Issuu

AUGUST 2019

LifestylePubs.com/Leesburg

Kids + Pets

TO TRAVEL IS TO LIVE

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

AUGUST 2019 PUBLISHER

Hann Livingston | hann.livingston@lifestylepubs.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Melinda Gipson | melinda.gipson@lifestylepubs.com CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ahhh, August!

Celeste Linthicum, "The College Whisperer;" Christy Price "Woofies Loves Your Pets" and "Let's Play!"; Bryan Esposito, Upward Studio, "Hedgeland Manor"; Alex Mangione, Cover Art by Laurien Dowdy; Casey Smith Photography, "Rough Hewn Rescues" photo of the artist.

IT'S OUR LAST CHANCE TO LICK UP THOSE LAST TASTY MORSELS OF SUMMER...THAT’S WHAT I THOUGHT WHEN I DISCOVERED OUR COVER ART FOR THIS MONTH’S ISSUE OF LEESBURG LIFESTYLE IN A SHOW BY PAINTER LAURIEN DOWDY. Laurien lovingly depicts “rescues” who revel in life as they give us a full measure of joy. You can see more of her work in “Rough Hewn Rescues,” and at Loudoun Cares Charity Art Auction Sept. 13 in the Village at Leesburg. In the same vein, we celebrate kids and pets, the two most likely beings to share our lazy, hazy days outside. Whether we’re pulling up a rocker to provide a kid a lap for story time (“Literary Linebacker”), doing a “walk along” with Woofie’s or getting a little bit dirty in a flower bed, we can all derive inspiration from both children and animals. (I have to widen the circle beyond cats and dogs, because if you haven't caught the publisher's litter of piglets on our Facebook page...well, you're missing a good giggle!) On the slightly more serious side, Susan Morgan helps us remember how to play

CORPORATE TEAM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

with our kids as a way of helping them better communicate (“Let’s Play!”), and

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

even has some tips for dealing with picky eaters. Hannah Serota, our “College

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

Whisperer” introduces us to a couple of the area’s accomplished high school

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

grads and reminds us not to stress too much about schools of higher learning

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

because the "right fit" is out there. And finally, we offer a glimpse of a playground for kids, pets and adults in Hedgeland Manor’s entertainment barn in Waterford and a snapshot of two great kids who

EDITORIAL MANAGER Nicolette Martin AD MANAGER Chad Jensen REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Eric Williams WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

wouldn't be caught dead whining that they’re bored. As our publisher, Hann, takes off for a Boy Scout camping trip with his son, we leave you to explore...on the porch. With a glass of cold...something—and your favorite bit of reading. Melinda Gipson, Editorial Coordinator

514 W 26TH ST., KANSAS CITY, MO

LifestylePubs.com/Leesburg

Leesburg Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via

Laurien Dowdy

and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX MANGIONE 4

Proverbs 3:5-6

ON THE COVER “Greyhound,” by

Leesburg Lifestyle | August 2019

the US Postal Service to some of the Leesburg areas’ most affluent neighborhoods. Articles this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Leesburg Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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INSIDE THE ISSUE AUGUST 2019

FEATURES 14 The College Whisperer Finding the Right Fit for Your Kids’ College Experience

18 Woofies Loves Your Pets Like They are Family

26 Let’s Play! Could Better Communication with Your Children be as Simple as Re-Learning How to Play?

30 Literary Linebacker Augmented Reality Infuses

26 14

Ken Harvey’s Children’s Book with Fresh Inspiration

DEPARTMENTS 4

Lifestyle Letter

Good Times

Artist’s Palette

Our Town

22 Open House 26 Locally Owned 30 Inspired By 34 Giving Back

GOOD TIMES

Digging into Summer! Succulent workshops just for kids are designed to get kids outside and digging in the dirt! Each child takes home a succulent creation. The workshops are hosted by Garden Gatherings, located at The Old Lucketts Store. LuckettStore.com Social: @GardenGatherings

1. Lulu Morris | 2. Brownie Troop 70162 | 3. Loudoun Sheriffs

Superhero Fun Run More than 600 racers participated in the Loudoun County Chamber’s Superhero Fun Run. Here we showcase Lulu Morris, (#WakandaForever!), Stephanie Morris in her Wonder Woman costume co-leading Brownie troop 70162 with Jennifer Wilder out of Sycolin Creek Elementary and our everyday heroes from the Loudoun Sheriff's office who ran the 1K in full uniform.

1. Left to right: Erin Lombardi; David Pena; Dawn Cutillo; K.C. Ryerson; Mayor Kelly Burk; Ryan Zmuda; Diane Snyder; Jan Benjamin; Andrea Schwartz; Erica Rowe | 2. Left: Jan Benjamin, Owner of BeBalanced in Leesburg; Right: Dawn Cutillo, Founder of BeBalanced Hormone Weight Loss Centers | 3. Store exterior

BeBalanced Opens in Leesburg Jan Benjamin, owner of the new BeBalanced Hormone Weight Loss Center in Leesburg, celebrated the store's grand opening June 13. Guests learned more about the mission of BeBalanced from the founder, Dawn Cutillo. BeBalanced helps women who face hormone imbalances through an all-natural, nonmedical approach called natural hormone balancing, which allows better sleep, improved mood, weight loss and more. 221 Crescent Station Terrace 8

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ARTISTâ€™S PALETTE

ROUGH HEWN RESCUES

Laurien Dowdy at Home

ARTIST LAURIEN DOWDY CAPTURES THE CHARACTER IN CAST-OFFS

ARTICLE MELINDA GIPSON PHOTOGRAPHY CASEY SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY 10

Leesburg Lifestyle | August 2019

Our cover artist, Laurien Dowdy, became a “serious” painter in her 30s after she’d had kids and gone back to art school. Commissioned pet portraits comprise many of her works. But, she’s always loved animals and hasn’t eaten beef or pork in 26 years. She paints them because she says, “There is so much emotion in their eyes!” To draw attention to their mission, she began painting some of the rescues from animal sanctuaries.

