Prince William Living October 2020

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LIFE DURING QUARANTINE

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PFLAG KEEPS FAMILIES TOGETHER

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TODOS SUPERMARKET

prince william living October 2020

The premier lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas

CLUBBING IT UP IN PRINCE WILLIAM PAGE 4

Get Fit at Home PAGE 14

Pumpkin Paradise PAGE 30

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table of contents October 2020 | Vol. 10 | No. 10

FEATURE STORY Clubbing It Up In Prince William: Area Clubs Offer Unique Experiences 4

DEPARTMENTS

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FROM THE PUBLISHER Celebrating Fall

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ON A HIGH NOTE Life During Quarantine: At Home With the Prince William Living Staff

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DESTINATIONS Get Fit At Home and Support Local Businesses Through #PrinceWilliamStrong

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GIVING BACK PFLAG Keeps Families Together in Prince William and Beyond 18 LIFELONG LEARNING Learning Resources to Help Kids Rock Their 2020 School Year 21 TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS Todos Supermarket: Quality Products, Supportive Services and a Place for Community

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FAMILY FUN Fall In Love With Fall: Seasonal Activities for the Whole Family

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LOCAL FLAVOR Pumpkin Paradise CALENDAR

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COLUMNS CHANGE MAKERS HEALTH & WELLNESS HOME & HEARTH YOUR FINANCES

prince william living October 2020

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prince william living Rebecca Barnes

PRINCE WILLIAM LIVING PUBLISHER rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Amanda Causey Baity ONLINE SUBMISSION MANAGER Carole Keily

Erin Pittman EDITOR IN CHIEF epittman@princewilliamliving.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amy Falkofske, Katherine Gotthardt, Jennifer Halter, Gianna Jirak, Erin Pittman, Marianne Weaver, Bennett Whitlock, Katrina Wilson

GIVE BACK PRINCE WILLIAM INITIATIVE Melissa Payne, melissa@givebackpw.org Johnnie Barnes, johnnie@givebackpw.org

ONLINE SUBMISSION MANAGER Carole Keily

CLIENT CARE SPECIALIST Diane Puigdomenech, dpuigdomenech@princewilliamliving.com

DIRECTOR OF CONTENT MARKETING Katherine Gotthardt

VISIBILITY PACKAGES sales@princewilliamliving.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Alison Dixon/Image Prep Studio PHOTOGRAPHER Amanda Baity

SUBSCRIPTIONS info@princewilliamliving.com

Prince William Living, the premier lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas, is published monthly by Prince William Living, Inc. The opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Prince William Living. Š Copyright 2020 by Prince William Living, Inc. All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced or translated without written permission.

Visit the Prince William Living website at www.princewilliamliving.com for reprint permission.

Prince William Living 9994 Sowder Village Square #816 Manassas, Va 20109 Phone: (703) 232-1758

Editorial Have a story you’d like our staff to cover? Contact Prince William Living editorial staff at (703) 232-1758, ext. 2, or at editor@princewilliamliving.com.

Editorial offices: (703) 232-1758, ext. 2 Advertising offices: (703) 232-1758, ext. 3 Efax: (703) 563-9185

Advertising Prince William Living accepts display advertising.

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For further information about Prince William Living, visit www.princewilliamliving.com, or contact Prince William Living at (703) 232-1758.

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October 2020 prince william living

Celebrating Fall

from the Publisher

W

ell, we’ve made it to October, folks, and what a year it has been so far.

I welcome the cool air, the hikes and the fun family time that fall brings. In fact, in our Family Fun section this month, we’re bringing you some great ways to have fun and make memories as a family.

Many of us Prince William-area residents will tell you that our favorite part of living here is the diversity we find — in the people, the stores, the sites. This diversity also applies to the variety of special-interest clubs we have. Read about a few of our unique groups in this month’s feature.

This month, we’ve provided several resources to help parents support their children. We realize school looks very different this year. If your child needs some extra help, check out our Lifelong Learning section for resources to assist them — all from home.

And for families looking for ways to support their LGBTQ+ children or family members, read our Giving Back section to learn how Metro DC PFLAG is “creating a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued and affirmed.”

Get the latest information on free, local COVID-19 testing dates and sites in our Health & Wellness section. Tests are limited to the allocated amount for each site, so get there early.

Meet two influential people in our community in our Taking Care of Business and Change Makers sections. Carlos Castro shares the story of how Todos Supermarket became a success, and Sabrina Ricks discusses volunteer opportunities and offers advice to residents new to the area.

In Local Flavor, we’ve got everything pumpkin you could ever need. And Home and Hearth offers ideas for kitchen upgrades — creating perfect spaces to whip up those pumpkin recipes, perhaps?

Last but not least, when was the last time you thought about that 401k from your last job — or three? Do you have accounts still hanging out with past companies? Weigh your options and decide what’s best for you to do with them in the Your Finances section.

As always, we hope you enjoy this month’s issue, and if you’d like to receive the magazine at your door, subscribe at princewilliamliving.com/subscription. Your support helps us support the work we do in our community.

Rebecca Barnes Publisher

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CLUBBING IT UP IN PRINCE WILLIAM Area Clubs Offer Unique Experiences

By Erin Pittman and Katrina Wilson

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October 2020 prince william living

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eady to go “clubbing” with us? For this kind of clubbing, you may need to gear up — with a dirt bike, over-the-ankle boots and a helmet. Or you may need a list of ingredients for a food challenge, your favorite collectible card or your own ham radio.

Read on for a glimpse into some of Prince William’s lesserknown, unique clubs.

Family Off-Road Riders of Prince William County For over a decade, FORPWC has allowed parents and kids to ride their dirt bikes and ATVs in safe places while having fun.

For its first 12 years, FORPWC operated on a property in Nokesville, but their fun is now spread out on three properties in nearby counties. While they do not currently ride on properties in Prince William County, David Hagy, president of FORPWC, said the club provides safe, legal places for Prince William residents to access private properties via negotiated leases.

The club also has a special-use permit to build an off-road park on an unused county park in Nokesville.

FORPWC’s membership year is April to March. There is a one-time initiation fee plus memberships fees, which vary and include options for individuals and families.

“This pays our insurance, lease fees and pushes through the project in Nokesville we are trying to develop,” Hagy said.

Many families belong to the club. Parents often want to introduce their children to riding and find places for kids to ride their new ATVs or dirt bikes.

“We also have members who are men and women in their 40s trying to rekindle their childhood a little bit and re-engage in an activity that they did when they were a kid. Or now is their opportunity to do it if they never knew how to,” he said.

The club continues to meet amid the pandemic.

“When the outbreak first started, we followed guidelines and didn’t allow more than 10 people on any property at one time,” Hagy said. “We’re not so big a population where we have 250 people in one location at any time. In order to maintain social distancing, we usually have between eight and 20 people together at one time in giant open fields.”

“We are in a design phase of developing a construction plan for that,” he said. “We have a lease plan with Prince William County Parks and Recreation. We essentially have to finalize our plan.”

For more information, visit forpwc.com.

The club handles the important busines of leases and carrying insurance.

Prince William County’s 4-H is the youth component of Virginia Cooperative Extension in Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park City. Mary Beth Lerch, extension agent for 4-H, explained unique clubs are integral to the program. Youth can join a variety of community and project clubs.

“We carry an insurance policy to protect the property owners from liability issues,” he said. “In turn, this allows us to successfully negotiate leases to establish properties where we can put trails for folks to ride their bikes and ATVs.” Members are allowed to ride during hours set by property owners. While some owners only allow riding on certain days and times of the week, others are a little more flexible.

“Usually we’re open from dawn to dusk,” he said. “During the summertime we do dawn to 8 p.m. There are no formal riding times. Our members usually communicate with each other on our communication platform and get a small group together to ride.”

FORPWC stresses that riders must follow safety precautions. For instance, there must always be at least two riding members at one property.

“We require everyone to wear a proper level of safety equipment — long pants, long shirt, over-the-ankle boots, gloves, googles, helmets and we recommend chest protectors,” he said. “We’re trying to create a safe and responsible environment, especially for new people to the sport, so they can know how to prepare themselves properly.”

Prince William County’s 4-H

Youth complete hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and civic engagement in a positive environment where they receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles. Lerch said in 4-H, youth obtain experience in different areas, hands-on learning, life skills application, and how and why they are learning the life skills.

4-H Food Challenge The 4-H Food Challenge is a project that challenges teams of 4-H members to create a dish using only a predetermined set of ingredients. From these ingredients, team members must identify and prepare the dish, then make a presentation about it to the judges. Contest teams have 40 minutes to plan and prepare a dish. They also prepare a presentation based on nutritional content, preparation safety and portion cost.

“This incorporates some math,” Lerch said. “Teams must calculate the cost per serving which teaches them how to do store (continues on page 6) prince william living October 2020

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(continued from page 5) shopping math. Teams are judged against a rubric on preparing the meal and a face-to-face presentation.”

She added on that they also learn kitchen safety and My Plate guidelines, the USDA recommendations for balanced meals, while in the food challenge.

4-H Shooting Club “Shooting sports has a lot of hard skills where the youth learn how to handle firearms safely and are exposed to the different disciplines associated with shooting sports,” she said. “The soft skills are how they are learning how to communicate effectively, setting goals and making the adjustments as needed.”

