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.
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 Hofburg 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 Vienna, VA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 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.
“Rashid Farrell, the Owner, is very attentive, helpful and sincere. He follows up with clients”
“We started with Always Best Care mid July 2021. They worked with us and her”
“I have been with Always Best Care for over a year. I have a neurological”
“Always Best Care truly took the stress out of my grandfather’s post-surgery recovery. I was”
“Pleasant experience with the care professionals who provided support and care. Lankgo was very helpful”
“We did not end up getting care from Always Best Care since our father uses”
“My family and I were blessed to find Rashid and his wonderful team of caregivers!”
“I'm writing this review as a friend and sometimes caregiver of a person with dementia.”
“Hi, Please know my Five Stars rating is very real & very honest! I reached out”
“My family has used Always Best Care for about five months now. We are grateful”
“Scott and his staff were excellent to work with. We quickly needed all night”
“My mother required some post-surgical assistance as she was healing from a knee replacement procedure.”
“Scott Maquire, owner is helpful and will work with you to develop a plan that”
“I had caregivers for my elderly mother from Always Best Care for close to three”
“Finding Always Best Care was a game changer for me and my mom (after trying”
“Our experience with Always Best Care Senior Services of Herndon was positive. Excellent communication and”
“Our family was delighted to have found Always Best Care Senior Services, having been recommended”
“With my wife bed bound and I the only caretaker, I was soon exhausted. Scott”
“I am a past client of this provider My mother was in hospice care and needed”
“Scott and his team provided excellent companion care for Mom as her dementia progressed. They”
“I had the good fortune to work for Scott Maguire at ABC following my move”
“Anyone reading this is likely where my family was. Completely exhausted and desperate. My husband”
“Wow--my family has worked with a number of companies to assist us through the years”
“Over the last year Scott Maguire, at Always Best Care Senior Services, has been a”
“I worked at the agency for a year as a caregiver and then as a”
“Rashid Farrell, the Owner, is very attentive, helpful and sincere. He follows up with clients and truly does all he can to make them and their loved ones happy. I highly recommend using Always Best Care to care for anyone in need of care.”
“We started with Always Best Care mid July 2021. They worked with us and her insurance to provide me time to do things I needed to do. We have had the same caregivers for the past 3 years and we love them!! Brenda C. is absolutely terrific!! Jeanine is fabulous!! From the start, they have worked with and around our schedules, especially when we have had changes. Working with Scott M. the original manager/owner, and now with Rashid F., the new manager/owner has been really easy and enjoyable. Everyone as been easy-going and helpful.”
“I have been with Always Best Care for over a year. I have a neurological condition that affects my movement and balance. My caregiver has helped me make doctor appointments and attend weekly yoga. My caregiver is always punctual. I highly recommend the company.”
“Always Best Care truly took the stress out of my grandfather’s post-surgery recovery. I was so worried about how he would manage, especially since I couldn’t always be there due to work, but he was in amazing hands. The caregivers were compassionate, attentive, and made his recovery process so much easier. Knowing he was well cared for gave me peace of mind. I highly recommend their services!”
“Pleasant experience with the care professionals who provided support and care. Lankgo was very helpful with taking me to doctor's appointments, to the pharmacy, and entertaining my free time by playing cards. Rashid, the owner, has been so helpful, so understanding, and so kind and has helped me tremendously in my caring. I would recommend Always Best Care of Fairfax!”
“We did not end up getting care from Always Best Care since our father uses Medicaid, but they were very kind and helpful in connecting us with another agency who accepts Medicaid, and followed up with us to make sure we had reached the other agency.”
“My family and I were blessed to find Rashid and his wonderful team of caregivers! From the first day the emphasis was always on our father and how they could meet his needs and keep him comfortable. They took care of our dad as if he was a member of their family. The caring starts at the top with Rashid, who is amazing. He knew my father well and visited him often, always keeping us informed. He would be at the house to orient new care team members and introduce them to our father including weekends and shift change at 8 pm. When we could not be with our father, we knew he was in great hands. We were so fortunate to have found Rashid and his wonderful team of caring and empathetic caregivers, they were a blessing to us during a very difficult time.”
