Testosterone Replacement Therapy in McLean, VA

McLean Branch Grows and Enhances Expertise in the Metro DC Market Through Latest Addition

BALTIMORE, Nov. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Home Mortgage Corporation has announced today new growth for its McLean, Virginia branch office through the transfer of loan officer Jonathon Hodgkinson. There, Hodgkinson joins the esteemed team of First Home Mortgage's McLean Vice President and Branch Manager Heather Devoto. Hodgkinson relocates to the new office following a prosperous three-year chapter at the company's Fairfax, Virginia location. With a sterling reputation in the real estate industry, he specializes in navigating the entirety of the home buying process to deliver seamless, stress-free experiences to his clients. In his time as a licensed mortgage professional, he has built an expansive network across the industry and accumulated a wealth of experience that he applies to serve the unique needs of each of his clients. His skills and experience will complement the McLean team's growth and ongoing commitment to guiding both first-time homebuyers and seasoned investors through successful homeownership journeys.

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First Home Mortgage's McLean Vice President and Branch Manager Heather Devoto, who in July was named in Mortgage Professional America magazine's Elite Women list for 2023, has eagerly welcomed Hodgkinson into the branch. "I'm excited to share the news of Jonathon joining our team," Devoto said. "His enthusiasm and positive energy are infectious. We have shared ambitions and look forward to elevating homeownership dreams and empowering our agents with valuable insights into the dynamic mortgage landscape in our region in 2024."

Originally hailing from Nottingham, England, Hodgkinson has made a new home for himself and his family in Fairfax, Virginia where he has been a member of the First Home team for the past three years. Along with his wife and daughter, Hodgkinson has proudly become an integral part of the community, notably involved in the Fairfax Ice Arena and esteemed as a coach and respected former professional athlete within the greater DC figure skating community.

"Heather has been an exceptional leader, and I'm thrilled to join forces with her team," Hodgkinson said. "I look forward to contributing my expertise to elevate our collective goals and drive new business opportunities under her mentorship."

About First Home Mortgage

First Home Mortgage is a licensed, full service, residential lender, with a deep bench of dedicated loan officers who guide borrowers throughout the entire mortgage process and offer continued support long after a loan has closed. We are committed to delivering exceptional customer service that not only fulfills goals but exceeds expectations.

Founded in 1990 with two offices and a handful of employees, First Home Mortgage has since grown into a financial institution of 32 offices serving 22 states in the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic, and Southern regions. First Home Mortgage was recognized by the Scotsman Guide in 2022 as a top 50 lender nationally by total volume.

For more information and company news visit firsthome.com/about-us.

Copyright © 2023 First Home Mortgage Corporation. All Rights Reserved

SOURCE First Home Mortgage

BASIS Independent McLean has been named the best private high school and the best college prep private high school in Virginia by Niche.

Mark Hand, Patch Staff

MCLEAN, VA — BASIS Independent McLean has been named the best private high school and the best college prep private high school in Virginia for the second year in a row by Niche, a data analysis company.

The McLean school was also named the best private K-12 school in Virginia for the second consecutive year in Niche’s annual 2024 school ranking list. For 2024, BASIS Independent McLean was also ranked the No. 1 private high school in the Washington, D.C. area.

Nationally, the school was ranked No. 7 on Niche’s list of best college prep high schools in America, No. 10 on its ranking of best private K-12 schools in America and No. 29 on its list of best private high schools in the nation.

"We are very proud of our Niche rankings. Each year they get even better as we continually strive for excellence," Jason Shorbe, head of school at BASIS Independent McLean, said in a statement to Patch.

The consistent presence in the Niche rankings shows that BASIS Independent McLean has great teachers in all divisions — early learning, primary, middle and high school, Shorbe said.

Find out what's happening in McLeanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I also like to point out that we are not a great school because of the recognition we receive, but rather, we receive that recognition because we are a great school," he added.

BASIS Independent McLean and its sister schools across the country are owned by Spring Education Group, a California company that oversees a network of about 220 schools.

The news about the McLean school's high rankings comes on the heels of the 10th anniversary of the network of BASIS Independent Schools.

"The recognition confirms what BASIS Independent students and families already know. We have exceptional schools, populated by subject expert teachers, and remarkable students who are inspired daily to raise their potential and achieve outstanding academic outcomes," said Toby Walker, vice president of BASIS Independent Schools.

Niche gave BASIS Independent McLean, home of the Red-Tailed Hawks, an overall grade of A+ and high grades in these categories:

The school, located at 8000 Jones Branch Drive in McLean, has a student-teacher ratio of 8 to 1, compared to a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1 in Fairfax County Public Schools.

"We believe that students can do more than what is typically expected of them and create a joyful learning culture where hard work is celebrated and intellectual pursuits result in extraordinary outcomes," BASIS Independent McLean told Niche. "At BIM, we will challenge each child to realize their full potential as they prepare to soar!"

MCLEAN, VA — It’s still early, but if you’re planning to put up a live Christmas tree this year, it’s a good idea to scope out what will be available from McLean area tree growers.

Here are a few places to start:

Choose-and-cut:

Seasonal lot:

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Garden center:

Last year, the median price for trees purchased directly from a grower was about $93, according to PickYourOwnChristmasTree.org. About 26 million live trees were sold last year, compared to 27.4 million in 2018.