She said the clubs allow youth to meet others through the course of the year and that these different clubs build confidence and character.

While COVID-19 has affected in-person activities, she said by the end of the year, the hope is there will be in-person contact.

“In a virtual world, it is difficult for them to learn, because it does not allow for the hands-on and experiential learning,” she said.

There are a plethora of unique clubs and opportunities in 4-H for youth where they can work on achieving their goals. Adult volunteers can join in on the fun, too. They receive training on

how to work in these different areas the club offers and can be instructors for them or judges for various competitions.

Ole Virginia Hams Ole Virginia Hams is a local amateur radio club, founded in 1958 and today has 140 active members. You may have heard of the radio amateurs, or “hams,” whose hobby lets them communicate all the way around the world using shortwave signals — not the internet or cellular infrastructure. Members all share the desire to serve the community, improve their technical knowledge and enjoy the fellowship of like-minded people at club events.

The OVHs use their skills to give back to the community in many ways. They provide critical emergency communications during disasters until regular services are restored. Members actively participate in FEMA and American Red Cross emergency preparedness drills and similar programs held within Prince William County and surrounding areas. And the Ole Virginia Hams also support nonprofit events by providing public-service communication, gathering toys for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program and supporting students via their annual scholarship.

“This year, during some house cleaning of inventory, there were several laptop computers the club no longer needed.

Through one of our club members, Ken Brant (KN4DD), we were able to donate 11 laptops to Gracing Spaces, where they were distributed to families who need them in this year’s virtual classroom sessions,” said President Jay Moore.

The club holds monthly meetings in Manassas. Each meeting features presentations discussing a technological aspect of the hobby or information about an upcoming event or activity.

Members share their latest projects, as well. OVH is still holding monthly meetings, though they have been held virtually since April.

“Most of OVH’s activities have been impacted by the pandemic,” said Moore. “But we did provide radio communication support for the Serve Our Willing Warriors Bike Ride on Sept. 26. This event consisted of three different length bike rides through Prince William and Loudon counties. OVH members and other ham operators from the local ARES group were on the course, keeping watch and reporting on the status of riders and any emergencies that occurred.”

They were also able to hold an exam session for potential licensees recently.

Members of Prince William County 4-H prepare to aim for the target, as a part of the shooting club.

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“This was an outdoor exam session held at Nokesville Park under one of the pavilions. In addition to both examinees and examiners wearing masks, all involved maintained proper social distancing guidelines, and we were able to get several more people licensed,” said Moore.

Moore notes that there are many benefits of being a club member — social, service and educational.

“While we are always ready and willing to assist with communications, there is also a large social aspect to the club.

We’re all bound by this common thread of our love of radio and our love of helping the community,” Moore said.

To learn more about the Ole Virginia Hams, or amateur radio in general, visit their website at w4ovh.net. Read the blog, find meeting dates and get information about classes. Meetings are free and open to the public. The club continues to grow, even during the pandemic, and always welcomes new, old and perspective members.

Guild Gaming Guild Gaming, owned by Martin Salvi and Charlie Tung, is a mixture of a retail store and social club with collectible card games, miniatures, board games and accessories to accompany games.

While not titled an official club, people can come in and browse the games, then take advantage of their available play space.

“We offer a wide array of collectible card games like Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, plus miniature games like Warhammer or Star Wars X-Wing,” he said. “We also have a large selection of Dungeon and Dragons merchandise, board games and accessories to go with these games.”

Local gamers playing Warhammer 40k, a popular miniatures game.

competitive, and people will come in from all over to compete,” Salvi said.

Salvi said the games and space appeal to people of all ages.

Due to the pandemic, Guild Gaming is hosting a limited number of events currently. Salvi said he understands many people are wary of coming together in groups during the pandemic, but changes have been made in response to COVID.

“Many younger people like to collect and play our card games; some are as young as 6 or 7. The majority are teens and young adults up to about 30 or so,” Salvi said.

“We have suspended organized play for the time being,” he said.

“People are free to come use our space and meet up with friends they are comfortable with.”

He explained the strategy games the store sells appeal to a more mature audience. He said this crowd is usually a bit older, ages 20 to 40 and up.

Salvi noted that for those who already play but don’t have a community that plays their favorite game, they link that individual to welcoming people and groups.

What makes Guild Gaming different from traditional retail stores is they offer a play space where people can stay to play or meet up and talk to like-minded folks.

Guild Gaming is currently located at Potomac Mills, having recently moved from Woodbridge.

“This is our mission at Guild Gaming – to build a friendly community where all are welcome to play and make friends,” Salvi said. “While some people come in and pick up the latest release of their favorite game and go right home with it, many will hangout for hours to play, to learn and make friends.”

The store offers nearly daily events. During the week, events are held in the early evening, and on the weekends, they are in the afternoon. Events are friendly and casual and allow friends to congregate. While there is a competitive element, most people are there to build their skills.

“It’s a social event where people enjoy themselves casually. We also hold monthly tournaments that are a bit bigger and are more

For more information on Guild Gaming, follow them on Facebook (@ggwoodbridge).

Erin Pittman is Editor in Chief of Prince William Living. She loves reading, writing, time with her family and snuggling all the dogs.

She can be reached at epittman@princewilliamliving.com.

Katrina Wilson (kwilson@princewilliamliving.com) calls herself a Carolina girl, because she was born and raised in South Carolina and is still learning Northern Virginia. Writing is her outlet; she has two published books. prince william living October 2020

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October 2020 prince william living

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prince william living October 2020

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on a high note

LIFE DURING QUARANTINE At Home With the Prince William Living Staff

By Marianne Weaver

M

any businesses stopped operations Monday, March 30 when Gov. Northam issued his stay-at-home order.

Here’s a look at how the PWL team stayed busy during their time at home.

Amanda Baity, Director of Operations Although she plants a garden every year, the quarantine forced adjustments to the usual plan set by Amanda Baity, director of operations for both Prince William Living and Semper K9, an non-profit organization that enhances the quality of life for wounded, critically ill and injured members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families by providing them assistance dogs.

“Some of the supplies we needed were out of stock or the price was marked up too high so we had to get creative on some of our projects,” she said. “Quarantine provided an opportunity for me to research different types of crops that I had always wanted to grow but didn't have the time to research. So this season in our garden, which we call the Semper Fresh Garden, I'm growing a lot of new variety of crops along with different variations of the tried-and-true crops.

The 1,200-square-foot garden produces potatoes, Kajari melon, an assortment of beans, pumpkins, cantaloupe, squash, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, blueberries,

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blackberries and about 25 types of peppers, including candy cane, mad hatter, lipstick and tangerine dream.

“I normally would just have grown bell peppers, jalapenos and sweet banana peppers, but this year I had more time to research and get seeds for some of these unique varieties that I had always wanted to grow,” she said.

She grows an assortment of herbs, including lemon thyme and, for the first time, flowers to help with pest control, as well as an assortment of sunflowers. There are also 40 varieties of tomatoes and six types of okra.

“Okra is my favorite thing to grow in the garden,” she said. “I love roasting and frying okra for my family to eat.”

Baity decided to share her gardening expertise. At the beginning of the quarantine, she saw posts on Facebook from friends and acquaintances who weren’t able to find seeds. Big-box stores weren’t allowing nonessential purchases, local gardening stores were low on stock and online shops were sold out.

“I sent a lot of seeds out,” she said. “People have sent me pictures of their gardens. I've sent seeds to people who have never gardened before. Now they have tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers growing in their garden because I sent them the seeds. It’s really cool and exciting as a gardener to be able to

companion animals as well as participate in various activities that promote healthy mental hygiene.

“The funny part is I would be doing all of this anyway,” she said.

“But I am just doing it from home now.”

Carole Keily, Online Editor While many people spent the first weeks of quarantine living in pajamas lounging on the couch, Online Editor Carole Keily didn’t miss a beat. In addition to her regular online posts, she was busy working out, revisiting old music and learning. encourage other people to try gardening for the first time and to grow their own food. That's very empowering.”

But she didn’t stop with just a seed care package. She took her gardening tips online and created a YouTube channel.

“I post daily gardening videos with tips and showing the garden’s progress,” she said. “Since we're a military family, all of our family lives pretty far away from us. They kind of feel like they're right here with us when they're watching our gardening videos. I also have complete strangers watching the videos and contacting me thanking me for sharing.”

Katherine Gotthardt, Vice President of Content Marketing For Katherine Gotthardt, vice president of content marketing and CEO of All Things Writing, the only big change brought on by the quarantine order was a change of venue. Instead of driving to her office in Reston, she commuted to her home office “the purple palace.” She kept the writers’ club Write by the Rails active and on track. She took a class on Agile methodology. She worked with a few nonprofits.

And she published her eighth book, Get Happy, Dammit – Staying Inspired and Motivated in an Often-Unhappy World. The book, published by Local Gems Press, Long Island, N.Y., offers short essays, exercises and poetry as avenues to create inspiration and motivation. These two necessary elements can lead to greater happiness, according to Gotthardt.

Proceeds from the book benefit mental health initiatives through two nonprofits, the David J. Cobb Foundation and Rise Phoenix Rise, Inc. “I chose those two nonprofits because of their local roots and everything they do to support the community by providing mental health programs, resources and support,” she said.

