Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

Legal Review: Watch Your Texting! Your Insurance Rates Might Soon Skyrocket

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

By criminal defense attorney Thomas Soldan, who is barred and practices in the state of Virginia, with Price Benowitz LLP. Soldan has focused his practice on reckless driving, DUI/DWI, traffic, and personal injury litigation.

Insurance companies are now tracking how their insured are using their cell phones and will either penalize them or reward them based on their findings.

Using technology based on the phone’s accelerometer, which measures its forward motion, and gyroscope, which tracks its navigation, companies such as Allstate can discover whether the driver is moving, whether the phone is unlocked, and whether they were using an app. This information can be tracked only if the driver downloads the app and keeps the phone off airplane mode.

Allstate is considering whether this information on a driver’s phone usage should determine what their insurance rates should be. Arity, a subsidiary of Allstate, determined, based on an analysis of data of hundreds of thousands of Allstate customers and 160 million trips, that drivers who drive while using their phones are indeed more dangerous.

Using this research, they found that distracted drivers get in more accidents and those accidents are more severe. In addition, these drivers cost insurance companies up to 160 percent more than those drivers who are not distracted. Before this technology goes into effect it will need approval from state insurance offices.

Technology already exists to help prevent distracted driving. For instance, the Cellcontrol app begins working as soon as the driver sits in the driver’s seat. It uses a black box a person puts in the center of the car’s windshield and using Bluetooth, blocks the driver’s cell phone from working.

It splits the car’s seats into different areas and recognizes the driver’s area, while allowing phones to work in all other spaces, where passengers sit. In addition, it sends an immediate response if the blocked phone gets a call or a text, explaining why the call or text is not being answered.

“This new technology could be a great tool for insurance companies to promote safe driving,” said Thomas Soldan, a personal injury lawyer. “It could really help promote safe driving and help determine fault after an accident. Working with lawyer who is experienced with dealing with insurance companies is invaluable to protecting the rights of drivers.”

Your Only Chance to Bike DC Car-Free

DC Bike Ride is the region’s only car-free, closed-road, recreational bike ride. Register now before the price increases on May 1.

Save even more when you use the promo code ARLBIKE18 for $10 off standard registration. Kids ages 3 to 7 are always free and youth ages 8 to 17 are always half-price

Join us on Saturday, May 19 for a fun, recreational, family-friendly bicycle adventure. DC Bike Ride celebrates bicycling as a form of healthy living, fitness, transportation and fun.

Your registration includes access to the closed-road DC Bike Ride course that starts in West Potomac Park — this is the only time Washington, DC closes roads for bicycles!

The 20-mile ride will feature on-course entertainment, music and rest stops, as well as a short-cut to the finish that offers a 6-mile course (in case you get tired, are riding with little ones or get hungry for some snacks).

The ride ends with a Finish Festival party with beats, eats and activities for all-ages at the National Mall in front of the U.S. Capitol. DC’s legendary go-go band Trouble Funk and DJ Little Bacon Bear will be performing at the festival. Participants also get a limited edition DC Bike Ride water bottle.

The ride raises support for the Washington Area Bicyclist Association’s work to make streets safer for all roadway users. The event has committed more than $100,000 in support over three years to WABA for street safety neighborhood programs.

No bike? No problem! We partner with Bike and Roll DC to bring you easy bike rentals.

Find us on social media: @dcbikeride on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For more information visit www.dcbikeride.com.

Make DC Bike Ride your favorite spring tradition and join the ride today. Don’t forget to use the promo code ARLBIKE18 for $10 off standard registration now through April 30.

Legal Insider: Response to Proposed Discipline

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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.

We defend federal employees in proposed disciplinary actions. When a federal employee is facing proposed discipline it is important for them to speak with an attorney knowledgeable in federal employment law for legal advice and representation. This article outlines some brief thoughts for federal employees as they respond to proposed disciplinary actions.

Types of Proposed Discipline

Most proposed disciplinary or adverse actions for federal employees fall into 3 general categories for federal employees: (1) proposed suspension or demotion actions based on misconduct; (2) proposed removal actions based on misconduct; and (3) proposed removal actions based on performance deficiencies (i.e. a PIP).

Proposed Disciplinary Action

When a federal employee receives a proposed disciplinary action (suspension of 14 days or less) or an adverse action (suspension of over 14 days to removal), they should read over the notice very carefully. Each federal agency sets their own deadlines for submitting responses and requesting information relied upon and these deadlines are usually strict.

Along with a copy of the proposed discipline, when it is issued, the federal agency may provide an employee a copy of the materials in the evidence file (documents, reports, emails, recordings, video, photographs, etc) that they are relying upon in proposing the action (often referred to as the “information relied upon.”).

