Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

Ask Eli: Has your condo/POA banned smoking?

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This regularly scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Ask Eli, Live With Jean playlist. Enjoy!

Question: Do you know if Associations in Virginia have begun banning smoking using the new law?

Answer: Last year, I wrote an article about Virginia’s new law that allows Condo and Property Owners Associations to easily ban smoking inside units/homes via a new resolution to the rules and regulation, which generally requires a simple majority vote by the Board. Prior to this, Boards could ban smoking in common areas this way, but smoking bans within units/homes required a lengthy (multiple years), costly, and resource intensive effort to get a 2/3+ vote from owners to change the by-laws.

I have heard from a couple of Condo Associations that have implemented this new law to ban smoking and I would love to hear from other readers, in the comments section or in email, who have either passed a new smoking ban resolution, are in the process of doing so, or have run into challenges trying.

Last year I spoke with attorney Michael C. Gartner (703-280-9267 or [email protected]), a Partner at Whiteford, Taylor, & Preston LLP and current President of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Washington Metro Chapter, about the new law to make sure I was clear on the implications this has for Virginia condos and POA communities.

Mr. Gartner confirmed that the new law, effective July 1, 2021, does in fact allow condo and POA Boards to ban smoking inside private residences with a simple majority vote of the Board. He also offered some helpful advice and caveats for any Boards/communities who plan to move forward with in-unit smoking bans:

  • In rare cases, some by-laws may specifically restrict a Board’s ability to make certain rule changes or require something other than a simple majority, so Boards should have an attorney review their by-laws prior to proceeding with a smoking ban
  • Smoking bans should be written as a compliant resolution through legal counsel, not as a simple motion
  • Enforcement is always a challenge for Boards (noise, trash, and other common rules always present enforcement challenges) and Boards may want to work with their legal counsel to establish compliant enforcement protocol
  • The new law includes a provision that allows owners to call a special meeting to vote and repeal a change in the smoking policy
  • Smoking ban policies might flip back-and-forth as new Boards are elected and the majority votes for a new/different smoking policy than the previous Board

Last week, I followed up with Mr. Gartner on the new law and he said that he has several clients (condo buildings) considering implementing a smoking ban and so far is not aware of any legal challenges or considerations that would change the opinions he shared last year when the bill was approved.

Please use the comments section or email me if you are in an Association who has taken advantage of this new law or is planning to!

If you’d like to discuss buying, selling, investing, or renting, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].

If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column or to discuss buying, selling, renting, or investing, please send an email to [email protected]. To read any of my older posts, visit the blog section of my website at EliResidential.com. Call me directly at 703-539-2529.

Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Ask Eli, Live With Jean playlist.

Eli Tucker is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland with RLAH Real Estate, 4040 N Fairfax Dr #10C Arlington VA 22203. 703-390-9460.

Legal Insider: Virginia drops Covid workplace rules

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.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

Virginia, the first state to enact COVID-19 workplace rules in July of 2020, has now become the first state to end them.

The action was taken following a vote on March 21, 2022, by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry’s (DOLI) Safety and Health Codes Board (Safety Board). Under the previous standards, Virginia employers had a number of requirements with respect to COVID-19, including indoor masking in higher-risk areas and reporting COVID-19 outbreaks to the Virginia Department of Health. These standards have been rescinded.

Workplace safety is governed by both the federal Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA) and state and local rules. States, like Virginia, with workplace safety agencies are required to have rules that are at least as effective as those set by OSHA.

OSHA originally attempted to enact rules regarding COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19 testing, but the effort was dropped after being blocked by the Supreme Court. As a result, employers now remain subject to various state and local regulations with respect to COVID-19 issues.

New Guidance for Employers

While the prior rules are ending, new guidance is being finalized. Virginia employers still remain subject to workplace safety rules by DOLI, Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Programs (VOSH). VOSH has just proposed draft guidance for general health and safety rules concerning COVID-19 in the workplace.