David J. Cobb Foundation’s mission is to break the silence of teen suicide by fostering positive relationships and encouraging open discussions between teens and the community. Rise Phoenix Rise is an animal-assisted wellness program for mental health peers that provides a safe, stigma-free environment where mental health peers can have the opportunity to interact with

“My husband and I have been doing virtual Zumba classes several times a week led by instructors in Manassas Park and Culpeper,” she said, adding that she has also taken some online Hatha, Yin, Ashtanga and Power yoga classes, led by instructors from Manassas, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

“The variety of instructors has been a good complement to my existing practice.”

She also found the time to revisit her grandparents’ collection of sheet music that dates back to the turn of the 20th century.

“It's been a few years since I've had time to actually play and sing from this music!” she said. Her goal is to relearn George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. “A few years ago, I started working on this piece and had to set it aside, so I've been excited to get back to it.”

As if that wasn’t enough, when everything closed Friday, March 13, Keily enrolled in The Great Courses online and has taken classes in singing, women's history, and literature and languages.

Erin Pittman, Editor in Chief While youth sports, PTA and a number of other commitments were cancelled for our Editor in Chief Erin Pittman and family during the pandemic, she still somehow found herself with a list of things she wants to dabble in that far outweighed the actual free time she’s had available.

Still, she tapped into her husband Greg’s small bits of free time, and he built raised garden beds for a vegetable garden she’s been wanting to start for years. Currently, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, potatoes, corn and cucumbers are flourishing, and she has four beans plants that have produced exactly three beans.

“A meal fit for a queen, huh?” she said.

She is also an avid reader whose “Want to Read” list on Goodreads should win a world record.

“During COVID, I’m loving reading lots of bestsellers while they are still bestsellers,” she said. “As a working mom of three, in recent years I’ve found myself reading those bestsellers but months or years behind everyone else.” (continues on page 29) prince william living October 2020

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change makers Sabrina Ricks "Change Makers" highlights the people of Prince William who are making a difference in our community. This month, we feature Sabrina Ricks.

Sabrina Ricks is a true example of the warmth and spirit of Prince William.

Her fondness for the scenic area itself is surpassed only by the love she holds for her community, and when she’s not soaking in the sights and sounds, you can find her fighting on the fronts against workplace abuse and childhood hunger.

How long have you lived in the Prince William area, and what do you most like about living here?

I moved to Prince William during the winter of 2009. After growing up in southern Virginia and living in Florida for a few years, I welcomed the chance to experience four seasons again once I moved to Northern Virginia. Prince William is conveniently nestled between Washington, D.C. and Richmond, two popular and busy cities; however, there is a feel of suburbia that makes it warm, cozy and comfortable.

The pace is swift but not so fast that I feel overwhelmed.

Additionally, the local parks and lakes provide a rural feel that is fun to explore in the spring and autumn months when the weather is just right.

What are some of your favorite things to do in the area and why?

I greatly enjoy spending time in Old Town Occoquan and Stonebridge. Old Town Occoquan makes me feel like I’ve stepped into a history book, and the warmth of the local shops and restaurants provides a welcoming like no other.

Stonebridge is a newer shopping plaza that offers a more modern feel and features restaurants, places to shop, a movie theater, grocery store and more.

How have you been involved in the community?

I began my volunteer journey with the Occoquan-WoodbridgeLorton Volunteer Fire Department in 2011. When I chose this journey, I was at a place in my life where I was seeking a way to show others that I care and that I have a heart filled with love for people — all people. I started as an ambulance driver and emergency medical technician. After having a medical issue of my own, I did not want to quit, so I simply transitioned from an operational to an administrative member. I began volunteering as an instructor for the course for eight years. I also have taught the critical incident and stress management course. Finally, I helped design and teach the harassment, bullying and hazing prevention course. I serve on the new members committee and have also been the department election officer for four terms. In 2018, I was offered the

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opportunity to attend the International Fire Chief Association Fire and Rescue International Conference. As a result of this experience, I was recruited to join the national workplace bullying and violence task force, and still as a volunteer, I have worked diligently to help alleviate workplace bullying and violence in the fire service and beyond. This work allowed me the great honor of being recognized by Chief Jim McAllister in the 2019 Chief’s Award for service to OWL VFD. Also, when COVID-19 appeared in the United States early this year and began to impact Prince William, I wanted to assist in any way that I could. Many children have been impacted by food insecurity by not being in school, and I wanted to help.

I began volunteering with Prince William County Community Foundation in March under the leadership of Dr. Vanessa Gattis. We go to 22 different schools in Prince William to distribute food. I have assisted PWCCF in providing more than 24,000 meals to over 3,400 families across the area. In January 2020, I joined PWCCF’s board of directors and was elected as the company secretary. In June 2020, I became the executive director of the organization.

The opportunity to volunteer for two organizations that are so significant in Prince William and serve the community in such a supportive way is something I am honored to do, and I look forward to continuing my work for these organizations as well as for the community.

If you had to give advice to someone new to the area, what would you tell them and why?

My advice to any newcomers to Prince William is first to explore, enjoy the scenery and find a few places you like to visit to eat and shop. This is the quickest way to get familiar with the roadways and start to feel the warm and welcoming feeling of dealing with the public, especially at some of the family-owned restaurants in Old Town Occoquan. Secondly, I highly encourage you to get to know those in the community on a local government level. It would be a good idea to attend a local Board of County Supervisor’s meeting and introduce yourself and your family. Finally, I suggest you get involved by finding an organization to volunteer with in order to serve, care for, and spread love and joy throughout the community.

How would you describe yourself in a few sentences?

Sabrina Ricks has lived in Virginia most of her life and her love for family, the community and adventure is evident once you spend any time with her. She earned her doctorate degree in 2015, which led to her becoming the president of SBR Workplace Consultation Services and an adjunct professor in the business and student development departments of Northern Virginia Community College. Finally, she is a wife and a stepmother to three young adults.

Get HELP with your Medicare costs.

You may qualify for assistance in paying your Part D premium or Part B premium with Virginia’s Extra Help Program and Medicare Savings Program.

To find out how we may be able to help, call the Prince William Area Agency on Aging at 703-792-4156.

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destinations

GET FIT AT HOME and Support Local Businesses Through #PrinceWilliamStrong

By Gianna Jirak

L

et's face it. Along with many other areas of life, the pandemic has changed the way many people exercise. With the closure of gyms earlier this year, and many limitations still in place, the way you get your daily sweat in may have shifted or even become more challenging.

And if you’ve been concerned with the “quarantine 15,” (those extra 15 pounds gained from the inactivity and poor eating habits that accompany staying home and Netflix bingeing), you’re not alone. According to an article from the Miami Herald, 64% of respondents in a survey of 2,000 people said they are “starting to feel unhealthy because of their lack of exercise and poor eating choices,” and half of the respondents claim that they gave up on their “summer body goals.”

If you’re ready to jump back into activity or revive healthy habits like meditation, you’re in luck. Anytime is a perfect time to start a new exercise or wellness routine, and Prince William County has created a way to do so while aiding small business owners economically affected by the pandemic. #PrinceWilliamStrong is an initiative created by the Prince William County Government to help local health and wellness centers promote their online classes, as well as encourage citizens to get up and get moving. Visitpwc.com/princewilliamstrong/virtual-wellness-classes/ showcases all the opportunities available and frequently features new opportunities. Here are a few examples of what you can find.

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October 2020 prince william living

The Lotus and the Light Metaphysical Center Feeling stressed and restless lately? Meditation may be the solution, and The Lotus and the Light Metaphysical Center in Manassas may have just the right meditation classes for you! The center, owned by one of Prince William Living Magazine’s Most Influential Women of 2020, Uma Alexandra Beepat, focuses on holistic wellness and metaphysical/spiritual development. It offers virtual meditation classes, tarot card readings, and an abundance of free videos on YouTube to help people “connect to their path, live healthier and better, and create more peace, joy and happiness in

their lives.” Visit meetup.com/thelotusandthelight/ for more information on the center’s virtual classes.

Transform Power Yoga Always wanted to take up yoga but don’t know where to start?

Transform Power Yoga in Haymarket has virtual classes for all skill levels, the flexible and inflexible alike, all taught by Yoga Alliance certified instructors. It offers virtual Vinyasa, which focuses on “linking your breath with your movement,” and virtual Gentle Yoga, which helps to increase mobility and flexibility via a gentle approach. The yoga studio also offers virtual Yin Yoga, which “encourages the release and care of deeper tissues of our body [..] for optimal joint health,” as well as a variety of other classes. Currently, there is a new student special allowing those who sign up for the first time two weeks of unlimited yoga classes to receive promotional pricing. Visit transformpyoga.com/ classes for more information.

YMCA of Metropolitan Washington While the Virginia YMCAs have reopened, you can still workout with their instructors from home! On its Facebook page, @ymcadcwellness, the YMCA offers free daily live workouts in a variety of exercise styles, including Zumba, tai chi, yoga, kickboxing and many more. There are also free, pre-recorded classes available, allowing viewers to workout at their own pace. More information and schedules for the live classes can be found on ymcadc.org/virtual-wellness-center/.

