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Didlake Inc., a Virginia-based non-profit that connects people with disabilities to employment, education, and opportunities throughout the National Capital Region, announced the launch of Didlake Photo Imaging at 8472 Kao Circle in Manassas.

“When we launched Didlake Document Imaging, we were regularly asked if we provided photo scanning services,” said Didlake Director of Business Development, Valerie Spencer. “Our 20 years of imaging experience started in microfilm. We knew that we could provide an exceptional digital product to customers looking for photo scanning.”

Didlake Photo Imaging, a division of Didlake, Inc., provides high-quality digitized photos. The service focuses exclusively on photo scanning, helping customers preserve their priceless memories. As a division of Didlake, Inc., Didlake Photo Imaging fulfills Didlake’s mission by employing people with disabilities who receive valuable job training and work experience.

“Scanning photos to digital format helps to preserve and share memories with family and friends for generations,” said Didlake Vice President of Corporate Communications and Marketing, Erika Spalding. “For many, their family’s paper photos live with one family member. Digitizing photos makes it easy to ensure that everyone in the family can share in the family’s history.”

To learn more about Didlake Photo Imaging, visit didlakeimaging.com/photo-scanning-service

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El Dorado Marketplace for gamers is providing tips on how to improve your internet for optimum playing experience during the pandemic.

Video games, like MMO (Massive Multiplayer Online) and MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-playing Game), have already become one of the main methods of entertainment for a large part of the population because they can create hours of fun and are increasingly accessible to the public. In the current state of the pandemic, video games have stood out more since they can help maintain constant fun and socialization without having to leave home.

However, MMO videogames require a good internet connection in order to be played smoothly without any problems. If the internet connection deteriorates slightly, it is very likely that there will be slowdowns that will hinder the gameplay.

It is worth mentioning that in this quarantine, many players find themselves in a situation where they have to live almost all day with a considerable number of family members, each of whom occupies a certain part of the internet. This ends up producing a destabilization in the connection that can slow down online videogames considerably in most cases.

Because MMOs and MMORPGs are totally dependent on the user’s internet, any drop in connection can end up affecting the gameplay and this can lead to latency, Ping and Lag. A small latency difference between our connection and that of the other players can be enough to completely ruin a game.

In order to optimize the internet connection so that players can play MMO or MMORPG games smoothly, El Dorado Marketplace for gamers provides several methods to optimize our internet connection:

Using VPN when playing an MMO
More than half of all MMORPGs have their main servers in Asian countries, so connecting to these games from the west can cause delays due to the long-distance and sometimes other IP blockages based on the region. These problems can be solved quickly with VPNs (Virtual Private Network), which are tools widely used by MMO and MMORPG players.

By using a VPN, it is possible for anyone to play using the IP Address from anywhere in the world. This also allows you to have a secure and private connection while playing any videogame.

Getting a VPN is extremely easy because they are abound on the Internet. The best countries to connect to are South Korea (in the case of Asian games) and the United States (in Western MMOs) since their connections are more efficient and usually do not suffer from regional blockage.

Check the devices used for connection
For a more optimized connection, it is always recommended to connect with an Ethernet cable, instead of a Wi-Fi connection. A wired connection has no obstacles such as walls, floors, or ceilings, so it is not affected by interference. Although, this option is not viable for many who do not have direct access to the Ethernet cable.

In some cases, it is also recommended to check the telephone wiring and rosettes to ensure that they are in perfect condition. This check is simple and is important to ensure that internet slowdowns are not due to external problems, if so, you should call the appropriate technical service.

Optimize PC software to improve your Internet connection
To optimize the connection on some MMOs or MMORPGs, it is necessary to open ports on the router. Each game uses different ports, so it will be necessary to get information on that aspect through the help section provided by the videogame.

Another option is to close any other service that may be occupying part of the internet of our PC in the background. These background services can be video conferencing programs, cloud storage services, anti-virus, and automatic updates to our OS.