The draft guidance, 5 pages in length, provides expectations for Virginia employers for handling COVID-19 employment issues, including, but not limited to:

  1. Encouraging employees with COVID-19 symptoms to stay home
  2. Assisting employees seeking to get vaccinated or in receiving booster shots
  3. Requiring employees infected with COVID-19 to stay home
  4. Providing employees masks or coverings as appropriate

There are many other items in the draft guidance, that employers and employees should review. The draft rules are still under review and the public may comment beginning March 28, 2022, until April 27, 2022.  It is likely that the draft rules will mostly remain the same as the final rules eventually issued.

Employers generally have the legal right to adopt safety and health workplace rules for employees that are more stringent than the guidance per the Code of Virginia.

Contact Us

If you are a Virginia employee in need of employment law representation, 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 and Twitter.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Tour the Falls Church neighborhood

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

What makes Falls Church a Special Neighborhood in Northern Virginia?

Falls Church, called The Little City, a tight knit city with both urban and suburban appeal, was originally a Native and colonist community prior to the founding of the Falls Church in 1734.

Over time, it evolved to a township and eventually, an independent municipality in 1948. Close to D.C. and serviced by two Metro stations, multiple bus lines and close to 495 and 66, Falls Church has everything to offer for the young professional, growing family, or downsizing empty-nesters. Come take a look with me at all the great businesses you can walk to within Falls Church.

Broad Street (or Route 7) is the central backbone of Falls Church, and there are so many places to stop during the day. You can start off here, at Northside Social Falls Church, for a coffee and pastry before heading to shopping, activities and more. (Even better, you can wrap your day here too with a glass of wine!)

If it’s Saturday, then in the morning you *must* go to the Government Center, where the Farmer’s Market is situated from April to December. You can get fruits, vegetables, flowers, local honey and meat, baked goods, dairy products, and my kids’ favorite, crepes to order. When your kids need to run off some of that Saturday morning energy, walk across the Government Center grounds to the Cherry Hill Park, with playground equipment, a barn and loads of green space

If you are looking for entertainment, you can get tickets to a show at the State Theater where there’s a diverse bill of local and national acts performing most nights of the year, or head over to Creative Cauldron, where community theater and creativity come alive! If activity is more your style, one of the best things about Falls Church is the accessibility to the WO&D Trail, with major accesses on the western and eastern ends of the city. If your bike needs a tune-up, you can stop in at Bikenetic for all your cycling maintenance and purchase needs! They also host bike rides for all levels in the warmer months.

If the weather isn’t good for an outside event, you can try Bowl America or the new Scramble Indoor Play space over on East Fairfax Street. If creativity is your thing, you could hit the Clay Cafe on North Maple Street, just around the corner from Rare Bird Coffee Roasters. Create fun ceramics and memories in an afternoon there! If your kids are looking for something new to play with, you can hit Doodlehopper 4 Kids on Broad Street, or run around the corner on Washington Street to the Toy Nest, a toy library where you can play with toys not at home, having fun with your kids without distraction!

When it’s time to wind down, there are so many options! You could stop by Penzeys for some spices to make your home-cooking sing, or you can just decide to eat out at one of the city’s great restaurants, like Dogwood Tavern, Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, Thompson Italian, Solace Outpost, and more. All have delicious offerings, outdoor and indoor seating, and friendly service!

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Just Listed in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Just Listed highlights Arlington properties that just came on the market within the past week. This feature is written and sponsored by Andors Real Estate Group.

Good morning Arlingtonians, welcome to Just Listed!

Interest rates did a backflip this past week after the news the Fed raised rates by .25%. Buyers were being quoted over 5% briefly in some instances, but that leveled out by last Friday.

Freddie Mac notes that the 30-year fixed rate mortgage average for the past week sits at 4.42%, higher than it’s been in at least three years. For perspective, rates are up 1.31% higher this year than where they left off in 2021, and have gone up 9/12 weeks this year.