Woodbridge Fit Body Boot Camp Looking to burn body fat? Woodbridge Fit Body Boot Camp’s virtual Stronger Together At Home Challenge may be the solution!

The program promises more energy, increased mental clarity and improved focus at the end of the 28-day program. Participants receive daily virtual follow-along workouts with coaches who challenge and motivate them to reach their goals. Participants also receive nutrition guides and access to a private Facebook community for online support. You can start any time. Visit fitbodybootcamp. com for more information on this program and pricing.

Enter visitpwc.com/princewilliamstrong/virtual-wellness-classes/ into your favorite browser and check out all the healthy deals available to you. Wishing you happiness, health and movement as you get #PrinceWilliamStrong.

Gianna Jirak is an intern at Prince William Living with aspirations of being an international and political reporter. She is a rising senior at C.D. Hylton Senior High School, the editor-in-chief of her school newspaper, a social media intern at Brides & Weddings Magazine, and a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.

prince william living October 2020

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October 2020 prince william living

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giving back

PFLAG Keeps Families Together in Prince William and Beyond

By Katherine Gotthardt

C

reating a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued and affirmed — that is the focus of PFLAG, and it is one close to the heart of the Metro DC chapter and the Prince William County PFLAG Community Group.

PFLAG’s History Founded in 1973, PFLAG originally stood for Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian and Gays. However, in 2014 the name was officially changed to PFLAG, an acronym people could recognize but one that was more inclusive of the entire LGBTQ+ community.

The idea for PFLAG came about when Jeanne Manford marched with her gay son in New York’s Pride Day parade. According to the group’s history, after numerous gay and lesbian attendees ran up to Manford during the parade and begged her to talk to their parents, she decided to begin a support group.

The first formal meeting took place in March 1973 at a local church. Approximately 20 people attended. Founded a year later after this act of a mother publicly supporting her gay son, PFLAG says it is now the nation's largest family and ally organization.

PFLAG calls itself a grassroots effort with more than 400 chapters and 200,000 members and supporters crossing multiple generations of families in major urban centers, small cities and rural areas across America.

PFLAG’s Local Leadership Nicolle Campa is President of the Board of the Metro DC PFLAG, a chapter of PFLAG National. The Metro DC PFLAG

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October 2020 prince william living

Chapter has community groups in Northern Virginia, Maryland and D.C. In 2018, Campa joined the Metro DC PFLAG board as a board member and in 2019, she was nominated to be the president of the board.

Campa shared she joined PFLAG, specifically the PWC PFLAG Community Group in 2017, right after her daughter came out as transgender. “I joined as a parent looking for resources and support to navigate my daughter’s transition.”

But long before she became involved in PFLAG, Campa had established a history of being passionate about diversity and inclusion and an ally of the LGBTQ+ community. Over the course of her career as a human resource professional, she led initiatives to inspire and incorporate diversity and inclusion.

Coincidentally, two years prior to her daughter coming out, she developed Gender Transition Guidelines, with the goal of letting LGBTQ+ employees know they are supported and providing managers with tools to support their employees' transition at work.

Vision and Mission: Supporting Families PFLAG’s vision states, “We, the parents, families and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, celebrate diversity and envision a society that embraces everyone, including those of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Only with respect, dignity and equality for all will we reach our full potential as human beings, individually and collectively. Metro DC PFLAG welcomes the participation and support of all who share in, and hope to realize this vision.”

The group’s mission, supporting that vision, is keeping families together, according to Campa, and she believes they meet that

Photo by Jason Shriner

Members of the PFLAG PWC Community Group take part in the local PRIDE march.

mission through support, education and advocacy. “Our goal is to ensure families have the resources they need to navigate their child — young or adult — as they are coming out, whether it is related to their sexual orientation, gender transition or exploring their identities,” she said.

She credits PFLAG with giving her family what they needed when they needed it. “My husband and I found the support we needed and were better able to navigate our daughter’s transition after coming to several PWC PFLAG meetings. From the moment our daughter came out, we were very supportive; however, this journey can be overwhelming, and we wanted to make sure we were taking the right steps,” she said.

This is a common experience, according to Campa. Parents and relatives find going through the coming-out process difficult.

That is one area where PFLAG can help. “We are here to provide resources and support and remind them that they are not going through this journey alone.”

Campa said her favorite aspect of PFLAG is the relationships that are built. “We come to PFLAG because we want to support a loved one. We come to PFLAG because we want to better understand a loved one’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity or expression. We are there because of love. We are there because of that shared force of nature.”

PFLAG in the Community According to PFLAG, the Metro DC PFLAG Community Groups in the D.C. area meet on a monthly basis and provide warm and welcoming support to parents, friends and allies of the LGBTQ+ community. They also take part in community events and advocacy.

Campa said that because of the pandemic, monthly meetings are now conducted through Zoom. But members were still active prior to that change. For example, local members most recently took part in the Fredericksburg PRIDE event.

Advocacy is central to PFLAG because, as the group says, LGBTQ+ people face discrimination at school, on the job and in their family lives. They are more likely than their peers to be harassed at school, to be the victims of violent hate crimes, to be turned down for employment, to be fired and to be asked to leave their religious communities. Many LGBTQ+ feel the need to speak out on behalf of their children and friends who are unjustly deprived of fundamental human and civil rights.

“We also are involved in advocacy,” Campa said of the PWC Community Group. “This year the Virginia General Assembly had a number of bills that impacted the LGBTQ+ community such as the Virginia Values Act and acts for transgender student protections. PFLAG was involved in writing letters of support to the delegates and senators and providing context on how important these bills were for the LGBTQ+ community.”

Who should consider exploring PFLAG membership? According to Campa, “LGBTQ+ individuals, parents, friends, relatives or allies of an individual that identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Or, anyone who wants to learn more and support the LGBTQ+ community.”

Their website features a full list of community groups: pflagdc.org/ support/community. Locate educational publications at pflagdc. org/educate/publications.

For more information on the group and joining, visit pflagdc.org or email info@pflagdc.org.

Director of Content Marketing for Prince William Living, Katherine Gotthardt (kgotthardt@princewilliamliving.com) is a prolific writer, poet and author, as well as president of Write by the Rails, the Prince William chapter of the Virginia Writers Club.

When she isn’t writing or reading, Katherine can be found enjoying the company of her husband, grown children and pets. Learn more about her work at katherinegotthardt.com.

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health & wellness COVID-19 Testing in Prince William County Provided by Prince William County

F

ree COVID-19 testing is available for anyone who lives or works in Prince William County, the City of Manassas or the City of Manassas Park. Participants must provide their full name, telephone number, and a home or work address in Prince William County, the City of Manassas or the City of Manassas Park to obtain COVID testing and receive the results. Here is a list of the upcoming testing sites and locations. All sites can accommodate drive-thru or walk-up testing. To ensure you receive a test, please arrive at the site as close as possible to the start time and ensure you are in line by the times posted below. Testing is only available until the allocated test kits are depleted at each site.

Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020 Woodbridge Senior Center Start time 1:30 p.m. | Be in line by 3:30 p.m.

13850 Church Hill Road Woodbridge, Virginia 22191 Yorkshire Elementary School Start time 5:30 p.m. | Be in line By 7 p.m.

7610 Old Centreville Road Manassas, Virginia 20111 Friday, September 4, 2020 Splashdown Waterpark Start time 1:30 p.m. | Be in line by 3:30 p.m.

7500 Ben Lomond Park Road Manassas, Virginia 20109 Woodbridge Senior Center Start time 5:30 p.m. | Be in line by 7 p.m.

13850 Church Hill Road Woodbridge, Virginia 22191 Saturday, September 5, 2020 Metz Middle School Start time 8:30 a.m. | Be in line By 11:30 a.m.

9950 Wellington Rd. Manassas, Virginia 20110 Visit coronavirus.pwcgov.org/testing/ for additional dates and locations throughout the month.

Testing Sites

The Prince William Health District has provided a listing of all testing sites in the county. Please make sure you call the facilities on this list before going, as their testing availability or requirements may have changed. The list is available at coronavirus.pwcgov.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ COVID19-Private-Provider-Testing-GPW.pdf.

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October 2020 prince william living

Facts About COVID-19 Testing n There are two different components to testing: • Collecting a sample from a patient • Testing the sample, often requiring sending the

collected sample to an approved laboratory for

testing n Collection of a sample typically involves swabbing the patient’s mouth, nose and/or sinus. n Sample collection is the primary focus for the healthcare facilities. Many providers in the region must send samples to offsite labs for COVID-19 testing. n Commercial laboratories now have testing capability; however, there are still challenges that limit the speed of returning results to patients. n The Prince William Health District is NOT offering COVID19 testing, as they are not a primary health care service.

Their role is to investigate and monitor county residents who are confirmed via lab testing and to conduct contact investigations to identify additional people who came in close contact with individuals to help stop the spread of the disease.

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lifelong learning Learning Resources to Help Kids Rock Their 2020 School Year

By Erin Pittman

L

et’s be honest. Parents, caregivers and students are diving into all new territory when it comes to education in 2020. You may have learned new terminology and been forced to operate webcams and new applications (yet never as quickly and adeptly as your kids).