It is also important to make sure that you give the firewall permissions to allow connections from online videogames. Problems caused by the firewall are largely ignored by some players and can be the cause of a bad connection.

It is hoped that these tips will help you improve your internet connection to play your MMO or MMORPG in these times of quarantine. Another element that greatly enhances our MMORPG playing experience is to use gaming marketplace such as Eldorado.gg to obtain quickly and economically, various advantages that will help save a lot of time and effort on these games.

For example, there is the case of RuneScape Old School, which is characterized by requiring too much time from its players to improve the skills of their characters or get large amounts of gold.

But by using reliable and intuitive websites such as Eldorado.gg, it is possible to buy OSRS gold, OSRS power leveling, or boosting services, quickly and without any complications, so these methods are highly recommended for less experienced players.

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In one month, Potomac Local News will celebrate 10 years of publishing local news in our community.

That’s a huge milestone — one that we’re exceptionally proud of.

Earlier this year, we had planned to throw a bash. Now, in the era of social distancing, throwing a big party in June is no longer an option.

But that doesn’t mean we still won’t be there for our community. In fact, we’ve been there for 10 years, reporting the stories that matter most.

In 2012, we were there in Triangle when Basim Mansour, owner of Michael and Sons Services, presented a deserving 15-year-old with a football helmet from his favorite team.

Basim Mansour, owner of Michael and Sons Services, presents 15-year-old Brandon Anderson a Philadelphia Eagles helmet signed by Brandon’s favorite player Michael Vick. (Photo: Mary Davidson/PotomacLocal.com)

Or, how about that time when Shining Sol Candle Company, the Manassas Business of the Year 2018, was slapped with a no-trespassing order from the city while trying to bring wax into their store?

Shining Sol Candle Company’s flagship store is located at 9109 Center Street in Manassas. [Photo: Uriah Kiser/Potomac Local News]

There was a cold January night in 2013 we were there to tell the story of the eight homeless families displaced from the ACTS shelter in Dumfries after a water pipe burst.

Volunteer fire crews assess the damage after a water pipe burst at the ACTS Emergency Homeless Shelter in Dumfries on Monday night. [Photo: Uriah Kiser / Potomac Local News]

Later that year, we were there when community residents gathered early on a Saturday morning in Brentsville to chart the future of what would be Dove’s Landing Park, a place where the community gathers today.

Ryan Conklin, a planner with the Prince William Parks and Recreation Department, shows where a parking lot for a new Dove’s Landing Park could be located. [Uriah Kiser / Potomac Local News]
Ryan Conklin, a planner with the Prince William Parks and Recreation Department, shows where a parking lot for a new Dove’s Landing Park could be located. [Uriah Kiser / Potomac Local News]

In 2010, when people were beginning to fight for the right access Featherstone Wildlife Refuge in Woodbridge, we were there to tell the story.

Kevin Parker, with binoculars in hand, leads a tour group at to the beach portion of the Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge on the Potomac River in Woodbridge. (Mary Davidson)

When Stafford County named Access Eye its 2016 Business of the Year, the ceremony served as a grand opening for the recently-opened Jeff Rouse Swim Center. You guessed it. We were there.

Ophthalmologist Arash Mansouri [right] and his wife Michele [left] from Access Eye. [Photo: Uriah Kiser/Potomac Local News]

In 2011, hundreds of Woodbridge residents were displaced after flooding rain from Tropical Storm Lee fell on the region. Again, we were there.

Flood victims on Tuesday demanded Prince William officials allow them a longer stay at a Red Cross shelter after floods took their homes in the Holly Acres Mobile Home Park in Woodbridge. (Mary Davidson/PotomacLocal.com)

In late 2018, we investigated what led to the closing of the Flory Small Business Center in Prince William County — a place that helped so many small businesses in our community.

Marion Wall Welcomes John Gregory to the Board of Directors for the Flory Center.

