Manassas Park will hold a Kite Festival on Saturday, April 30, 2022.
The event will take place at Signal Hill Park, at 9300 Signal View Way in Manassas Park. The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to noon.
It’s free to attend the festival. Kites will be sold for $5 each, while supplies last. Pre-registration is required if you are purchasing a kite.
Face masks are encouraged to participate in this event. For more information, contact Kaitlyn Collier via email at [email protected].
The Stafford Soap Box Derby will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2022, for the first time in Stafford County, Virginia.
Hosted by the Regional Soap Box Derby Organization, racers will be challenged as they race on Reservoir Road in front of the Rocky Run Elementary School, located at 95 Reservoir Road, Fredericksburg, Va., 22406. All information and registration for the Stafford Soap Box Derby can be found at TourStaffordVA.com/event/SoapBoxDerby.
This annual event marks 25 years celebrated in the Rappahannock Region. Racer registration is open to those between the ages of 7 to 20 years old. The deadline to register is Sunday, May 1, 2022. Registrants must fill out the form, attend a clinic, and pay a $50 registration fee.
The Soap Box Derby is a family experience and event that provides a positive experience for everyone who is involved. This event lasts one day but creates a lifelong impact and memories.
“The Soap Box Derby is a family event that benefits the whole community and teaches kids STEM skills as well as sportsmanship,” stated Keith Burgess, President of Rappahannock Regional Soap Box Derby.
The Soap Box Derby is held for the first time in Stafford, which will provide a unique racing experience. The Rappahannock Regional Soap Box Derby committee looked for a location with a long enough straight hill that would provide ample spectator space and comfort. The Rappahannock Regional Soap Box Derby partnered with Stafford County’s Tourism office and found the perfect venue at Rocky Run Elementary School.
“The track at Rocky Run Elementary School will be a fast track with speeds approaching 25 mph which will be exciting, especially for the kids,” said Burgess.
The top three winners from the Stafford Soap Box Derby will travel to Arkon, Ohio in July to represent Stafford County at the International Soap Box Derby Race.
Tour Stafford is a proud sponsor of this event. For more and to register for the Stafford Soap Box Derby, visit TourStaffordVA.com/event/SoapBoxDerby.
The International Soap Box Derby® is a youth gravity racing program that has run nationally since 1934.
Trees add beauty to the landscaping of any home.
However, poorly maintained trees or trees damaged by storms can die before their time, create personal safety hazards for your family, and even cause costly property damage to your home.
A tree specialist should be called to analyze your trees to determine whether they should be removed or not.
A tree should be looked over with a trained critical eye, and know which risk factors should be considered. Each year thousands of trees in the U.S. are damaged by storms, wind, lightning, and ice, causing millions of dollars in property damage.
When a homeowner notices a tree’s health is in decline, it should be tended to immediately. One should consider tree removal if there are dead limbs, decayed trunks, weak ground conditions, infestations of bugs, or large, uneven weight distribution.
If it’s time to remove a tree from your property, the best methods are those used by a trained arborist.
Dan Ross adds, “While removing a tree might seem like a very simple task, it is important you hire the right professionals to do the job safely and properly so not to cause potential damage to any structures or personal injury.”
Call Ross Tree Service today for a FREE evaluation by a certified arborist. We are fully licensed and insured and have been a family-owned and operated business since 1982. Call 703-583-TREE (8733).
In response to the sudden changes brought about by the pandemic, Whitlock Wealth Management launched a weekly webinar in April 2020 to provide timely market updates and insights, along with relevant educational topics. As the webinar progressed, the focus, format, and structure of our presentation evolved into what has become a resource, not just for our clients, but for the greater community.
Whitlock Wealth Management is a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. We are headquartered in Lake Ridge, Virginia, and have financial advisors who are securities registered to do business in most states*. Though our roots are local, online tools and a growing team enables us to extend our reach.
