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Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always

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Home Care In Rockville, VA

Home Care Rockville, VA

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Rockville Park Historic District gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Rockville, VA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Rockville, VA

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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TESTIMONIALS

“This is years late in posting but a request on a local forum asking for at home care recommendations brought this to my attention as I could relate to the poster’s position. And from hard earned experience I won’t hesitate to recommend this company. It can be confusing if you are not aware that this is a franchise and you could easily be getting valuable & FREE advice from someone like Alden and then connect with another company. I would bet that this company - just check out the owner Helen’s extensive experience with the Alzheimer’s community - is hands down the best out there. I know so much more now through years of exhaustive experience. I don’t know if I ever thanked them, but I hope my recommendation steers at least one person to this particular office and that they know how many lives they have touched. I almost never write reviews even when I feel I should, but this one is different.”

Terry L.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Outstanding professional service. Highly recommend Lynn Hancock and her team for home care or placement needs.”

Debra W.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Alden Rice was an absolutely priceless resource during a difficult time. When my sister was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s Disease, I was living and working full-time in Texas. I had no idea how to find housing in Richmond that would accommodate my sister’s needs and budget. Alden educated me, identified several apartments that would be a good fit for my sister, emailed pricing for all of them and then met us to tour the apartments when I visited Richmond. With Alden’s expert guidance, we found a home for my sister that met her needs. Astonishingly, we did not pay for Alden’s help. The apartments paid the fee to Always Best Care. Alden is a treasure. I could not have done it without her.”

Carrie J.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Alden & Always Best Care are wonderful to work with. Their knowledge of the local senior service provides and ability to match the personal needs with financial capacity is amazing. I have referred two other friends to Alden, and both have come back with glowing reviews as well. The most amazing thing is that all of this wonderful service is free to the families that need help. If you have a loved one that has reached a stage in life that they need additional help in their own home or have to face the reality of not being able to stay at home, Alden & Always Best Care should be your first call.”

Hurst K.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Excellent choices presented tailored to our family needs and done with genuine care, sensitivity and expert knowledge.”

Errol R.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Love having a resource like Always Best Care (Alden Rice) to lead my family through this process. Being knowledgeable and patient has been two key attributes I have valued in making this difficult decision. Alden always follows up! I highly recommend this service. I wish more people knew about this.”

Nora C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Lynn Hancock was awesome. She was both professional and caring. She assisted my in-laws on two occasions to get settled in their living situations. She also worked with a close friend to give a senior parent in home assistance, allowing the family to have peace of mind with the care of their loved one. I highly recommend Lynn and Always Best Care.”

Lee S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Lynn provides a great service to families during what can be a very difficult time. Her knowledge and compassion make her great at what she does!”

Joel E.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Words can't express the depth of my gratitude for all you have done for our family, and most of all, for our mom throughout her illness. In fact, I don't know what we would have done without you! Not only was your true sense of caring and concern so obvious, but you never failed to exhaust every avenue in providing sources of care for my mom, to referring me to Eric and Simon, and generally overseeing every aspect of my mother's life during her illness. For this, I and my family will be forever grateful.”

A G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Words can't express the depth of my gratitude for all you have done for our family, and most of all, for our mom throughout her illness. In fact, I don't know what we would have done without you! Not only was your true sense of caring and concern so obvious, but you never failed to exhaust every avenue in providing sources of care for my mom, to referring me to Eric and Simon, and generally overseeing every aspect of my mother's life during her illness. For this, I and my family will be forever grateful.”

Charlie B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Thank you for all your help in the assisted living search. Your knowledge and input were invaluable in finding Hermitage. Mom is doing really well. Hospice says she doesn't need hospice. She has started physical therapy. We feel fortunate that we had already been through their process so she could transfer there from the hospital. Thanks again!”

Audrey A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care has been a life-saver for me in so many different capacities for at least 7 years....one of their phenomenal staff literally did save my life one time and they have never been anything but compassionate and caring and cannot thank everyone at ABC so much for everything!”

Linda S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Excellent staff. Attentive and compassionate. Highly recommend!”

Deborah W.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Lynn and her team are amazingly compassionate and professional. I would highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for someone to care for a family member or to anyone looking into retirement homes for a family member in the Richmond area. Thanks Lynn. You guys are the best!”