We walked on the Interstate 95 E-ZPass Express Lanes and took pictures, and spoke with construction crews while they were working to build the lanes so you would know what to expect when they eventually opened in 2014.

A view of the I-95 E-ZPass Express Lanes under construction looking south at Dumfries. [Photo: Uriah Kiser/Potomac Local News]

We’ve been there for the ribbon cuttings.

Mr. Postal pack and ship, ups, fedex
Mr. Postal holds ribbon cutting at a store in North Stafford. [Photo: Uriah Kiser/Potomac Local News]

And Hylton’s big win over Osbourn in 2015.

And through it all, it’s you who have trusted us to bring you your local news. You’ve stuck by us, whether through good news and bad.

You’ve supported our advertisers — those locally-owned shops that need us now more than ever.

Thank you for all you’ve done.

If you value this kind of community journalism, and you have not done so already, please step up and support it today by becoming a Subscriber.

It’s only $6 a month, or you can SAVE $13 and subscribe for a year for only $65. Your support means we will be around for another 10 years to continue telling the story of our community.

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As the economy slowly begins to reopen following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies are turning to the cloud to keep their business, and employees working seamlessly in times of uncertainty. 

JTC Sky

JTC, Inc., in Manassas, Virginia, has been a leader in helping businesses in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area migrate their data to the cloud by granting its customers access to its privately-owned JTC Sky network, which guarantees 99.9% uptime.

During the pandemic, JTC has been busier than ever, working to move even more businesses to the cloud. 

Dempsey & Company CPAs, in Manassas, Virginia, has been working in the cloud since the company was founded two years ago. Dempsey & Company relies on JTC Sky. 

“We have all of our servers, all of our data, everything in the cloud at this point. When I set the business up, I wanted to have the ability to work remotely, to be able to access information from clients’ offices, be able to provide that service, meet with a client, and be able to pull up their information and have it right there,” said Dempsey & Company CPAs Principal Jeannie Dempsey.

Dempsey & Company CPAs

Dempsey described the many advantages of moving to the cloud. Recently, the biggest advantage is no loss of work time due to the fact that now everyone is working from home. And, that’s helpful, because that means all of the employees have all of their data with them and have no need to go to the office to look up old files, or old information that might have been stored on a local server inside the office.

“If I’m meeting with a client at their office, if I’m working from a client’s office one day because they’re having an audit or something and I need to be there, I can still work with other clients. I can log in, I can work remotely, I can keep up with my information,” said Dempsey.

They have also seen great improvements in the software programs the company uses on a daily basis. Like the company’s tax software, which before had to be updated manually, but is now updated automatically, faster, in the cloud.

Moving to the cloud as also proven effective for the company’s bottom line, too. No longer having the need for large space to store file cabinets, Dempsey & Company’s CPAs has reduced the size of its physical office space after they moved all of their files online. Now, those files are accessible from anywhere in the world.  

Dempsey shared advice for business owners looking to move to the cloud.

“I biggest thing would be that they would have to get over the idea of owning the servers. Servers are very expensive and that’s a huge amount of output. I think some people might look at the monthly fees they’re paying for the cloud as a lot more expensive than what they want to pay out every month, but if you look at the fact that you don’t have those servers to pay for and you don’t have the in-house work on them to deal with, I haven’t found it to be any more expensive than what I was gonna be paying in servers, time and equipment,” said Dempsey.

Over the past eight weeks, many businesses have become comfortable with the idea of their employees working remotely. That trust, said Dempsey, is critical to a successful cloud computing strategy for any business.

“Today, employees may all want to work different hours, they may not always want to work eight to five. If they’re getting the work done and you trust them, then it’s pretty easy to allow them to work remotely,” said Dempsey

About JTC, Inc. 

