GAINSWave Therapy in Centreville, VA

Virginia's moderate climate makes it a desirable choice for many home buyers. The average home value in Virginia is about $352,000, according to Zillow. And over the past year, home prices have risen 7%.

The amount you'll spend on a home in Virginia will hinge on where you move within the state. The median home price in Richmond is $345,000, according to the U.S. News Housing Market Index, but you might pay more or less in other locales. The median home price in the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News metropolitan statistical area, by comparison, is $309,000. No matter where you choose to settle in Virginia, though, it’s important to team up with the right real estate firm in the course of buying a home. Here are some of the top real estate companies in Virginia:

The Keri Shull Team is dedicated to helping buyers find homes in Virginia, as well as the surrounding areas of Maryland and Washington, D.C. In 2020, the Keri Shull Team was named the No. 13 real estate team in the U.S. by REALTrends, an award that’s measured by sales volume. That same year, the team helped 881 families buy or sell a home. The Keri Shull Team operates out of its office in Arlington and consists of more than 30 agents.

The Reynolds EmpowerHome Team is a mother-daughter family business that's ranked as a top team in the Washington, D.C., metro area. They've sold more than 7,000 homes, and their Keller Williams affiliation no doubt helps them broaden their reach. The team focuses on real estate in Richmond and Virginia Beach, and it has offices in Chantilly, Richmond and Newport News.

Debbie Dogrul Associates is a team of full-time professionals who are committed to solid customer service. The firm has sold more than 500 homes in the past 12 months. Debbie Dogrul Associates operates out of Fairfax and employs over 40 Realtors.

The Jennifer Young Homes Team services the areas of Aldie, Centreville, Chantilly, Northern Virginia and South Riding. The team, which has been ranked as of the top 150 teams in sales volume by the Wall Street Journal, operates out of Chantilly and Alexandria, and its association with Keller Williams should give buyers confidence in its extensive resources and reach. The Jennifer Young Homes Team also prides itself on excellent communication and a vast knowledge of the markets it serves.

Bruce Tyburski has more than 25 years of experience in the world of real estate. Tyburski's team operates out of its office in Springfield and is committed to working with buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia. The team's RE/MAX affiliation allows it to expand its reach to a broad range of properties.

Ranked the No. 1 mega team for 2021 in Hampton Roads by RealTrends in terms of sales volume, the Kris Weaver Real Estate Team sells hundreds of homes every year. The team focuses on Southeast Virginia and operates out of its office in Virginia Beach. The team employs over three dozen agents and focuses on communities including Hampton, Norfolk, Chesapeake and Newport News.

The Jenny Maraghy Team, an affiliate of Compass, is one of Richmond's top-producing firms. In 2021, the team sold 613 homes worth more than $220 million. The Jenny Maraghy Team consists of more than 30 real estate agents who are dedicated to helping buyers in the Richmond area.

The Marquis Group serves nearly 50 locations through Virginia, from Fredericksburg to Oak Hill to Richmond. The firm operates out of Ashburn and leverages the experience of its agents to provide outstanding customer service. In 2021 REALTrends named it the No. 2 large firm in Virginia, with sales volume topping $105 million.

The Patterson Group has been serving buyers and sellers in Alexandria for more than 30 years. This experienced team of six is passionate about helping clients find homes in neighborhoods such as Old Town and Mount Vernon. Phyllis Patterson, the team's executive vice president, was named a Top 100 Women Leaders in Real Estate of 2021 by the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors.

Belcher Real Estate operates out of its office in Fredericksburg, and the Belcher family has over three decades of real estate experience in Fredericksburg and the surrounding regions. The team of 25 is dedicated to providing excellent customer service to Virginia home buyers. Alex Belcher, a top agent with Belcher Real Estate and owner at Alex Belcher & Associates and Belcher Real Estate LLC, was recognized in Realtor Magazine’s "30 Under 30" 2015 Class as a rising young star in the real estate industry.

Your search for a real estate agent might start with one of the firms above. All have solid experience in helping buyers purchase homes.

