Boo!

Happy Halloween!

Some tips from Loudoun's finest on how to make it a safe one:


Now that the pumpkins are carved and costume-clad bodies are ready to roam; Halloween is officially set to begin. As more and more children go out to trick-or-treat each year, their safety is important. With this in mind, Loudoun County Sheriff Steve Simpson has announced several safety tips that children and parents should keep in mind to ensure that this will be a safe, happy holiday for everyone:

• Wear light-colored clothing that’s short enough to prevent tripping and add reflective tape to the sides, front and back of costume
• Make sure children can see well through face masks, or use cosmetics to create fun and scary faces
• Adults should accompany young children
• Carry a Flashlight
• Stay within the neighborhood and only visit homes you know
• Watch for traffic
• Only give and accept wrapped or packaged candy
• Examine all candy before allowing children to eat it
• Keep costumed children away from pets. The pet may not recognize the children and become frightened
• Avoid hard plastic or wood props such as daggers or swords. Substitute with foam rubber which is soft and flexible

Loudoun County, a brief history.

The following article appears on Loudoun County's website. The site is full of great information for home buyers and sellers in the area. Whether you live in Sterling or Leesburg, the opportunities in our area are plentiful.

A brief look at Loudoun:

Loudoun County is located between Washington, DC, and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. To the east, Dulles International Airport and commerce thrive; while the western section still maintains its small farms, towns, and villages.

The Town of Leesburg, the county seat, was once named "George Town" honoring King George II. Leesburg was established in 1758 from land originally held by Lord Fairfax, then renamed for the influential Lee family of Virginia. The town was formed at the crossroads of two Colonial roads, now Routes 7 and 15, and is the seat of government for beautiful Loudoun County. Leesburg is located just 35 miles northwest of Washington DC, at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

George C. Marshall, architect of the Marshall Plan and former Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, lived in Leesburg until his death in 1959.

The Town of Middleburg, located just an hour's drive west from the nation's capital, is best known as the capital of Virginia's famous Hunt Country. The town was so named because it was midway on the Winchester-to-Alexandria trading route known as the Ashby Gap Road, which is now Route 50. Serving as a host community for more than 250 years, it is no surprise that Middleburg has developed such a high concentration of fine inns, shops and restaurants.

Foxhunting in Virginia began in the Middleburg area around 1748, when Thomas the sixth Lord Fairfax, set up the first pack of foxhounds in the English manner of the order of the present day hunts. Hunting was a casual sport enjoyed by local families until the first hunt, the Piedmont, was organized in 1905. Today there are 10 active hunts in the Hunt Country proper.

The John Singleton Mosby Heritage Area is remarkable not only for its history and natural beauty, but also because it retains so much of the landscape and landmarks of three centuries of our past. Native Americans followed the buffalo along what is now Route 50, the John S. Mosby Highway. Quakers, Scotch-Irish, Germans, Africans, Tidewater planters -- created here a magnificent heritage of architecture and landscape which can teach us vividly about the past.

AARP Driver Safety Class comes to Loudoun

Sat 11/03/2007 10:00 AM
Sat 11/10/2007 10:00 AM

LEESBURG SENIOR CENTER
215 DEPOT CT SELEESBURG, VA, 20175-3017

(703)737-8039 Call to register now!

About the class:

• Why Take a Driver Safety Class? The AARP Driver Safety Program has helped millions of drivers remain safe on today's roads and save money on insurance premiums.
• Auto Insurance Discounts Upon completing the AARP Driver Safety course, you may qualify for an automobile insurance premium reduction or discount.
• Roadside Assistance Discounts Upon completing the AARP Driver Safety Program course, you may be eligible for a significantly discounted roadside assistance rate.
• AARP Driver Safety Program History and Facts The AARP Driver Safety Program has been around for over 35 years and has graduated over 9 million persons since its inception.
• AARP Driver Safety Program Annual State-by-State Statistics AARP Driver Safety Program Annual State by State Statistics on courses, course graduates, and volunteers.

New home communities in Northern Virginia for Active Adults

Northern Virginia offers many housing opportunities for Active Adults. Gated neighborhoods, thriving community centers, no maintenance yards, golf, swimming, and more are all available. Below is a list of new home communities for the 55+ crowd.