JTC has just released its 5th generation of Private Cloud Hosting Services.  The firm owns and operates its own Private Cloud Infrastructure located in multiple data centers, as noted in this exclusive LeaseWeb article: Leaseweb USA Accelerates JTC’s Infrastructure Update

Dataverstiy has also highlighted JTC’s work to build a trusted IT cloud infrastructure:  Case Study: JTC Grows its Cloud Services Core through Trust and Teamwork

JTC was also named “Tech Company of the Year” for 2020 by the Prince William County Chamber.

Founded in 1996 and incorporated in 2002, Jewell Technical Consulting is a leading provider of technology-based business solutions to small and medium-sized businesses in Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area. 

Headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, Jewell Technical Consulting services the business needs of a variety of clients and employs Cisco and Microsoft Certified full-time professionals that are truly some of the best in the business.

Our staff has many years of experience and strives to continue learning all of the new products and features the technology world has to offer. Every JTC employee is committed to making your technology function the best way possible, so you and your company get the most out of it.

Contact JTC, Inc. today by visiting their website, by calling 703-794-1225, or by visiting them on Facebook.

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Meet Behnam Goudarzi, MD, FCCP. He’s a Board Certified in Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Internal Medicine and Sleep Medicine. Dr. Goudarzi is the President of the Medical Staff at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center. 

What are your thoughts as a physician working during a pandemic?

During this devastating pandemic, as a physician, I’d like to urge everyone to stand as one and follow strict social distancing and healthy hygiene guidelines. We have all seen what happens otherwise. This virus spreads fast.  

We are in an evolving scenario. Now is the time for mitigation. Every person’s concern should be to try to decrease the number of people that are affected in a short period of time. This way, we can get more and more prepared in terms of PPEs, testing, treatment and vaccination. 

What are your concerns as a pulmonologist?

Patients with certain chronic diseases are at higher risk, despite their age. The hallmark of this disease is respiratory failure due to lung inflammation, a type of pneumonia. Chronic respiratory illnesses put patients at a disadvantage. Patients, who suffer from respiratory illnesses should be extra careful to avoid contracting the virus.  

Though it’s still early, what are the potentially-lasting effects of COVID-19 on both patients with and without existing lung conditions?

Currently, there is no evidence that this kind of pneumonia has any different long term effects than other types of pneumonia. In general, every time somebody catches pneumonia, varying degrees of scars can develop in the lungs. There are no proven curing treatments at this time, though certain long-existing medications have shown some promising effects. 

What do you want patients and the community to know about COVID-19?

Information and knowledge about COVID-19 are increasing by the moment. Recent research from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, says the “maximum transmission distance of SARS-CoV-2 aerosol” could be up to 13 feet. Coronavirus does not walk or fly. It is spread by humans, so let’s defeat it by not spreading it. 

To learn more about COVID-19, visit sentaraupdates.com.

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Every day, the news is filled with the numbers of new coronavirus cases, and grim stories about those who died from the disease.

Local businesses are shuttered and people out of work. Some may never recover from this.

All of this comes as the coronavirus has shattered the budgets of our local governments due to the stay-at-home orders issued by the state and federal governments.

We’ve been reporting on all of this news.

But we’ve also been working hard to find good stories that bring us together—the ones that make us smile, and those that give us hope.

  • Like this one, we published today, about a woman who learned how to sew so she could donate masks at one of our area hospitals.
  • Or the one of a woman who dresses up in a pink bunny suit, walks her dog and waives to passersby to make them smile.
  • Or, how about the story of how this restaurant brought a little joy to its employees that were now stuck inside due to social distancing.

We’re trying out best to cover the entire community. But it’s not easy.

Like many businesses, we’ve lost some paying customers — in our case their advertisers — and that has affected our operation.

So, I’m asking — if you value great, local, original journalism delivered to you daily, please consider becoming a Potomac Local News subscribe.

Our subscription rates have not changed  — $6 a month, or SAVE $13 by choosing to subscribe for a year for $65.

All it takes is one click to keep this trusted community news coming to you every day.

Thank you,

Uriah Kiser
Founder/President Publisher
Potomac Local News

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