Providing Natural Solutions for Male Sexual Health
There's not much we can count on in life, but if there's one guarantee, we can bet that our bodies change as we grow older. That's especially true for men as they age. One moment you're partying at the club, waking up refreshed, and hitting the gym. The next moment, getting out of bed is a chore. You're sore in places you never thought before, and hangovers don't just go away after a hot shower and a big breakfast.
And while sore joints and backaches can be treated with aspirin and ice, other signs of aging aren't as easy to treat. Of course, we're talking about challenges in getting and maintaining erections needed to satisfy your partner. At the extreme, we all know it as erectile dysfunction or ED for short but long before full ED, there are warning signs that things aren't working as they used to work. Hearing the ED word sends shivers down most men's spines. When you think about it, that makes sense - being unable to perform when you need to most is a scary thought.
If you're beginning to suffer from ED or male performance issues or you've been dealing with performance issues for some time, it may seem like nobody has any solutions or even really understands how these issues can impact your life and sense of well-being. However, ED of varying degrees is very common. More than 18 million men suffer from the condition in the U.S. Unfortunately, many of those men hide their performance issues without ever addressing them. If you're one of those men, and it feels like you're stuck in a rut with no help, we're here to tell you you're not alone. Proactive Wellness Centers, PLC is here to provide you with a long-lasting solution to help you regain confidence and perform like you used to.
Additionally, many men including the so-called "bio hackers" are using our treatments to PREVENT the performance decline in the first place. Why wait for the inevitable when you can implement strategies to prevent the decline in the first place.

The Proactive Wellness Center Difference
Our programs are all about reversing and slowing the aging process, preventing disease, and treating chronically ill patients. We utilize a three-pronged approach:
- 1. We equip patients with the knowledge required to take charge of their health and achieve optimal well-being.
- 2. We focus on disease prevention by providing a thorough evaluation using comprehensive diagnostics including the patient-supplied information.
- 3. We work with patients to implement a rejuvenation program consisting of various science-based treatments that reduce cellular degeneration, promote tissue regeneration and healing, and slow down the aging process.
We consider every individual as physiologically unique. As such, we don't subscribe to a "one-size-fits-all" approach. Instead, our programs focus on a customized approach, leveraging genetics and advanced testing, utilizing advanced therapeutics like Gainswave and addressing risk factors that, if avoided or modified, could have beneficial effects for reducing many chronic conditions that men suffer from year-round.
Our vision is to provide the latest in scientifically-validated therapies for reversing the aging process, preventing chronic disease, and optimizing health. For men whoare just starting to have challenges, or who have erectile dysfunction, or for the biohackers that just want everything optimized, one of those proven therapies is GAINSWave therapy in Lake Barcroft, VA
Our Services
- Providing Natural Solutions for Male Sexual Health
- The Proactive Wellness Center Difference
- What is GAINSWave Therapy?
- What Makes GAINSWave Therapy in Lake Barcroft, VA Work?
- Other Treatments and Programs from Proactive Wellness Centers, PLC
- Achieve Your Wellness Goals at Proactive Wellness Centers, PLC
Service Areas
What is GAINSWave Therapy?
If you have ED or even a minor decline in sexual performance, there's a good chance you've already seen your primary care doctor. You've talked to them about the issues you're facing. And, if they're like many doctors, they prescribed you some pills and sent you on your way. Unfortunately, going this route doesn't do much to solve erectile dysfunction - you're just putting a band-aid on the problem. Plus, you're putting strange chemicals in your body via a "little blue pill" that may cause adverse side effects.
At the end of the day, you need a real-deal solution to ED, not a quick fix. The good news? A safe, non-invasive, injection-free answer to your problems exists. It's called GAINSWave therapy, and according to recent studies, it has shown an 85-92% success rate for mild to moderate cases of erectile dysfunction.
Reports from men who have used GAINSWave therapy in Lake Barcroft, VA report the following benefits:
- Stronger, Longer Lasting Erections
- Improved Sexual Pleasure
- More Blood Circulation and Flow
- Better Girth and Length
- Less Rest Needed Between Orgasms
- Enhanced Intimacy in the Bedroom

Unlike many ED treatments, you don't have to worry about surgery or drugs when you choose GAINSWave. This revolutionary treatment uses acoustic wave technology, also called pulse wave therapy, instead of surgery or pills, which helps to rebuild blood flow to the penile region, thereby boostings erectile strength and, by proxy, confidence.
