community support services and supported housing. The coronavirus pandemic has increased demand for telehealth mental health services, and the PRS call center continues to operate 24/7 through remote operations. As clients experience temporary unemployment, the organization is also seeing an increase in food insecurity, and alterna-

tive needs for transportation and rental assistance.

Headquartered: Oakton

Serves: Northern Virginia

What a donation provides:

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$250 sponsors training for one PRS CrisisLink hotline volunteer who can answer 450 calls per year.

❱❱ $500 provides emergency support for clients experiencing job loss during the pandemic (support may include gift cards for food insecurity, rental assistance and continuation of PRS services during gaps in Medicaid funding).

❱❱ $1,000 funds scholarships for four PRS Recovery Academy clients to take an adult education course or class at a community college to complete their GED or undergraduate degree.

Volunteer opportunities: Hotline/textline workers provide crisis intervention and suicide prevention services via phone and/or text to community members calling the CrisisLink hotline. Volunteers must be 21 or older, undergo 60 hours of training and make a weekly commitment at the Oakton call center for a minimum of one year. Volunteer opportunities also are available in PRS Recovery Academies and the administrative of ce.

Shirlington Employment and Education Center

SEEC (SEECjobs.org) provides a safe venue for day laborers—primarily immigrants—who await employers in need of short-term workers. Because employment has come to a standstill during the coronavirus crisis, SEEC is currently seeking donations to purchase meals from local Latino restaurants to provide to the workers. In addition, SEEC is seeking donations of $100 that workers can use to pay their landlords.

Headquartered: Arlington (Arlington Mill Community Center)

Serves: Arlington

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $100 provides rental assistance for one worker for one month.

❱❱ $200 to $300 provides meals for 30 day laborers from a local restaurant.

❱❱ $5,000 provides meals for day laborers for almost a month.

Volunteer opportunities: SEEC volunteers assist clients in nding employment and provide tutoring for day laborers.

Virginia Hospital Center

A not-for-pro t, independent teaching hospital, Virginia Hospital Center (virginia hospitalcenter.com) is a member of the

Mayo Clinic Care Network and has 14 Centers of Excellence, including the Reinsch Pierce Family Center for Breast Health; Cardiology/Cardiovascular Surgery; Orthopedics/Total Joint Replacement; the Hitt Family Center for Radiation Oncology; Urology; and Obstetrics. In addition, the hospital operates Virginia Hospital Center Pediatrics, which provides comprehensive, affordable health care to infants, children and youth under age 19 whose family income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line, and who are not covered by private insurance. Care is provided regardless of a family’s ability to pay.

Headquartered: Arlington

Serves: D.C. metro area

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $20 covers one point-of-care test ( u, RSV or strep) for one child in need.

❱❱ $120 covers one acute care visit for a sick child.

❱❱ $150 covers a preventive visit for a well child, or covers one hour of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation for a patient recovering from a heart attack.

❱❱ $250 provides support-group services for a patient undergoing cancer treatment.

❱❱ $350 pays for one month of medication for an uninsured person with a chronic medical condition.

❱❱ $1,500 purchases a “crash cart” used to resuscitate patients in respiratory failure.

❱❱ $5,000 supports a nurse’s participation in advanced clinical training, bringing the latest medical advances directly to the patient at the bedside.

Volunteer opportunities: Available to those 16 and older, the hospital’s Volunteer Services Group under normal circumstances provides various kinds of support to patient representative services, inpatient hospital units, outpatient services and specialized services. In addition, the Virginia Hospital Center Auxiliary members help with wheelchair transportation, gift shops, bookmobile and reception desks.

YMCA Arlington

YMCA Arlington (ymcadc.org) serves more than 4,000 Arlington youths annually with child care, summer camps, sports, aquatics, tennis and other family programs. The Y also offers wellness programs for all ages, and scholarships and nancial assistance to those in need. Over the last decade, the Y has provided more than $950,000 in nan-

cial assistance to children, families and seniors. Its current outreach includes blood drives in partnership with the American Red Cross and produce/meal distribution in partnership with Keany Produce and Child Care Resources. Headquartered: Arlington Serves: Arlington, Falls Church, parts of Alexandria and Washington, D.C.

What a donation provides:

❱❱ $1,750 covers ve weeks of camp for one child.

❱❱ $2,500 provides nine months of before- and after-school care for a working parent.

❱❱ $5,000 provides one year of healthy living classes and activities for seven senior couples.

❱❱ $13,500 allows 25 teens to participate in the Model General Assembly for one year. That program is designed to introduce high school students to the legislative process of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Legislation is debated in committees and on the oors of the actual Virginia Senate and House of Delegates.

❱❱ $25,000 provides free after-school enrichment programs at elementary schools in challenged neighborhoods throughout Arlington.

Volunteer opportunities: In 2019, 158 volunteers contributed more than 2,550 hours of support to the Arlington branch and its surrounding community. Under normal circumstances, volunteers assist with birthday party setup, activities and cleanup; after-school programs (in areas such as art, theater, sports, home-

work or cooking); and community wellness programming. Individuals with 1-2 years of tennis teaching experience are needed to help tennis pros run the afterschool junior tennis program. Check for updates on volunteer needs as social distancing mandates are lifted. n

Volunteer Arlington

Looking to donate your time and talents but don’t know where to start? Not sure what’s needed as the community navigates the fallout from Covid-19? Volunteer Arlington can guide you toward making a difference. A program of the Leadership Center for Excellence in partnership with the Arlington County government, Volunteer Arlington connects individuals, groups and businesses with nonprofits in need of support. The website offers a matching tool that can help you identify the volunteer opportunities that best match your skills, location and availability. Visit volunteer. leadercenter.org for details.

YMCA Arlington

A food drive at the Y

Designer Marika Meyer reupholstered the owners’ breakfast chairs in Kravet Windward-Regatta fabric. Pendant light by Julie Neill Designs.