It is critical for a federal employee to request and obtain these materials prior to responding in writing or orally.

Response to the Proposed Disciplinary Action

It is important for a federal employee to not only submit a comprehensive written response, along with documentation (affidavits, character letters, statements or other evidence) refuting the charges and specifications or in providing arguments for mitigation, but also to request an oral response. (more…)

Rethink Energy: Earth Day

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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This regularly-scheduled sponsored column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment.   

Would you believe that energy and water use in Arlington has actually decreased in the past decade?!

This is despite 22,000 new residents and 20 million additional square feet of office and residential space in Arlington since 2007. Through smart planning and valuing sustainability, Arlington is demonstrating that growth can come without further impacting the environment.  

The LEED for Communities Platinum certification is validation that Arlington residents, businesses and government are committed to the community’s long-term economic, environmental and social sustainability.

Residents continue to lead on environmental-related actions. You can join the Arlingtonians that have already installed solar, completed a home retrofit project, or certified their green home. Learn more in the links below.

Managing growth is not a destination but a journey — one that Arlington County and Arlingtonians are committed to daily.

Learn more: https://environment.arlingtonva.us/earthday/

Just Listed in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Just Listed banner
Just Listed highlights Arlington properties that just came on the market within the past week. This feature is written and sponsored by Team Cathell, “Your Orange Line Specialists.”

Arlington saw the best week yet this year for fresh listings with sellers putting 125 homes on the market.

Buyers ratified 79 contracts, some 35 of those within seven days of hitting the market. And the upper end market continued its rebound with 15 homes sold that were priced over $1 million. The average list price of homes sold this week rose to $713,665 and the days on market settled at 31.

These stats show a robust market with home values rising. But interest rates shot up again this week by five basis points, according to Freddie Mac. The 30-yr fixed rate is now about 4.57% with no points.

It’s helpful for home buyers to understand there are two types of points when applying for a loan. Mortgage rates are always quoted as a combination of interest rate and points. Most lenders automatically quote and charge about a half point (0.5% of loan amount) to originate a loan. Buyers can get a “zero” point loan, but then the interest rate will increase.

The other type of point is called a “discount” point. This is when a buyer can actually pay points (cash) up front to discount or buy down the interest rate. This can be a smart approach if the buyer will hold the property more than a certain amount of time when they hit the breakeven mark. That’s when the savings each month from a lower interest rate equals the amount of up front discount points paid. Ask your lender for further information.

Click to see all the fresh new inventory in MRIS and call Team Cathell (703-975-2500) when you find a home you like.

WWBG: New Beers from Commonwealth Brewing Company

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Weekend Wine and Beer Guide logo
Editor’s Note: This biweekly column is sponsored by Dominion Wine and Beer (107 Rowell Court, Falls Church). It is written by Garrett Cruce, a Cicerone Program Certified Beer Server.

Last Friday, Dominion Wine & Beer hosted Commonwealth Brewing Company for their weekly beer tasting. The Virginia Beach brewery was in the area to promote their upcoming beer festival and to share some recent, limited releases.

Lucky customers had a chance to win two tickets to Commonwealth Brewing Company’s 3rd Annual COMMON GROUNDS Collaborative Beer Fest & Camp Night on May 19 from 4-8 p.m.! This event will feature collaborations with some of the best breweries in the country, including Aslin Beer Company and Ocelot Brewing Company.

In addition to flagship favorites, Aureole Lager and Big Papi DIPA, Commonwealth shared limited releases Tinta Rosa Gose, Lethe Pale Ale and There Goes Gravity IPA.

Tinta Rosa Sangria Style Gose Ale (5.4% ABV)

The fourth entry in Commonwealth’s international street vendor drink series, Tinta Rosa is a gose in sangria’s clothing.

The purple coloration is the first clue that this beer might be just what they promise. While the aroma of lime and green plums doesn’t scream sangria, it does evoke a good gose.

They nailed the sangria flavor in the sip! Though it starts out extremely tart and sharply salty — as a good gose will — the orange and raspberry comes through evoking the fruited wine drink.

For fun, I’d pour several cans into a chilled pitcher with some fruit to complete the illusion. We may not be able to keep our warm days around, but Tinta Rosa was a welcomed beer on a recent warm day. Grab a four pack and hold on to it for when Spring finally returns. (more…)

Legal Review: Injuries Continue to Increase at Trampoline Parks

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

By divorce attorney Sean P. Barrett, who is barred and practices in the state of Connecticut, with Billings & Barrett.

Trampoline parks quickly became all the rage across the country. They are used by thousands of people on a weekly basis for corporate team building exercises, for after school fun, for birthday parties, and for get-togethers with family and friends.

These parks require that all guests who will be using the trampolines sign a waiver that removes the park from liability if a guest is to suffer an injury.