Herring V.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Working with Lynn Hancock was the best experience I ever had in my life. She is very kind considerate. Having her as a boss was truthfully a great experience she helps her employees in times of need. She matches up the right people for each cases accordingly. I would strongly recommend working for Lynn she is the best.”

Joann C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Compassionate, caring listeners! Very knowledgeable in their field & patient as we ask never questions. Helping me & my brother tremendously by eliminating confusion & frustration. Advised and presented best options based on our family's circumstances. A huge blessing & answer to prayer that is providing much relief and assurance as we pursue tough decisions. Lynn is the best!”

Lannette B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Lynn and her team are amazingly compassionate and professional. I would highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for someone to care for a family member or to anyone looking into retirement homes for a family member in the Richmond area. Thanks Lynn. You guys are the best!”

Bill B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Compassionate, caring listeners! Very knowledgeable in their field & patient as we ask never questions. Helping me & my brother tremendously by eliminating confusion & frustration. Advised and presented best options based on our family's circumstances. A huge blessing & answer to prayer that is providing much relief and assurance as we pursue tough decisions. Lynn is the best!”

Lanette B.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Rockville, VA?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care Rockville, VA

Types of Elderly Care in Rockville, VA

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Rockville, VA
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Rockville, VA
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Welsh Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Rockville, VA
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Stanford Grill Rockville or visit Map of Rockville, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care Rockville, VA

Benefits of Home Care in Rockville, VA

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Rockville, VA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care Rockville, VA

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your VA's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Rockville, VA

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Rockville, VA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care Rockville, VA

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Rockville, VA

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Brightview West End
  • Sunrise of Rockville
  • Brightview Fallsgrove
  • Raphael House
  • Ingleside at King Farm
  • Cohen-Rosen House
Home Care Rockville, VA

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care Rockville, VA

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Rockville, VA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care Rockville, VA

Latest News in Rockville, VA

Montgomery County wood sale offers timber salvaged from historic oak

Wood enthusiasts interested in sourcing timber from local trees will have a chance this weekend, when the Montgomery County parks department hosts its third annual urban wood sale, offering buyers the chance to purchase wood salvaged from area trees.Fast, informative ...

Wood enthusiasts interested in sourcing timber from local trees will have a chance this weekend, when the Montgomery County parks department hosts its third annual urban wood sale, offering buyers the chance to purchase wood salvaged from area trees.

Fast, informative and written just for locals. Get The 7 DMV newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning.

Among the offerings — walnut, cherry, poplar, oak, mulberry, cypress and ash, according to a Montgomery Parks statement — will be celebrity timber: wood salvaged from Maryland’s historic Linden Oak, thought to have been more than 300 years old when it was felled in July.

Hundreds of failing trees are removed from Montgomery County each year, officials said — recycled into wood chips, mulch and firewood through county programs. The wood at the sale — kiln-dried, planed or air-dried — will be sold in slabs of different lengths and thicknesses ranging from three-quarters of an inch to three inches.

Montgomery Parks Urban Forester Patrick Harwood said the sale raised $45,000 for the agency last year, when about 500 customers purchased approximately 20,000 board feet of lumber. (One board foot of lumber is 1 inch thick and 12 inches square.) He said generally walnut is the most expensive and ash or poplar the cheapest.

“We’re not buying the wood. We’re just taking the wood we would normally grind into mulch,” Harwood said. “We’re taking that and just processing it to the highest order of value.”

The remains of the historic, centuries-old Linden Oak tree will also be on offer. Once thought to be Montgomery County’s largest white oak, the tree, which lived at Beach Drive and Rockville Pike in North Bethesda, was said to have been a seedling a generation before George Washington’s birth.

Linden Oak sawed down after standing tall as one of Maryland’s oldest trees

“Everybody and their grandmother is interested in wood from that tree,” Harwood said. Alas, only green wood from the Linden Oak will be available this year, he said — buyers at future sales may be able to purchase wood from the tree that has gone to the kiln.

Tom Darone, president of the Washington Woodworkers Guild, said working with urban wood can have drawbacks. Awkward bends in urban trees can be difficult to work with, and nails — or bullets — embedded in trees can chew up saw blades.