“I'm writing this review as a friend and sometimes caregiver of a person with dementia. She has received in-home services from Always Best Care for several years. Her home care aide, Brenda, helped my friend with things like organizing her files, paying bills, finding and keeping track of her things, canceling subscription items bought online and then not remembered, medication management, etc. She was kind, patient, and highly flexible. The company owner has also been wonderful to work with; kind, patient, flexible and responsive. I highly recommend ABC Senior Services!”
“Hi, Please know my Five Stars rating is very real & very honest! I reached out to Always Best Care S.S. (Fairfax County VA) & received the best customer service from Rashid after 11 exhausting calls. What I actually needed at that time they did not offer, but Rashid still proceeded to assist me. Rashid showed caring concerns and patience. Rashid even reached out on my behalf to others in his field of work as well provided me with further resources outside of his own practice! Not only did Rashid provide other resources, Rashid followed up with me the next day!! Mind you I missed the call/phone tag & Rashid still returned my call until we connected! That’s above beyond…. I was relieved of a lot of burden & false hope. The resources ended up being a huge success. So I want to highly recommend Contacting Always Best Care S.S. And have the pleasure I experienced with Rashid an awesome person, very professional top notch customer service for your needs. Rashid Farrell thank you for being you???? Octavia”
“My family has used Always Best Care for about five months now. We are grateful for the help and advice we have received. The home health aide sent to us has been outstanding and Scott Maguire has always been available for advice. We recommend ABC to anyone who needs its services.”
“Scott and his staff were excellent to work with. We quickly needed all night companions at the hospital and home for more than two months. Scott responded to our needs and provided some wonderful people. Highly recommend.”
“My mother required some post-surgical assistance as she was healing from a knee replacement procedure. Scott was very helpful in arranging a dependable and compassionate caregiver for the time which we needed the assistance. I could confidently attend to my work schedule knowing that my mother was receiving the help she needed for medication reminders, meal preparation, exercise prompts and having a supportive ear during the convalescence from Sue. I recommend Always Best Care Senior Services very highly.”
“Scott Maquire, owner is helpful and will work with you to develop a plan that works best for your situation. My mom loves here caregiver and I highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services for peace of mind,”
“I had caregivers for my elderly mother from Always Best Care for close to three years, and I would unreservedly do so again. It took a little bit to find providers who were right for my mother’s particular needs (besides becoming increasingly frail, she had severe anxiety), and for my schedule (my mother was living with me), but owner Scott Maguire was extremely accessible and responsive, and ultimately we established an arrangement that worked well. The caregivers were honest, reliable, caring, and responsive to my feedback, and communication via daily logs and in-person reporting ensured I was aware of anything I needed to know. I found the advantage of working with a small company whose owner I never had trouble reaching or getting to understand my needs a huge factor in what made this agency work for me.”
“Finding Always Best Care was a game changer for me and my mom (after trying several other companies). Scott was professional and responsive. He found the perfect companion for my mom (Kendall). She was reliable, flexible, thoughtful, kind and an excellent communicator. Within a short time, my mom began asking when that "nice Kendall" was coming again. I cannot recommend ABC Senior Services highly enough. I will always be grateful for their services.”
“Our experience with Always Best Care Senior Services of Herndon was positive. Excellent communication and billing was easy.”
“Our family was delighted to have found Always Best Care Senior Services, having been recommended by another senior care agency. They quickly responded with excellent experienced care givers who were terrific in caring for my father, giving him the attention he needed. The personal attention given by the owner was terrific. The nursing consultation was also appreciated. I highly recommend this agency.”