ANGIE SECKINGER

Aroun� I A River Runs

Situated on a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, this vacation home is a cool drink of water with 180-degree river views.

By Jennifer Sergent

AS AN ARCHITECT in Annapolis, Cathy Purple Cherry designs a lot of waterfront homes. But this one was special.

“Very few pieces of property happen to be where the land curves and offers the opportunity for two or three magnificent views— not just a straight-on parallel with the water,” says the principal and founder of Purple Cherry Architects. It was on this particular

site, near where Island Creek meanders off the Choptank River and around a point in Oxford, Maryland, that Purple Cherry was asked to design a new vacation retreat for an Arlington family. Their extended brood had outgrown the existing house there.

The owners, whose primary home is in Country Club Hills, had initially purchased a 1950s farmhouse that sat on the proper-

The dining room is designed around the owners’ extensive collection of blue-and-white porcelain.

ty in 2004. But with three bedrooms for the couple, their two children, the wife’s parents and her sister’s family, and the husband’s four siblings and their families, “there was a lot of overflow,” says the architect.

The old house was also segmented into rooms that didn’t flow well, so everyone inevitably ended up crowded into the small kitchen.

Purple Cherry worked alongside Bethesda designer Marika Meyer— who had decorated the family’s Arlington home—to create a warm and welcoming getaway where every room has a water view, and the open kitchen-living room can comfortably accommodate large numbers.

Virtually every architecture and design decision considered the outdoors and the home’s orientation to the water. Though it spans a generous 8,000-plus square feet, the new house is just one room deep, with a central structure and projecting wings that “hinge” inward in front to mirror the curve of the creek in back.

Essentially, Purple Cherry says, “it’s a Georgian country manor home modified to capture the views and the light of the waterfront.”

The owners wanted their place to look like it was old and had been added onto over time, so the architect designed it as a series of connected structures clad in alternating materials such as stone and clapboard siding.

Clockwise from top left: The mudroom features blue floor tile, board-and-batten paneling and a ship-themed roman shade by Kravet. In the sitting room, pale green wallpaper by Cole & Son complements window-seat cushions upholstered in Thibaut fabric. A butler’s pantry holds barware inside custom-painted Lyndon Heath cabinets.

n

a river runs around it

Inside, Meyer went with a palette of maritime blues and soft greens, speaking the same language as the property’s natural surroundings. Her decision to forgo draperies on much of the main level almost needs no explanation. “The house is such a story about the exterior and the property,” she says. “We didn’t need to lean on window treatments in ways that we often do to soften a room.”

Local builder Mike Butler, along with trim carpenter Dan McPherson and custom cabinetmakers from Lyndon Heath in Pennsylvania, executed the architect’s designs with exacting detail, using fine millwork and extensive built-ins to give each room character and scale. “Millwork humanizes the house, makes it more comfortable,” Purple Cherry explains.

Although the family spends much of their time in the kitchen and living area, the dining room is also a key space, given its position in the floor plan: it’s on axis with the creek as it heads out toward the Choptank. “The dining room won the long view, end of story,” says the architect. In that room, prominent built-ins display the owners’ large collection of blue-and-white porcelain.

Above: Bed shams in a guest room feature Meyer’s own textile patterns. Drapery fabric by Kravet. Rug by C.G. Coe & Son.

Top right: Jaunty wallpaper by Lee Jofa lines a hallway leading to a home office with teak builtins by Lyndon Heath Cabinetry.

Right: The house is designed to resemble an old manor that’s been added onto over time.

“The dining room represents the story of this house. It can be dressed up for the holidays, or dressed down for a Tuesday morning breakfast,” says Meyer, who blended embroidered fabrics with a distressed table and sisal rug to convey a sense of casual elegance. It’s a combination “that really epitomizes the decisions we made throughout the house.”

After the project was completed in early 2019, the family was overjoyed to have a getaway spot where everyone could congregate and feel comfortable. Little did they know how much it would come to their rescue once Covid-19 put life on hold.

The wife’s mother, who lives alone in Annapolis, took up residence in the first-floor suite for the duration of the quarantine. As this story was reported, the couple’s son was continuing his college studies at his great-grandfather’s desk in the upstairs guest room, while the husband had claimed a new work-at-home base in a teak-paneled office off the master suite.

The best friend of the couple’s teenage daughter— separated from her parents who live abroad—moved into the guesthouse on the property.

“It’s working in ways that we didn’t anticipate,” the wife says. “It really is a delightful place to shelter.” n

Jennifer Sergent is a design writer based in Arlington. Read her blog, DC by Design, at jennifersergent.com.

The spacious kitchen-living room forms the core of the house and opens to the pool patio in back. Counter stools by Woodbridge Furniture. Island pendants by Remains Lighting.

Even the master bath has spectacular views of the water.

A boat house holds the family's sailboat.

By Jenny Sullivan

Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Co.

John Snedden’s barbecue joint on Washington Boulevard has always been a local go-to for picnics, backyard parties and easy family meals, and so it remains. Order pulled chicken, brisket, pit beef, sausage or pork by the pound. Or go whole-hog, so to speak, with a Feast for Five package ($70.99) that includes one rack of baby back ribs, two half chickens, a pound of chopped pork, potato rolls and three pints of salads and sides— from coleslaw to corn pudding—plus Rocklands’ signature barbecue sauce. A second family meal option, serving four, features a pound of pulled chicken, a pound of beef brisket, three pints of sides, potato rolls, cornbread and barbecue sauce ($56). Rocklands is a proud partner in Feed the Fight, a charity that supports local restaurants and frontline health care workers. On the occasion of its 30th year in business, the eatery is also the recipient of a 2020 Honorary Milestone RAMMY Award from Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington.  // 3471 Washington Blvd., Arlington, rocklands.com