But the benefits of GAINSWave don't end there. This therapy also breaks up micro plaques and boosts nitric oxide, which forms new blood vessels and collagen. That's exciting news for men suffering from Peyronie's disease, which is another condition specific to male sexual health.
Contact Us For Services

What Makes GAINSWave Therapy in Lake Barcroft, VA Work?
With time, men's blood flow decreases, sensitivity isn't what it once was, and blood vessels start to get thinner or even partially or fully blocked. With GAINSWave, high-frequency, low-intensity shockwaves rejuvenate areas of the penis that have suffered with age. For instance, micro plaques are removed, new blood vessels form, and blood flow increases. According to several clinical studies, enhanced blood flow from GAINSWave translates to more sustainable, rigid erections in 75% of men.
Though males in America are only beginning to realize the benefits of GAINSWave, it's a treatment that has been used for over a decade around the world. Backed by science and proven to rejuvenate vasculature in male erections, GAINSWave works without any pain or recovery time. In fact, it's possible to pop into Proactive Wellness Centers on your lunch break for a therapy session.
Proactive Wellness Centers' GAINSWave treatments feature:
- Low-Intensity Pulse or Shockwaves
- All Natural
- No Needles
- No Pills
- No Pain
- No Surgery
- No Recovery Time
- Quick Procedures
Because this procedure is needle, surgery, and drug-free, most men don't have to suffer through costly insurance claims or unsightly scarring. With GAINSWave and our comprehensive and personalized ED treatment plans, all you need to focus on is enjoying life, knowing your erectile dysfunction is a thing of the past.
Who Are the Best Candidates for Gainswave Therapy in Lake Barcroft, VA?
If you're a man over the age of 30 and want to optimize your performance or if you are suffering a decline in this area, GAINSWave may be for you. That's even more true if other treatments never worked. For many men, those unsuccessful solutions include pills like Viagra. If prescription pills don't solve your ED problems, GAINSWave is a great option to consider. Academic studies show that shockwave therapy is successful where PDE5 inhibitors (like Viagra or Cialis) fall short.
In fact, many urologists now consider shockwave therapy the greatest revolution in ED treatment in over a decade. Even men without erectile dysfunction use GAINSWave as a preventative therapy to keep their bedroom performance strong and avoid compromised blood vessels.
Some of the key benefits of GAINSWave procedures over other ED treatments include:
- No Drugs
- Backed by Clinical Studies and Extensive Medical Research
- Vast Record of Success
- FDA-Approved for Enhanced Sexual Wellness
- Available at Proactive Wellness Centers, PLC
What Should I Expect from GAINSWave Therapy at Proactive Wellness Centers?
If you're ready to begin your journey to a healthier, happier sex life, getting started at our wellness clinic is as easy as 1-2-3:
Make an Appointment: Give our office a call at 703-822-5003. One of our Clinical Intake Coordinators will answer any question you have and get you started. If you prefer, you can text "gainswave" to 833.341.0170, and our Clinical Intake Coordinator will get back to you personally and confidentially.
Prep: Once the intake process is complete, you'll schedule a time for GAINSWave therapy in Lake Barcroft, VA. You'll arrive at our wellness center for treatment at least 30 minutes before your appointment time. Procedure time is usually no longer than 30 minutes and occurs in our wellness center.
Enjoy the Benefits: Once your GAINSWave therapy session is over, you can get right back to what you were doing beforehand. Studies show that approximately 75% of men enjoy positive results like stronger, longer-lasting erections after treatment. Most men only need 6-12 sessions for optimal results.
Other Treatments and Programs from Proactive Wellness Centers, PLC
As the premier wellness clinic in Virginia and the metro D.C. area, we provide patients with a comprehensive list of treatments to slow the process of aging and treat chronic conditions. Our vision is to provide the latest in scientifically-validated therapies, like GAINSWave therapy in Lake Barcroft, VA, for reversing the aging process, preventing chronic disease, and optimizing health.