“With my wife bed bound and I the only caretaker, I was soon exhausted. Scott and Always Best Care came to my rescue by providing me with the help I needed to get through this ordeal. The young lady that came 7 hours a day was a Godsend to me. She was attentive and caring and made my wife's life so much better, no to mention my own. I would not have made it through without her. Scott dealt directly with the insurance people saving me from having to manage any record keeping and payment issues. That also relieves a lot of stress. I would strongly recommend Always Best Care to anyone in need of such services.”
“I am a past client of this provider My mother was in hospice care and needed help and companionship and I couldn’t be there 24/7. Always Best Care sent providers to be with her and I can’t say enough good things about them. They were compassionate and skilled, and always there when I needed them. I could relax knowing that my mom was in good hands.”
“Scott and his team provided excellent companion care for Mom as her dementia progressed. They ran errands with her, provided meals for her and Dad, and generally kept her engaged and entertained during the pandemic. Scott was a wealth of knowledge and always available to help us navigate the disease and it’s effects. I highly recommend him and his team!”
“I had the good fortune to work for Scott Maguire at ABC following my move from New Hampshire to Virginia. I was with the agency for eight years until last month when I moved to Florida. Scott always cared about his clients, and had a knack for matching them with compatible caregivers. He was always available for questions and concerns. I had opportunities to work for other agencies between clients, but chose to stick with Always Best Care, because the name of the agency says it all.”
“Anyone reading this is likely where my family was. Completely exhausted and desperate. My husband and I had been primary caregivers for my in-laws when one ended up with non-COVID pneumonia and the other had a stroke followed by a fall-- all since early January. Now vaccinated, they were ready for outside help and wanted it to start right away. We had been talking to an agency throughout the process that came highly recommended, Old Dominion. But they were not able to turn around an awesome caregiver in 72 hours and recommended I call one of their friendly competitors-- Scott- At Always Best Care Senior Services in Herndon. Scott understood that we were looking for stopgap care until Old Dominion could find someone permanent and after a call Friday afternoon, he had someone at my in-laws on Monday, 8:00am. And she was terrific. It makes all the difference to have such a positive experience from the beginning. My in-laws were very pleased and appreciated that Scott had been upfront that the caregiver he had available had a thick accent and that, combined with a mask, might be challenging for someone hearing impaired. This is an issue for my mother in law and it made all the difference that she knew in advance. The other thing I appreciated is that all of Scott's caregivers are vaccinated or on their way. The one he sent was getting her second shot later in her start week with us. Unfortunately, my father-in-law is going to need a stint in skilled rehab, so we won't be continuing with Scott's wonderful caregiver. But Scott stepped up to help provide some insiders perspective on facilities. There was nothing to gain from that, except putting goodness out into the world. The process is overwhelming and it made such a difference to get his perspective. We could not have been more pleased to have had such a terrific experience and highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services if you or a loved one is looked for quality care.”
“Wow--my family has worked with a number of companies to assist us through the years in the Annandale area. This is the best. Scott Maguire--the owner is responsive, collaborative, and empathetic to unique questions and requirements. This is the company we will work with hereafter.”
“Over the last year Scott Maguire, at Always Best Care Senior Services, has been a wealth of information for helping me with my ageing parents. Pre Covid, we were looking into continuing care options and he went through all of our options in a manner that was easy to understand (when you are new to the system)! Then Covid hit, and we decided to keep our parents at home as long as possible. Since, he has been very quickly responsive about in-home care at a stressful time for all. We have really appreciated his help! I would highly recommend his services.”
“I worked at the agency for a year as a caregiver and then as a supervisor. The owner is a very nice and caring person, very hands on and always there to help. I would recommend this agency to anyone that needs help with their loved one.”
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.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
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.
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.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home 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:
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:
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 City Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
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 Clarity or visit Neue Burg Teil der Wiener Hofburg, 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.
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:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
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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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.
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 Vienna, 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.
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:
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 Vienna, 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.
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.
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:
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:
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.
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
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
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 Vienna, 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.
