Ask yourself this: What part of a kitchen undergoes the most abuse? Cabinets? Well, they are used a lot, but abused? Not really. Backsplash? Sure. But do any of those endure what a countertop does? No, definitely not. There is nothing in the kitchen that sees traffic as the countertop does, and this is the reason why an old, overused countertop is a very common sight in homes even as cabinets and other hardware look new-ish So how does one make a countertop look new? The simplest route:  Instaling a new countertop! But that is easier said than done. It is...

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The town of Vienna, in Fairfax County, has put on display paintings by volunteer teenagers who aim to raise awareness about marine life. For a joint project with the Vienna Public Art Commission, four James Madison High School students came together and painted three storm drains. The paintings that feature scenes that highlight the importance of water quality for human beings, animals and plants are now outside the Freeman Store on 131 Church Street NE. Students Allie Mann, Lilly Jacobs, Katherine Helmicki and Kaitlin Lotspeich spent a whole weekend preparing the paintings. Vienna Paint and Decorating, a paint and stain supplies store on 203 Maple...

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Wouldn't it be nice if nobody died because of a traffic accident? Everybody nods to that question. Yet nobody considers that to be a possibility in the near future. The city of Rockville in Maryland will soon start implementing a new road safety program to prove them wrong. The Montgomery County's Vision Zero initiative relies on analysis of past incidents that caused lives to identify whatever improvements are necessary. It then taps into special resources the county council has authorized to fix the problem at its roots. The goal is 35 percent less fatalities on the roads by this very November and...

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  As homeowners, we all spend a lot of time in our kitchens. Over the years, it can become really boring to look at the same setup over and over again. The most obvious off-the-top-of-your-head answer to all your Kitchen blues may be a full-blown renovation but who has the time and energy to redo and install everything from scratch? Not to mention huge costs you have to endure while picking new cabinetry or countertop and then having a fabricator install those! Some homeowners in same shoes as yours have found a way to make the kitchen stand out without burning a hole in their...

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Maryland’s largest school system, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), has opened for the first day of this year's classes by setting yet another record for enrollment. The classes started on Tuesday, Sept. 3, with early estimates suggesting that there are now more than 164,000 students. That represents an increase of some 1500 students over the previous year. In Montgomery, enrollments are on the rise for more than a decade. Since 2008, they have climbed by more than 23,000 students.   Expansion in Schools and Teachers This year, the county did not only expand the number of its students but also the number of its schools...

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  Anybody who knows timeless elegance would tell you that marble is a great choice for both aesthetic and practical reasons in a kitchen. Be it Michelangelo’s David or sophisticated buildings in the contemporary era -- the use of marble is ubiquitous in the architectural world. Although it requires sealing and maintenance, it is still revered as one of the most pristine natural stones in the world as all the concerns about its maintenance can be easily minimized by opting for a harder variety and a good quality sealant. So why not bring it home and install a marble countertop in...

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How should you design a bathroom? The quest to find a universal answer to this question has been stumping even the most seasoned home designers for decades. That is because the layout of a bathroom often dictates every design choice the homeowner is compelled to make. In essence, not only does it influence the aesthetic of the space but also critical processes like plumbing. The important thing for a bathroom layout is that it should be functional, yet spacious enough to take care of all your needs. Designing the right layout may seem like a challenging experience but doing it right reaps high rewards as well. One...

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Imagine all the things Halloween. Or better, come to see them for the most horrifying yet entertaining experience at an interactive museum in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Tysons Corner Center, a giant shopping mall at 1961 Chain Bridge Road, will house American Scream Halloween Selfie Museum till early November from September 13. Next to the Lord and Taylor on the first floor of the mall, patrons will be able to spend 45 minutes visiting the museum. Inside, the organizers promise a confrontation with fears and "a few hearty laughs along the way." It is, what they say, going to be "a unique experience for...

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A nonprofit alliance has opened its latest mental health clinic for families of former and current members of the armed forces and veterans in Virginia Beach. Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at The Up Center had its grand opening on August 6 but actually began accepting visits earlier this year at 828 Healthy Way, Suite 105, offering therapy to people with a variety of short-to-medium term mental health issues. That includes depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, adjustment issues, anger, grief and loss, family issues, transition challenges, relationship problems, and children’s behavioral problems. All its "high quality and time sensitive" services are...

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Nothing and no one is more special to a parent than their kids and seeing them frail and ailing is seldom bearable. At two particular hospitals in D.C. and Maryland, however, they have their best shot at getting their loved little ones treated. Children's National Medical Center (CNMC) at 111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. and John's Hopkins Children's Center (JHCC) at 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, Maryland have been recognized, once again, among the top 10 pediatric hospitals across the nation. U.S. News & World Report said it, "aims to offer guidance for mothers and fathers seeking the best place for their 'very...

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