We invite you to tune into our webinar every Friday at 10 a.m. EST! Visit the Events page at whitlockwealth.com to logon directly and set a calendar reminder for each presentation of our monthly series. Feel free to share this information with any clients, colleagues, friends, or family who might find our webinars helpful.
The webinars are open to the public so there is no cost or obligation. We offer an initial complimentary, no obligation consultation for anyone interested in learning more about what we do and look forward to hearing from you. For questions, call us at 877.WHITLOCK, email us at [email protected], or sign up for our newsletter for timely updates.
Outstanding service. Personalized solutions. Trusted advice.
Experience that builds confidence.
* Please refer to FINRA’s BrokerCheck website at brokercheck.org for a list of state securities registrations for each financial advisor.
Not Federally Insured | No Financial Institution Guarantee | May Lose Value
Whitlock Wealth Management, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC
Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC.
The Compass is a trademark of Ameriprise Financial Inc © 2022 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.
Stafford County is Virginia’s fastest-growing locality, which means people choose Stafford as a place to call home and visit.
As the pandemic fades and more people venture outside, new playing fields, parks, restaurants, breweries, and hotels draw more people to our area. That means those who work in the hospitality industry need more resources to promote the great things happening in their businesses.
Potomac Local News is excited to announce a new partnership between the Stafford County Department of Economic Development and Tourism and Potomac Local News. Members of the county’s Tourism Advisory Group will receive a 10% discount on advertising on our Website (1.5 million readers annually), our Daily News Email (19,000 opt-in subscribers), and our social media (20,000+ followers).
Members of this Marketing Co-Op will get expanded reach and access to a variety of audiences. To qualify for discounts, the Tour Stafford VA logo must appear in the digital advertisements using these discounted rates. For digital advertisements, the Tour Stafford VA logo must link back directly to TourStaffordVA.com.
We’re happy to join Northern Virginia Magazine and the Virginia Tourism Corporation, also members of the Marketing Co-Op working to help grow tourism in our community.
Just in time for spring and the busy summer travel season, you can find more information online and sign up for our program at TourStaffordVA.com.
The Stafford Soap Box Derby will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2022, for the first time in Stafford County, Virginia.
Hosted by the Regional Soap Box Derby Organization, racers will be challenged as they race on Reservoir Road in front of the Rocky Run Elementary School, located at 95 Reservoir Road, Fredericksburg, Va., 22406. All information and registration for the Stafford Soap Box Derby can be found at TourStaffordVA.com/event/SoapBoxDerby.
This annual event marks 25 years celebrated in the Rappahannock Region. Racer registration is open to those between the ages of 7 to 20 years old. The deadline to register is Sunday, May 1, 2022. Registrants must fill out the form, attend a clinic, and pay a $50 registration fee.
The Soap Box Derby is a family experience and event that provides a positive experience for everyone who is involved. This event lasts one day but creates a lifelong impact and memories.
“The Soap Box Derby is a family event that benefits the whole community and teaches kids STEM skills as well as sportsmanship,” stated Keith Burgess, President of Rappahannock Regional Soap Box Derby.
The Soap Box Derby is held for the first time in Stafford, which will provide a unique racing experience. The Rappahannock Regional Soap Box Derby committee looked for a location with a long enough straight hill that would provide ample spectator space and comfort. The Rappahannock Regional Soap Box Derby partnered with Stafford County’s Tourism office and found the perfect venue at Rocky Run Elementary School.
“The track at Rocky Run Elementary School will be a fast track with speeds approaching 25 mph which will be exciting, especially for the kids,” said Burgess.
The top three winners from the Stafford Soap Box Derby will travel to Arkon, Ohio in July to represent Stafford County at the International Soap Box Derby Race.
Tour Stafford is a proud sponsor of this event. For more and to register for the Stafford Soap Box Derby, visit TourStaffordVA.com/event/SoapBoxDerby.
The International Soap Box Derby® is a youth gravity racing program that has run nationally since 1934.