Students from Vienna and Oakton are among less than 1 percent of American high school seniors winning National Merit Scholarships.Updated Wed, Jun 4, 2025 at 12:50 pm ETVIENNA, VA — The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced additional scholarship winners on Wednesday, students with Vienna and Oakton connections are in the mix.More than 2,900 scholarships sponsored by colleges and universities have been awarded to students. The winning students were selected from the National Merit Scholarship 2025 fina...
Updated Wed, Jun 4, 2025 at 12:50 pm ET
VIENNA, VA — The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced additional scholarship winners on Wednesday, students with Vienna and Oakton connections are in the mix.
More than 2,900 scholarships sponsored by colleges and universities have been awarded to students. The winning students were selected from the National Merit Scholarship 2025 finalists and plan to attend the college or university sponsoring the scholarship.
The scholarships provide between $500 and $2,000 each year for up to four years of undergraduate study at the sponsoring institution. There are 146 colleges and universities from 42 states and the District of Columbia sponsoring awards.
The latest winners include 25 students from Virginia.
Samuel J. Buchanan, a student from Vienna who attends Loudoun School for Advanced Studies, received a scholarship from Purdue University and intends to study mechanical engineering.
Seth G. Parcell of Oakton High School, won a National Merit Purdue University Scholarship and plans to study computer science.
John B. Shinkman, an Oakton student at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, received a scholarship from Grinnell College and intends to study international development.
Students were entered into the 2025 National Merit Scholarship competition when they took the 2023 PSAT. More than 16,000 students earned semifinalist status, the highest-scoring students based on each state's percentage of graduating seniors. Semifinalists represent less than 1 percent of high school seniors in the U.S.
To earn finalist status and be eligible for scholarships, semifinalists had to submit a detailed application with an essay and information about extracurricular activities, awards, and leadership positions. Students also had to have a proven outstanding academic record, be recommended by a high school official and earn SAT or ACT scores reaffirming their PSAT performance. Over 15,000 students met finalist status requirements, and an estimated half will win National Merit Scholarships in 2025.
More than 6,930 students will receive National Merit Scholarships collectively totaling nearly $26 million in 2025. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced winners of corporate-sponsored scholarships in April and winners of its own National Merit $2500 Scholarships in May. Additional college-sponsored scholarship winners will be announced in July.
Vienna Town Council will vote on the town budget, which includes a real estate tax rate property owners pay on top of the county's rate.Updated Tue, May 20, 2025 at 10:58 am ETVIENNA, VA — Final approval of the Town of Vienna budget is slated for Monday's Town Council meeting.The town's budget covers four operating funds: general, water and sewer, debt service, and stormwater. Town Manager Mercury Payton's ...
Updated Tue, May 20, 2025 at 10:58 am ET
VIENNA, VA — Final approval of the Town of Vienna budget is slated for Monday's Town Council meeting.
The town's budget covers four operating funds: general, water and sewer, debt service, and stormwater. Town Manager Mercury Payton's proposed $55 million town budget for 2025-2026
The revised budget up for Town Council approval totals $55.497 million, which is largely unchanged from the town manager's $55.472 million proposal. The bulk of that is the operating budget totaling over $34.77 million.
At an April 28 public hearing, Town Council had endorsed a $0.195 per $100 of assessed value real estate tax rate, which is the current rate. Even with a flat tax rate proposed, higher assessed values for homes could translate into higher tax bills. The town estimates the average residential tax bill would increase by 7 percent from $2,204 to $2,359. According to Town Council documents, the rate that would have kept tax bills flat despite assessment increases would be $0.1878.
Town of Vienna property owners pay the town real estate tax rate on top of the Fairfax County real estate tax. The adopted Fairfax County rate in the latest budget is $1.1225 per $100 of assessed value.
The town's water and sewer rates are each proposed to increase by 7.25 percent to help cover increasing costs to replace aging pipes and increased costs for wholesale water purchase and sewer treatment, according to Town Council documents. Service charges for residential accounts are proposed to increase from $40 per quarter to $42 per quarter. The average customer’s bill would increase by $19 a quarter, or $75 per year.