But before you settle on a specific real estate agent, do some research. Ask lots of questions and find out what specific skills each agent brings to the table. You may end up trusting your real estate agent to guide you through the most significant purchase you’ll ever make, so you don’t want to work with just anyone.

Take a break from the hustle of DC and venture to Centreville, Virginia for a tasty meal in Northern Virginia. We've rounded up the absolute best restaurants you should try in Centreville, VA. With a wide selection of international cuisines like Korean, Thai and Mediterranean, get to exploring!

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Chasin’ Tails

5815 Trinity Parkway, Centreville / Website

Get your hands dirty at this classic Southern-inspired Cajun seafood restaurant. With tasty drinks inspired by Bourbon Street, this spot is a great spot to hit with friends for an afternoon of picking crabs and boozy beverages. Menu highlights include raw oysters, garlic noodles, crawfish macaroni and cheese, and tons of options for creating a custom seafood boil for your table. Reservations can be made here.

Honest Grill

14215H Centreville Square, Centreville / Website

Enjoy high-quality Korean barbecue at this meat lover's paradise. The menu features a full beef guide and pork guide, each with a variety of cuts, marinades and quantities available. There are also a ton of tasty seafood dishes, like seared garlic butter scallops, seafood scallion pancakes, stir-fried kimchi and tofu, and sea urchin with cod roe rice, to name just a few. Reservations can be made here.

Lezzet Mediterranean Restaurant

13850 Braddock Road, Centreville / Website

Try authentic Mediterranean cuisine from a seasoned professional at Lezzet. Founder and chef Serkan Gozubuyuk has been crafting Turkish cuisine for over 35 years. Lezzet’s menu features Turkish cuisine with Greek and Lebanese influences, with highlights like hunkar begendi, moussaka, and lamb chops. Reservations can be made here.

OCha Thai Kitchen

5037 Westfields Blvd., Centreville / Website

Visit this inventive Thai cafe for delicious beverages and authentic, affordable light bites. The creative drinks include creations like the mango sticky rice smoothie, matcha creme brulee, Thai coffee creme brulee, and mango cheese drink. Fans of bubble tea and specialty drink shops will definitely enjoy trying the colossal menu of flavors. For food, the restaurant serves a lengthy Thai-inspired menu, with highlights like drunken noodles, pineapple curry, tilapia with mango salad, and roasted duck curry. Online orders can be placed here.

So Korean BBQ

5728 Pickwick Road, Centreville / Website

Nosh on premium Korean barbecue at this modern restaurant. The menu features a variety of beef, pork and prime rib in various marinades and cuts. If you’re starving, try the ‘all-you-can-eat’ menu and choose from a huge selection of meats. Or, if you’re simply looking for classic Korean dishes, there’s a kimchi soup with pork belly, a spicy cod fish soup, and bibimbap rice, among others. Reservations are required and can be made here.

Hungry for more luxe stops in the city? Check out our picks for The 7 Restaurants You Should Try Near Capital One Arena.

Tags: restaurants dc restaurants thai luxury luxury lifestyle web-og Lindsay Garbacik Apple News luxury dining seafood restaurants korean bbq

Photography by: Chansom Patnip / Getty Images

Stafford High School senior Justin Kelly used a curious collection of objects to make his science competition entry last weekend: PVC pipe, duct tape, Styrofoam, a No. 2 pencil, half a sock.

Despite its patchwork of parts, the contraption – an egg transporter that represents a lesson in physics – performed well in the “Scrambler” category, which tests devices designed to carry an egg to a finish line without cracking.

The challenge was part of a Virginia Science Olympiad (VASO) competition hosted by the University of Mary Washington on Saturday, Feb. 25. The last of this year’s three regional contests, it brought hundreds of fifth- through 12th-grade science enthusiasts to campus to test their STEM skills in biology and chemistry, anatomy and meteorology, forensics and forestry, and far beyond.

“UMW’s role as host gives students a glimpse of what opportunities are out there in terms of college,” said Senior Lecturer of Biology Michael Stebar, who served as onsite coordinator. “They’re in a physics lab surrounded by a myriad of equipment and instruments. They’re in a biology lab surrounded by microscopes and preserved organisms.”