Lebanese Taverna

There’s hummus and then there’s Lebanese Taverna’s hummus. If your family tends to power through it faster than a season of Outlander on a rainy day, consider stocking up with a “hommus kit” that, for $29, gives you two pounds of the addictive stuff, plus toppers such as pine nuts, ground meat and harissa, along with pita bread and veggies for dipping. Order a family meal for four and you’ll get hummus with that, too. Enjoy it with garlic-lemon roast chicken, roasted potatoes and Lebanese salad ($75); or kibbeh (stuffed beef and lamb fritters) with yogurt salad and Lebanese salad (also $75). The restaurant is also selling the dough for its Arabic bread, which works great as pizza crust, according to co-owner Grace Abi-Najm Shea. // 5900 Washington Blvd. (Westover) and 1101 S. Joyce St. (Pentagon Row), Arlington; 2001 International Drive (Tysons), McLean; lebanesetaverna.com

Picnic fare from Rocklands

Lebanese Taverna

■ feasts to go

The Liberty Tavern

If Liberty’s Monday night fried chicken special has always been a family favorite, we’ve got good news: You can still have it—plus mac ’n’ cheese and collard greens—in takeout form. That’s not all. Each night of the week brings a different family dinner special, including a few fan favorites from sister restaurant Lyon Hall (think schnitzel and mussel pots) and other dishes that change seasonally, so you can eat well and never get bored. Dinner for four will typically set you back a modest $60-$85, depending on the entrée, and includes sides, salad and/or fresh bread. Round out your order with a bottle of wine ($10-$20) or a six-pack of craft beer ($12). Did we mention that owners Mark Fedorchak, Stephen Fedorchak and Brian Normile are 2020 RAMMY award finalists for “Restaurateur of the Year”? Their kitchens at Liberty Barbecue and Northside Social are offering family meals, too, with options like fajitas, ribs and lasagna. Watch for Northside’s Pop-Up Family Nights on Fridays and Saturdays. // 3195 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon), thelibertytavern.com

The Renegade

If you like mixing and matching, you’ll love what Patrick Crump’s got going on at The Renegade. The Meals 2 Go menu allows you to order three-course meals for parties of four, six or eight ($20-$23 per person), cherry-picking from a selection of starters, entrées and sides. Depending on what you and your kin are craving, that might translate to a Fattoush salad with lamb chops, basmati rice, Moroccan carrots and roasted eggplant. Or pork loin with Caesar salad, orzo salad, grilled asparagus and ratatouille. Certain menu items can also be ordered by the pound, including the chef’s “dangerous mac ’n’ cheese.” There’s dessert too—like bread pudding or baked apple crisp—for an extra $4 per person. At press time, the stage remained dark at this café and live music venue. But the online order form includes the option of making a donation to support your favorite local band. // 3100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, renegadeva.com

Fried chicken from The Liberty Tavern

Fire-crusted lamb chops at The Renegade

Mussels from Lyon Hall

Oby Lee

If you’re tired of the same old same old, here’s something different. Every Wednesday, Oby Lee chef and co-owner Ula Piotrowska whips up a traditional Polish feast ($44 for two; $82 for four) with goodies like grilled kielbasa and sauerkraut, chicken Kiev with dill sauce, or kopytk (potato dumplings) with porcini mushroom sauce and meatballs. Equally tempting are the sides—buckwheat-walnut salad, beet salad, four-bean casserole, housemade pierogies—and desserts such as strawberry-cream cake, chocolate cake roll or Bavarian cream puffs. Pair your dinner with a chef’s choice bottle of wine for another $20. And though they’re not part of the prix fixe dinner, might we suggest throwing in an order or two of the café’s

signature crepes or chocolate-covered strawberries? Just because.

// 3000 N. Washington Blvd., Arlington, obylee.com

2941 Restaurant

Social distancing continues, but there are birthdays and anniversaries to celebrate. Let chef Bertrand Chemel hook you up with a special-occasion dinner starring roasted leg of lamb, filet mignon with thyme jus, poached lobster or yuzumarinated sea bass—plus your choice of soup, salad, greens and sides that are much more than an afterthought. We’re talking composed accompaniments such as porcini velouté, haricots verts with shallot confit, and crispy rice with ramps and pickled ginger. The restaurant’s Celebrate at Home packages can be scaled to feed groups of four ($150-$245), eight ($300-$490) or 12 ($450$735), and they include dessert and sparkling wine. You can even customize your own cake (vanilla chiffon with whitechocolate-raspberry mousse, or double chocolate chiffon with chocolate mousse filling) with a personalized message. // 2941 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church, 2941.com

Stuffed pork loin from Oby Lee

n feasts to go

Ambar Clarendon

How about a smorgasbord to go with your family game night? Known and loved for its bottomless Balkan feasts, Ambar Clarendon is now packaging up the experience in customizable grab-andgo repasts, which you can build to match the size of your household and appetites. A six-course Balkan feast for two ($39.99), includes complimentary pita bread, cornbread, house-made pickles and dessert, plus one dippable spread (try the

red pepper and feta), one main course (whether you’re craving roasted lamb, beef short-rib goulash, pork belly-stuffed cabbage or wild mushroom risotto) and three sides. If you’re extra hungry or you want to have leftovers, throw in some veal soup or fried chicken for another $7.99. Ambar’s menu also includes craft cocktails, beer and wine to go. // 2901 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon), ambarrestaurant.com

A Balkan feast to go from Ambar

COURTESY PHOTO

Fire Works Pizza

The woodburning ovens are turning out chewy-crusted pizzas for sure, but the restaurant’s rotating Family Meals for 4 menu ($30-$45) also includes satisfying mains like chicken Florentine spaghetti, beef short ribs, pulled pork, fried chicken and steak frites, plus desserts such as tiramisu, chocolate mousse or carrot cake for another $12. On weekends, a family brunch deal ($25) features pancakes, French toast or quiche, plus sides, and mimosa or Bloody Mary kits for an additional $15-$20. // 2350 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, fireworkspizza.com