Last year, the median price for trees purchased directly from a grower was about $93, according to PickYourOwnChristmasTree.org. About 26 million live trees were sold last year, compared to 27.4 million in 2018.

A survey by the American Christmas Tree Association, an industry trade group, shows that of the 94 percent of Americans who plan to put up a Christmas tree this year, 23 percent will display a live tree.

Last year, live tree prices increased about 10 percent, largely due to inflation and drought, according to industry experts.

Years of extreme weather — drought conditions in some parts of the country and excess moisture in others — are expected to translate to slightly higher 2023 Christmas tree prices, according to a report from Country Folks Grower, a business-to-business publication serving fresh market and ornamental crops.

“A lot can happen in a half dozen years that can change the outlook for a Christmas tree crop from one season to the next,” the report said. “Farmers will be facing challenges in the 2023 Christmas tree season brought about by developments over the past several years.”

At any given moment, about 350 million Christmas trees are growing on tree farms across the country.

It typically takes a tree between six and eight years to grow to the desirable height for decorating. Large trees — those 7 feet and taller — may be in short supply because sales of smaller trees have been strong in recent years, the report said. Also, people may need to settle for a different species than they’re accustomed to buying.

MCLEAN, VA — Where do you plan to ring in 2024? From extravagant galas to live music to cozy cocktail parties, there’s something for everyone in the McLean area this New Year’s Eve.

We've rounded up some event options around McLean and New Year's Eve television programming. We will update this guide up to New Year's Eve.

Here is a look at events happening in around McLean:

Here is a look at some additional events happening in the area:

In the United States, one of the most popular New Year’s Eve traditions is the dropping of the giant ball in New York City’s Times Square. Other U.S. cities have adopted iterations of the ball drop — the Chick Drop in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and the giant Potato Drop in Boise, Idaho, for example.

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The end of one year and beginning of another is often celebrated with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” a Scottish folk song whose title roughly translates to “days gone by,” according to Encyclopedia Britannica and History.com.

The history of New Year’s resolutions dates back 8,000 years to ancient Babylonians, who would make promises to return borrowed objects and pay outstanding debts at the beginning of the new year, in mid-March when they planted their crops.

According to legend, if they kept their word, pagan gods would grant them favor in the coming year. If they broke the promise, they would fall out of God’s favor, according to a history of New Year’s resolutions compiled by North Hampton Community College New Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Many secular New Year’s resolutions focus on imagining new, improved versions of ourselves.

The failure rate of New Year’s resolutions is about 80 percent, according to U.S. News & World Report. There are myriad reasons, but a big one is they’re made out of remorse — for gaining weight, for example — and aren’t accompanied by a shift in attitude and a plan to meet the stress and discomfort of changing a habit or condition.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday endorsed new design guidelines to enhance the look of McLean's commercial district.

Mark Hand, Patch Staff

MCLEAN, VA — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors endorsed new design guidelines for downtown McLean at its Tuesday meeting, guidelines that will be used to enhance the look of McLean’s commercial district in the coming years.

The design guidelines were the result of a multi-year effort that included multiple community engagement opportunities. Feedback from McLean residents played a vital role in shaping the design direction and underscored shared desires for downtown McLean, the county said.

At the Sept. 12 meeting, the Board of Supervisors endorsed Volume 2 of the District Design Guidelines for the McLean Community Business Center. Volume 2 is a companion document to the county's Volume 1 Urban Design Guidelines for Fairfax County Revitalization Areas.

The documents, prepared by the Community Revitalization Section of the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development, are meant to be used together by developers when designing projects in downtown McLean. Volume 2 contains guidance on the structure and appearance of streetscapes, building frontage, lighting, street furnishings and stormwater management.

In a Sept. 6 letter to the Board of Supervisors, the McLean Citizens Association expressed its support for the guidelines, stating, “We believe the Guidelines are an excellent example of county staff and community collaboration in planning for the future of downtown McLean.”

Find out what's happening in McLeanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The county and McLean residents both expressed support for “maintaining a small town feel with brick sidewalks, street trees, outdoor cafés, lively park spaces and lush landscapes,” the county said.

Among other designs, the guidelines call for brick paver sidewalks; street trees and multi-layered landscaping; outdoor dining areas and gathering spaces; thoughtful integration of signage and lighting; and benches, trash and recycling receptacles, and bike racks that fit the character of the area.

The design guidelines will apply to development proposals for all properties located within McLean Community Business Center, or CBC, an area centered around the intersection of Chain Bridge Road and Old Dominion Drive and bounded by Dolley Madison Boulevard on its northern edge.

The McLean CBC contains several neighborhood-serving shopping centers that are accessible from Chain Bridge Road or Old Dominion Drive, the county noted in the District Design Guidelines.

“The vision of these District Guidelines is to assist in the implementation of the Plan vision for a visually cohesive, livable, pedestrian-oriented, and economically viable urban community, and to promote a clear and consistent process for developments and/or capital projects,” the county said. “They provide design options for creating an inclusive, sustainable community that aspires to high environmental standards, a high quality of life for its residents, and its own unique identity.”

The county emphasized that the design guidelines are not prescriptive and are not a substitute for the codes and ordinance provisions associated with the development review process.

“The Design Guidelines are intended to provide a frame of reference to be used for making specific design decisions; however, it is strongly recommended that the District Guidelines be followed with respect to elements in the public realm,” the county said.

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