The event had young scientists – 63 teams from 32 schools – testing bridges made of balsa wood, clocks that measured time with water and sand, and a host of homemade gadgets and gizmos designed to meet challenges under a constrict of rules. The top performers will be eligible to compete at the state level later this month in Charlottesville.

Seungwoo Oh and partner James Pijai, both 10, drew from their classroom lessons in energy transformation at Kent Gardens Elementary School in McLean to enter a towering track made of paper and cardboard in the “Roller Coaster” contest. The balls they rolled down its course missed their 40-second travel-time mark, but the coaster followed the rules – two gaps, one loop, no magnets or springs – making it a “high-scoring device,” said Event Supervisor Harry Chernoff.

Throughout the day, he and a slew of volunteers checked entries for parameter violations, missing log data and other missteps, collecting measurements with rulers and timers, and doling out scores.

“Sometimes the perception of science in the classroom can make it seem like a very individual endeavor,” said VASO State Director Emily Owens. “The Science Olympiad allows collaboration with partners in events that might be more likely to pique students’ interests.”

Sixth-graders Malika Burkhanova and Nargiza Muzaffar, from Pinnacle Academy in Chantilly, paired up to design a “piano” – a wooden case filled with steel bars of varying sizes to create different tones. For their entry in the “Sounds of Music” category, which tests contestants’ knowledge on the physics of sound, they studied the rules and objectives, did some research on YouTube and learned a few lessons along the way.

“Science explains everything in the world, basically,” Malika said. “It’s so interesting.”

Schools that participated in the VASO event at the University of Mary Washington on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 include: Kent Gardens Elementary School, Frost Middle School, Forestville Elementary School, J. Michael Lunsford Middle School, Pinnacle Academy, Freedom High School, Broad Run High School, Robinson Secondary School, Stafford Senior High School, Potomac Falls High School, Farmwell Station Middle School, Belmont Ridge Middle School, Lemon Road Elementary School, River Bend Middle School, Seneca Ridge Middle School, Greenbriar West Elementary School, Thomas Edison High School, Riverside High School, Chantilly High School, Justice High School, Woodberry Forest School, Lake Braddock High School, Dominion Christian Middle School, Cooper Middle School, BASIS Independent, Stone Hill Middle School, Eagle Ridge Middle School, West Springfield High School, Fairfax High School, Centreville High School, Alexandria City High School. Visit the VASO website for a video congratulating last weekend’s winners.

CENTREVILLE, Va., Feb. 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN) announced today that the company was selected by Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) to provide construction management services for the Rinconada Water Treatment Plan Reliability Improvement Project, Phases 3-6. The $30 million contract includes the construction management of new facilities, including raw water ozonation, chemical facility upgrades, dual media filtration, and a chlorine contact basin.

“We are proud to continue expanding our already deep roots in California, leveraging our local presence, experience and innovative approach to help with the improvement of seismic reliability, operational reliability, regulatory compliance, and water quality for a significant part of Valley Water’s water supply,” said Mark Fialkowski, president, mobility solutions market for Parsons. “Our capabilities will enhance and streamline our construction management delivery model, quickly identify and address project concerns, and provide clear communications and transparency across all parties.”

The Rinconada Water Treatment Plan Reliability Improvement Project, Phases 3-6 is located on a congested site and requires maintenance of continuous plant operations during construction, requiring quality construction management services to identify and mitigate risks. The project aims to retrofit, upgrade and/or replace key equipment that is reaching the end of its natural life.

Parsons will oversee the replacement or upgrade of all major plant components and increase the WTP’s treatment capacity from 80 MGD to 100 MGD. These enhancements will support Valley Water as it strives to meet increasingly stringent standards for water quality, seismic stability, and safety.

Parsons has decades of experience creating and maintaining safe, efficient, and sustainable water facilities and processes. Our expertise in program and construction management (PM/CM) and engineering have helped us transform the industry through some of the most complex water and wastewater projects in the world.

To learn more about Parsons’ water and wastewater expertise, visit https://www.parsons.com/markets/water- wastewater/.