Quarterdeck

Had to cancel that beach trip? We know, it hurts. So here’s an idea for a fun and therapeutic dinner on the deck or patio: Throw down some newspaper, cue your favorite yacht rock station, chill some Natty Boh and pound out your frustrations on a pile of Old Bay-dusted jumbo steamed blue crabs ($150/dozen). They’re in season now, and they’re big. Don’t forget to add peel-and-eat shrimp, fries, hush puppies and corn to your order. Quarterdeck has been serving up Chesapeake’s finest and all those guilty-pleasure sides from its modest little shack in Fort Myer Heights since 1979, and the tradition continues. If you can’t get to the shore, it’s the next best thing. // 1200 Fort Myer Drive, Arlington, quarterdeckarlington.com

food from Fire Works Pizza

Supper from SER

SER

Javier and Christiana Candon are big on Sunday suppers at their family home in Arlington. Their Spanish eatery in Ballston is providing similar meals for your table on any day you choose. Try the Chuleton de Buey dinner featuring 32 ounces of Black Angus bone-in rib-eye steak ($90) or the Pollo Asado option of a whole roasted chicken ($40). Both meals serve two to three people and include sides of mashed potatoes and garlic green beans. Also supremely shareable are the seven house paellas ($48-$90), with proteins such as rabbit, duck, chicken chorizo, monkfish, shellfish and whole Maine lobster in various combinations. For an extra $12, you can donate a meal to the restaurant’s Meals of Hope campaign for frontline workers. And for $80, you can stock your wine fridge with a Warrior’s Wine Box, which includes four sommelier-selected bottles (check SER’s social media feeds for the scoop on virtual wine tastings). Housemade sangrias (red, white or sparkling) are also sold by the liter for takeout ($25).

// 1110 N. Glebe Road (Ballston), Arlington, serrestaurant.com

Thompson Italian

Consider it the food version of a big hug. The Little City trattoria is offering cook-at-home meal kits featuring chef Gabe Thompson’s house-made pastas by the pound ($12$14) and marinara or beef Bolognese sauce by the quart ($18-$24). Each meal package serves four and comes with cooking instructions. While you’re at it, sneak in a slice of Katherine Thompson’s to-die-for olive oil cake ($10) or chocolate budino ($9). You won’t be sorry; Katherine is a “Pastry Chef of the Year” finalist in this year’s RAMMY Awards. And for the grown-ups? Start the evening off right with a batch of roasted-orange Negroni cocktails ($40), which includes enough for four or five stiff drinks. As you’re placing your order, check the box to buy an extra dinner for a first responder or caregiver ($8) and share the love. // 124 N. Washington St., Falls Church, thompsonitalian.com

Thompson’s rigatoni Bolognese, butter lettuce salad and chocolate budino

Negronis to go

n feasts to go

Mussel Bar & Grille

The lobster mac ’n’ cheese and braised pork shank with jalapeño honey have long been customer favorites. Now you can get those and other dishes to go as the centerpieces of two-course meals priced at $29 per person, each with salad and sides (the pork shank, for example, is paired with roasted mushrooms, onions and potatoes). Chef Brian McBride says the menu will evolve seasonally, but at press time the choices also included a seafood bake with saffron rice, and he was working on a mustard-crusted rack of lamb and pot au feu. To keep things family-friendly, Mussel Bar plans to add more kid foods (e.g., burgers and pizza) to its a la carte takeout offerings, plus several “salads in a jar.” Shareable cocktails ($18), wines by the bottle and beers are also available to go. // 800 N. Glebe Road (Ballston), Arlington, musselbar.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Mussell Bar’s seafood bake with shellfish, corn, potatoes and sausage

Rebellion on the Pike

Offered daily, Rebellion on the Pike’s family meals tend to sell out. Travis Weiss, a co-owner and culinary director of parent company PROOFhospitality, says his “bar for the people” has found its sweet spot with comforting mains like Peruvian charcoal-grilled chicken, meatloaf, fajitas, chicken parm and salmon, along with add-ons such as Brussels sprouts, collards, mac ’n’ cheese, baked beans and its ever-popular “big ass cookies.” Rebellion’s familystyle meals (which generally range from $25-$45 per package) are ample enough to satisfy a party of four, and the specials change weekly. The kitchen has been known to act on requests from customers, and was happy to oblige with a recent chicken-nuggets night for kids. One constant is the “Sunday Savior” meal featuring a house rendition of a fried chicken sandwich with waffle fries and Rebellion sauce. Follow Rebellion’s social media feeds for daily specials. The bar has cocktails to go, too. // 2900 Columbia Pike, Arlington, rebelliononthepike.com

Rebellion’s “Sunday Savior” special

n feasts to go

Sfoglina Pasta House

Chef Fabio Trabocchi wants you to eat well and be well. House-made pastas are the main attraction in a series of elegant three-course dinners for two from Sfoglina in Rosslyn ($78$88). The flavors change seasonally, but spring selections included lamb ragu rigatoni with heirloom tomato salad and truffle brownie bars; pasta primavera with cream of asparagus soup and tiramisu; and campanelle with clams, tomatoes and chilies, plus smoked salmon-tomato salad and chocolate mousse cake. The bar, meanwhile, is mixing up “wellness” cocktails featuring super foods (plus booze) and sold in individual pouches or bottles to go. Take the edge off with a “Black & Blue” (vodka, Calvados, blackberry and blueberry syrup, lemon juice and club soda) or a “Fabio & Chill” (gin, St. Germain, cucumber juice, lime juice and tonic). // 1100 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Rosslyn), sfoglinapasta.com/rosslyn n

What sets Monument Home Loans apart?

Our service. While our interest rates are quite competitive, our customer service is what sets us apart. From your first phone call until your final signature, our loan officers and processing team are fully accessible whenever needed, day or night, weekday or weekend. We also understand that mortgages should not be one-size-fits-all; that’s why we offer one of the widest arrays of mortgage products in the DMV, and work closely with each client to identify the program that best meets their needs and goals. As a result, we enable people from all walks of life to experience a smooth, predictable process that results in the best mortgage for their circumstances – and to have an experienced loan officer with them every step of the way.