Some of the most requested services we offer include:

Low-T Treatment for Men
While not as widely discussed as menopause is for women, andropause is very real for men just as menopause is significant for women. Our Low-T program for men focuses on the unique needs of men who are suffering from andropause or low testosterone. The Program Testosterone replacement when clinically indicated, optimization of DHEA and Pregenenolone, combined with nutritional guidance, nutritional supplementation recommendations to optimize your health. For men where Testosterone has declined, the Low-T program is a necessary complement to the Gainswave therapy.
Depending on lab results and patient goals, the program may also include peptides to help patients optimize their health and body composition. If you can identify with some of the symptoms below, you are likely experiencing low testosterone / andropause and are a candidate for laboratory testing to determine if BHRT is right for you.
Symptoms may include:
- Fatigue
- Erectile dysfunction
- Decreased stamina
- Loss of physical agility
- Decreased mental sharpness
- Prostate problems
- Insomnia

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women
Like men, women's bodies change as they grow older. Often referred to as menopause, this time in a woman's life can be stressful when the body uses energy differently, fat cells change, and hormones decline.
Many of the common symptoms and conditions associated with menopause are widely known and discussed, but there are many that are overlooked. At Proactive Wellness Centers, we've seen patients misdiagnosed with other illnesses that were actually caused by a decline in hormone levels. Our BHRT program for women focuses on the unique needs of women who are suffering from the common as well as the lesser-known symptoms of menopause.
Those symptoms may include:
- Hot Flashes
- Mood Swings
- Depression
- UTIs
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Indigestion
- Osteoporosis
- Vertigo
- Anxiety Attacks
- Vaginal Dryness
- Fatigue

What are Bioidentical Hormones?
Bioidentical hormones are also known as natural hormones. They are substances with the same chemical makeup as the hormones produced in your body. Hormones are not drugs - they occur naturally and are found in every human on earth. BHRT replaces hormones at a physiologic level that is not harmful to the body.
If you're suffering through the symptoms of menopause, taking Midol isn't going to solve any problems. Fortunately, our BHRT program for women is designed to eliminate many menopausal symptoms. That way, we give women a chance to recapture their energy levels and vitality with drugs or surgery. Contact our office today to learn more about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and how it can help you recapture the joys of your youth.
Bredesen-Protocol Strategies for Improving Brain Health
We believe that a healthy brain is paramount to overall well-being. Unfortunately, little is known about promoting brain health, lowering the risk of dementia, or stabilizing symptoms for patients experiencing early signs.
After much research, however, Dr. Lawson from Proactive Wellness Centers determined that the Bredesen protocol provides the best evidence-based approach to diagnosing and treating cognitive decline.
The approach, created by Dr. Dale Bredesen, is called ReCODE. This protocol involves multiple strategies to pinpoint specific health issues contributing to Alzheimer's Disease. The results of each strategy are measured using blood tests, dementia tests, cognitive evaluations, and other signs of overall health improvement. Now a Bredesen Certified doctor, Dr. Lawson now offers patients the full Bredesen ReCODE protocol to help them recover from debilitating illnesses like Alzheimer's.
Through this exciting approach, patients have shown dramatic improvements in cognitive function. In some cases, they achieve a reversal of symptoms and have even returned to work.
Proactive Wellness Centers' ReCODE program uses significant functional medicine experience and includes:
- Lifestyle Interventions
- Targeted Nutrients
- Therapeutic Diets
We're thrilled to add this promising Alzheimer's disease treatment for qualifying patients at Proactive Wellness Centers.

Chronic Disease Treatment
Long-term diseases like Lyme disease and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) can ruin a person's life and often leave them afraid to leave the house. To make matters worse, these chronic diseases are often initially misdiagnosed, complicating treatment and leaving the patient depressed and hopeless. And while some medical prescriptions can help, many chronic disease sufferers live without finding true relief.