However, some trees such as prized “backyard exotics” — redbud, dogwood, persimmon and smaller fruitwood trees — aren’t on offer at home improvement stores.

“You’re not going to find that in a lumber yard,” he said.

Acorn by acorn, volunteers gather seeds to help save forests

Mike Galvin is the director of the SavATree Consulting Group, who served as the coordinator of a project to reclaim wood from abandoned warehouses and homes in Baltimore. Cities can be the source of quality lumber, he said. Baltimore is the northernmost city where valuable old-growth yellow pine can be salvaged, for example.

“This does not exist in nature anymore,” he said. “If you want it, you’ve got to get it out of those buildings.”

Keeping wood out of landfills benefits the environment, according to Galvin. Just as people enjoy the benefits of living trees — beauty, shade, water filtration, oxygen — trees can continue to benefit people in death by being turned into homes, furniture or even guitars.

Other construction materials, including asphalt and concrete, have a high rate of recycling, Galvin said. Urban wood can, too, and sales like Montgomery County’s help.

“This material — it’s all over the place,” he said. “It’s here and it’s ours.”

The sale will be held Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon, or while supplies last, officials said, at the Montgomery Parks Green Farm Maintenance Facility at 8301 Turkey Thicket Drive in Gaithersburg. Prices will vary between $5 and $400, and proceeds will benefit Montgomery Parks’ recycling programs.

Small earthquake in Rockville felt miles away

A small earthquake in Rockville, Maryland, shook communities and was felt as far away as West Virginia, overnight Tuesday.The earthquake happened at about 12:50 a.m. and had a magnitude of 2.3, about the same energy release as a bolt of lightning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS.) The epicenter of the earthquake was near Lakewood Country Club in Rockville.No damage or injuries have been reported, authorities said.Did you feel it?People reported to the USGS that they felt the earthq...

A small earthquake in Rockville, Maryland, shook communities and was felt as far away as West Virginia, overnight Tuesday.

The earthquake happened at about 12:50 a.m. and had a magnitude of 2.3, about the same energy release as a bolt of lightning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS.) The epicenter of the earthquake was near Lakewood Country Club in Rockville.

No damage or injuries have been reported, authorities said.

Did you feel it?

People reported to the USGS that they felt the earthquake in Montgomery, Frederick and Howard counties, and as far as West Virginia. Some weak shaking was reported in Northern Virginia by early morning.

People quickly took to social media to describe what they felt and heard. Some said it woke them up, others were surprised it happened at the start of 2024.

"So there was an earthquake in Rockville, Maryland. That’s 17 miles from me. Is 2024 really starting this way? #Earthquake #DMV," @ScarlettYoli wrote on X.

"Yes I felt it and I live in Rockville. I heard it too. Sounded like a train but different," @Nicole01876101 wrote.

"Rattled our house here in Rockville for a few seconds," @JStantonDC wrote.

"Don’t think you could have missed it here in Potomac. It was very loud and lasted about 15 seconds," @RealPotatus.

News4's Joseph Olmo spoke to several people who said they did not feel the earthquake.

“Didn’t feel it… slept right through it," a man said.

“How come I didn't feel it? I felt the last one. Why didn't I feel this one?" a woman said.

“What do you think this says about the start of 2024 if we're already starting off with earthquakes?” Olmo asked.

“Ugh… not good!" a woman said.

“It’s just an earthquake," a man said.

How does it compare to the 2011 earthquake?

The 2024 shaker was much less intense than the damaging 5.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Virginia in 2011.

The 2011 earthquake was a thousand times stronger than the one recorded in Rockville and released as much energy as an average tornado, USGS said. It caused about $200 million to $300 million in damages, including to the Washington Monument and National Cathedral.

Earthquakes on the East Coast are felt differently than those that occur in the west, U.S. Geological Survey scientist Thomas Pratt told NBC Washington when we looked back on the quake.

"Eastern U.S. earthquakes are felt much more widely that the western U.S. because the rocks in the continent are much colder, they’re much older and they’re much stronger," Pratt said. "So, the energy gets transmitted much more effectively."

About a million earthquakes with a 2.3 magnitude are recorded yearly worldwide, according to the USGS.

