Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10th — just 2 weeks away!

This year, there will sadly be no handmade gifts sent home from school or teacher assisted poems, which leaves you on your own to celebrate the women in your life who are still lucky to be with you! Now, some of the women may be like me — literally just dying for a few hours alone! — but if they’re not, here’s an easy resource for putting together some thoughtful ways to show your love and appreciation.

Local contact-free flower delivery, skip the trip to the grocery store or the online shipping fees:

• Karin’s Florist in Vienna is offering curbside pickup or delivery. They can also do Wine and Champagne gift baskets.
• Vienna Florist is offering delivery as well, along with online ordering of flowers and add-ons.
• Flowers & Plants in McLean is offering no-contact delivery and online ordering.
• Get her favorite wine or beer delivered from Norm’s or the Vienna Vintner. You can also try Dominion Beer and Wine in Falls Church for curbside pickup, or get items delivered from Chain Bridge Cellars in McLean.

Gift cards are also always welcome, and especially helpful right now to small businesses like spa’s, nail salons or her favorite restaurant.

There are some really funny questionnaires to ask kids especially if they’re under 5. You can find a free one here.

I anticipate many of the restaurants will have Mother’s Day special take out option, so remember to check back for her favorite breakfast.

And most of all, just remember to be grateful if you’re healthy, safe and comfortable. Wishing all of my fellow mom’s a Happy Mother’s Day. Hope your day is tantrum free, dishes free, and full of warmth and sunshine.

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

Many security clearance holders and future applicants have been affected by the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic, most often in connection with their overall financial situation or credit. This article discusses the potential security clearance implications of the Coronavirus/COVID-19 for security clearance holders and applicants.

Financial Issues

The most common security clearance concern for clearance holders, even before the pandemic, involved financial issues. The current COVID-19 crisis will directly impact these types of security concerns. Individuals will likely face potential financial losses, bankruptcy, bad credit or unmanageable debt as a result of the crisis.

These types of issues fall under Guideline F, Financial Considerations pursuant to Security Executive Agent Directive 4 (SEAD 4). SEAD 4 provides the Government’s security clearance guidelines that adjudicators review in evaluating whether or not to grant a security clearance. Financial concerns usually include bad credit, unpaid debts, unpaid taxes and other related financial issues.

It is very likely, due to the existing and future disruptions in business and work that many individuals could be laid off or lose their jobs if the COVID-19 pandemic lasts for an extended period of time. We may very well be entering a recession right now given the number of jobless claims that have recently been filed.

With these recent layoffs, individual finances are clearly going to be negatively impacted. An economic downturn and loss of work can have massive financial implications for many government contractors and other private-sector employees in a relatively short period of time. If individuals are laid off, it is often the case that they find themselves financially underwater within a month. As a result, these individuals are often unable to pay their mortgage, rent, car loans, consumer credit loans or other major bills.

These types of issues affect security clearance holders as debts which result from such a recession are not easily rectified immediately even when new positions requiring clearances become available. We still have clients who lost a majority of their investments during the Great Recession between 2007 and 2009 who still have to address financial issues in connection with their security clearances. In other words, COVID-19 may lead to a downturn which can have a major effect on security clearance holders or applicants for a long period of time.

The COVID-19 Crisis Will Most Certainly be Viewed as Unique and Mitigating

In terms of security clearances, there is good news for clearance holders, applicants and future applicants. Clearance adjudicators recognize that major shared events, like recessions, are unique in nature which can help to mitigate those security clearance concerns. COVID-19 related financial issues and any downturn would almost certainly fall in this category.

Specifically, SEAD 4, under Guideline F, Financial Considerations, provides mitigation to those facing security concerns related to debts, credit and other financial issues. SEAD 4. Paragraph 20(a) provides as mitigation that “the behavior happened so long ago, was so infrequent, or occurred under such circumstances that it is unlikely to recur…” Furthermore, Paragraph 20(b) states, as a key mitigating factor that “the conditions that resulted in the financial problem were largely beyond the person’s control (e.g., loss of employment, a business downturn, unexpected medical emergency… and the individual acted responsibly under the circumstances.)”

There is no reason to doubt that security clearance adjudicators will give serious consideration to mitigating financial-related security clearance concerns related to debts, bankruptcy and taxes as they have done in the past as it relates to losses occurring as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our general advice to security clearance holders is for them to keep on top of their finances, work with creditors (even if they are uncooperative) if they are laid off or lose their jobs and keep copies of all documents and their attempts to resolve debts or otherwise appear to act responsibly. Even if a creditor doesn’t act reasonable, copies of records showing that the individual tried to do their best in a difficult financial situation is often very helpful.