At Proactive Wellness Centers, our innovative doctors have developed a comprehensive treatment program to address chronic diseases like CIRS and Lyme disease. Generally, our Chronic Disease Treatment follows SSRP protocols as defined below:
- Stop the progression of the disease while strengthening the immune system
- Stabilize patients by balancing hormones and restoring energy
- Reverse cellular, mitochondrial, and other damages caused by chronic diseases, based on lab markers and/or symptomatic expression
- Prevent further development of the chronic disease processes
Our SSRP protocol provides patients with a promising program based largely on the emerging bodies of evidence in the chronic disease space. This evidence is supported by peer-reviewed medical journals, clinical studies, and even double-blind placebo-controlled studies.

When choosing chronic disease treatments for patients, our team of doctors and clinicians focus on safety and efficacy before anything else. Typical therapies associated with our chronic disease treatment programs include:
- IV Vitamin Therapy
- Targeted Nutritional Supplements
- Compassionate Care and Personalized Service from Qualified Doctors
As an integrative practice, we use conventional medications when indicated, especially in cases of underlying co-infections and other areas where traditional medication offers the best course of treatment.
If you're at your wit's end living with a chronic disease, call Proactive Wellness Centers today. Our innovative treatments and therapies may be the key you need to unlock a new, healthy life.
Achieve Your Wellness Goals at Proactive Wellness Centers, PLC
From GAINSWave therapy in Lake Barcroft, VA, to Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for women, our doctors are here to serve you with care, compassion, and a commitment to your health.
That's because, at Proactive Wellness Centers, we take a patient-first approach to every service we offer. Unlike some anti-aging clinics, we focus on your goals, your experiences, and how we can address your health and well-being needs. We believe with a full heart that your story matters, and we're ready and waiting to listen. If you're looking for personalized, functional, regenerative treatments that address root causes, you're only a phone call away from living a healthier life.

Hours Open Monday through Friday 9AM to 5PM

Latest News in Lake Barcroft, VA
Dredging Lake Accotink is not financially or environmentally feasible
Annandale Todayhttps://annandaletoday.com/dredging-lake-accotink-is-not-financially-or-environmentally-feasible/
At a virtual community meeting Feb. 15, Fairfax County officials explained why the dredging project that had been proposed to save Lake Accotink is no longer feasible.County public works staff are recommending that “Lake Accotink not be dredged due to significant community and environmental impacts and excessive costs.”A new analysis found the project would cost $395 million, a huge increase over the $30 million price tag projected earlier. That cost includes maintenance dredging every five years, as well as an init...
At a virtual community meeting Feb. 15, Fairfax County officials explained why the dredging project that had been proposed to save Lake Accotink is no longer feasible.
County public works staff are recommending that “Lake Accotink not be dredged due to significant community and environmental impacts and excessive costs.”
A new analysis found the project would cost $395 million, a huge increase over the $30 million price tag projected earlier. That cost includes maintenance dredging every five years, as well as an initial dredge.
An in-person meeting covering the same information will be held this evening, at 7 p.m., at Kings Glen Elementary School in Springfield.
A final decision on the future of Lake Accotink will be made by the Board of Supervisors. The new recommendation, along with input from the public, will be presented to the BoS this spring after the public comment period ends on April 1.
Comments can be emailed to F515@Publicinput.com. A survey will be posted Friday on the project website.
A big disappointment
“We’re very disappointed. We’ve been working on this project for a lot of years,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Jeffrey McKay.
“There are folks angry about what they’ve heard. I’m angry, too,” said Braddock Supervisor James Walkinshaw. “We can’t sugarcoat it. The prognosis for this project is not good. The amount of sediment and cost is not a matter of opinion.”
Walkinshaw addressed a rumor that the county will sell the lake to a developer. “That is not going to happen. We don’t sell parkland to developers.”
Chris Herrington, director of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), said he’s heard about “the deep connection people have had with Lake Accotink.”
The latest recommendation “will be extremely disappointing to you,” Herrington said. But “we cannot proceed with a full dredging of Lake Accotink.”
To fund the nearly $400 million cost of dredging, the county would have to raise taxes, he said. And there won’t be money for other more effective projects elsewhere to reduce flooding and retain stormwater.
The project would not be in line with policies adopted by the BoS on greenhouse gases, sustainability, efficient government, safety, and the environment, he said. The dredging project would require 50,000 greenhouse gas-emitting truckloads of sediment removed from the lake.