But there is some good news as we launch into this new world of learning. Whether you’re riding the new wave of full-time virtual learning with your children or providing supplemental activities to children in a hybrid learning environment, there are a variety of resources available to help students and families when they need a boost. Before you attempt to relearn eighth grade math, check out these websites and find support right at your fingertips.

CK-12.org The CK-12 Foundation “was founded with the mission to enable everyone to learn in his or her own way.” The website equips parents, teachers and students with resources they need — for free.

Using the latest technology, CK-12 offers concept-based learning through videos, games and online practice questions.

At ck12.org/browse, parents and students can easily access subjects organized by grade level and topic. With a free account, students will find additional explanations and practice questions to help with mastery and even test preparation, all without parents having to ever admit they don’t fully remember the information.

Education.com If virtual learning has you missing good old-fashioned paper and pencil worksheets, then Education.com may become your favorite resource. Parents and students can access free worksheets, games and more to help cement concepts into learning minds. With a free account, you can access a limited number of worksheets each month and not every resource on the site, but certainly enough to help with a concept here or there throughout the year. If you find that you wish to access more content, like their workbooks and additional games and worksheets, they are currently offering 50% off their usual subscription prices. Visit education.com/pricing for more information.

KhanAcademy.org Khan Academy is a nonprofit organization. Via their website, they strive to provide “a free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere.” Their personalized learning approach allows students to learn and master skills at their own pace, “first filling in gaps in their understanding and then accelerating their learning.”

Khan Academy’s library of information was created by experts, and their content aligns with learning standards. There are practice lessons and instructional videos for kindergarten through early college students in math, grammar, science, history and even AP® classes. High schoolers can also access test-preparation materials for the SATs, Praxis and LSATs. And all content is always free for everyone.

Khan Academy operates on the belief that education is a human right. Through supporters like Bank of America, AT&T, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and more, their content for any subject your child needs to master will be free for them to access. Visit khanacademy.org to get started.

Outschool.com Maybe worksheets, online games or prerecorded videos aren’t the best supplement for your student. Outschool may be a good alternative. Outschool offers inexpensive courses in a variety of subjects to help students solidify their understanding of concepts.

Each small-group class is held via Zoom, where students interact directly with their instructor, and sometimes each other.

You’ll find classes in every core subject, as well as a variety of STEM classes, world languages, the arts and even life skills. Need to master those multiplication facts? There are a number of classes for that.

Want to build those middle-school writing skills? Outschool can definitely help.

In our 2020 world of social distancing, Outschool can also fill in those extracurricular activity gaps. Do you have a child interested in dance? Try a variety of hip hop, ballet and jazz classes. Does your child only talk about Minecraft? Sneak some math and history into their Minecraft worlds with a class, so they learn as they craft. You can even sign kids up for a variety of health and wellness classes to help balance the potential emotional stress of learning from home and living through a pandemic.

Visit outschool.com to view their full course listing and to sign up for an account. You can even opt to subscribe to a tailored email newsletter delivered weekly to your inbox featuring classes for the upcoming week.

VarsityTutors.com Much like Outschool, Varsity Tutors offers live instruction in small group classes on a variety of subjects. Additionally, though, they (continues on page 29) prince william living October 2020

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taking care of business

TODOS

SUPERMARKET Quality Products, Supportive Services and a Place for Community

By Amy Falkofske

C

arlos Castro opened Todos Supermarket on Route 1 in Woodbridge in 1990. He recounts that it was a small store, only 2,500 square feet, behind a Popeye’s, that customers had trouble finding. Now his Woodbridge store is in a 75,000-square-foot space in Marumsco Plaza, and he also has a store in Dumfries. Both stores have become staples in the community, especially the Hispanic community.

The Beginning Castro has held many jobs including tax preparer and real estate agent. He even owned a construction business at one point, but he wanted a business his wife, Gladis, could run — something she could do instead of cleaning houses. That was his motivation to open Todos Supermarket, and he said it was all uphill at first.

“The first thing we had to do was to figure out what we had gotten ourselves into. We had to learn everything from zero,” said Castro.

He says they didn’t know anything about grocery store financing, and the whole first two years was a learning process. One of the biggest things the Castros had to figure out was what their product line was going to be. That involved speaking directly to their customers and asking them what they’d like to see in the store.

“The most difficult part was to figure out the Hispanic community because we’re so diverse,” said Castro.

Castro pointed out that the Hispanic community is made up of people from many different places such as Mexico, San Salvador, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

Castro said growing up in a poor family in San Salvador instilled

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October 2020 prince william living

in him the importance of working hard and being on the lookout for opportunities, and he certainly used this work ethic while getting Todos off the ground.

“I learned through my years of growing up that there are a lot of opportunities in life, but we have to be ready and willing to jump on them, work hard and succeed,” said Castro.

Moving Up In 1996, Castro moved Todos three doors down into a 5,000-square-foot facility. At first, all of the money he had coming in was going back into the business. He considered selling the business, but after a close analysis, decided against it.

During this time, he got active in the community, something that his dad instilled in him as a child. Because of this, he knew that the owners of Marumsco Plaza were actually looking to put a Wegman’s in the plaza, but Castro got them to agree to bring in Todos instead. That’s how Todos came to occupy its current 75,000-square-foot space in the plaza.

Success at Last In addition to the Woodbridge location, Todos was also in Alexandria at one point. Castro sold the Alexandria store to open a store in Dumfries in 2008. Both the Woodbridge and Dumfries locations have a loyal following.

“I think a big part of our success has been my community activism. We have a lot of loyalty from the community,” said Castro.

Castro shared that one of his customers overheard a conversation he had with his general manager one day before the move. He was worried that the customers wouldn’t be able to find the store in its new location. The customer came to him and said, “Wherever you go, we’ll find you and we’ll follow you.”

Taking Care of His Customers and His Team One reason for Castro’s success is his attention to his customers’ needs.

“Our main goal is to please the customers with products or services or help, whatever they need. If we have a difficulty, we need to try to approach it with a win-win result,” he said.

Todos is not just a grocery store, but a place where customers can go to get help with things like translation if they don’t speak English or emailing a government entity. The store also has a post office, a tax and accounting service, and money-wire services inside.

Castro puts a lot of effort into ensuring his products are what his customers want. If Todos doesn’t have what you’re looking for, they will go out of their way to find it for you. They also buy in bulk in hopes of passing the savings on to the customer, but quality is key. Castro said he is more concerned with the quality of his products than making a profit.

“We need to make a profit for sure, but I want to sell you the best quality,” he said.

Castro considers his employees family and aims to give them good

benefits and a living wage. “To me, we are all a big family, and we try to treat everybody with that philosophy,” he said. Castro also looks to promote his employees and help them succeed. He noted that this is another thing that adds to the company’s success.

“That’s I think a big portion, to know that you have a team that you can trust and that they care about you and you care about them. It’s not only a great feeling, but it gets results,” said Castro.

Todos is a family business not only in the figurative sense, but also literally. In addition to his wife, his three grown children and other relatives also work at the store.

Community Activism Castro is a member of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce.

He’s also on a committee working on reopening the economy in Prince William amid the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, he serves on the Executive Board of the Community Advisory Board for the Prince William County Police, and he helps run the nonprofit Hispanic Organization for Leadership & Action, or HOLA, which works to engage and empower the Latino community.

Todos Supermarket is located at 13905 Jefferson Davis Highway in Woodbridge and 17987 Dumfries Shopping Plaza in Dumfries.

Amy Falkofske is a freelance writer and photographer. She has a Master’s degree in Film-TV with a concentration in screenwriting.

She lives in Bristow with her husband, two boys and two Beagle dogs. prince william living October 2020

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family fun

FALL IN LOVE WITH FALL

Seasonal Activities for the Whole Family

By Jennifer Halter

F

all is here! It’s a time of year that touches all the senses — the smells, the colors and the cooler weather. Whether you choose to spend your time indoors or outdoors, here's a bucket list of ideas for family fun this month.

Pumpkin Decorating Party

This month is all about pumpkin everything, and decorating pumpkins is always a family favorite! You can carve a masterpiece or keep your pumpkin intact and simply decorate the outside. For carving, there are so many great kits that you can pick up from the store that include all of the tools you need. Some even include stencils with different designs and characters. As a reminder, be sure to monitor your children if they are doing the carving as these tools, even marked as “kidsafe,” can still be sharp.

Not brave enough to carve or want to avoid the mess?

You can paint your pumpkins, instead. For the best results, use an acrylic sealer on your pumpkin before and after you paint. This will help the paint go on smoother and will help keep it from flaking or chipping off. Use a sponge brush to apply a coat of acrylic sealer to your clean pumpkin. Allow to dry completely before using acrylic paints of your choice to decorate. Once dry, apply a final coat of acrylic sealer and let it dry completely before handling your pumpkin.

If you have little ones who like to up their decorating

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game, you could also add things like feathers, pom poms, sequins and jewels for extra flair.

Fall Photoshoot

Break out the cozy sweaters and boots, and head outdoors for the perfect family fall photoshoot! You can hire a local photographer, ask a friend or take your own (camera tripods are amazing tools!). Create your own “set” using fall décor such as pumpkins, hay bales and cornstalks. Or, head to a local park and use the trees and all of the beautiful, colorful leaves as your props.