Despite the rise in interest rates, the inventory situation is a bit dire for buyers. We are running about 2-3 weeks’ worth of inventory, depending on how you measure it week over week. Simply put, rising interest rates aren’t curbing the demand for a piece of Arlington real estate, whether it’s a condo, a townhouse or a detached home.

While inventory is tight (of course), it’s grown just a bit over the last week. We have 14 more properties available in the county than we did last week, totaling 262. Sellers listed 98 homes for sale, 13 fewer than last week.

Buyers seem to have been a bit spooked by the rate volatility the past week, ratified contracts are down a bit… 70 contracts in the past seven days, down 12 from the week prior. Forty of those were homes listed just within the past seven days.

Of the 262 homes currently available for sale, 62are detached homes, 27are semi-detached/townhomes, and the remaining 173 are condominiums. These properties range in price from $100,000 all the way up to $7,950,000.

Average list price for currently available homes is $819,333, and the median price is $539.450. These homes have been on the market for an average of 54 DOM (days on market) and a median of 21.

This week last year, there were 429 homes available for sale throughout the county. Sellers had listed 101 homes for sale and buyers ratified 89 contracts.

PICK OF THE WEEK — 3103 S. High Street, Arlington, VA 22202 — $624,900

Welcome to this deceptively large four-story home with two bedrooms, one bathroom and plenty of storage; all the best of a detached home, with one less exterior wall! An inviting front porch, hardwood floors throughout the main and upper level, and freshly painted in neutral tones. Thoroughly updated with many new and recent major systems and appliances.

Featuring a wood burning fireplace with brick hearth, open and renovated kitchen and dining area and a private backyard deck. Lower-level laundry and utility space as well as rec room, and uppermost level loft is perfect for a home office. Parking pad can be added in front of the home, though street parking is abundant. So much additional potential by finishing the basement, with ability to add another full bathroom! A perfect income generating property right in the neighborhood!

Find me and my team here this weekend, Saturday and Sunday from 1:00pm-4:00pm for the public open houses!

Click here to search currently available Arlington real estate. If you see a home that you’re interested in purchasing, give us a call!

Call the Andors Real Estate Group today at (703) 203-1117 to talk more about buying or selling Arlington real estate. Below are eight new listings that I think you might like to check out.

Listing of the Day: 1211 N. Livingston Street

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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Address: 1211 N. Livingston Street
Neighborhood: Westover Hills
Listed: $995,000
Open: Saturday, March 26 and Sunday, March 27 from 1-4 p.m.

Renovated Westover colonial with a brick addition to maintain the character and look of the original 1930s home.

Enter the home through a mudroom with windows on three sides and a vaulted ceiling. The room lends itself for office space or a sunny play space. Thoughtful flow from the living room with a gas fireplace into the dining room and kitchen with a gathering space overlooking the yard. The kitchen provides a center island for casual dining and participatory cooking with those enjoying a renewed interest in cooking and baking. The gas range, handsome wood cabinets and deep farm sink enhance the experience.

A built-in desk in the adjoining area along with cozy spots for catching up at the end of the day. A door from the kitchen opens directly to the driveway, making it convenient to bring children and packages directly into the home. A stone path leads to the back patio and a second patio is tucked away in a quiet spot. A powder room completes this level.

Upstairs, the primary bedroom features two closets, a dressing area with laundry and linen storage, and an en suite bathroom with oversized shower and double sink vanity. The second bedroom is served by the renovated hall bathroom. Pull down stairs lead to large attic for even more storage. The lower level has a den or third bedroom with steps and direct access to the yard. Additional storage is in the utility room.

Handsome stone walls define the tiered yard brimming with perennials and mature trees and shrubs. The home is well sited on a cul-de-sac and has a deep driveway for at least two cars.

Walk to Cardinal Elementary School, Swanson Middle School and Westover Village’s shops, restaurants, library, and Sunday Farmer’s Market. Lacey Woods Park, Westover Park and Playground, and the bike path and trail are blocks away.