This is a developing story. Stay with News4 for more updates.

South American Cuisine In Arlington, Rockville, Wheaton On WETA Series

ARLINGTON, VA — Signature Dish, the WETA public television series, kicks off the second half of its second season on Monday by highlighting two restaurants and one food truck that specialize in serving South American food."One of the goals is to include just as much variety as possible, so that we can see just how exciting and diverse the D.C. area food scene is," host Seth Tillman told Patch on Thursday. "Sometimes we've focused on foods from a specific country. We've done Korean food, French food, several others...

ARLINGTON, VA — Signature Dish, the WETA public television series, kicks off the second half of its second season on Monday by highlighting two restaurants and one food truck that specialize in serving South American food.

"One of the goals is to include just as much variety as possible, so that we can see just how exciting and diverse the D.C. area food scene is," host Seth Tillman told Patch on Thursday. "Sometimes we've focused on foods from a specific country. We've done Korean food, French food, several others. Sometimes we do more of a region, like we've done the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and obviously, in this case, South American."

In the episode entitled "Savoring South America," Tillman first visits the Fire Pit Brazilian BBQ, a Rockville, Maryland-based food truck that serves up Brazilian steakhouse cuisine. He then travels across Montgomery County to Kantutas Bar & Grill in Wheaton to enjoy a big "meat and potatoes-type dish" that is emblematic of a city in Bolivia called Cochabamba.

"It's important to me within that episode to try to showcase the full range of South American cuisine, which also includes, the coast and seafood," he said.

One of the big parts of Peruvian food, which has become well known across the world in recent years, is ceviche.

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"You can get it all over the D.C. area," Tillman said. "But there are some places that have a lot of interesting spins on it, where it's not just the one traditional type of ceviche. Inca Social is very much a place that came to mind and we were very excited to showcase their Ceviche Nikkei."

Despite the fact that WETA calls Arlington its home, Inca Social, which is located in Rosslyn, is only the second Arlington restaurant to appear on Signature Dish.

"We do go all over the entire DMV," Tillman said. "We've been to Alexandria. We've been to a Falls Church. We featured Ruthie's All-Day in our first season, which was also a great restaurant. Hopefully, in season three, we'll get back to Arlington one or two more times."

A native of the D.C. area, Tillman does not consider himself a food reporter by trade. When he first came to WETA in 2016, the first program he produced was a half-hour digest featuring 3-minute vignettes about 12 local restaurants.

"The big shift happened about four years ago," he said. "We kind of made, within the organization, a real commitment to double down on local programming and not just sort of one-off local programming, where you weren't sure on any given week, what you could expect to find on our air."

With the shift in focus on series-based programming, WETA began producing more real estate and neighborhood-focused shows.

"We have a show now called Get Out of Town, which is a weekend getaway type show and we have Signature Dish," Tillman said. "All of these shows, even though they touch on food or travel or real estate, the goal is to learn more about our own local communities and other communities within the DMV."

When asked what were some his favorite restaurants from the first two seasons of Signature Dish, Tillman couldn't just pick one or two.

"I do have very fond memories of our first episode of the series from season one, where we went to Maydan, which is a spectacular restaurant in downtown D.C., where everything's cooked on a giant hearth in the center of the restaurant," he said. "We had a lamb shoulder. It was just spectacular.

"In that same episode, we went to 2fifty Barbecue, which has kind of established itself as sort of the best barbecue spot not only in this region, but really for quite a large radius around us as well."

Signature Dish's "Savoring South America" episode debuts on Monday, March 11, at 9 p.m. on WETA. Host Seth Tillman visits Fire Pit Brazilian BBQ, 804 Rockville Pike in Rockville, Maryland; Kantutas Bar & Grill in Wheaton, Maryland; and Inca Social, 1776 Wilson Blvd. in Arlington, Virginia.

Massive ‘Project Rocky’ fulfillment center in the works in Rockville

A massive e-commerce fulfillment center, similar to Amazon’s robotics facility near Richmond Raceway, is in the works for a site in northeastern Goochland County about two miles west of Wyndham and Short Pump.Codenamed “Project Rocky,” the proposed distribution facility would fill 60 acres of a 105-acre site at and around 1990 Ashland Road, between the Martin Marietta and Luck Stone quarries in the county’s Rockville area.Behind the project is California-based Panattoni Development Co., whose industrial ...