Wellness cocktails from Sfoglina

Pictured left to right: Robert Martinson, Branch Manager NMLS#470762; Joe Prentice, Sales Manager NMLS#1610163; Ru Toyama, Loan Officer NMLS#1528382; Scott Gordon, Processing Manager NMLS#483765

SHOWCASE

LUXURY CONDOS, APARTMENTS AND TOWNHOMES

CRAFTMARK HOMES

Fillmore Place: 5112 Fillmore Ave., Alexandria, VA 22311 | 703-989-6662

Liberty: 9099 Power House Road, Lorton, VA 22079 | 703-507-6882

Info@CraftmarkHomes.com | CraftmarkHomes.com

BIO

As a family-owned company guided by our founder’s hands-on passion, we've been setting the trend for more than 27 years as a hometown builder. The luxurious living environments we create offer remarkable quality and architectural design, thoughtful indoor and outdoor living spaces, and the very best included features.

PROJECT

Ready for a change of scenery? Craftmark Homes is building in exceptional NOVA communities!

Find extraordinary rooftop terrace townhomes starting from the low $800s at Fillmore Place of West Alexandria, minutes from the new Amazon HQ2 and Old Town Alexandria. Or, explore private elevator townhomes at Liberty in Lorton, from the upper $600s, close to the best of Fairfax in a vibrant community full of amenities. Craftmark also builds in close-in communities in D.C., Montgomery County and Annapolis.

Experience the Craftmark difference today - from our spacious oor plans to an industry-leading standard features list, including gourmet kitchens, private outdoor living spaces, attached garages and much more. Visit CraftmarkHomes.com to take a 3D tour of our model homes and watch community videos. We have quick move-in homes available, so you don't have to wait to make your move - your dream home is available right now and ready for you!

THE MATHER

Future Site Location: 7929 Westpark Dr., Tysons, VA 22102

703-348-3752 | www.TheMatherTysons.com Info@TheMatherTysons.com

BIO

Mather is a unique not-for-profit organization headquartered in Evanston, Illinois. Mather has served older adults for nearly 80 years, developing and implementing Ways to Age Well.SM Mather maintains a constant focus on mission and strategic planning for the future, with an ongoing emphasis on impact, significance and sustainability.

PROJECT

The Mather, projected to open in 2023, is a forward-thinking Life Plan Community for those 62+ where you can let go of worries and embrace opportunities. It’s smack dab in the middle of it all, bordering a three-acre urban park and within walking distance of rail service, retail and restaurants. The Mather’s apartment homes start from 850 square feet up to 3,300 square feet, featuring expansive views, luxury finishes and innovative smart home technology. Entrance fees start at $660,000. The Mather will feature 38,000+ square feet of amenities, including multiple restaurants, fitness center, indoor pool, screening room, library, art studio, meeting spaces and more! It will be the first Life Plan Community in Tysons. Life Plan Communities are lifestyle communities in which people can pursue new passions and priorities, with a plan in place that supports aging well. Renderings and information shown here are subject to change without notice.

THE BARTLETT

520 12TH Street S., Arlington, VA 22202

844-861-7097 | TheBartlett.com

BIO

JBG SMITH is an S&P 400 company that owns, operates, invests in and develops a dynamic portfolio of high-growth mixed-use properties in and around Washington, D.C. Its portfolio currently comprises 20.8 million square feet of high-quality office, multifamily and retail assets, and 18.7 million square feet of mixed-used development opportunities. JBG SMITH also serves as the exclusive developer for Amazon’s new headquarters in National Landing.

PROJECT

Introducing The Bartlett—private residences with lavish amenities, conveniences and services that make living easier and better. More than a place to live, The Bartlett is a neighborhood in and of itself. Imagine home in an entirely new way - a host of boutique services revolves around you, while a 24-hour concierge makes short work of everyday to-do lists. Dry cleaning, dog walking, housekeeping? Done, done, and done.

Unwind or entertain: Whatever the mission, your apartment is ready. Modern kitchens with granite and sleek stainless steel, light-filled living spaces, spa-like baths with Italian porcelain and deep-soaking tubs, and million-dollar views of the D.C. skyline, the breathtaking Potomac River and inspiring national monuments. Eco-friendly and energy-efficient touches throughout make you feel good about your environmental footprint!

BRAMBLETON

42395 Ryan Road, Ashburn, VA 20148

703-740-9714 | Brambleton.com

BIO

Every great plan starts with an idea, and that’s how Brambleton began 18 years ago by Anthony Soave, the original Brambletonian. Mr. Soave envisioned a master planned community near D.C. where residents could find the perfect work/life balance and, quite simply, get more out of life.

PROJECT

Rooted in Loudoun County, Brambleton is conveniently located between the big city and the beautiful countryside. It’s a short drive east into Washington, D.C. to soak up the culture and history of the nation’s capital. If a rural escape is more your style, it’s an equally short drive west to enjoy the great outdoors and agricultural richness of Loudoun County. There are countless ways to enjoy living in Brambleton, with more things to do here than any community around.

A thriving, convenient Town Center puts you minutes to groceries, restaurants, doctors, movie theaters and a health club. There is Brambleton’s award-winning neighborhood schools, 18+ miles of paved trails, pools, parks and recreation areas, plus a weekly Farmers’ marketplace. All conveniently located to the new homes in the Downtown Brambleton neighborhood, featuring award-winning builders Knutson, Miller & Smith, Van Metre and Winchester Homes. Visit Brambleton.com

MISSION LOFTS

5600 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041 571-419-5040 | LiveMissionLofts.com

BIO

Highland Square Holdings is the nation’s leader in creating iconic live/work communities. With a consumer-first mentality, we craft our best-in-class properties to focus on what you need, whether it is living, working or both. We succeed by helping you succeed and look great in the process.