Even though these trampoline parks are fun for people of all ages, they can also be dangerous. When you mix experienced athletes with people who are simply out to have fun you are working with a bad combination.

Hundreds of people have suffered injuries and the numbers keep mounting at trampoline parks across New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut.

NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters obtained dozens of 911 calls from the tri-state area that were placed from trampoline parks requesting medical assistance. They ranged from as minor as a sprained ankle to as severe as a jumper landing on her neck after attempting a flip.

One of the most popular trampoline parks, Sky Zone, has multiple locations across the Northeast including Maryland, Virginia, and all the way down to Florida. They released the following statement in an email to NBC Connecticut:

“At Sky Zone, the safety of our guests is our top priority. We are committed to on-going evaluations to promote guest safety. As with any physical activity or sport, there are inherent risks. We take several measures to reduce these risks and educate our guests about safety in our parks.”

In a joint investigation between NBC Connecticut and a sister station in New York City, it was discovered that some 1,000 people had suffered injuries at trampoline parks since 2013.

The Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, located in Hartford, conducted a study on trampoline park injuries in 2016. The study found that there were 581 visits to emergency rooms in 2010. That number jumped by more than 1,000 percent when there were 6,932 emergency room visits in 2014.

“Even though there are inherent risks when visiting a trampoline park there still needs to be better education for those taking part in the jumping,” Sean P. Barrett, of Billings & Barrett, said. “Parents and guardians need to know full well the risks that jumpers are taking when visiting a trampoline park.”

For the most part, participants are required to watch safety videos prior to jumping. There are also written safety policies posted throughout the parks. Staff members are also required to make any participant not following the rules leave the area.

Healthy Paws: Did You Know… ?

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Healthy Paws
Editor’s Note: Healthy Paws is a column sponsored and written by the owners of Clarendon Animal Care, a full-service, general practice veterinary clinic and winner of a 2017 Arlington Chamber of Commerce Best Business Award. The clinic is located 3000 10th Street N., Suite B. and can be reached at 703-997-9776.

This week we thought we’d present a few fun facts about the amazing furry creatures many of us share our lives with: cats and dogs.

Dogs are omnivores and have nutritional needs more akin to humans than their ancestral relatives. This has a lot to do with the fact that humans domesticated them about 15,000 years ago and lived in very close association with humans, giving them a LOT of time to acclimate to our diet. As such, their metabolism and digestive function is genetically different than it was prior to domestication.

Cats, on the other hand are obligate carnivores…and while they are “domesticated” and that process started somewhere between 9,000-12,000 years ago, they have no genetic difference with their dietary needs or metabolism than their wild counterparts.

Historically speaking, cats, unlike dogs, have not been domesticated to obey humans’ orders; in true feline fashion, they choose to take part in the human-cat interaction.

This is in contrast to the history of dogs and humans, where they have bred over thousands of years to respond to orders, perform specific task and have specific physical traits. Cats, it seems, never needed to learn anything — which explains a LOT about many of their behaviors and “cattitude.”

Cats and dogs have 3rd eyelids! On the lower, inside corner of the eye you may have noticed your cat or dog has a membrane/structure there — this is the 3rd eyelid and it is also called the nicitans. The gland that sits under this eyelid produces about 2/3 of all the tears that cats and dogs make and a “Cherry Eye” is when this gland prolapses, or “falls out of place”.

Female AND male cats and dogs have mammary glands and nipples… however, not all dogs and cats have the same number of glands or nipples.

Most dogs have 5 sets of mammary glands (and 10 nipples) — however that can range from 4-6 gland sets (and 8-12 nipples); and most cats have 4 sets of mammary glands (and 8 nipples) — but that too can range from 3-4 gland sets (and 6-8 nipples).

Sometimes they also have “supernumerary” nipples — or an extra nipple on a single gland, which is of no clinical significance.

Cats sleep for about 2/3 of their lives. When your cat is 12 years old, it will have been awake for only 4 years of its life! Cats also spend about half their waking time grooming… so that 12 year old cat will have spent about 2 of those awake years grooming (and likely the other 2 years intentionally ignoring you, judging you and insisting you feed/pet/devote all your attention to them).

Cats purr at a frequency that promotes tissue healing! Domestic cats purr at a frequency of about 26 Hertz, in a range that promotes tissue regeneration. Purring is most often are associated with positive social situations: nursing, grooming, relaxing, being friendly.

That said purring is also soothing, or self-soothing, as cats also purr in stressful or painful situations (perhaps to help with the healing).

About 1/3 of a dog’s brain mass is devoted to smell, compared with just 5% of a human’s brain! But — they only have about 1700 taste buds, compared to about 9000 in humans… no wonder they don’t mind eating gross things!