Contact Us

If you are in need of security clearance law representation or advice, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.

Three Stones Residential agents pride ourselves on our consultative service approach, local expertise and real estate market knowledge. With over 26 years of business experience in the DMV, we have consistently performed in the top 2% of local Realtors and are currently the #1 group at Keller Williams Metro Center. 

The following properties were recently listed in the Tysons, McLean, Vienna and Falls Church areas.

• 1570 Spring Gate Drive #7103, McLean — $429,900
• 431 Center Street N., Vienna — $915,000
• 9909 Finian Court, Vienna — $524,900
• 207 Ross Drive, SW, Vienna — $1,639,888
• 3812 Lakeview Terrace, Falls Church — $1,479,000
• 3127 Beechwood Lane, Falls Church — $899,900
• 6821 Donahue Court, Falls Church — $515,000
• 1310 Oberon Way, McLean — $949,000
• 1514 Woodacre Drive, McLean — $1,325,000

Our role is to offer sound advice and guidance to our clients in order for them to achieve their goals in either buying, selling, leasing or managing real estate. We are truly “Your Home… for Everything Real Estate.” To schedule a private showing of these or any other properties of interest please do not hesitate to contact us here or email us at [email protected].

Imagine the fright in coming down with symptoms of coronavirus: fever, cough, tiredness and trouble breathing. Then imagine trying to navigate the health care system with limited English skills, especially when loved ones are barred from medical settings to limit the virus spread.

We’re hearing about the risks facing front line workers including doctors, nurses, emergency personnel and service workers, yet there are also disturbing reports that medical interpreters are not being afforded personal protective equipment and protocols, and of patients experiencing sub-standard, potentially life-threatening barriers to services.

“High quality medical interpretation allows healthcare service providers to effectively communicate and comply with language access laws,” says Silvia Villacampa, Managing Director of Liberty Language Services in Vienna, Virginia.

“Because in-person interpreters risk exposure like all health care workers, video remote and over-the-phone interpreting are excellent ways to reduce risk while providing much needed support to service providers serving limited English-speaking patients in our community,” Villacampa adds.

25 million people in the U.S. speak no or limited English, and the COVID-19 epidemic has intensified longstanding language access issues in health care. Video remote technology, which can be used with any phone, tablet or computer with a webcam, offers the safest solution.

“It’s HIPAA compliant, and our trained and qualified interpreters work in hundreds of languages, as well as American Sign Language,” Villacampa notes.

With years of experience providing on-site medical and legal interpretation services throughout the mid-Atlantic region, Liberty Language Services applies the same careful vetting, training, testing and understanding clients’ needs to Video Remote and Over the Phone Interpreting.

Visit the Liberty Language Services website for more information.

This is a sponsored column by 3Summit Investment Management, LLC based in Vienna, VA. 3Summit designs custom, modern investment portfolios and has unique expertise in managing investment risk.

By Dan Irvine | Principal, 3Summit Investment Management

Investors today are experiencing some of the highest levels of economic uncertainly that we have seen in a generation.

In the United States, there are at least 22 million people unemployed and climbing, the S&P 500 has logged 24 trading days since February with daily gains or losses greater than 3% and so far this year the S&P 500 has experienced a loss greater than 30% from the highs.

To be successful in these uncharted markets requires investors to develop realistic expectations regarding the risks and challenges they are likely to encounter as a result of powerful economic headwinds confronting financial markets.

Developing realistic investing expectations is an intellectual exercise that helps the best investors manage market adversity and prepare for the discomfort that volatile markets will undoubtably impose on them. Setting your investing expectations involves identifying economic risk factors that may negatively impact your portfolio and then evaluating how each risk factor is likely to affect your specific investment approach.

Having well-formed investing expectations is so important because when an investor has evaluated the risks they face ahead of negative economic events, they are less likely to be surprised by volatile markets and the portfolio losses that inevitably follow. Investors that have carefully thought through risks in advance, provide themselves a solid anchor to rely on during market chaos that helps to limit fear and focus their decision making away from short-term noise and towards rational long-term investment plans.

Identifying Current Risk Factors That May Impact Your Portfolio

Your investing expectations should be developed based on risk factors you have identified that are supported by economic history and sound science.

To help you develop your own investing expectations, below are some of the possible risk factors we have identified that relate to the current market uncertainty brought about by the global pandemic.

1. Our economy is in a recession so investors should not be complacent about the recent market rally in the S&P 500. Stock market rallies of greater than 15% after large losses are common, but during recessions the rallies often fade and the market then descends to even greater losses. The possibility of deeper losses is a risk factor for investors in the year or two ahead.

The table below shows historical market events where stocks rallied more than 15% multiple times before heading towards their ultimate bottom.

2. As reported by The New York Times science and health reporter Donald McNeil Jr., COVID-19 is not likely to go away with hot weather or on its own. Our lives and therefore our economy will most likely not be able to return to normal until a vaccine is developed and broadly administered or a majority of the population has been infected.

The record for the fastest vaccine development is the mumps vaccine which took four years. Technology and eliminating some safety protocols could obviously speed up the process of developing a COVID-19 vaccine, however even 18 months is a very aggressive estimate. Our economy will struggle until we can return to our normal lives, a potentially protracted recession is a major risk factor confronting investors.

3. The government is printing and borrowing record amounts of money to limit the economic impact of the pandemic, the success of those efforts and any economic side effects they may cause are unknown. Inflation and more austere government spending after this crisis are an economic risk factor facing investors and could further lengthen the amount of time it takes the economy to recover.

Despite how unsettling the risk factors above may seem, spending time evaluating them sets the ground work for developing realistic investing expectations for your portfolio that will impower, and mentally prepare you to weather any economic storm that may come.

It is easier to stay calm and make good decisions when you expect and plan for losses and long recoveries. Well-formed investing expectations based on a detailed understanding economic risks will provide you the clarity to evaluate market events as they happen from a long-term prospective and free yourself from the emotions of short-term market volatility.

In life and investing, there is comfort and wisdom that comes from being prepared for the worst, but usually the ultimate outcome is less severe than you might have imagined. However, you can only benefit from this truth if you have developed the appropriate expectations to support the emotional fortitude required to stay the course and stick with your investment plan.

Learn More

If you would like professional assistance in evaluating your investment portfolio and strategy, we happily provide free consultations and analysis. Also, consider gaining more unique investing insights by listening to our popular podcast or viewing our investing video series.

3Summit Investment Management is a fiduciary, fee only investment advisor providing clients with an alternative to outdated, conventional investment portfolios. We design custom, modern portfolios capable of delivering greater wealth accumulation with much lower levels of risk. To learn more about how we can help you improve your long-term investing results call (571) 565-2161, email ([email protected]) or visit 3Summit.com.

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Val Sotillo, Northern Virginia-based Realtor and Falls Church resident. Please submit your questions to her via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!

Question: What are some good home improvement projects I can do during this time of quarantine?

Answer: I hope this column finds you and your family healthy. This is week 5 and we’re all wondering how to use all this time at home. Putting away winter clothes? Done. Watching YouTube tutorials on how to disinfect groceries? Done. The only reason I’ve stopped making banana bread is that I ran out of flour and it’s sold out in most grocery stores.

You can use this time you’re spending at home to make it better. I’ve collected some examples of wholesome small projects to tackle while you’re hunkered down so your make your home more enjoyable.

Exterior

• Paint your exterior window shutters: Remove old shutters from windows and wipe them down with all-purpose cleaner. Spray paint is easier to use. In a well-ventilated area, hold the can 6-8 inches from the shutter surface and paint the sides and ends of the shutter using a sweeping side-to-side motion with slight overlap. Allow the shutters to dry overnight before reinstalling.
• Replace damaged window screens: This weather is perfect for open windows and fresh air. Just make sure bugs don’t get in.
• Paint your front door: Fast and easy way to increase your curb appeal.
• Check for peeling wood trims: An easy fix for peeling outdoor paint without sanding and scraping is using a thick primer that locks down and hides peeling.

Rearrange your furniture and give a new look to what you already have.

It’s easy to get bored of the same old furniture setup, but what if you move the couch to a different wall, or mix things up by swapping rugs from one room to another? Even switching a lamp from a side table to another spot in your house could brighten up a space in new ways.

Time to Clean

Beyond disinfecting all of your high-touch surfaces, it’s also time to clean your vents and baseboards. Cleaning heating and vent covers can help reduce allergens in your home and increase the efficiency of your air conditioning or heating unit.