A future wetlands park
In lieu of dredging, county staff recommends the Park Authority carry out a new Master Plan development process for Lake Accotink Park.
The property will remain a park, said Charles Smith, the branch chief for stormwater planning at DPWES.
The lake will remain for the foreseeable future, but vegetation will gradually take over the margins and the lake will transform into wetlands, Smith said. He wouldn’t speculate on how soon that would happen, as it would depend on the severity of storms in future years.
A wetlands would dramatically increase the wildlife diversity and abundance in the park, Smith said. The lake currently has poor water quality and is not a good environment for fish.
Related story: Lake Accotink dredging project not likely to happen, due to increased cost
Both the original and updated studies looked at solutions to increase the depth of the lake to eight feet to ensure its viability for recreational uses. The depth currently ranges from one to four feet.
The dredging project called for building a pipeline to transfer the dredged material to a dewatering site and transporting the dried sediment by truck to an offsite location, explained environmental engineer Amanda Kohler of Arcadis, the consulting company that carried out both studies for the county.
A new analysis
Several community members at the meeting questioned how the cost estimate could have soared from $30 million to nearly $400 million.
“Some of the critical assumptions have changed,” said Herrington. “The initial analysis included low-cost disposal options and underestimated the amount of sediment.”
The latest study found 500,000 cubic yards of sediment would have to be removed during the initial dredging. The initial estimate was 360,000 cubic yards. Another 150,000 cubic yards would have to be removed every five years.
Among the two sites identified as the best options for dewatering, use of the maintenance facility in Wakefield Park would require clearing seven acres, Kohler said. That’s much larger than originally estimated. The other site, on Southern Drive, would require 190 trucks a day through neighborhood streets carrying sediment out of the area.
No good alternatives
Arkadis reconsidered one of the other initial options for saving the lake – creating a new offline smaller lake in the park.
According to county staff, that is “not a suitable alternative for lake management due to significant community and environmental impacts, unreasonable risk for long-term safety and maintenance, and high project costs.”
Creating a new smaller lake – about half the size of Lake Accotink – would require dredging 825,000 cubic yards of sediment from the existing lake, importing 340 cubic yards of fill dirt to construct an earthen berm, rechanneling Accotink Creek, removing part of the existing dam, and building a new dam. Kohler said.
That would cost about $192 million, not including maintenance, and might not be sustainable over the long term.
Without the dredging project, Smith said the county will still carry out stream restoration projects throughout the Accotink watershed.
The county would not be fined by the Environmental Protection Agency for sending more sediment to the Chesapeake Bay, he said. “Fairfax County is not compelled to maintain Lake Accotink.”
The vast majority of sediment is flushed out into flood plains in the system, he said. “We are not seeing a tremendous impact from sediment on downstream estuaries.”
“Given what we know now, managing this lake is extremely difficult and expensive,” he said. “It’s like digging a hole on the beach with water constantly coming in and filling it up.”
Instalan cámaras de detección de exceso de velocidad en zonas escolares de Fairfax
Univisionhttps://www.univision.com/local/washington-dc-wfdc/camaras-exceso-de-velocidad-escuelas-fairfax
Nuevas cámaras de detección de exceso de velocidad fueron instaladas en los alrededores de ocho escuelas del condado de Fairfax, Virginia, para reducir el riesgo de accidentes con peatones involucrados.Estos dispositivos comenzaron a operar este viernes 10 de febrero como parte de un programa piloto aprobado por la Junta de Supervisores del Condado de Fairfax en diciembre.Las ubicaciones de las cámaras son:Kirby Road, cerca de la Primaria Chesterbrook en McLeanO...
Nuevas cámaras de detección de exceso de velocidad fueron instaladas en los alrededores de ocho escuelas del condado de Fairfax, Virginia, para reducir el riesgo de accidentes con peatones involucrados.
Estos dispositivos comenzaron a operar este viernes 10 de febrero como parte de un programa piloto aprobado por la Junta de Supervisores del Condado de Fairfax en diciembre.