A light filled home in pristine move-in condition awaits the buyer who values convenience and condition.

Listed by:
Betsy Twigg
McEnearney Associates
703-967-4391
[email protected]
www.betsytwigg.com

Boring Title: Can your house be stolen?

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Title insurance is boring, but Allied Title & Escrow is here to decode the jargon and make it (somewhat) more interesting. This biweekly feature will explore the mundane (but very necessary!) world of title insurance while sharing interesting stories of two friends’ entrepreneurial careers.

Seriously, can your house be stolen? If it could, is there anything you can do to stop it?

In this week’s edition, Tim Royster, Team Lead of The Royster Hearth Group, talks with the legal team at Allied Title about protecting your home, title insurance and more!

Tim is the Team Lead of The Royster Hearth Group, a real estate team with Compass. A home is more than a place with a roof over your head. It is a place of comfort, love, warmth, rest and security — “HEARTH”. The Royster Hearth Group is dedicated to helping you reach YOUR HEARTH. Their mission statement is simple: Serve Our Neighbors, Not Ourselves.  

Tim Royster, Team Lead of the Royster Hearth Group, is a U.S. Army Veteran. Contact Tim at [email protected] or 571-275-0871.  Check out their website at www.roysterhearthgroup.com and subscribe to their YouTube channel for weekly updates on all things Northern Virginia!

Have questions related to title insurance? Email [email protected]. Want to use Allied Title & Escrow when you buy a home? Tell your agent when you buy a house to write in Allied Title & Escrow as your settlement company! 

Arts Focus: Arlington Art Truck partners with county agency to save dollars and uniforms

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

Have you ever wondered about how our decisions about fashion, clothing and textile purchases have affected our environment and community and what we can do about it?

The latest installation of the award-winning Arlington Art Truck tackles these questions in FROM OUR WAIST TO WASTE: Is Fashion Sustainable (?) by artist Laure Drogoul, April 2 through May 22, at numerous activations throughout Arlington.

Learn about the history of American clothing as it relates to fashion, costume, cultural identity, garment construction and textile waste. Browse the Artist’s sculptural tent made of deconstructed garments that range in time period, style and material. Each garment has a label with information about its’ historical context.

Arlington Art Truck staff will model garments and answer questions about sustainability and fashion. Additionally, pick up a free Risograph-printed zine, created by the artist, which provides “close the loop” recycling solutions for discarded garments and textiles.

The project also solved a problem for another county agency that found itself with stacks of new work uniforms emblazoned with the old county logo. Our Community Partner for this project is Arlington Cultural Affairs’ Textile Studio which will be on-site at Art Truck activations sewing on patches featuring the new county logo.

The endeavor is saving thousands of dollars, as well as saving perfectly good uniforms from the landfill. A representative from the Textile Studio will be on-hand to answer your questions about how to repurpose items in your own home.

About Arlington Art Truck:

Launching to acclaim in 2018 with a major grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arlington Art Truck was a finalist for Americans for the Arts’ 2019 Gard Award for Arts and Community Life. The Arlington Art Truck embodies the Arlington Arts mission to revolutionize the traditional model of an arts venue.

Packed with digital and traditional creative tools, the “Truck” is a curated mobile toolbox for artists. From April through October, three artists-in-residence hit the streets engaging the public in art projects which are designed to blur the line between participant and presenter.

About the Artist:

Laure Drogoul is an interdisciplinary artist who lives and maintains a studio in downtown Baltimore, Maryland. Laure’s work embraces humor and play by inviting the viewer to be an active participant. She is engaged in developing strategies that emphasize people’s relationships to each other and in fostering a deeper understanding of our shared world.

Laure’s project for the Arlington Art Truck is a tactile information hub about fashion sustainability that invites the viewer to consider possible solutions to the ever-growing global environmental crisis.