A massive e-commerce fulfillment center, similar to Amazon’s robotics facility near Richmond Raceway, is in the works for a site in northeastern Goochland County about two miles west of Wyndham and Short Pump.

Codenamed “Project Rocky,” the proposed distribution facility would fill 60 acres of a 105-acre site at and around 1990 Ashland Road, between the Martin Marietta and Luck Stone quarries in the county’s Rockville area.

Behind the project is California-based Panattoni Development Co., whose industrial developments include the Virginia I-95 distribution complex that includes an Amazon distribution center.

The Rockville facility, described by county staff as both a fulfillment center and a distribution center, would be similar to “Project Speedway,” the 2.6-million-square-foot facility that Hillwood Enterprises is developing for Amazon north of the raceway.

Despite details suggesting another Amazon facility, the end-user for Project Rocky is officially under wraps.

At a Goochland Planning Commission meeting this month, local Roth Jackson attorney Andy Condlin, who’s representing Panattoni on the project, described the Rockville facility as similar to Project Speedway but said “the ultimate user obviously can change.”

Noting sensitivities involved with an economic development project, Condlin said, “That is something that they’re trying to keep very close to the vest, as far as who that particular user is. But it’s a worldwide user that has a lot of known processes that Panattoni has worked with in the past.”

An aerial view shows the multistory building and parking areas with one of the two nearby quarries visible in the distance.

Responding to speakers in the meeting who questioned the project’s transparency in light of the codename, Condlin said Panattoni had been presented as the developer in a community meeting on the proposal that was held in May.

“This is not a question of trying to figure out who it is,” Condlin said.

Panattoni is seeking to rezone the land from agricultural to industrial use. It’s also applying for a conditional-use permit, which would allow a building height of up to 120 feet.

The center would be built off a 650,000-square-foot footprint, the same footprint as the raceway facility, which Amazon refers to as its RIC4 fulfillment center. The Rockville facility would likewise be a multistory building with an atrium-style interior with robotics on upper floors. The five-story RIC4 is 100 feet at its highest point.

The Rockville facility would include 55 loading docks, 414 trailer parking spaces and 1,720 employee parking spaces, according to county documents. The building and parking would be set back from Ashland Road with landscape buffering, a retention pond and sound walls installed.

A county staff report states the investment in the site “would be well over $500 million.”

The center would employ about 1,000 workers across two shifts and operate 24-7. Peak truck traffic would occur in overnight hours, between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m., and the majority of traffic from trucks and employees is expected to come from Interstate 64 via the Ashland Road interchange.

The project would add traffic signals at the interchange and at its entrance off Ashland Road. The interchange signal, at the I-64 eastbound ramps, is described in the report as a short-term solution in lieu of a planned “diverging diamond” interchange there.

The design, preferred by the Virginia Department of Transportation, reduces signalization frequency by routing traffic temporarily to opposite sides of the road. The $17 million project, which recently secured VDOT funding, is scheduled for design by the end of 2023 and construction in 2028, county planning staff said.

Driveways for nearby Luck Stone facilities would also be relocated as part of the project.

Several residents of the nearby Parkside Village subdivision, an age-restricted community about a mile from the project site, said in a public hearing that the fulfillment center would contribute to traffic and road quality woes.

“There is no doubt that residents of Parkside Village, a 55-and-up community, will experience gridlock,” resident Margaret Levet told the commission. She also questioned why Panattoni is applying for the approvals under an LLC called PDC TN/FL LPIV.

“Why the code talk?” Levet asked. “Who exactly is seeking to erect a fulfillment center on this parcel? The lack of transparency inspires skepticism and leads me to believe that the applicant and county and state government understand that many of us who will be impacted by this proposal will not see this as a positive.”

Condlin noted the “PDC” in the LLC’s name are initials for Panattoni Development Co. Jo Ann Hunter, Goochland’s deputy county administrator for community and economic development, also mentioned the sensitivities involved in such projects when a commissioner inquired about the LLC name.

“This is an economic development project, so the applicant does not want to share their name at this time,” Hunter said, adding that it has similar facilities elsewhere in Virginia and in Delaware and Nashville, Tennessee.