Las ubicaciones de las cámaras son:
Kirby Road, cerca de la Primaria Chesterbrook en McLean
Old Keene Mill Road, cerca de la escuela Intermedia Irving en West Springfield
Franconia Road cerca de escuela Intermedia Key en Springfield
Stone Road, cerca de la Primaria London Towne en Centerville
Sleepy Hollow Road, cerca de la Primaria Sleepy Hollow en Lake Barcroft
Silver Brook Road, cerca de la Secundaria South County en Lorton
Esteatita Drive cerca de la Primaria Terraset en Reston
Rolling Road cerca de la Secundaria West Springfield en West Springfield
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Mantente informado de las últimas noticias y el pronóstico del tiempo de WASHINGTON D.C.
SÍGUENOS EN NUESTRAS REDES
El condado contempla colocar otra cámara cerca de la Secundaria Oakton, en Blake Lane, en un futuro cercano.
Esta iniciativa surgió a raíz de un accidente donde dos estudiantes hispanas y una de origen asiático, precisamente de la Secundaria Oakton, fueron arrolladas por un vehículo en el cruce de Blake Lane y Five Oaks Road, en el que dos de ellas fallecieron y una resultó gravemente herida el pasado 7 de junio.
Tras un periodo de estudio se observó a miles de conductores excediendo en más de 10 millas por hora el límite de velocidad de cinco zonas escolares el año pasado.
Los conductores que sean observados por encima del límite de velocidad durante los primeros 30 días de este programa piloto recibirán una advertencia, pero después se les aplicarán multas de hasta $100 si exceden el límite por 10 o más millas por hora.
After Massive Lake Barcroft Sewage Spill, Fairfax County Fails To Warn Residents
Michael Popehttps://wamu.org/story/15/09/11/after_massive_sewage_spill_fairfax_county_fails_to_warn_residents/
WAMU/Michael PopeOver a six-week period last year, a series of massive infrastructure failures sent more than 300,000 gallons of raw sewage into Lake Barcroft, a private lake next to Bailey’s Crossroads near the border with Arlington and Alexandria. Neighbors who live on the lake say they knew there was a problem because they could smell it, although they say they never received official notice from Fairfax County.“The smell was overwhelming. You knew there was a problem,” says Sheila Wayman, a longtime reside...
WAMU/Michael Pope
Over a six-week period last year, a series of massive infrastructure failures sent more than 300,000 gallons of raw sewage into Lake Barcroft, a private lake next to Bailey’s Crossroads near the border with Arlington and Alexandria. Neighbors who live on the lake say they knew there was a problem because they could smell it, although they say they never received official notice from Fairfax County.
“The smell was overwhelming. You knew there was a problem,” says Sheila Wayman, a longtime resident of Lake Barcoft. “It was like a toilet overflowed and nobody took care of it on a hot summer day, and it was just bacteria and gassy smells and it was disgusting.”
The four spills into Lake Barcroft were part of a larger problem with the sewer lines in that area, which included six spills in 2013 and 2014. State regulators say the county dumped more than 600,000 gallons of sewage into Holmes Run, Lake Barcroft and an unnamed tributary of Hunting Creek. The Department of Environmental Quality hit Fairfax County with a $27,300 civil charge, a case that was closed late last month after county officials submitted a plan to fix the problem.
“There were people swimming in Lake Barcroft after it had been contaminated,” says Del. Kaye Kory (D-38). “There were pets drinking the water. There were people using the water to water their gardens. All these activities were going on, and every time a citizen touched or used the water they were being exposed to a danger and I know of a number of people who really became sick, became ill.”
Fairfax County officials say the infrastructure problem has now been solved. They say they were in the process of retrofitting old 1950s-era pipes when the spills happened. The temporary pipes they set up to handle the sewage were able to take the massive weather events that happened in 2013 and 2014, which led to the overflow. All that temporary equipment has now been removed because the permanent pipes have been improved and are now operating at full capacity.
“Since this event, we’ve worked out an arrangement where we notify the water improvement district as soon as the event occurs,” says Randy Bartlett, deputy director of the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.
Created in 1973, the water improvement district is a Virginia government agency that acts as a special tax district to raise money for the purpose of maintaining the private lake. Although Fairfax County officials notified state regulators when the spills happened, they did not directly notify residents. Bartlett says the county has no plans to directly notify residents in the future.