1. Central Parke at Lowes Island
2. Four Seasons at Historic Sully
3. Gatherings at Cascades (approved, not available to purchase, yet)
4. Heritage Highlands
5. Leisure World at Lansdowne
6. Potomac Green
7. Regency at Ashburn (approved, not available to purchase, yet)
8. Villas of Ashburn (resale only, construction complete)
9. Brambleton active-adult (re-zoning application submitted to allow 1502 residential units + 137,00sf retail/service/office)

For more information on these properties, send us an email.

Loudoun County Sheriff Office advises senior community to be wary of scams.

The following information was released from Loudoun County today:


Loudoun County, Virginia- If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Those were the words of Loudoun Sheriff’s Investigators to senior citizens during a series of fraud awareness presentations.
Over the past week members of the Loudoun Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit held several presentations at area senior centers and retirement communities. The senior citizens were told that they are often the target of scam artists and were advised on how not to become a victim.
A case reported to the Loudoun Sheriff’s Office earlier this month sounded all too familiar. A Loudoun senior citizen was solicited by phone from a scam artist claiming she had won money in a sweepstakes. The group indicated she needed to pay a transaction to cover taxes. Fortunately, the woman did not fall for the scam. Many senior citizens, such as this potential victim, live on fixed incomes. Scam artists see senior citizens as potential victims as they may be looking for a way to help their financial situation. Most scam artists promise incredible bargains or quick money such as lottery or sweepstake winnings.
Other scam artists may promise to do work a senior’s home at a reduced price. The work is either poorly done, or the suspects demand more money from the victim then originally quoted. These crimes often go unreported. "The senior community is often a target to these types of crimes because they are less likely to report being a victim of fraud. Often they are ashamed or even unaware they are a victim," said Sheriff Steve Simpson, who spoke at the fraud awareness presentations.
Loudoun residents are offered the following tips on how not to become a victim of a scam:
• Don't buy from an unfamiliar company. Legitimate businesses understand that you want more information about their company and are happy to comply.
• Always ask for and wait until you receive written material about any offer or charity. If you get brochures about costly investments, ask someone whose financial advice you trust to review them. But, unfortunately, beware -- not everything written down is true.
• Always check out unfamiliar companies with your local consumer protection agency, Better Business Bureau, state Attorney General, the National Fraud Information Center, or other watchdog groups. Unfortunately, not all bad businesses can be identified through these organizations.
• Obtain a salesperson's name, business identity, telephone number, street address, mailing address, and business license number before you transact business. Some con artists give out false names, telephone numbers, addresses, and business license numbers. Verify the accuracy of these items.
• You must not be asked to pay in advance for services. Pay services only after they are delivered.
• Some con artists will send a messenger to your home to pick up money, claiming it is part of their service to you. In reality, they are taking your money without leaving any trace of who they are or where they can be reached.
• Never send money or give out personal information such as credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, dates of birth, or social security numbers to unfamiliar companies or unknown persons.
If you believe you are a victim of a scam, please contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at 703-777-1021.

Moving in Loudoun - Utility Information

Loudoun County Utility Information

Comcast (Cable Television)
Dominion Virginia Power
Loudoun County Sanitation Authority
Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC)
OpenBand
Verizon
Virginia Energy Choice
Washington Gas

If you are moving out, be sure to schedule your utilities to be turned off the day after move out. This ensures that they will be on during the date of transfer, so that a proper walk through can be completed.

If you are moving in, please make your calls in advance of the occupancy date - to ensure a smooth transition on move day.

Vial of Life

I just discovered this program - and will be featuring information from it in an upcoming active adult seminar.

“The Vial of Life is designed to speak for you when you can't speak for yourself. The vial contains important medical information that can assist emergency personnel in administering the proper medical treatment.”

Loudoun Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Orientation

Loudoun Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Orientation

Loudoun Habitat for Humanity is hosting a Volunteer Orientation Saturday, October 20th, 11:00 am at the Ashburn Library at 43316 Hay Road in Ashburn, VA. LHFH’s mission is to provide affordable housing, built with the help of volunteers and contributions, for Loudoun families. Prospective volunteers will receive information about committees and upcoming projects. Those who are interested in working alongside LHFH are encouraged to visit and see what a great opportunity LHFH offers for helping our community. Come join us!

Contact: Tony McGraw, Volunteer Relations Committee Chairperson, Loudoun Habitat for Humanity, 703-430-9320, tonypammcgraw@cs.com


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