Hunter also noted the site is within an area of the county identified as its industrial corridor. In addition to the quarries, surrounding properties include the Rockville Commerce Industrial Park, home to Midnight Brewery and other businesses.

The project site consists of four parcels owned by successor trustees for Nancy Bailey and James Nuckols Jr. The county has assessed the parcels at $6 million collectively.

It’s unclear whether Panattoni has the property under contract. Reached Monday, Condlin said he could not comment on the project.

Panattoni is working with engineering firms Bowman, which drew up the conceptual plan; Kimley-Horn, which produced a transportation analysis; and Ceso, which handled the landscaping plan.

The Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the rezoning and permit requests, which now go to the Board of Supervisors. The board is scheduled to make a final decision at its Aug. 2 meeting.

Montgomery County Public Schools – Maryland vs Virginia Series

Montgomery County Public SchoolsTwo school districts that often go head to head in the DC Suburbs are Montgomery County in Maryland and Fairfax County in Virginia. There are decades of history where these districts were home to some of the top high schools in the country. Covid changed that for many schools and loca...

Montgomery County Public Schools

Two school districts that often go head to head in the DC Suburbs are Montgomery County in Maryland and Fairfax County in Virginia. There are decades of history where these districts were home to some of the top high schools in the country. Covid changed that for many schools and locally – we were not unaffected. Let’s see where these two highly regarded school districts currently fare in the education department. This is going to be a deeper dive into what Montgomery County Schools offer – both the good and not so good.

Montgomery County School System

There are a lot of educational choices in Montgomery County. When I went to school we matriculated through the in-boundary elementary, middle and high school. Other than a few elective choices, there weren’t other schools you could choose from, nor was there a way to tailor your education to a specific career path. Sure, a few guys took auto-body shop class, but there were no pathways paved toward college.

This is not the case in Montgomery County Maryland.

Montgomery County’s 211 schools offer both local “by-right” schools as well as regional and countywide programs. There are language immersion programs for French, Spanish and Chinese. There are Centers for Enriched Studies which is like Talented and Gifted for 4th and 5th grade. There are magnet middle schools which offer digital design, performing arts and aerospace technology. At the high school level, the choices blow wide open.

In 8th grade, students can apply to one of the many programs available at county high schools. Some of these programs are criteria-based and selective, and some are administered by a lottery. Some programs are open to the whole county, some are just the geographic region around the high school. Applications open in early October with a deadline in early November.

The first step is to go to the website where you can see the program offerings: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/high/

We will start with likely the most well-known of the programs, the IB or International Baccalaureate Program. The IB program at Richard Montgomery HS is a countywide, criteria- based (magnet) program. There are IB programs at Kennedy, Springbrook and Watkins Mill High Schools which are regional, criteria-based (magnet) programs. IB programs are also offered at Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Einstein, Seneca Valley and Rockville High Schools.

Rockville High School offers IB / International Baccalaureate career related programs in engineering, biomedical, computer science, hospitality management and child development. This is open to students in about a dozen surrounding high schools.

Blair and Poolesville High Schools are Science, Math and Computer Science Magnet schools.

Clarksburg High School has an I.T. / Tech program where students can earn certifications and college credit. This is open to several surrounding schools near Clarksburg.

Wheaton High School also offers engineering and biomedical programs open to those in the Down County Consortium* as well as college and career programs in construction, healthcare, hospitality and I.T. open to a group of southern Montgomery County High Schools. The same programs are also available at Seneca Valley for the northern part of Montgomery County.

The Down County Consortium comprises 5 high schools (Blair, Einstein, Kennedy, Northwood and Wheaton) which offer different academic focuses. Students in these high school pyramids, meaning, the feeder schools that go to these high schools, participate in a lottery called the High School Choice Process. You’re always guaranteed a spot in your base / in-boundary school, but you have a preference to attend one of the other schools based on where an older sibling is attending, socioeconomic status, school capacity, etc.

Kennedy High School has the Leadership Training Institute open for those in the DCC. Einstein High School has a Visual Arts Program. Blair, as mentioned earlier, is a Science, Math and Computer Science Magnet School.