Even though we still have a few months to go, think about using these photos as part of your holiday cards.

Costume Dinner

You're never too old to play dress up, so plan a costume dinner at home with your family! You can choose a theme, such as “Monster Bash” or “Princesses and Superheroes,” or have each family member dress up as their favorite character, animal, object, etc. Create a menu based on your theme, or keep it simple and have a takeout night. Make the night complete with a postdinner dance party or game night.

Early Morning Walk/Hike

One of the first signs of fall is the arrival of cool, crisp mornings. Plan an early morning walk around your neighborhood or a hike at a local park. During your (continues on page 26)

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FALL (continued from page 24) walk, talk about the sounds and smells you may observe and what you see, such as animals and different colors of leaves. You can even pack a picnic breakfast to make it a full morning of outdoor exploration. Pack some cocoa or warm apple cider for a fun treat.

Roast Pumpkin Seeds

If you carve pumpkins, don't throw out the seeds. You can roast them for a great fall snack that everyone will love! Try this recipe to roast seeds: 1. Remove the seeds from the pumpkin and separate from the pulp (aka guts).

2. Put the seeds in a strainer and rinse until clean.

3. Boil the seeds in a pot of water with about 1 teaspoon of sea salt. The amount of water you use will depend on the number of seeds you have. You just want the seeds to have enough water to create a rolling boil for approximately 10 minutes.

4. After the boil, drain the water off of the seeds and spread them out on a layer of paper towels to dry.

They do not have to be completely dried before moving onto the next step but should not be dripping with water.

5. Place your seeds in a large mixing bowl. Add spices and flavors of your choice at this time. You can keep it simple and just add salt or add different ingredients. Try cinnamon and sugar, dry ranch dressing mix, black pepper, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, taco seasoning or dill.

6. Lightly coat your seasoned seeds with olive oil. You won't want them to be dripping with oil, but the amount will be dependent on the number of seeds you have.

7. Spread the seeds out onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Make sure they are in a single layer.

8. Roast seeds in the oven at 325 degrees for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, or until they are golden brown.

9. Store roasted seeds in an airtight container.

No matter how you choose to fill your bucket list this month, be sure to include lots of fun, laughter and love!

Jennifer Halter is publisher of Macaroni Kid Woodbridge and Macaroni Kid Gainesville/Manassas.

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home & hearth Considering Kitchen Renovations? Read This First.

By Katherine Gotthardt

F

rom adding splashes of vibrant color to making more space, kitchen renovations are happening. And why not?

The kitchen is one of the most popular rooms in the house.

Whether you’re prepping, eating or meeting, this is one room you won’t want to overlook when it comes time to rethink design and upgrades. But there’s a difference between what you do when you plan to stay in your home for a while longer and what you do when you’re thinking of selling.

Staying Put

If moving isn’t in the cards, Peggy Burke, Associate Broker at Virginia Realty Partners, Long and Foster Real Estate, says, “Get what you like.” Consider these trends to make your kitchen bigger and more functional. Remove a wall. Add an island with bar seating. Invest in a second sink or oven. Install drawer organizers, pull out waste bins, toe kick drawers, cabinets with pivoting shelves, lazy Susans and all those details that bring extra convenience. Larger freezers, herb storage, talking refrigerators — all are on the upgrade menu. Opt for icemakers, wine refrigerators and walk-in pantries. Add a pop of color to the bottom of the island or try out the latest stone look behind the stove. Check out a variety of wooden cabinetry and accents. Whatever you do, think about your decisions.

You can start by considering countertops. According to Burke, on-trend countertops vary from laminate to granite to quartz to Corian or Silestone to soapstone to concrete. Again, choose what you like if you are not moving. But, she cautions, “Countertops require maintenance, and if you are not ready to maintain them, pick a laminate you like. Laminate is easiest to take care of.” Quartz, Corian and Silestone come next in line in terms of maintenance ease. “Granite and soapstone require a lot of maintenance. Quartz is a little more expensive but, probably worth it.”

Flooring has many options now too, says Burke. From heated ceramic to hardwood to luxury vinyl tile, there are so many possibilities, and the choice is yours.

Then there is lighting. “If you have shorter ceilings, be sure to put in the recessed lighting that is not hot. The new LED bulbs are supposed to not be hot, but be sure to talk to an electrician before selecting.”

For appliances, Burke says, “You can pick cooktops, stoves, convection, microwave, side-by-side freezer on the top, on the side or on the bottom or full freezer beside full fridge. With your stove or range there is something now called induction. You have to use stainless or cast-iron cookware, but, supposedly it cooks just like gas and you can stick a paper towel between your cookware and the burner. It’s amazing technology.”

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Planning to Make a Move

While you can get creative in a home you plan to stay in for several years or more, if you plan to move, think a little deeper about your choices. Appliances are key. “As I reminisce about the best kitchens I have ever seen, I have a really hard time making a decision about what is the best, what is trendy and what withstands time. My personal favorite is a white kitchen and white appliances. When showing houses, if a white kitchen is there, it quickly becomes a wow house. But, if there are beautiful maple or hickory cabinets with these appliances, they are not far behind.”

Much depends on the decor of the house and how many windows the kitchen has, says Burke. “The most important thing about a kitchen is making it look clean, bright and big.

White does that. Add a few cabinets with glass doors, and you are into the timeless zone.”

No matter what colors you choose, be sure to get appliances that are counter depth, Burke says. “I showed a house last year that I am sure they had to pick the fridge over the counter, and then it stuck out so far you could not squeeze into the laundry room. They make counter depth appliances and you should use them. They are often a little wider, but they don't stick out into the room.”

Burke says she could go on and on about kitchen upgrades, but if you are looking to sell, she highly recommends using a designer who works with one of the big stores, freelances or works for a company that specializes in kitchen renovations.

Trends are constantly changing, she says. Enjoy your renovation project, and if you have questions, consult your realtor.

Director of Content Marketing for Prince William Living, Katherine Gotthardt (kgotthardt@princewilliamliving.com) is an award-winning writer, poet and author, as well as president of Write by the Rails, the Prince William chapter of the Virginia Writers Club. Learn about her work at KatherineGotthardt.com.

AT HOME (continued from page 11)

LEARNING (continued from page 21)

She’s read 19 books this year so far, more than half of her Goodreads 2020 Reading Challenge goal. Build your own Want to Read list and follow her on Goodreads at goodreads.com/user/ show/11228373-erin.

provide one-on-one access to highly qualified online tutors who support your learner in the areas they need additional help. To get started, you provide information about your student, and they take an adaptive test to gauge their strengths and weaknesses. Based on this information, Varsity Tutors' matching process pairs students with one of their more than 40,000 experts to find the perfect tutor.

And quarantine isn’t really complete without dabbling in bread baking, right?

“Baking a loaf of bread has always been something I wanted to do but just never justified the time,” she said. “I successfully baked four loaves of bread, each time covering my kitchen in flour, but I’ll still call that a win. I won’t, however, claim that it will be a regular occurrence!”

Erin also loves photography and has found small bits of time to continue to work through an online photography course, as well as help her 10-year-old son Evan learn about photography.

“We both share a love of photos. From a young age, he’s been my picture buddy,” she said. “We found a great kids challenge and workbook that breaks it down really nicely and makes learning fun. He’s been loving learning with my old camera, and I love seeing him excited about photography.”

Marianne Weaver (mweaver@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance editor and writer. She earned a BA from the University of Pittsburgh and an MJ from Temple University.

Varsity Tutors also provides support for learning pods or small groups of students who wish to study together. Choose as many subjects as your group wants and set up recurring sessions as needed.

Prices per student vary based upon the number of students in the group.

Visit VarsityTutors.com for information on all of their options for academic support and pricing for each service.

Living through 2020 at times feels like we’ve been shipped to an alternate universe. At least you can breathe a little easier knowing that with a few clicks of a mouse you can support your children’s education — all without sitting next to them on their class Zooms.

Erin Pittman is Editor in Chief of Prince William Living. She loves reading, writing, time with her family and snuggling all the dogs — but especially her yellow Lab, Wilson. Reach Erin at epittman@ princewilliamliving.com.

For appointments, shopping or essential travel—OmniRide will get you there. Safe, dependable and affordable, OmniRide Local buses serve routes in Dale City, Dumfries, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Stafford, Manassas and Manassas Park. And with an advance call, buses operating in Eastern Prince William County can leave the standard routes to serve locations up to 3/4 mile off the route.

Fares – 60+ years One-way: $0.75 • Day Pass: $1.80 • Weekly Pass: $7.15 · Stringent twice-daily cleaning of buses · On-board social distancing

OmniRide Local Gets You There!

OmniRide.com (703) 730-6664 or (888) 730-6664 Virginia Relay Center-TDD, call 711

Our helpful Customer Service Agents are ready to answer your questions.

Monday–Friday • 5:30 AM to 7:00 PM • 703-730-6664 Or catch us on the web at OmniRide.com.

OmniRide Express • OmniRide Local • OmniRide East-West Express OmniRide Metro Express • OmniRide Ridematching are services of the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission.

SmarTrip® accepted on all OmniRide buses.

OmniRide participates in the Guaranteed Ride Home and SmartBenefits Programs.