About Parsons Parsons (NYSE: PSN) is a leading disruptive technology provider in the national security and global infrastructure markets, with capabilities across cyber, space and missile defense, transportation, environmental remediation, urban development, and critical infrastructure solutions. Please visit Parsons.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn how we're making an impact.

Media Contact: Lexus K. White +1 470.510.6690 Lexus.White@parsons.com

Investor Relations Contact: Dave Spille +1 703.775.6191 Dave.Spille@parsons.com

CENTREVILLE, Va. - Parents in Fairfax County are outraged after a teacher casts students as slaves and landowners during a classroom activity.

A family at Centreville Elementary School spoke with FOX 5, saying they are frustrated that their children’s school forced students to take part in a slavery reenactment.

Now, they’re calling on the administration and the teacher to be held accountable.

The issue was brought to the Lowery family’s attention when an email was sent out after school Thursday saying a teacher made students take part in a simulation based on the economics of slavery.

The school says during the activity, the teacher made some students act as slaves, and others as landowners.

We reached out to Fairfax County Public Schools to clarify what grade this incident happened in and if this is an appropriate and typical lesson for this age group.

The school system sent the following statement to FOX 5:

"Earlier this week a student teacher at Centreville Elementary School, under the supervision of a Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) teacher and while being observed by a university supervisor, conducted an inappropriate activity on the economics of slavery. During the activity, students participated in a simulation where they acted as slaves and a landowner. This exercise was not part of the approved lesson plan or division curriculum. The school has apologized directly to the families of the students who took part in this exercise, and to the wider community, for this regretful lapse in judgment made by an inexperienced trainee teacher who was subsequently counseled on the inappropriateness of the lesson.

FCPS is committed to nurturing a community that is grounded in dignity, humanization, and belonging with an emphasis on culturally-responsive practices. In partnership with our school community, the Chief Equity Office and the Equity and Cultural Responsiveness team, will continue to provide coaching, professional development, and support for all FCPS employees."

The Lowery family says they and several other families they’ve spoken to were floored as to why this teacher thought this was okay.

Northern Virginia school under fire after students instructed to play ‘runaway slave game'

"We’ve learned about slavery and the economics of slavery and Jim Crow and redlining all without ever having to pretend or simulate being a slave. You can teach it without that," Gerald Lowery said.

"Anyone who sort of sits with it and thinks about what it means to be enslaved it’s a horrible thing. It’s like asking someone to role-play the holocaust," Meredith Lowery added. "Who in their right mind would do that? So to me, it’s kind of like why would you pick something so incredibly traumatic that still has remnants in 2023 to make a point? I’m almost curious … Was it really a mistake or lapse in judgment?"

The principal of Centreville Elementary School sent a letter to parents Thursday evening, saying the activity is not part of the division curriculum and was not an appropriate or culturally responsive way to engage students.

READ MORE: Middle school teacher faces charges for assaulting students in Loudoun County classroom: police

He went on to say the school will use this as a learning moment and school leaders have met with students in the class to give them the ability to process their experience.

The Lowerys said they do plan to speak with the principal to address their concerns and ensure there is some sense of accountability.

They also said they want to continue the conversation to make sure this does not happen again.

Read the full letter sent to Centreville Elementary School parents below:

Dear Centreville Elementary School Families,

Earlier this week, our administration team spoke directly to parents of students who participated in a classroom activity while teaching a lesson on slavery. This activity was inappropriate, and not part of our approved division curriculum.

I am sharing this now with our broader community to reinforce our commitment to nurture a community that is grounded in dignity, humanization, and belonging.

The lesson involved the economics of slavery. During the activity, students participated in a simulation where they acted as slaves and a landowner. I want to reiterate that this activity was not part of the division curriculum, and was not an appropriate or culturally responsive way to engage students.

We have been and will continue to use this as a learning moment for the teachers and our entire staff. We have also met with the students in the class to give them the space and opportunity to process and share their experience. Raising consciousness to actions, intentional or not, that cause harm to our students and families, is critical to creating a safe and inclusive school environment.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly. I would like to hear your ideas about making Centreville Elementary School a more welcoming and culturally responsive environment where each and every student feels safe and a sense of belonging.

Thank you for your partnership,

Josh Douds

Principal