Stafford Race Series is returning for its fifth year in 2022 with three unique races.
The lineup includes one virtual race and two in-person races, all located in Stafford County, Virginia. Registration is open for the Stafford Hospital Cabin Fever Virtual 5K, Halloween 5K, and Frosty 3 Miler at StaffordRaceSeries.com.
Stafford Race Series 2022’s lineup this year consists of the following dates:
- April 8th: The Stafford Hospital Cabin Fever Virtual 5K
- October 29th: The Halloween 5K
- December 10th: The Frosty 3 Miler
Bundle and save by selecting the Multi-Race bundle and you will save $5 on each race. On top of the savings, by completing all three races you will receive a special gift after the final race. Take part in all three races for gifts and savings or sign-up for the individual races.
Either way, the 2022 Stafford Race Series proves a positive experience due to the vision and mission.
“The Stafford Race Series was created with the intent of highlighting a few of Stafford’s largest races,” stated Kristen Loescher, Owner of Arsenal Events, the firm coordinating the race series. “Stafford Race Series provides a fun year-round event to encourage an active lifestyle.”
The Stafford Race Series encourages an active outing for a variety of ages. The Stafford Race Series is available for ages 10 & older with the age determined by April 8. The exciting environment offers endless fun while you run.
“Costumes are always encouraged,” stated Kristen Loescher. “The races are always a great opportunity to make fun memories with friends and family.”
The two in-person races both start from Mine Road in front of Embrey Mill Park in Stafford. The course of the races is flat and wide, which allows for a course that is suitable for any level of experience.
Tour Stafford is a proud sponsor of this event. For more information on the 2022 Stafford Race Series, visit StaffordRaceSeries.com.
Do you know everything stored on your organization’s network and the risk associated with the stored data? Storing some types of data comes with a higher liability and can cause you to fail PCI compliance.
Cyber liability policies are starting to check on the liability of data stored on your systems now more than ever and can even deny your company coverage.
Risk Intelligence enables JTC to quickly and easily perform ongoing risk and vulnerability assessments of Windows computers, calculating the real-time risk of a data breach and assigning a monetary value. This process is achieved through scans on all servers and client systems on the network.
With Risk Intelligence, it’s possible to:
- Gain visibility of any sensitive data on the device: easily identify unprotected data and its location – including highly-sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (PII) such as Credit Card Numbers, dates of birth, government-issued identification, and financial account numbers – to understand how an attacker would compromise it, and how much a data breach would cost.
- Minimize the risk of a data breach: avoid cost-prohibitive and crippling data breaches, which can be detrimental to the business itself and its reputation.
- Build a business case for security projects: understand the total risk exposure within the IT environment in monetary terms and use this insight to connect security to business value; to help justify the resources and expenditure required to safeguard data better.
- Demonstrate regulatory compliance: satisfy many highly punitive compliance requirements that mandate periodic risk assessments and audits, including HIPAA, PCI DSS, and FINRA.
- Offer more holistic security: adopt a data-centric approach to security that addresses unprotected data, regardless of where it lives.
Once the initial scan is performed, JTC will provide you with a report showing the risk and assist in clearing up the potential liability. Once the liability is assessed, scans can be run weekly or monthly to ensure your data remains risk free.
Visit jtcinc.net for more information!
Like a lot of people, Brad Ball thought he was doing all the right things when it came to his health.
The 62-year-old worked out regularly, ate what he thought was a balanced diet with plenty of leafy greens, and lived an active lifestyle. That’s why he was shocked in August 2021 when he realized he was having a heart attack at the gym.
“The heart attack itself really came as a complete surprise. I exercised as normal, but about halfway through my routine felt severe pain in my chest,” remembers Brad. It was so painful he thought about lying down for a bit.
Brad called his wife, Takako, and the two decided he needed to go to the hospital. They went to Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, where he was seen immediately and diagnosed with a heart attack.