Vienna Town Council's meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. on Monday. For more information on the budget, visit www.viennava.gov/budget.
VIENNA, VA — High school theater productions that left an impression on audiences and student critics have earned nominations for awards. Nominations have been announced for the 2025 Cappies of the National Capital Area, a Tony Award-like program for local high school theater.Productions put on by schools in Vienna and Oakton were among the shows to receive multiple nominations. Oakton High School also received nominations for student critics who write reviews of the theater productions.The following are the Cappies nomin...
VIENNA, VA — High school theater productions that left an impression on audiences and student critics have earned nominations for awards. Nominations have been announced for the 2025 Cappies of the National Capital Area, a Tony Award-like program for local high school theater.
Productions put on by schools in Vienna and Oakton were among the shows to receive multiple nominations. Oakton High School also received nominations for student critics who write reviews of the theater productions.
The following are the Cappies nominations for Oakton High School's "Into the Woods" and James Madison High School's "Mean Girls High School Version." A full list of all Cappies nominees can be found online.
Bill Strauss Graduating Critic: Clare Shacochis, Oakton High School
Props: Caroline Cochran, Cameron Filson, Eva Klinker, Victoria Reyes, Oakton High School, Into the Woods
Costumes: Audrey Inde, Amelie Hatfield, and The Costume Team, Oakton High School, Into the Woods
Sets: Eliot Hettler, Amelia Haid, Isabel Suk, and The Set Team, Oakton High School, Into the Woods
Orchestra: Oakton High School Pit, Oakton High School, Into the Woods
Choreography: Katie Johnson, Lexi Stattel, James Madison High School, Mean Girls High School Version
Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Gabriel Ayala, Oakton High School, Into the Woods
Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Rigley Mostafavi, Oakton High School, Into the Woods
Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Jack Rodstrom, James Madison High School, Mean Girls High School Version
Vocalist in a Male Role: Nate Borrowman, James Madison High School, Mean Girls High School Version
Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Savannah Day, Oakton High School, Into the Woods
Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Grace Rodstrom, James Madison High School, Mean Girls High School Version
Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Romain Dairay, Oakton High School, Into the Woods
Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Giovana Abdo, Oakton High School, Into the Woods
Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Gwyneth Kemeny, James Madison High School, Mean Girls High School Version
Song: No One is Alone, Oakton High School, Into the Woods
Critic Team: Oakton High School
Musical: Into the Woods, Oakton High School
The Cappies recognize the accomplishments of high school theater as well as student critics who write reviews of high school theater productions. Winners of the Cappies awards will be announced at the Cappies Gala on Monday, June 2 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in DC.
VIENNA, VA — Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema's latest list of the best new restaurants is light on the Northern Virginia picks, but one of them is from Vienna.Sietsema does an annual list of the best new eateries to try around the D.C. region. Many of the restaurants are from Washington, DC, but eateries from Maryland and Virginia also make the list.This year, Sietsema noted that ...
VIENNA, VA — Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema's latest list of the best new restaurants is light on the Northern Virginia picks, but one of them is from Vienna.
Sietsema does an annual list of the best new eateries to try around the D.C. region. Many of the restaurants are from Washington, DC, but eateries from Maryland and Virginia also make the list.
This year, Sietsema noted that supporting your favorite eateries "might be more important than ever."
"Federal layoffs and labor issues have taken their toll on restaurants, and diners seem more hesitant than before to pay ever-higher prices to eat away from home," Sietsema shared.
Nevertheless, there have been a handful of new spots that made an impression on the Post food critic. Vienna is represented on the list with Evelyn Rose, which opened in the location of the former Bazin's on Church. Owners Sam Schnoebelen and Chef Nick Palermo's restaurant features rotating seasonal offerings through a tasting menu, as well as a regular dinner menu and happy hour.