“I’m not sure I have the means or method right now to make sure that I notify all the proper people and to identify who might be impacted by a sewer spill,” says Bartlett. “If there’s 40 a year, do I notify everybody in the county every time one occurs even though it may not be in their area?”
The politics of notification
The story of what happened in Lake Barcroft last year is a touchy subject in this part of Fairfax County, a community that includes about 1,000 homes. About 270 of those homes are directly on the lake. When the spill happened, the county posted several paper signs at gathering spots on the lake known as “beaches.” Bartlett says the signs were an effort to improve notification efforts.
“I think if you go back probably 10 or 15 years, we were probably not doing notification after we would have a sanitary sewer overflow,” says Bartlett. “We would notify the Department of Environmental Quality, but we would not be out there trying to put signs in all the different places.”
Neighbors say the signs did not accomplish the goal of notifying neighbors.
“The temporary signs that the county placed on the beaches were small and not sufficiently weather-proof and did not adequately alert the membership to the situation,” wrote Lake Barcroft Association President Jim Kilbourne in a letter to state regulators. “In particular, the signs placed at the beaches did not provide notice to the more than 270 homeowners with lakefront property who do not access the lake from the beaches.”
Several neighbors viewed the signs as an inadequate response to a serious problem.
“On at least one occasion, the county tacked a small paper sign to a single telephone pole warning the public of the water hazard,” wrote resident Kimberly Smith in a letter to state regulators. “It was a small sign, easily overlooked if one didn’t know to look for it … a bit of rain or dew would destroy the paper sign.”
What happens next?
Kory, the member of the House of Delegates who represents Lake Barcroft, says she believes Fairfax County dropped the ball. She says the county’s new policy of notifying the watershed improvement district is an insufficient response to the problem.
“I don’t agree with it,” says Kory. “I think it’s inadequate. I don’t think it’s in the public interest. It’s not what citizens expect.”
Kory says she’s already working on legislation for the upcoming session of the General Assembly.
“I think the state should require that those residents who would be adversely affected by a sewage spill need to be informed in a timely fashion,” says Kory. “I think that has to be part of our state code.”
Meanwhile, back at the lake, residents are concerned that the county’s aging infrastructure will be able to handle all the new growth and development planned for the area. Many say they are specifically concerned about a proposal to redevelop the strip malls and big box stores at Seven Corners, where developers want to construct as many as 6,000 new homes.
“I think that when it comes to infrastructure, whether it’s sewers or roads or whatever, I think we have a problem,” says Rita Babon, longtime resident of Lake Barcroft. “I hope they are going to be on top of it this time.”
[Music: “Lakehouse” by Guitar Tribute Players from Acoustic Tribute to Of Monsters and Men ]
Naborforce matches seniors with helpers
Annandale Todayhttps://annandaletoday.com/naborforce-matches-seniors-with-helpers/
Naborforce, a company that matches seniors who need a hand with errands or household chores with someone who can help, just became available in Annandale last week.The program is similar to the village concept underway in some communities, such as Lake Barcroft, which recruits volunteers to help their older neighbors – except Naborforce is monetized and operates through an app, like Uber.Unlike other gig workers, however, the helpers who sign on to Nabo...
Naborforce, a company that matches seniors who need a hand with errands or household chores with someone who can help, just became available in Annandale last week.
The program is similar to the village concept underway in some communities, such as Lake Barcroft, which recruits volunteers to help their older neighbors – except Naborforce is monetized and operates through an app, like Uber.
Unlike other gig workers, however, the helpers who sign on to Naborforce tend to be passionate about giving back to the community and helping others; they’re not just doing it for the money, says founder Paige Wilson.
Seniors can’t always rely on family members or volunteers. Ten years ago, Wilson’s mother broke her hip and needed help with a lot of little things, like getting to her bridge club and shopping for groceries.
Wilson stepped in as much as people, but says, “I couldn’t always be there to help her.” That’s the case with a lot of families, when sons or daughters have stressful jobs, often with last-minute meetings, and their own parenting responsibilities.