It was determined Brad had one artery with a 100% blockage. Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Balbir Sidhu with the Sentara Heart & Vascular Center decided the best course of action was to place a stent and perform a heart catheterization procedure to relieve the obstruction.
“Heart catheterization is now the standard of care in a patient having a heart attack,” explains Balbir Sidhu, MD, FACC. “In the past, we used to give clot-busting medicine which worked only 50 to 60% of the time. The heart cath is typically done through the radial artery using local anesthesia and is pretty much painless. A stent is placed to keep the artery open to prevent any damage to the heart. A stent is like a metal scaffolding that is coated with a drug to prevent any further closure of the artery. From there, the patient has to take a blood thinner to keep the stent open.”
Brad’s procedure reduced the blockage by nearly half.
“From the time of chest pain to having a stent placed only about 90 minutes or so elapsed,” recounts Brad. “I was in ICU for a couple of days as I waited for the numbers to come down on one particular test.”
When Brad was discharged, doctors referred him to the Sentara Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. The program, certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR), has specialty trained staff, along with registered nurses, who closely monitor and record a patient’s vitals. In addition to the physical aspects, the program also teaches patients how to they can make meaningful tweaks to their diet.
“Sentara’s Cardiac Rehab is so special because being a community hospital, we can provide individualized treatment and attention to our participants,” explains Meg Spacek, BS, RN, CCRP. “Due to our location in the Northern Virginia area, we can offer state of the art care. It is NOT one size fits all here. Our hope is that our participants develop the tools necessary in cardiac rehab to take control of their heart health and increase their confidence in their health.”
Day by day, Brad grew stronger and more self-assured.
“Rehab has been awesome. They start you off slow to make sure you can handle the exercises,” explains Brad. “I was initially doing the treadmill, arm ergometer, recumbent bike, and stationary bike. If the staff feels you are ready, they will add one day into your routine. The staff increases the workload based on their readings about once a week. Lightweights were added in the fourth week. By the fifth or sixth week, the arm ergometer was replaced with the elliptical and total body workout instructions added in to do at home.”
The workouts not only helped Brad’s heart and body but gave him confidence that he was healing. As Brad got the hang of the physical aspects of the program, he and his wife started implementing some of the dietary suggestions with noticeable results.
“I was fortunate in that my wife was awesome in adjusting our entire diet routine and portion sizes to accommodate the necessary regimen for better health. I have lost 40 pounds (roughly 18% reduction) since the heart attack and seen my cholesterol level cut in half, which allowed for some dosage reductions in my meds,” says Brad.
Like many people, COVID-19 has added some challenges, but Brad is committed to his health and his workouts. He says he couldn’t have done it without the Sentara Cardiac Rehab team.
“The team and facility are really great. They treat everyone as individuals and really seem to care. The staff are all consummate professionals and the program is very helpful for patients who want to get their confidence back and improve their health in the process. The program has helped me avoid a lot of trial and error in finding the regimen that is most beneficial. The staff even focuses on the “little details” such as what background music is playing. It is usually geared toward the 60+ group and not the most recent top 40 singles!” he says chuckling.
Moving forward, Brad offers these tips:
- Get checked and ALWAYS follow up if you have some symptoms. When it comes to chest pains and debating whether to be seen, always err on the side of caution. If you’ve never had that kind of pain before, you are probably in need of care.
- Find your motivation to improve your health. For most of us it will have to do with spouses, kids, or grandkids. Whatever it is put it in the front of your mind so that the urge to skip an exercise day or pick up some fast food is easier to resist.
- Be grateful for second chances. Take advantage of it and don’t dwell on what could have been done differently.
- Being a little scared will be a fact of life going forward. There is no magic pill for that. It is easy to fall into the “feeling sorry for yourself” mode. Don’t!
- Diet and nutrition are extremely important. The American Heart Association and similar organizations have books and articles on heart healthy recipes.
To find a Cardiologist, call 1-800-SENTARA. To learn more about the Sentara Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program, visit sentara.com/heart or call 703-523-1280.