PROJECT

Discover a new way of living at Mission Lofts in Falls Church, Virginia, representing Fairfax County’s only live/work apartment community. Each hand-crafted one and two-bedroom loft can be your envy-inspiring apartment, sun-drenched office or impossible to find live/work space. The lofts include industrial finishes, tall ceilings, designer kitchens, massive windows, huge showers, colossal closets and light-filled spaces. Membership to the pet-friendly community includes private conference areas, comfortable coworking spaces, a whole-body fitness center, demonstration gathering kitchen, outdoor dance hall, pet spa, vertical farming, sound-proof music rooms and abundant parking. Perfect for entrepreneurs, small business owners or anyone who either works from home or is just looking for an awesome loft apartment, Mission Lofts is the only place that provides you with the flexibility and tools to successfully run your business from your home. Mission Lofts offers a way of life simply not available elsewhere. See it for yourself before they’re all gone. Schedule your in-person or online tour today.

PIERCE - NOW SELLING!

SALES GALLERY NOW OPEN 1525 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 571-312-0724 | www.PierceVA.com

BIO

The Mayhood Company is the most reputable high-end condominium sales and marketing firm in the greater Washington DC area, having completed over 200 projects, and selling over 30,000 residences. Mayhood blends over 30 years of experience with today’s most exciting innovations to identify the best strategies for every project.

PROJECT

Discover a new standard for elevated condominium living at Pierce—Arlington’s most distinctive new residences. Pierce will be one of three iconic residential towers perfectly located in The Highlands community of Rosslyn. Soaring 27 stories tall and clad in a shimmering glass façade, Pierce is designed and built for a bright future with layouts to suit your lifestyle. Introducing 104 light-filled residences, each one- to three-bedroom condo will offer the ultimate in luxury and convenience. Take in the majestic views of the Potomac and the DC skyline and enjoy exclusive amenities like a luxe club room, resort-style pool, two-story fitness center, and rooftop entertainment terrace. With easy access to street level retail, diverse dining, local hot spots, Rosslyn Highlands Park and the Metro, everything you need is right at your doorstep. Now selling, Pierce is currently under construction for a Summer 2021 delivery.

FALLS GREEN

501 Roosevelt Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22044 www.FallsGreen.com

BIO

Insight Property Group is a Washington D.C.-focused real estate company that specializes in residential and mixed-use development. Bozzuto has been named Top Property Management Company in the Nation by J Turner Research for its sixth year and is devoted to crafting extraordinary experiences, with a commitment to focusing on the needs of its residents.

PROJECT

Find fresh inspiration at Falls Green, a natural haven in the City of Falls Church. Bringing together modern in-home finishes and private outdoor space in every home, Falls Green apartments provide an everyday sanctuary. A connected community, Falls Green is close to parks, shops, and restaurants, planted primely between Tysons and Washington DC, a simple shuttle ride to the East Falls Church Metro and minutes to I-66. With extensive community programming and brand-new versatile amenity spaces, Falls Green fosters a next-level lifestyle fit for relaxation, work, and play. Enjoy refreshed outdoor spaces, a cutting-edge fitness center, and modern indoor amenities that impress—it all falls into sync here.

From studios to two-bedroom-with-den apartments, Falls Green living is designed with you in mind. Contact us and see why Falls Green is the perfect place to call home.

THE CLARK

3400 S. Clark St., Arlington, VA 22202 LiveTheClark.com

BIO

Bozzuto Management has been named the Top Property Management Company in the Nation by Multifamily Executive Magazine and J. Turner Research for the sixth consecutive year and is committed to focusing on the needs of its residents, partners and neighbors, while creating sanctuary for all.

PROJECT

The Clark is the place you can experience a home you’ll never want to leave. Be one of the first to live in a brand-new apartment community in the thriving metropolis of Crystal City. Become immersed in big city living with shops, restaurants and parks around every corner, then retreat to your oasis. The Clark offers brand-new, airy apartment homes featuring stunning simplicity, complete with on-trend fixtures and finishes. The best part is, direct access to a private outdoor space that capitalizes on the superior views of Arlington.

The Clark’s amazing amenity package is built to enrich, encourage and empower a modern urban lifestyle. From the open-air rooftop terrace with a cascading waterfall feature to the entertainment lounge with private dining, every common space was built to help you live smarter, better and happier. Experience life at The Clark today.

great spaces n

by Jennifer Sergent

|

photos

by

Jenn Verrier

California Dreamin’

TANYA AND KEN SAUNDERS were attracted to their Arlington Forest home not for its architecture—it was a carbon copy of many others on the street—but because it sat on the second biggest lot in the neighborhood, overlooking a large lawn and backing up

to woods and the W&OD trail. “You’re urban and close to the city, but it’s still very removed in back,” Tanya says.

Shortly after purchasing the property in 2015, the couple enlisted D.C. design consultant Gerry Zeiler to help with a whole-house renovation that would also

distinguish the exterior from neighboring homes.

Zeiler conceived a design blending wood, metal and stone to channel the Saunders’ love of California’s wine country. She had the red brick painted white, and enclosed a former side-

porch entrance to create a foyer with its own metal roof. Pea gravel walkways in front and back were inspired by the couple’s memories of garden tours at the Chalk Hill Estate Winery in Healdsburg, California, and the landscaping at Ma(i)sonry in Yountville, California. “It

just lends this softness,” Zeiler says, “with its pale beiges, browns, greens and grays.”

To complement the aesthetic, she introduced a reclaimed front door from Vintage House Parts and Radiators in Cheverly, Maryland, and gates made from tulip-shaped wrought-iron grates from The Old Lucketts Store in Leesburg.

A simple pergola covered in climbing wisteria frames a wide front window and a small outdoor seating area, with Adirondack chairs reminiscent of the ones on the deck at Ovid winery in Napa Valley. “We very much love the California look,” Tanya says. “We wanted it to be unique, but not overdone.”