“That’s a big issue facing the country as the baby boomers are aging,” Wilson says. The number of people over 80 is growing, while the number of family members who can serve as caregivers is shrinking.
“Older people who can no longer drive or manage basic chores have to rely on family members or volunteers if they want to stay independent or they have to move into assisted living,” she says. “There is really nothing in between.”
Wilson started Naborforce in Richmond four years ago to fill that gap. Since then, it has expanded to Atlanta, Bethesda, Charlottesville, Virginia Beach, and Northern Virginia – including Alexandria, Springfield, Woodbridge, and other locations.
Older adults who want to participate can sign up online, entering their address and credit card information. They can book a “Nabor,” as the helpers are called, for as little as one hour.
Potential Nabors undergo a background check, Wilson says, and once they are fully vetted. they use the Naborforce app to accept assignments.
Nabors take on such tasks as making a meal, changing a lightbulb, clearing out a garage, going to social events, or addressing Christmas cards – or whatever is needed. In one case, a client whose son travels a lot for work just wanted someone to have lunch with twice a week.
In Northern Virginia, the client pays $33 an hour, and the Nabor receives $19. There’s a one-hour minimum. After that, pricing is prorated for every five minutes.
“Some older adults hate feeling like they’re being a burden when they have to rely on volunteers from their church or community,” Wilson says. “This is a transaction.”
The average age of Nabors is 54, she says, and many are in their 60s and 70s. For retirees, it’s a great way to stay connected with the community, and it’s better than a part-time job because it’s flexible. Nabors can choose which tasks to accept and how much they want to work.
The average visit is two hours, and the average Nabor works four to six hours a week.
Holmes Run is in ‘fair’ condition
Annandale Todayhttps://annandaletoday.com/holmes-run-in-fair-condition/
Holmes Run, which flows through the Annandale area, is not in great condition, according to a report released Aug. 10 by the Audubon Naturalist Society.The report, The Story of the Streams, evaluates the health of three waterways in the D.C. region. It finds Holmes Run and the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River to be in “fair condition,” while Oxon Run in Prince George’s County is in “poor condition.”The Ho...
Holmes Run, which flows through the Annandale area, is not in great condition, according to a report released Aug. 10 by the Audubon Naturalist Society.
The report, The Story of the Streams, evaluates the health of three waterways in the D.C. region. It finds Holmes Run and the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River to be in “fair condition,” while Oxon Run in Prince George’s County is in “poor condition.”
The Holmes Run watershed is 28 square miles and is almost entirely inside the Beltway. The stream is a primary headwater tributary of Cameron Run. It flows into Lake Barcroft and feeds into the Potomac River just south of Alexandria.
The report gives Holmes Run a grade of “moderately poor” for climate, a rating of “good” for access to nature, and “fair” ratings for water quality and for biodiversity and habitat.
The climate score refers to the loss of wetlands, loss of the tree canopy, loss of forested buffer, and poor air quality. Trees and wetlands are important for preventing flooding, the report notes. Trees also prevent erosion and protect nearby residents from extreme heat.
The Holmes Run watershed “receives drainage from major highways, but has substantial parkland and relatively low-density suburban homes,” The Story of Streams states.
Among the three streams in the study, Holmes Run has the least amount of impervious surfaces, meaning it has comparatively less stormwater runoff from paved surfaces.
Holmes Run has the highest score for tree canopy over the entire watershed, but the worst score for stream buffer. Of the three streams, it is the least protected by trees along its banks. As a result, intense storms have led to erosion and infrastructure damage.
The report suggests people who care about improving stream quality can take these steps:
• Sign up to volunteer with the Audubon Naturalist Society or the Friends of Holmes Run.
• Donate to support the advocacy work of the Friends of Holmes Run or other environmental organizations.
• Download the free Creek Critters phone app to identify stream wildlife and monitor the health of a stream.
• Change your habits at home by creating an eco-friendly yard, compost yard waste, keep leaves out of streets and gutters, avoid fertilizing near gutters and storm drains, pick up pet waste, pick up litter, and plant trees.
• If you want to really go big, install a green roof and replace an impermeable driveway with permeable pavers that let rainwater soak through.
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