Have a topic you’d like us to write about? Email us ([email protected]). We want to tailor these posts to the topics that interest you the most.

Listing of the Day: 1801 N. Bryan Street

Address: 1801 N. Bryan Street
Neighborhood: Lyon Village
Listed: $1,995,000
Open: Saturday, April 21 from 12-4 p.m. and Sunday, April 22 from 1-4 p.m.

Stop by Saturday, April 21 from 12-2 p.m. to chat with Dave Springberg of Spring Street Development, and to preview this exceptional home in Lyon Village.

With four finished levels, the home offers space for everyone and everything, including an Accessory Dwelling Unit in the sun-filled lower level.

Desirable details include wainscoting, wood floors on two levels, coffered ceiling and fireplace in the family room. Upstairs there are three bedrooms and three baths and the top floor retreat has a fourth bedroom, bathroom and versatile space for an office, gym or playroom.

Gorgeous kitchen featuring crisp white cabinetry, blue island and quartz countertops. The home provides several dining options — either casual or traditional — along with a butler’s pantry and mudroom entry from the garage.

Walk to Clarendon for Metro, restaurants, shops, parks and bikepath.

Key/Science Focus, Swanson and Washington-Lee Schools.

Listed by:
Betsy Twigg
Washington Fine Properties
Phone: 703-967-4391
[email protected]
http://www.wfp.com/index.asp

Stunning Showcase Returns During 6th Annual Arlington Festival of the Arts

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Washington Boulevard in Clarendon will transform into an art-lover’s paradise this weekend — April 21-22 — during the 6th Annual Arlington Festival of the Arts.

One hundred and fifty national and international artists are set to display their fine works from across the globe in a prestigious show encompassing fine jewelry, exquisite works of art and hand-crafted apparel and decor. Whether your passions run to sparkling jewels and one of a kind paintings, crafted glasswork or to an art deco sculpture, you are sure to find it during the free, two-day event. Ample parking is available and pets on leashes are always welcomed.

Presented by Howard Alan Events (HAE), producer of the nation’s finest juried art shows, the 6th Annual Arlington Festival of the Arts represents original, hand-crafted artwork selected by an independent panel of expert judges from hundreds of applicants. HAE’s careful vetting process also ensures a wide array of mediums and price ranges will be offered during the Festival.

When: Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: 3003 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201
Cost: Free and open to the public
Contact: [email protected] or 561-746-6615

Festival At-a-Glance:

  • Juried, first-class outdoor art gallery showcasing local and national artists
  • Original handmade artwork
  • 150 national and international artists
  • Artists hand-selected by independent panel of expert judges from hundreds of applicants
  • All artists on site for duration of festival
  • Vast array of artistic media including paintings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, glass, wood, handmade jewelry, collage, mixed media
  • Ample parking available and pets on leashes welcome

About Howard Alan Events, Inc.:                                                                           

Howard Alan Events, a Florida-based company, produces the nation’s top juried art and craft shows. Ranked among the Top 100 Art Fairs in the Country by Sunshine Artist Magazine, the 34-years established company has overseen art festivals in such noted cities as Aspen, CO; Sarasota, FL; Fort Lauderdale, FL and 40 other destination markets in the nation.

For additional information on the Annual Arlington Festival of the Arts and other Howard Alan Events art and craft shows across the country, visit www.artfestival.com or call 561-746-6615.

Arts Focus: Is an MFA the New MBA?

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This is a column written and sponsored by Arlington Arts / Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

We all know that you have to go to medical school to become a licensed physician and to law school to be a Bar certified attorney. However, companies providing innovative solutions and developing new products are starting to notice that the background of their workforce may need to be more creative and less linear.

Smart, educated workers who demonstrate more than subject matter expertise are more and more in demand.

While you probably won’t find ‘can you draw?’ on a job application, human resource professionals are digging deeper to find a workforce that will make their company stand out.

This month, Arlington Economic Development launches the next series of seminars: “Return on Creativity: An Arlington County Asset.”

The series will feature professionals and educators who are leading business and workforce growth through the application of creativity. This creativity is driven through talent availability, process improvements and innovative solutions.

Additionally, the series offers networking opportunities, first-hand insights and compelling evidence that Arlington County is an accelerator to personal and organizational growth and prosperity.

Arlington’s culture of creativity drives startup, non-profit, association and corporate success. Over the past 10 years, Arlington County has earned a reputation of nurturing a creatively-driven commerce and community through policy, technology, education and development. Arlington County is home to businesses and people who contribute to the county’s fiscal and social prosperity through a focus on creativity.

Join the next conversation and register here for Return on Creativity: An Arlington County Asset, Thursday, April 26 at Virginia Tech Research Center.

Check here for ongoing creative economy listings and opportunities.

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