From April 17, 2012:

NASA’s Discovery shuttle wows Washington in 45-minute flyover

From The Washington Post, by Brian Vastag

"An aerial art show pulled thousands of Washingtonians out of their offices, vehicles and homes Tuesday morning as NASA’s space shuttle Discovery blew into town atop a modified 747, the battered space veteran taking a final victory jaunt before landing at Dulles International Airport just after 11 a.m.

...

Before rolling to a stop, the visibly singed and scarred craft provided a final bit of space theater: a 45-minute fly-around that sent an icon of American exceptionalism soaring over other iconic sights — the dome of the Capitol, the White House rose garden, the tip of the Washington Monument and the Smithsonian’s original Air and Space Museum."

Read full article - http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/space-shuttle-discovery-wows-washington-in-45-minute-flyover/2012/04/17/gIQAKkgFOT_story.html

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A Washington, D.C. annual tradition....Cherry Blossoms!  -- Becky

From March 14, 2012:

Cherry blossom peak bloom forecast moved up by Park Service

 From The Washington Post, by Jason Samenow

"The National Park Service (NPS) has revised its prediction for the peak bloom date of the Cherry Blossoms from March 24-28 to March 20-23. This change brings the NPS outlook closer to Capital Weather Gang’s peak bloom forecast of March 18-22.

From the Post’s Breaking News Blog:

“Yes, they will be earlier than I predicted,” the park service’s cherry blossom expert, horticulturist Robert DeFeo said in an e-mail to the festival. “I do not anticipate any changes in the forecast.”

The blossoms “are moving and won’t slow down — not with night temps staying in the 50’s,” he wrote. “Blossoms will be out in time for the opening of the festival — but won’t last until the end.”

Over the last 20 years, the earliest peak bloom on record occurred on March 17, 2000. Prior to that, the earliest known bloom happened on March 15 in 1990."

Read full article - http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/cherry-blossom-peak-bloom-forecast-moved-up-by-park-service-pollen-surging/2012/03/14/gIQAozZBCS_blog.html

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Hey residents...take note! --Becky

From February 27, 2012:

Fairfax, Franconia-Springfield parkways to get new numbers

From The Fairfax County Times, reprinted by The Washington Post Local Living section

"The Fairfax County and Franconia-Springfield parkways got a bump in status and new route numbers recently when the Commonwealth Transportation Board made them primary roads. Primary roads are eligible for federal funding for maintenance....

....During the next three months, the Virginia Department of Transportation will replace signs with the new route numbers and add signs indicating “Old Route 7100” and “Old Route 7900.” Drivers will see the old route number alongside the new route number for about a year."

Read full article - http://www.washingtonpost.com/todays_paper?dt=2012-03-01&bk=TFS&pg=17

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From February 7, 2012:

They’re Making ‘100 Bowls of Soup’                                                                                                                               Local entrepreneur wants to change processed food industry one bowl at a time.

By Donna Manz for the Vienna Connection Newspaper

"...Because the ingredients are "local," they are, by definition, "seasonal," as well. You can’t make gazpacho here in the winter if you buy local, Mardirosian said. The beef that goes into Mardirosian’s chili and goulash is pasture-raised from Polyface Farms in Staunton, Va.

#Mardirosian and Haines make two soups a day, two days a week, in small batches of 40 – 60 pints. "When you’re cooking for a small number of people, not mass-producing it, it’s more meaningful," said Mardirosian.

"My bigger mission is to change the processed food industry one bowl at a time." "

Full article - http://www.viennaconnection.com/news/2012/feb/07/theyre-making-100-bowls-soup/

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Now THIS is tasty-sounding article! -- Becky

 From January 16, 2012:

Chocolate Festival Comes to McLean

From The McLean Connection Newspaper

"Like chocolate? The McLean Rotary club, along with the Governing Board of the Community Center, is calling all chocolate lovers to the McLean Community Center on Sunday, Jan. 29 from noon to 5 p.m. for the inaugural McLean Chocolate Festival.

Vendors will be selling all things chocolate: candy, cookies, fudge, chocolate-dipped fruits and other morsels, cupcakes, cheesecake, fudge sauce, and chocolate drinks. Local retailers Fluffy Thoughts and Greenberry’s will be on hand, as well as national marketers Godiva, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Schakolad Chocolate Factory. In addition, a number of local enterprises such as Dave’s Candy Kitchen and SpagnVola Chocolatiers will be there. Sprinkles Cupcakes is coming from Georgetown. Even the Dogma Gourmet Dog Bakery is coming from Arlington to sell carob treats for your dog." 

 Read full article - www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp

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Who could use a tip or two from this article?  -- Becky

 From January 11, 2012:

Getting Organized in a New Year

By Marilyn Campbell/The Connection

"The holiday season is now a festive memory, and Yuletide decorations are packed away. The New Year offers an opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to get organized.

For some, the thought of sifting through unruly closets, disheveled desk drawers and messy cabinets is overwhelming. But experts say clearing out a clutter conundrum can actually bring serenity.

"Organizing is good for the mind and emotions," said Margaret Buco, owner of Organizing-by-Margaret in Potomac. "When a home is organized, stress and chaos are lessened and are replaced by efficiency and freedom."

When faced with linen closets that hold everything from batteries to extensions cords, and kitchen drawers that are home to items ranging from hammers to toothpaste, it is difficult to know where to start. Local professional organizers say there are simple steps to home organization and believe it is wise to work incrementally.

"The best thing to do is begin with your most difficult area and break your project down into small pieces so it is not overwhelming," said Sally Reinholdt of Closets 911 in Alexandria.

DECIDE which organizational hotspots cause the most angst and tackle those first. "Let's say it is the closet," said Potomac-based organizer Nancy Atkinson Patch of Not-A-Problem. "Pull everything out and then take a good look at the space."

Once the space is empty, start to visualize the possibilities.

"Go into a room or space and really daydream about what you want that room to be," said Eileen LaGreca, owner of Sensational Spaces in Fairfax. "What is its function? How do you use it? Then plan what you want to have happen in that space." "

Read full article - www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp

 Look, Washington DC is mentioned in Yahoo! Real Estate!  --Becky

From January 10, 2012:

Has the Housing Market Finally Hit Bottom?

By Morgan Brennan, Forbes.com

"As for the areas where prices may actually appreciate the most this year, the firm expects Orlando, Fla. home prices to rise 11.7%, hard-hit Bakersfield, Calif. 11.1%, government jobs-driven Washington, D.C. 9.3%, foreclosure-riddled Phoenix, Ariz. 8.9%, and sales-heavy Miami, Fla. 8.8%."

Read full article- realestate.yahoo.com/promo/has-the-housing-market-finally-hit-bottom.html;_ylt=AoLEbJ1f46h_da.qDjAdFwzT4JF4

 From January 4, 2012, Springfield Connection:

A Hot Year for HOT Lanes

By Mike Salmon

 "Last year was a big hurdle for the I-495 High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes. Throughout 2011, drivers and residents along the highway saw many of the overpasses completed and traffic shifted over to the new spans.

This occurred at Lewinsville Road, Leesburg Pike, Idylwood Road, I-66, Gallows Road, Little River Turnpike and Braddock Road. These new overpasses are wider, with sidewalks and bike lanes that the old overpasses lacked, so it was a welcome addition to many Fairfax County residents."

Read full article - www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp