The Nature Aspect Of Marlan Forest And Marlan Heights

Marlan Forest and Marlan Heights are located in Fairfax County and provide a highly desired location address just 2 miles south of Old Town Alexandria. Marlan Forest provides its residents with easy access to Mount Vernon bike paths for walking, running, biking and wildlife viewing as its location is just across the George Washington Parkway from the Potomac River. Most homes are brick ramblers, Cape Cods, and Colonials built in the ’50s.Continue reading

Bike Helmet Giveaway Program And Traumatic Brain Injury Prevention Program Held At Hutchison Elementary School

The aim of the attorney and avid cyclist Doug Landau of the Herndon law firm Abrams Landau, Ltd. is to save children from traumatic brain injury due to skateboarding and cycling accidents. His program named "Lids on Kids" was introduced in Hutchison Elementary School on May 22. The purpose of the program was to provide helmets to the children who don't have them, but this year the program had a twist. It was made compulsory for the students of fifth and sixth grade to have a pledge signed by a parent or adult guardian in order to get a free helmet. Landau said that they did so that they know that the family is also invested in bicycle safety. Continue reading

Biking Mentors During Alexandria Metro Shutdown

Commuters are trying out different ways to get to work now that the Metro has shutdown service on the Blue and Yellow Line just south of Reagan National Airport in Virginia for the next 3 months as part of an enhancement that they are conducting. For some of these commuters, it means riding a bike to work. Alexandria Bicycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee vice chair for bicycling Josephine Liu says that she welcomes all Metro riders who think putting on a bike helmet and hopping on a bike is the best alternative during the three-month Metro shutdown. BPAC is providing mentoring programs to show bike commuters the best, safest routes to work by bike. Continue reading

Alternate Heating Source Safety Tips

The fall and winter are upon us. This causes many of us to seek out alternative sources to heat our home and keep warm. Alternate heating sources are a major contributing factor in residential fires. The following safety tips will help you keep a safe home.
  • Keep at least three feet of clearance between your alternate heat source and anything combustible.
  • Do not keep or store combustible materials in closed areas or near a heat source.
  • Never leave a heater on when you are not in the room or when you go to sleep, and never leave children or pets unattended near heating sources.
  • If you use an electric heater, be careful not to overload the electrical circuit.
  • Avoid using electrical heaters in bathrooms as they may come in contact with water.
  • Only use heaters that have been tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). These heaters will have the most up-to-date safety features, such as automatic shut-offs. It is important to install and use heaters according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • Do not use a range or oven as an alternate heating source. This is a safety hazard and may be a source of toxic fumes.
  • Do not use fuel burning appliances without the proper room ventilation.
  • Never fill a kerosene heater while it is in operation or hot. Avoid overfilling.

Properties in Focus

Exceptions to Fair Housing Law

Cameron Station gazebo
Community back porch -- Cameron Station gazebo
Fair Housing Law exceptions include threats to health and safety. The Fair Housing Act (FHA) does not require that a dwelling be made available to an otherwise protected individual whose occupancy of the dwelling would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of others, or whose occupancy of the dwelling would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others.