Remember to bring your mask

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local flavor

Pumpkin Paradise

By Rebecca Barnes

P

umpkin fans usually start their celebration of all things pumpkin on Sept. 1. From coffee to candles, fall fans begin before the leaves change and temperatures cool. This month we're bringing you some popular pumpkin treats our readers have enjoyed over the years.

Pumpkin-Maple Cream Trifle Provided by Pampered Chef Ingredients • Maple walnuts (optional, see Cook’s Tip) • 1 box (14.4 oz/400 g) whole graham crackers (5 x 2 in./13 x 5 cm) • 1/2 cup (125 mL) plus 3 tbsp (45 mL) pure maple syrup (Do not use mapleflavored pancake syrup.), divided • 1 pkg (3.4 oz/102 g) cheesecake or vanilla instant pudding and pie filling • 1/2 cup (125 mL) milk • 1 can (15 oz) solid pack pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) (1 3/4 cups/425 mL) • 2 tsp (10 mL) Cinnamon Plus® Spice Blend • 1 container (12 oz/1 L) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided

2. For pumpkin filling, combine pudding mix and milk in stainless (4-qt./4-L) mixing bowl; whisk until mixture begins to thicken. Add pumpkin and spice blend to pudding mixture; whisk well. Fold 2 cups (500 mL) of the whipped topping into pudding mixture; set aside.

3. For maple cream, combine remaining 3 tbsp (45 mL) maple syrup and remaining whipped topping in a stainless (2-qt./2-L) mixing bowl; fold gently. Attach open star tip to a Pampered Chef Easy Accent® Decorator; fill with 2/3 cup (150 mL) of the maple cream and set aside for garnish.

4. To assemble trifle, place one-third of the graham cracker mixture over the bottom of a trifle bowl. Top with half of the pumpkin filling, spreading to edges. Top with another third of the graham cracker mixture. Top with remaining maple cream, spreading to edges. Top with remaining graham cracker mixture and pumpkin filling. Cover; refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Garnish with maple walnuts, if desired, and pipe with reserved maple cream. Sprinkle with additional spice blend, if desired.

Yield: 24 servings of about 1/2 cup (125 mL) Nutrients per serving: Calories 180, Total Fat 7 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Carbohydrate 27 g, Protein 2 g, Sodium 160 mg, Fiber 2 g U.S. Diabetic exchanges per serving: 1 starch, 1 fruit, 1 fat (2 carb)

• Additional Cinnamon Plus® Spice Blend Plus

Cook’s tips: Soaking the graham crackers with hot maple syrup will soften the crackers to a cake-like consistency.

Directions 1. Prepare maple walnuts, if desired; set aside. Coarsely break graham crackers into stainless (6-qt./6-L) mixing bowl. Place 1/2 cup (125 mL) of the maple syrup in a small batter bowl; microwave on high 60-90 seconds or until hot. Pour hot syrup over crackers; toss to coat and set aside.

To make maple walnuts, combine 2 tbsp (30 mL) butter and 3 tbsp (45 mL) pure maple syrup in (10-in./24-cm) sauté pan. Stir over medium heat until butter is melted. Add 1 cup (250 mL) walnut halves and cook, stirring constantly, 5-7 minutes or until walnuts are evenly browned. Spread walnuts in a single layer on parchment paper; cool completely.

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Pumpkin pie spice can be substituted for the Cinnamon Plus® Spice Blend.

Pumpkin Pie Donuts

Visit pamperedchef.biz/ for more!

Ingredients

Pumpkin Scones

By Jason Shriner If you can, create your own spice blend using cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and ginger. Try adding different non-traditional spices like black pepper for a twist. Pepitas, or hulled pumpkin seeds, are deep green and are usually found in Latin food markets. Toast them until they pop and are golden-green for maximum flavor.

Makes about 16 scones Ingredients • 2 cups all-purpose flour • ¾ cup granulated sugar • 1 tablespoon baking powder • ½ teaspoon salt • ½ – 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice • 4 ½ ounces pumpkin puree • 1 whole egg • 2 ½ ounces hulled pumpkin seeds (pepitas), toasted • 3 ounces very cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes • ½ cup powdered sugar • 2 teaspoons whole milk Directions 1. Combine the dry ingredients on the mixer and blend together using the paddle attachment on your mixer.

2. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the dough resembles coarse meal and there are varying sized chunks of butter.

3. In a separate bowl whisk together the pumpkin puree, heavy cream and eggs.

4. Add the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Add the pepitas and mix thoroughly.

5. Divide dough into four equal pieces and shape into discs.

6. Cut into triangles by cutting the disc in half and then in half again (like a pie) and bake at 400° F for 14-16 minutes.

From McCormick.com

Donuts • 2 cups all-purpose baking mix • 1/4 cup granulated sugar • 2/3 cup milk • 1 egg, lightly beaten • 1 tablespoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract • 1 teaspoon McCormick® Pumpkin Pie Spice Vanilla Glaze • 4 cups confectioners’ sugar • 1/2 cup milk • 11/2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract Maple Glaze • 4 cups confectioners’ sugar • 1/2 cup milk • 1 teaspoon McCormick® Imitation Maple Flavor Mocha Glaze • 8 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate, coarsely chopped • 1/2 cup heavy cream • 1 tablespoon McCormick® Pure Coffee Extract Preparation 1. Preheat oven to 325°F. For the donuts, spray mini donut pan* with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. Mix all ingredients in medium bowl until well blended. Spoon batter into prepared pan, using 1 tablespoon of batter for each donut.

2. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

3. Meanwhile, for the glaze, mix all ingredients in large bowl until smooth. Remove donuts from pan. Immediately coat in glaze. Place donuts on wire rack set over a baking sheet or waxed paper to cool. For the mocha glaze, place chopped chocolate in large bowl. Set aside. Bring cream to simmer in small saucepan. Stir in coffee extract. Pour over chocolate in bowl. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Remove donuts from pan. Immediately dip tops of donuts in glaze. Place donuts on wire rack set over a baking sheet or waxed paper to cool.

7. Optional: Combine the powdered sugar and whole milk to form a thick icing and drizzle over cooled scones. The icing will harden as it dries but avoid drizzling too early prior to serving. The icing can absorb the green from the pumpkin seeds.

Serves 15

Storage: • 7 days room temperature • 14 days refrigerated • 6 months frozen

These delicious recipes will fill your home with the scents of fall and satisfy all of your senses. Enjoy!

*Note: If you do not have a mini donut pan, use a mini cupcake pan to make donut holes. You may also use an electric donut maker. Prepare as directed.

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your finances Is It Time to Move Money From Old Retirement Plans?

By Bennett Whitlock, CRPC® Private Wealth Advisor

O

ver the course of their lifetime, the average American changes jobs 12 times and works for five to seven different employers1. If this rings true for you, you may be among the millions of people who have started 401(k) or 403(b) plans with multiple companies over the years.

If you have money sitting in those old workplace retirement plans, you may be wondering what to do with them. There are three primary actions to consider: n Roll over the funds into an IRA n Keep your accounts with your former employer n Roll your old accounts into your current employer’s plan Here’s what you should know about each option.

Roll Over the Funds Into an IRA

All too often, it becomes easy to forget about your retirement accounts that were established through savings plans offered by previous employers. The longer you are away from that job, the more removed you may become from the retirement plan that you left behind.

One popular option to consider is to roll any “orphaned” workplace retirement plans into an IRA. This can help you consolidate assets in a single account and keep better tabs on how the money is invested and how those investments are performing.

Among other reasons to consider moving money from a workplace plan to an IRA: n You typically have a much wider choice of investment options in an IRA. In most workplace plans, the investment universe is limited. n With an IRA, you own the account. This is in contrast to a 401(k) where you are a participant in a plan, but not the account owner. n Having all of your retirement savings in a limited number of accounts makes it easier to manage your asset allocation strategy. You’ll feel more confident that your investments are working well together.

If you are past age 59-1/2 and have money in a workplace retirement plan where you currently work, your employer may offer the option to roll some or all of the money from that plan to an IRA. This so-called “in-service distribution” allows you to move assets to an IRA even while you continue to work with your employer. In some cases, your ability to continue to contribute to the workplace plan may be suspended for several months if you utilize the in-service distribution option.

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Keep Your Accounts With Your Former Employer

In some instances, it may be advantageous to retain money in your existing 401(k) or 403(b) plan. This is most beneficial if: n If company stock is included in the plan. There may be more tax-advantageous ways to access those assets when you take distributions from the plan. n If you stop working at age 55. You have the ability to access money from your workplace plan without incurring a 10% penalty (normally, you must wait until age 59-1/2 to avoid a penalty). n If you intend to keep working beyond age 72. If that’s the case, money in your workplace plan is not subject to required minimum distribution rules until you actually stop working. However, traditional IRAs are still subject to RMDs even if you remain employed.

Roll Your Old Accounts Into Your Current Employer’s Plan

Not all employers will accept 401(k) or 403(b) rollovers from a previous employer’s plan, so check with your new employer before making any decisions. If the option is available to you, benefits may include the following: n Your money will have the chance to continue to grow tax deferred. n Having only one retirement account can make it easier to manage your retirement savings.

But before making this decision, make sure to fully understand the rules of your employer’s plan and consider the range of investment options available within it.