About the Community Partner:

A program of Arlington Arts, The Textile Studio is a pop-up makerspace with a focus on recycling and reuse of fabrics and clothing and will offer workshops on sewing techniques to enable sewers to learn about the reuse of existing garments and how to create new ones.

The project kicks off on Saturday, April 2 (9 a.m.-12 p.m.) at Arlington Farmers Market, North Uhle & 14th Street N., (Courthouse Metro). Visit our webpage for the full schedule of activations throughout Arlington!

Just Reduced Properties in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6000 today!

Please note: While Arlington Realty, Inc. provides this information for the community, it may not be the listing company of these homes.

We’re seeing a bit of a pop this week on multiple fronts, friends!

First, since last week’s Just Reduced, the number of listed detached homes and condominiums is up approximately 10%. We’ve also returned to double digits in terms of the number of price-reduced properties within the last week.

So, what does this mean for Arlington County homeseekers? We have more homes for you to peruse and, of the existing inventory that’s been sitting out there, sellers are being a bit more aggressive.

Within a multifaceted real estate landscape, these are only two stats/facts among many you should take into consideration. And, each buying and selling scenario is unique. When you’re ready to discuss your real estate dreams and dig into the stats and facts that will matter to you, the time-tested team at Arlington Realty, Inc. is ready to advocate on your behalf.

Until then, here are this week’s Just Reduced numbers.

As of March 21, there are 92 detached homes, 29 townhouses and 199 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 13 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

3313 20th Road N.

Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Arlington Realty, Inc.

Ask Eli: Real estate within walking distance of Metro

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This regularly scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Ask Eli, Live With Jean playlist. Enjoy!

Question: I’m beginning my home search and want to be within walking distance of Metro. What do my options looks like?

Answer: It’ll be interesting to see if buyers value Metro proximity differently long-term because of lifestyle and professional changes brought about by COVID. I’ve certainly noticed a reduction in the number of buyers I meet with who include being walking distance to Metro as a core requirement, but it seems that we’re quickly returning to previous buying habits so I think preferences for Metro will mostly return to pre-COVID patterns.

If you’re searching for a home in Arlington within walking distance to a Metro, it’s helpful to go into your search understanding what type of inventory you’ll find. Unsurprisingly, condo buildings dominate the market within walking distance of Metro stations, making up over 69% of total sales over the last two years.

The following table summarizes sales over the last two years within 2/3 of a mile of each Arlington Metro station. I left out the Arlington Cemetery and Pentagon Metro stops.

  • The Metro with the highest average sale price is East Falls Church, but that is because it’s the only Metro station where the majority of sales within walking distance are detached homes
  • Pentagon City and Crystal City, the Metro stations that make up National Landing, are the most difficult locations to find homes to purchase because so much of the surrounding housing is rental apartments
  • Virginia Square has had the most homes for sale within walking distance
  • Clarendon and Virginia Square are surrounded by the most expensive detached. Rosslyn and Clarendon boast the most expensive townhouse/duplex homes.
  • Rosslyn’s luxury condo buildings make it the most expensive condo market by average sold price, price per bedroom, and price per square foot
  • On average it costs $552 per SqFt and over $368,000 per bedroom to live within walking distance of a Metro in Arlington

If you’d like to discuss buying, selling, investing, or renting, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].

If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column or to discuss buying, selling, renting, or investing, please send an email to [email protected]. To read any of my older posts, visit the blog section of my website at EliResidential.com. Call me directly at 703-539-2529.

Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Ask Eli, Live With Jean playlist.

Eli Tucker is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland with RLAH Real Estate, 4040 N Fairfax Dr #10C Arlington VA 22203. 703-390-9460.

Just Listed in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Just Listed highlights Arlington properties that just came on the market within the past week. This feature is written and sponsored by Andors Real Estate Group.

Hey there, Arlingtonians, and welcome to Just Listed! Don’t you just love the spring!? Sellers love the spring, especially in Arlington! It all seems to come together at the same time — sellers still have a “mostly outdated” mentality that the grass should be green, the azaleas in bloom and the snow melted, before they can sell their home. While that approach certainly works, those who are ahead of the curve have less other sellers and properties to compete with.