Out back, Zeiler fortified a steeply sloping hill with a retaining wall and fence. An outdoor dining area now connects to an existing stone patio and fireplace via a “bridge” of pea gravel. With every material choice, the designer says, “you want it to remain rustic and natural. We didn’t want anything to be too pristine.”

Though the project was completed in 2017, the grounds have remained a work in progress. The latest landscaping addition, installed this spring, helped the couple and their three kids pass the time under quarantine: a new putting green. n

The Saunders residence (front)

The backyard, an ideal spot for a staycation

April’s Most Expensive Home Sales

938 Peacock Station Road, McLean

22201 (Arlington)

613 N. Jackson St.

List Price: $1.6 million

Sale Price: $1.6 million

Days on Market: 1

Listing Office: Compass

Neighborhood: Ashton Heights

Year Built: 2000

Bedrooms: 4

Full/Half Baths: 4/1

22202 (Arlington)

2015 S. Arlington Ridge Road

List Price: $2.5 million

Sale Price: $2.5 million

Days on Market: 24

Listing Office: Keller Williams Realty

Neighborhood: Arlington Ridge

Year Built: 2018

Bedrooms: 6

Full/Half Baths: 7/0

22203 (Arlington)

512 N. Littleton St.

List Price: $1.49 million

Sale Price: $1.43 million

Days on Market: 23

Listing Office: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty

Neighborhood: Boulevard Manor

Year Built: 1961

Bedrooms: 6

Full/Half Baths: 5/2

This information, courtesy of Bright MLS as of May 15, 2020, includes single-family homes as well as row/townhouses sold in April 2020, excluding sales in which sellers have withheld permission to advertise or promote. Information should be independently verified. The Bright MLS real estate service area spans 40,000 square miles throughout the mid-Atlantic region, including Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. As a leading Multiple Listing Service (MLS), Bright serves approximately 95,000 real estate professionals who in turn serve over 20 million consumers. For more information, visit brightmls.com.

22204 (Arlington)

2952 22nd St. S.

List Price: $850,000

Sale Price: $960,000

Days on Market: 6

Listing Office: KW Metro Center

Neighborhood: Johnson’s Hill

Year Built: 2002

Bedrooms: 4

Full/Half Baths: 3/1

22205 (Arlington)

1913 N. Jefferson St.

List Price: $1.8 million

Sale Price: $1.77 million

Days on Market: 11

Listing Office: McEnearney Associates

Endless Possibilities

• Delicious cuisine

• Diverse activities

• Exercise room, classes and trainer available

• Salon and barber shop

• Café, library and lounges

• Pool and gardens

n prime numbers

Neighborhood: Tara Leeway Heights

Year Built: 2020

Bedrooms: 5

Full/Half Baths: 4/1

22206 (Arlington)

3459 S. Kemper Road

List Price: $675,000

Sale Price: $685,000

Days on Market: 6

Listing Office: Optime Realty

Neighborhood: Shirlington Crest

Year Built: 2011

Bedrooms: 2

Full/Half Baths: 2/1

22207 (Arlington)

4421 36th St. N.

List Price: $2.8 million

Sale Price: $2.79 million

Days on Market: 0

Listing Office: Not a Bright MLS subscriber

Neighborhood: Country Club Hills

Year Built: 2020

Bedrooms: 5

Full/Half Baths: 5/1

22209 (Arlington)

No single-family or row house/ townhouse sales in the month of April

22213 (Arlington)

No single-family or row house/ townhouse sales in the month of April

22101 (McLean)

6727 Lucy Lane

List Price: $5.5 million

Sale Price: $5.47 million

Days on Market: 1

Listing Office: Yeonas & Shafran Real Estate

Neighborhood: Langley Forest

Year Built: 2019

Bedrooms: Unclear (the house is a new build on a teardown lot)

Full/Half Baths: Unclear

22102 (McLean)

938 Peacock Station Road

List Price: $6.3 million

Sale Price: $5.47 million

Days on Market: 2

Listing Office: Long & Foster Real Estate

Neighborhood: Peacock Station

Year Built: 2015

Bedrooms: 8

Full/Half Baths: 9/2

22041 (Falls Church)

3609 Bent Branch Court

List Price: $899,900

Sale Price: $910,000

Days on Market: 6

Listing Office: RE/MAX West End

Neighborhood: Barcroft Woods

Year Built: 1962

Bedrooms: 3

Full/Half Baths: 3/1

22042 (Falls Church)

703 Hillwood Ave.

List Price: $1.4 million

Sale Price: $1.4 million

Days on Market: 280

Listing Office: Arlington Realty

Neighborhood: Hillwood

Year Built: 2019

Bedrooms: 5

Full/Half Baths: 4/1

22043 (Falls Church)

7301 Pimmit Court

List Price: $1.5 million

Sale Price: $1.48 million

Days on Market: 142

Listing Office: Merion Realty

Neighborhood: Pimmit Hills

Year Built: 2019

Bedrooms: 4

Full/Half Baths: 3/1

22044 (Falls Church)

3117 Valley Lane

List Price: $979,900

Sale Price: $979,900

Days on Market: 27

Listing Office: Samson Properties

Neighborhood: Sleepy Hollow Manor

Year Built: 1956

Bedrooms: 5

Full/Half Baths: 4/1

22046 (Falls Church)

502 Anne St.

List Price: $1.6 million

Sale Price: $1.76 million

Days on Market: 1

Listing Office: KW Metro Center

Neighborhood: Virginia Forest Year Built: 2020

Bedrooms: 5

Full/Half Baths: 4/1

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Rob Ferguson is as local as they come. A lifelong Northern Virginian with more than 24 years of Arlington real estate expertise, Rob knows the neighborhoods and the local market.

Let Rob show you how his clients become clients for life.

Rob Ferguson GRI & Associate Broker

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style counsel n It’s the Little Things…

Seeking a pick-me-up for a friend or a bit of self-care? These handcrafted wares are locally made and available for online purchase. Some are carried by retailers offering curbside pickup or delivery.