Vacuum the vents with a dusting brush attachment or wipe with a dry microfiber cloth. And while you’re at it, change the air filter on your furnace. Unplug lamps and clean the lampshades with a dry microfiber cloth or vacuum cleaner attachment. For other types of lamps, clean the bulbs and use a cloth to dust off the hardware.

Clean curtains can make a room feel much brighter. If you can machine-wash your curtains, use the gentle cycle, cool water and hang them to dry. Get a tub and tile refinishing kit to get your tile and grout looking just as good as new.

Paint

There’s no more affordable way to freshen up a room than with a new coat of paint. If you’re done painting for the day but you still have more to do, a tip to keep your brushes fresh is to simply brush off the excess paint, then tightly wrap them in cling film and place them in the fridge overnight.

You can give your kitchen and bathrooms a new look by painting the cabinets and replacing the faucet and hardware. Love your current hardware but wish it were a different color or finish? Don’t be afraid to give them a little makeover with a can of spray paint.

Make Your House Smart

Try new self-programmable thermostats or camera doorbells. Most of them are easy to install. There are many options for smart home features that seamlessly integrate into your existing wiring and systems and upgrade your home’s energy efficiency.

Pay close attention to your appliances, heating, plumbing, electric and exteriors. Seal gaps and cracks in windows, inspect roof gutters after storms, clean outdoor furniture and power wash exterior decking and tiles.

Now that you’re spending much more time at home, pay attention to the areas that need some work and you can even get the whole family involved and accomplish a project together.

And don’t forget about your pets…

There are seemingly endless resources available to help do-it-yourselfers, such as books with step-by-step instructions and online videos. The general rule is to undertake projects you feel comfortable with and have the skill set to complete with good results. Otherwise hire a professional (I always recommend it for plumbing, heating and electrical work).

Quick Market Update

Within 5 miles from Tysons, here’s what happened in the past 14 days:

• 157 properties were listed
• 110 properties were sold
• 104 properties went under contract

I hope you are staying safe, sheltered in place, stocked with toilet paper, and staying proactive during these unprecedented times!

If you’d like more information, or would like a question answered in my column, please reach out to [email protected]. I hope to hear from you soon.

Val Sotillo is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland with Real Living At Home, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite #10C Arlington, VA 22203, 703-390-9460.

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.

As we embark on week 6 of stay-at-home orders, you may be looking for something to change things up. Need some new puzzles? What about a science kit to do with your kids? Maybe it’s time to introduce them to Monopoly?

Or maybe you have no idea what they’d like but could use some input. As many small businesses pivot to new business ideas in this pandemic, the local toy stores are doing the same. You can shop over the phone, pay over the phone and they’ll deliver it to your car — contact free. In addition, you’ll also be helping a small business survive:

Child’s Play in McLean

The store has “Virtual Concierge Shopping” appointments, where they can make recommendations and you can shop the full store. They’ll deliver within 6 miles of the store for orders over $40, or you can do curbside pickup. They do have a mini shop online where you can browse a specific selection of toys.

Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Falls Church

The store is offering curbside pickup and you can shop both online and over the phone with one of their sales consultants. I actually sent them a Facebook message asking for puzzle options and they sent back 3 photos of the current inventory. So I was able to pick which ones I wanted, pay over the phone, and then do curbside pickup.

Bard’s Alley in Vienna

Also offering curbside pickup and Bike Pedalers delivery service, they offer games and books, plus wine, snacks and cards. You can call the store and ask for book suggestions — both adult and kids. If they don’t have it in store, they’re able to order it for you.

Freeman Historic Gift Shop in Vienna

You probably wouldn’t immediately think of the Freeman Store, but they do carry a unique gift store filled with puzzles, toys and other unique Vienna specific items. There’s a great blanket with specific Vienna spots embroidered.

Mission Lofts, Fairfax County’s first and only live/work community, brings the style, function and flexibility that you crave but just can’t find.

Each hand crafted one and two-bedroom loft can be your envy inspiring apartment, sun-drenched office or impossible to find combined live/work space. Exposed ceilings, finished concrete floors, huge spaces, tons of parking, countless amenities found nowhere else, all at prices that won’t break the bank?

Yes! In fact, when living and working there, it’s like renting your office and getting the area’s best apartment for free. By focusing completely on your needs, Mission Lofts offers a way of life simply not available elsewhere.