The DCC or Down County Consortium was created in the Silver Spring area of the county which is highly dense with fluid boundaries that, in the future, may be continually readjusted.

Similarly, there is a Northeast Consortium for Blake, Paint Branch and Springbrook High Schools. Springbrook as said earlier, has the IB Program as well as Engineering and I.T. Academies. Paint Branch has Science and Media Academies and Blake has Arts, Communication, Humanities and Public Service focuses.

Whitman High School is one of the most popular high schools in the county and they have a Leadership Academy for Social Justice. This is open to the whole county, but transportation options are currently limited. Montgomery County promises they are working on it.

Magruder High School has Aviation and Aerospace Engineering programs open to the entire county.

There are other high schools too which are highly rated and offer AP, dual enrollment and a variety of academic focus area programs as well. They aren’t always open to the whole county so if you want a school like Walter Johnson or Winston Churchill then you would need to live in the boundary for those schools.

North in the county, it’s not as population dense and the high schools are more spread out.

The graduation rate for Montgomery County Maryland’s Public Schools is almost 92%.

Montgomery County, MD Schools – Academics

After the infamous 2018 Johns Hopkins audit, there have been a lot of unhappy parents. Summing it up, Hopkins found that English and Math curricula were unsatisfactory. Fewer than 1/3 of the students understood math for their grade level and fewer than 1/4th understood English Language Arts.

Teachers said it contained too much busywork, too much screen time, not enough time to practice skills and did nothing to help those in special education. The teachers tried to supplement Common Core with other material. Parents lost a lot of trust in Montgomery County Public Schools.

Montgomery County re-bid the curriculum and in 2019, 2.0 was replaced. The new math curricula have turned out better than the ELA.

It feels very a la carte style. It makes use of online apps / technology, plus workbooks. But then there was Covid, and the timing could not have been worse to train teachers on new systems and a new curriculum.

Direct from a teacher, “Kids are subjected to endless testing ($$$) and we are required to collect and document hundreds of data points – for what purpose? We are unable to use that information to modify the curriculum. Data should be used to drive further instruction, and as teachers, our hands are tied.”

This is not great news, but it’s also not unique to Montgomery County. The same is happening in many other districts in the country.

Montgomery County School Administration

Current Superintendent Monifa McKnight started as an interim Superintendent in June 2021 and was appointed for a 4 year term in Feb, 2022. When she started, she had a lot to address. Her letter to the school community stated, “One of my top three priorities is rebuilding community trust in MCPS… I am committed to transparency and responsiveness as we work to address our challenges and celebrate our many strengths.”

We are only a few months into the 2023 school year and already there have been several personnel changes. The deputy superintendent was no longer employed by MCPS, and three administrative personnel at the main office were placed on leave.

One of her first orders of business was to survey the parent community. They put out this handy graphic of what the school system is doing right and what needs to change. The left side is what is going right. The middle is where change is needed. The column on the right is what parents believe is the one thing that needs to be addressed to make the biggest change.

School Safety, Communication, Transparency, Increase Teacher Autonomy, Improve Special Education Services, Hire More Teachers, Reduce Class Sizes – these are currently the major issues facing Montgomery County Public Schools.

Montgomery County Today – a Snapshot in Time

In the last couple months alone, the following issues have occurred or come to light.

Montgomery County Schools – Conclusion

Montgomery County Schools has some of the best high schools in the region. According to Niche.com, Poolesville is ranked #2 in the area, Whitman is #3 and Churchill is #4. They round out the top 10 as well with Wootton at #6, Walter Johnson at #7, Richard Montgomery at #8 and Bethesda Chevy-Chase (BCC) at #9. The fact that there is almost no Fairfax County presence in the top 10 and I have long felt Niche.com is not the place to go for information.

On U.S. News’s rankings, Poolesville, Whitman, Wootton, Churchill, Walter Johnson, BCC, Richard Montgomery, Northwest, Blair and Blake are the top 10 for Montgomery County.

There are always going to be problems at schools, especially in light of a pandemic and shifting approaches to education and behavior issues but Montgomery County schools stand the test of time. This is a highly educated area where parents push their kids to aim high and achieve. It’s also an area where a lot of parents can afford private schools but opt for public schools because of their stellar reputation.

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