FINE PRINTS

You may have spied Lucy Carr’s whimsical fabric goods at art markets such as Handmade Arlington, URBN Market Mosaic District and Art on the Avenue. The street fairs are on hold for now, but her sewing machine is still humming. She’s been making face masks by the dozens, and you can shop her patterned Carrhoots totes ($55-$65), makeup bags ($38) and storage baskets ($40 and up) at facebook.com/carrhootshomemade and instagram.com/carrhoots, and at The Urban Farmhouse, theurbanfarmhousestore.com.

SWEET SENTIMENTS

Anna Leigh Southworth is a Fairfax County teacher by day, but she also has a thriving side business in Tiny Tudor Cookies, a confectionary venture named after the architectural style of her Falls Church home. Her almost-too-pretty-to-eat sugar cookies ($60-$80/dozen) can be tailormade for any occasion—graduations, baby showers, birthdays—and the self-taught baker “loves a good challenge,” including experimenting with different decorative styles. Royal icing is the secret to that porcelain-like finish. tinytudorcookies.com

BIRD WATCHING

Perhaps you’ve been spending extra time on the trail and gained a newfound appreciation for its winged creatures. If so, you’ll find a kindred spirit in Falls Church architect and designer Jess Michetti, owner of Good Goose Graphics and a volunteer with the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia. Her studied portraits of finches, nuthatches, owls, hummingbirds and robins are precious in their simplicity. Prints range from $35 to $150. Available at etsy.com/shop/goodgoosegraphics and at Botanologica, botanologica.com

TIME TO BREATHE

Occupational therapist Anusha Moodley created her Falls Churchbased aromatherapy company, Sanctuary Beauty and Bath, after she became a new mom and began using essential oils to soothe her stress and fatigue. No time for a lingering soak in the tub? Try her dissolvable shower steamers ($15), which turn that everyday ritual into a spa-like experience with scents such as lavender-geranium, eucalyptus and rose. You’ll find them online at sanctuarybeautyandbath.com and at Covet, covetinarlington.com

ADORN THYSELF

Kate Amarelo’s lightweight resin jewelry is as easy to throw on as the jeans and leggings you’ve been living in lately, and her cute stud earrings ($15 and up) and pendant necklaces ($24 and up) come in a rainbow of hues, some with a touch of sparkle. Also? She’s a dog-lover; her rescue pup, Moose, makes up the second half of her company name, Kate & Moose. Explore the Arlington designer’s colorful baubles—including a collection that donates a portion of the proceeds to animal rescue efforts—at kateandmoose.com.

PICTURE IDS

Is yard work your new therapy? Holly Radus’ Benella Garden Designs is currently on hiatus, but the Arlingtonbased landscape designer has a few choice outdoor accessories available through her Etsy site. Add some extra color to your raised vegetable beds or potted herbs with these hand-painted garden markers ($9 each). They’re made with river rocks that won’t blow away—to help you remember what you planted where. etsy.com/shop/BenellaGardenDesigns

IN SEASON

FIRED UP

Commemorate the return of the 17-year cicada with a set of French provincial-style “Cigale Toile” notecards ($16) by Arlington artist Liz Hutcheson, owner of Fast Snail Greetings & Design. Her inventory also includes fine art prints, graduation cards (inquire about custom announcements), tea towels and stainless-steel flasks with washable covers. Shop her wares at fastsnail.com and find select items at Two the Moon, twothemoon.com.

The daily routine feels less monotonous when you’ve got a special mug for your coffee, a rustic bowl for those summer peaches or a set of hand-thrown earthenware plates that make takeout sushi look like high art. That’s where ceramic artist Scott Kaye of Kaye Pottery comes in. At press time his studio at Lee Arts Center was closed, and so was his gallery at the Torpedo Factory, but he was throwing pots (and more) in his Arlington backyard and accepting commissions. Shop at kayepottery.com or choose among select pieces at Trade Roots, fairtraderoots.com

Setting Boundaries

JOE D’EMIDIO is harboring a 230-yearold piece of American history in his backyard. His house on North Tazewell Street is today part of Arlington, but the craggy chunk of sandstone behind it is one of the original boundary stones marking what were once the city limits of the District of Columbia.

D’Emidio and his wife, Tatiana, encountered the artifact while house hunting about 10 years ago and were thrilled to learn it conveyed with the property. “I saw these overgrown bushes...and there [behind them] was a boundary stone,” says D’Emidio, who coaches the gymnastics team at Washington-Liberty High School. “I said, ‘We’re buying this house.’ ”

Forming a purposeful diamond shape that extends through parts of Virginia and Maryland, the boundary stones were first established in

accordance with the Residence Act of 1790, which called for creating the new nation’s capital near the Potomac River. In April 1791, a survey team began placing the stones to mark D.C.’s original 100-square-mile perimeter.

One of the surveyors was a young, self-taught mathematician, a free African American named Benjamin Banneker. Today, a surviving stone remains in an Arlington park that bears his name near the East Falls Church Metro station.

Of the 40 original boundary stones, 36 are still standing, protected by wrought-iron fences, including 10 that are scattered throughout Arlington, Falls Church and McLean. (A 37th stone is on display in the lobby of the D.C. surveyor’s office.)

“They are the oldest monuments ever purchased by the United States government,” says local historian Stephen

Powers. “They’ve been here for 230 years. That’s a long time.”

Designated a National Historic Landmark, the boundary stone in Benjamin Banneker Park is maintained by the National Park Service. The one on D’Emidio’s property is privately owned, but it nevertheless has had its fair share of visitors—including (prior to social distancing) school groups and tourists from as far away as Australia and Korea. One time, D’Emidio says, a religious group asked to conduct a séance around it.

“I think the boundary stone is more valuable than the house,” he says. “How many people can say they have a landmark on their property? It makes it so unique here in Arlington.” n

For more information on the historic markers, visit boundarystones.org.

A 1949 map of boundary stone locations

The stone (No. 3 NW) in Joe D’Emidio’s backyard