Assess Your Circumstances Carefully

Should you leave it or roll it? The answer depends on your own circumstances. Talk to your financial advisor about the best strategy for your retirement savings. Be sure to consult with your tax advisor as well to make sure you understand the tax consequences of any decisions you make.

Bennett C. Whitlock III, CRPC®, is a Private Wealth Advisor and Managing Director with Whitlock Wealth Management, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Contact him at 703-492-7732 or visit whitlockwealth.com.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019. "Number of Jobs, Labor Market Experience, and Earnings Growth: Results from a National Longitudinal Survey."

1

Retire on your terms.

Since 1894, Ameriprise Financial has worked for our clients’ futures, helping to redefine what retirement can be. At Ameriprise, we’re dedicated to an enduring, one-on-one approach that enables clients to achieve their true potential. When you take the right approach, life can be brilliant.

Bennett C. Whitlock, CRPC® Private Wealth Advisor and Chief Executive Officer Whitlock Wealth Management A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. 703.492.7732 12848 Harbor Drive, Suite 101 Lake Ridge, VA 22192 bennett.c.whitlock@ampf.com whitlockwealth.com CA Insurance #0F32105 AR license #2898097

BE UNIQUE

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2020 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. (01/20)

Westminster at Lake Ridge offers unique possibilites, with more than 62 acres nestled in a gorgeous, wooded setting.

Our classic apartments and spacious cottages are perfect for an active and engaging lifestyle. The Center for Healthy Living, opening this summer, will offer even more amenities to this already exceptional community.

SCHEDULE A PERSONAL TOUR TODAY! WESTMINSTER AT LAKE RIDGE www.wlrva.org // 703-822-4781

Ignite your growth today.

www.rampantsocial.com

Westminster at Lake Ridge is a not-for-profit, CARFaccredited, SAGECare-certified, life plan community.

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calendar Prince William Living’s calendar is prepared several weeks before the magazine is printed.

A lot can happen between the time the calendar is prepared and the date of the event.

While the weather is still warm, hiking and cycling is available in Prince William-area parks. Yoga studios and gyms are offering both live and virtual classes. Libraries, churches and businesses are offering online events along with some in-person events. The Prince William Chamber of Commerce (pwchamber.org) has been offering webinars.

We encourage you to continue ordering takeout and delivery from local restaurants.

Visit our online edition (princewilliamliving.com) for up-to-date information.

october

Manassas Farmers Market Thursdays | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Harris Pavilion 9201 Center Street, Manassas

Saturdays | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Prince William Commuter Lot Across From Baldwin Elementary School 1978 Eagle Way, Manassas The Farmers Market will offer pre-orders for food and produce vendors for pickup at the respective market locations.

Haunted Pub Crawl Tour

Fridays & Saturdays | 7 to 9 p.m.

Historic Occoquan 408 Mill Street, Occoquan The tour kicks off in a haunted gallery, Local Colour. Other stops include the Rockledge Mansion, The Spot on Mill Street and Madigans Restaurant. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at several of the stops. This tour is geared towards guests who are 21+ years old.

Reservations are required (703-357-3850).

Masks are also required, as part of the tour is indoors.

Prince William Living Presents Breakfast with an Expert Thurs. Oct. 1 | 8 a.m.

Online Join us for information from an expert, who will give you actionable advice you can put to work immediately in your business. RSVP princewilliamliving.com/ breakfastwithanexpert.

#OCTOBERARTSHOW

Fri. Oct. 2 | 6 to 9 p.m.

McCall Studio Gallery 9409 Battle Street, Manassas “Nature Paintings” will bring nature to your home or office! Guest Artist Jess Hedem is an oil and watercolor painter.

Art for sale for the month of October!

Live music, wine, beer and packaged snacks, and guest artist speaker at this special event! Original jewelry by this guest artist will be available for purchase at #McCallGalleryShop. RSVP at facebook.com/McCallStudioGallery DMVISUALLLC/. 571-379-7598.

Brentsville Bluegrass Concert

Sat. Oct. 3 | 4 p.m.

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow Road, Bristow Bring your chairs, kick up your heels and enjoy some bluegrass at the Brentsville Courthouse public lot! Before the concert starts, self-guided tours of the grounds will be available. The lawn will be marked to help maintain social distancing, and face masks are required when indoors.

Registration is required (703-365-7895).

Food and beverages available for purchase.

PWC Eatz and Brew 2020

Sun. Oct. 4 | 12 to 5 p.m.

Manassas Mall 8300 Sudley Road, Manassas This 2020 fall festival is an exciting blend of food, vendors, entertainment and fun for the entire family! Social distancing and mask wearing will be promoted, along with clean surfaces for the family of attendees and businesses.

Election 2020 with Bill Schneider

Wed. Oct. 12 | 7 to 8 p.m.

Online Come enjoy this lecture, made possible

by George Mason University's Mason Speakers. This will be a virtual, nonpartisan discussion of the upcoming election and related topics with Dr. Bill Schneider of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. For further information visit https://masonspeakers.gmu.edu/ or call 703-993-8761.

Women’s Wedding Network

Wed. Oct. 14 | 11:30 a.m.

Online Most of the wedding industry remains closed to the public. Learn how the wedding industry can adapt and survive during this time. For more information: bridesandweddings.com/womens-weddingnetwork/.

All Hallow’s Eve Candlelight Tours Fri. Oct. 16 | 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 17 | 6:30 and 8:30 p.m Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow Road, Bristow Brentsville has a diverse and dramatic history as it served as the county seat for nearly 100 years. During this time, many strange and scary events have happened here, and many say that ghosts of longdead men and women still haunt the area. Come experience a spirited night as you explore the grounds by candlelight and hear tales of sadness and triumph at

Have an event? Visit princewilliamliving.com/events to submit details to our online calendar.

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October 2020 prince william living

Brentsville. Tours are limited to seven people; masks are required. 703-365-7895.

Prince William Living Lunch With the Publisher

Wed. Oct. 21 | noon Online Are you an advertiser with Prince William Living or interested in becoming one? Meet the people behind greater Prince William’s premiere lifestyle magazine, as you learn about getting your press releases published, tying into the power of our social media presence, visibility packages that increase your reach to targeted consumers and tips on how to focus on your message.

RSVP at princewilliamliving.com/ lunchwiththepublisher.

Spilled Ink Open Mic Night

Fri. Oct. 23 | 7 to 10 p.m.

Online: Zoom.com | Meeting ID: 821 7039 2969 Spilled Ink is an open mic night that celebrates the written word. Join local authors, poets, and scribblers as they read their work. All are welcome to listen or read! Be brave! (Please keep all material at a PG-13 rating or below.)

Wine & Words

Sun. Oct. 25 | 3 to 6 p.m.

Aroma Wine Tasting 9249 Center Street, Manassas Where words meet wine. Enjoy discounted flights of wine while you mingle with the local literati — authors of all genres including history, mystery, fantasy, children’s books, poetry and more.

Holiday Crafts, Desserts & Sweets

Sat. Oct. 31 | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Manassas Museum 9101 Prince William Street, Manassas A delectable excursion in the world of crafts, sweets and desserts! In addition to crafts and desserts, there will be a kids’ costume parade with a Best Costume Award. Other activities include pumpkin decorating, fun moon bounces to choose from and more.

Trunk or Treat

Sat. Oct. 31 | 2 to 5 p.m.

Manassas Park Community Center 99 Adams Street, Manassas Park Are you seeing monsters, ghouls, princesses and superheroes roaming around? It must be Halloween! The Community Center’s front parking lot will be a safe alternative to trick-or-treating. Decorated vehicles will line up with their trunks open at the parking lot and hand out treats to guests.

Halloween Party

Sat. Oct. 31 | 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Electric Palm 12745 Sea Ray Lane, Woodbridge Something about this location on the water makes folks want to have a good time! The Fringe Benefits plays popular songs from the 80s to today.

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Dog Walking Pet Sitting Pet Taxi Overnights Fetch Supplies a safe and happy world where pets get their way

571.364.7250 fetchpetcare.com/manassas

winner www.actspwc.org 703-441-8606

paytonsproject.org

ACHIEVE WITH US!

Committed to providing opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities to achieve their greatest potential growth and independence.

www.arcgpw.org 703-670-4800

We bring the fun to you!

703-330-8145 www.casacis.org

Pony Rides Petting Zoo Ice Cream Truck Family owned and operated for 20 years!

571-283-2408 • poniesplus.org

Vintage Moving & Storage Moving Your Life’s Treasures

Vintage Moving & Storage Moving Your Life’s Treasures

703.392.6260 www.vintagemoving.com

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October 2020 prince william living

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prince william living October 2020

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There’s a very good chance she could leave it all to the dog.

We’ll give you a leg up.

At Thrive Senior Living, we’re a lot like any family. Which makes us a whole lot less like other senior living communities. We treat your parents like they’re our parents.

We get to know them, not as

patients or as residents. But as

people. We do more than care for them. We care about them.

That’s what makes us Thrive.

That’s what makes them thrive.

Tribute at The Glen 4151 Old Bridge Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192 571.402.1870 | ThriveSL.com/TheGlen A Thrive Senior Living Community

COME TO LIVE HERE.

TM