“Try on” our unique floorplans, industrial finishes, massive windows, huge showers, colossal closets and designer appliances. At Mission Lofts, you’re more than a name, you’re a member of the “Mission Club”, our unique platform granting exclusive access to conference spaces, business and fitness centers, clubhouse, abundant services and more.

Not merely somewhere to live or work, Mission lofts is where you truly belong; a community that empowers your ideas and aspirations in unique and beautiful surroundings that elevate all who come.

Visit today for more information.

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.

It took 5 years and a pandemic for my family to find random short cuts to the W&OD Trail, which have led to other great discoveries.

I’ve also noticed the W&OD Trail is getting really crowded, especially on great weather days, so I am sharing some of my favorite places to explore for a walk, kid friendly hike, or our personal favorite — places to throw rocks into water. Given the CDC guidance right now on walking or biking to these places, please share other hidden paths with us in the comments so others might explore their own neighborhoods as well!

1. Wildwood Park: Access points at the end of Mashie Drive near OLGC, the end of Delano/Alma, the end of Valley, and from the intersection of Fellini Ct/W&OD Trail — short path with lots of places to jump on rocks, see deer and throw stones into the water. I’ve seen people fishing in this water, but I have yet to see any actual fish.
2. Northside Park: The current location for the “LOVE” letter installation — access at the end of Glyndon, Talisman Drive or the W&OD Trail.
3. Foxstone Park: Paved and gravel paths along with a stream. Access at the end of Druid Hill Rd NE, John Marshall Dr NE and Ridge Lane.
4. Wolftrap Stream Valley Park: Includes a basketball court, paved path, and a stream. Access behind Cardinal Hill Swim Club or Talisman Drive.
5. Daniels Run Park: Many easy access points along Old Lee Highway side streets (Heritage, Parklane, Embassy, Queen Anne and St Andrews) located next to Army Navy Country Club. Gravel paths, stream and easy hill climb.
6. Difficult Run: Begins in Great Falls/McLean and has a 9 mile loop trail that ends by Colvin Run Road; there’s also a Difficult Run Stream Valley Park in Oakton which runs along Difficult Run River.
7. Peterson Lane Park: We discovered this hidden path when we first moved to Vienna — there’s an access point on Riviera Drive as well as the main access on Vale. There are basketball hoops, as well as a trail with streams.

If none of these are easily accessible to you, you can use Trail Buddy on the Fairfax County website so explore other paths near you. We have found this to be a great way to get the kids outside and burn off some energy with the walk there and home.

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

Virginia employees, if House Bill 123 is signed by Governor Ralph Northam or not otherwise acted upon by April 6, 2020, will have new rights to wages that are unlawfully unpaid.

Virginia House Bill 123 has been passed by both the Virginia House and Senate. The new legislation would create a private right of action for collecting unpaid wages in Virginia. House Bill 123 allows employees that have not been paid to sue an employer to recover their pay, in addition to damages.

Details of Employer Damages and Penalties

House Bill 123 permits Virginia employees to bring claims against employers that fail to pay wages and allows them to recover the wages owed, plus 8% interest from the date that the wages were due. Employees can also be awarded triple damages (3 times the amount of unpaid wages), their attorney’s fees and other costs if a court finds that the employer knowingly failed to pay the wages.

In our experience, most employers are aware that they did not pay wages owed to an employee. There is also a $1,000 civil penalty against the employe for a violation.

Example: Under the law, for example, if an employer fails to pay an employee $1,000 that they earned, they could be liable for that amount, plus 8%, potentially 3 times the wages that were not paid, along with attorney’s fees incurred by the employee, and a civil penalty.

The $1,000 that was unpaid could easily become a judgment against the employer for $5,000 to $8,000 by the time damages and fees are included. Then the civil penalty would also need to be added. If a court finds that there is a genuine dispute between an employer and employee, the employer would not be required to pay triple damages.

Criminal Penalties for Employer Apply

There are also criminal law penalties in the new law. Employers could be found guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail, if the wages owed are less than $10,000. Employers are to be considered guilty of a felony, punishable by a prison term of up to five years, if the value of wages owed is at least $10,000 or if the employer previously had been convicted of such a violation.

Criminal liability now only applies if the nonpayment of wages was willful with the intent to defraud. If signed by the Governor or allowed to become law, the legislation would take effect July 1, 2020.

Contact Us

If you are in need of employment law representation or advice, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.