Needless to say, us real estate agents are super busy this time of year — us and the accountants. These are long days, made longer by the fact that the sun stays up later into the evening, allowing for more showings of properties across the DMV.

You may have seen the news, on Wednesday, the Fed raised interest rates .25%. No, this is not the mortgage rate, but everything is interconnected. As a result, interest rates just spiked after a couple weeks of stagnation, and my lender said he is now seeing rates that start with a 5! Per Freddie Mac’s most recent data this morning, the national average is 4.16%, but most of that data is from before the Wednesday announcement. Rates today are up, and this is going to continue to squeeze the pockets of buyers across the nation.

Inventory remains super, super tight — we have two more properties available in the county than we did last week, totaling 248. Sellers listed 111 homes for sale, 12 more than last week! Buyers worked their hardest to keep pace with sellers and ratified 82 contracts! 49 of those were homes listed just within the past seven days.

Of the 248 homes currently available for sale, 50 are detached homes, 30 are semi-detached/townhomes, and the remaining 168 are condominiums. These properties range in price from $100,000 all the way up to $3,750,000.

Average list price for currently available homes is $771,414, and the median price is $522,500. These homes have been on the market for an average of 62 DOM (days on market) and a median of 22. This week last year, there were 417 homes available for sale throughout the county. Sellers had listed 120 homes for sale and buyers ratified 91 contracts.

Click here to search currently available Arlington real estate. If you see a home that you’re interested in purchasing, give us a call!

Call the Andors Real Estate Group today at (703) 203-1117 to talk more about buying or selling Arlington real estate. Below are eight new listings that I think you might like to check out.

2621 12th Street S.

Statutes of Liberty: U.S. announces temporary protected status for Ukrainians

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This sponsored column is by Law Office of James Montana PLLC. All questions about it should be directed to James Montana, Esq., Doran Shemin, Esq., and Laura Lorenzo, Esq., practicing attorneys at The Law Office of James Montana PLLC, an immigration-focused law firm located in Arlington, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice, contact us for an appointment.

As the war in Ukraine continues, the United States government has taken steps to protect Ukrainians in the United States. On March 3, 2022, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, announced that Ukraine has been designated for Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for 18 months.

Our immigration laws allow the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate specific countries for TPS. The Secretary may designate an entire country or part of a country for TPS if (1) there is an ongoing conflict and returning nationals to that country would pose a threat to their personal safety; (2) if there has been a natural disaster and the country in question cannot handle an influx of returning nationals; or (3) there are existing extraordinary circumstances that prevents a country’s nationals from returning to the country safely.

TPS grantees will benefit from not being physically removed from the United States while their TPS is current. Additionally, they can apply for work authorization and a social security number. In the case of Ukraine, Ukrainian nationals will be eligible for TPS if they were continuously residing in the United States since at least March 1, 2022 and do not have negative discretionary factors.

TPS applicants should be prepared to pay an estimated government filing fee of $545.00 if applying for both TPS and a work permit. Without a work permit, the estimated government filing fee is $135.00. Always check the instructions and USCIS webpage to ensure that you are submitting the correct government filing fee.

Unfortunately, the government has yet to issue an official notice with the Federal Register, which dictates any other specific rules or guidelines for Ukrainian TPS. Unless and until that happens, no one eligible for Ukrainian TPS should apply. Once the government is able to accept Ukrainian TPS applications, we will be here to help.

We also wish to use this opportunity to highlight a good cause that one of our clients brought to our attention.

The St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Silver Spring, Maryland, is collecting monetary, medical, food and personal hygiene donations to aid Ukrainians in Ukraine. They have even created an Amazon list of items that are in high demand so you can donate without making a trip to drop off your donation in person. If you are interested in donating or helping via the church, here is a link to their webpage with all the relevant information.

As always, we welcome comments and will reply to all that we can.

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