"A torchon, vibrant with peas, celebrates spring in tandem with pickled morels, and crisp-skinned sea bass is elevated in all ways by a luscious bed of saucy mixed beans," Sietsema wrote about the restaurant. "Yep, the kitchen can make you a hamburger. Evelyn Rose is thoughtful and stylish, and it treats strangers as if they were neighbors."
The other Northern Virginia spot on the list was Elyse, a small chef-driven experience by former Clarity Chef Jonathan Krinn.
To address traffic backups on two main Vienna roads, a traffic signal project is making progress to better manage real-time conditions.VIENNA, VA — Anyone who's been held up in Maple Avenue traffic are banking on new traffic signal technology to ease congestion on Vienna's main street. The project to improve the flow of the busy Maple Avenue and Nutley Street with traffic signal technology is making progress in the Town of Vienna.Vienna Town Council received an update on the ...
VIENNA, VA — Anyone who's been held up in Maple Avenue traffic are banking on new traffic signal technology to ease congestion on Vienna's main street. The project to improve the flow of the busy Maple Avenue and Nutley Street with traffic signal technology is making progress in the Town of Vienna.
Vienna Town Council received an update on the Maple Avenue and Nutley Street Traffic Signal Improvement Project at a work session Monday night. The project started construction in spring 2024 and focuses on improving infrastructure at 14 intersections. Substantial completion of the project is expected this August, followed by final completion in the fall.
"Substantial completion means all of the hardware, software devices will be physically installed by August," Brad Baer, the town's public works director, told Town Council. "Then between August and November, it will go into operational testing."
Between the 14 intersections, the project team is adding 118 new traffic signal heads, 37 pedestrian crossing signal heads and eight new poles as well as street signs, fiber optic communications equipment, camera detection devices, signal controllers and cabinets, and other software.
"It includes traffic new traffic management software, camera detection devices that'll have real time and centralized monitoring of the traffic conditions, the volumes and speeds, so that could optimize the flow, and we'll be able to make adjustments," said Baer. "It'll make recommendations, and then we can make adjustments in real time."
Intersections include Maple Avenue East at Follin Road SE, Maple Avenue East at East Street, Maple Avenue East at Beulah Road, Maple Avenue East at Branch Road, Maple Avenue East at Glyndon Street, Maple Avenue East at Park Street, Maple Avenue East at Washington & Old Dominion Trail, Maple Avenue West at Center Street, Maple Avenue West at Courthouse Road SW/Lawyers Road NW, Maple Avenue West at Vienna Plaza, Maple Avenue West at Nutley Street, Maple Avenue/Chain Bridge Road and James Madison Drive, Nutley Street SW at Courthouse Road, and Nutley Street SW at Tapawingo Road SW.
Despite supply chain challenges with getting some equipment, the town's project has already replaced three-quarters of the traffic signal heads. The new ones will have yellow reflective backing that distinguishes them from the old ones, according to Baer. All of these new traffic signal heads are being upgraded to have battery backup that can help during outages.
Councilmember Sandra Allen asked if the town was considering adding another traffic signal at James Madison Drive, where there is a signal for Maple Avenue drivers but not those coming from James Madison Drive. According to the project team, that intersection is not part of the project, but the town is having discussions with other agencies about the intersection.
Remaining work on the project is continuing overnight. Covers remain over traffic signals and pedestrian signals that are not yet in operation. Richardson-Wayland Ferreira Electric Co. is serving as the construction contractor, and Dominion Energy assists with the power connection to the new signals.
Councilmember Jessica Ramakis asked if the project team expected delays that would push back the fall 2025 completion. Baer predicted no more risks of delays, as the project has already received all needed materials after supply chain disruptions.
The project's construction cost is $2.8 million, and it is receiving support from a Virginia Department of Transportation Smart Scale grant. The Maple Avenue and Nutley Street traffic signal was identified as the number three priority for Vienna Town Council in 2025.
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