“BECAUSE THEY’RE LIVING OUT THEIR LIVES AS PART OF A LOVING HOME, I THINK [RESCUES] HAVE THE HAPPIEST EXPRESSIONS!” Catch the glint in the eye of the pig, and you’ll know exactly what she means. You can find Laurien’s work at Rust and Feathers (RustAndFeathers.com) on Route 15, north of Leesburg in Lucketts. She will be among the featured local artists at Loudoun Cares’ charity art auction Sept. 13 in the Village of Leesburg (LoudounCares.org) LaurienDowdyArt.com

August 2019 | Leesburg Lifestyle

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OUR TOWN

THE COLLEGE WHISPERER FINDING THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOUR KIDS' COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

ARTICLE MELINDA GIPSON PHOTOGRAPHY CELESTE LINTHICUM Hannah Serota 14

Leesburg Lifestyle | August 2019

MORE STUDENTS HEAD TO COLLEGE NEXT MONTH THAN EVER BEFORE, AND SCHOOLS ARE BECOMING MORE SELECTIVE REGARDING APPLICANTS, NOT TO MENTION MORE EXPENSIVE. It’s enough to give parents fits. The tension causes them to put even more pressure on their children to excel, creating a kind of anxiety spiral that can put the whole family on edge. To both parents and students stressing over college,

“HANNAH WAS A GREAT MENTOR. IF I WERE STRESSED OUT, SHE ALWAYS PUT ME AT EASE.” —Esha, UVA, Rodman Scholar

Hannah Serota says, “Hold on! it’s going to be okay! There’s a lot you don’t know about.” “There are more than 3,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. There is a good college for everyone, and going to UVA isn’t the be all and end all for everybody!” Hannah has spent three decades working in college admissions, as a college counselor or an admissions consultant and visits 20-30 campuses a year, so she should know. She has helped literally thousands of students find the right place for them to learn and grow and is relentless about discerning “the right fit.” Her innovative consultancy in Leesburg called Creative College Connections helps students grades nine through 12 use tools to aid not only in the college selection and the application process but to assist students to get the most out of their high school years and life experience. The whole process helps them figure out what kinds of careers they might find fulfilling as adults. Only 40% of college students will finish their degree in four years, and not all of those who return home with a diploma will have made the most of their time there, so getting the right fit is about more than just getting admitted to a “good” school. Hannah imagines that fit as a “three-legged stool.” 1. Academic fit: “This means different things to different students; it’s not just about majors, but degree of rigor, class size, internships, research opportunities and the presence of co-ops or hands-on learning opportunities.” 2. Personal fit: “They are going to be living on a college

“HANNAH TAUGHT ME HOW TO EXPRESS WHO I WAS AND WHAT MADE ME UNIQUE OUT OF ALL THE OTHER APPLICANTS.” —Laura Villanova U, Civil Engineering

“I HAD A BAD CASE OF SENIOR SLUMP. HANNAH BROKE [THE APPLICATION PROCESS] INTO A SCHEDULE WITH DEADLINES, SO I WAS DONE BEFORE THANKSGIVING!” —Dani, U. of Delaware

campus so kids wonder, ‘How am I going to find my people? Do I feel comfortable here? Do I want to be in a city? Do I want to be in a place that has traditional rah, rah, school spirit?’ All those things about living day-to-day are important to a successful college experience.” 3. Financial fit: “We want to make sure parents don’t leverage their retirement in order to pay for college and help kids graduate without enormous debt because it becomes an albatross around their necks as they enter their adult lives.” Creative College Connections offers a free discovery phone call, a frequent Zoom webinar and a blog dealing with typical questions. The goal is to help your student echo what Hannah says every day: “I love what I do!” CreativeCollegeConnections.com

“HANNAH GOT TO THE HEART OF WHO EACH [OF MY SONS] IS AND WHAT MATTERS TO THEM. SHE HELPED THEM FIND WHAT THEY REALLY WANTED IN A COLLEGE.” —Christine S., Mom

August 2019 | Leesburg Lifestyle

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Wo o f i e’s L o v e s Yo u r Pe t s

ARTICLE MELINDA GIPSON PHOTOGRAPHY CHRISTY PRICE, KRISTINE TECH

KRISTINE TECH AND KATHERINE BHAT ARE NEIGHBORS AND BECAME FRIENDS BECAUSE EACH HAS A CHILD THE SAME AGE. Both owned dogs and love animals and wanted to spend more time with their families. And, both had used a pet-sitting service called Woofie’s to walk their dogs while they were at work. “Our pets are like an extension of our family, so when we looked for someone to care for them, we wanted a likeminded person that would care for our pets the way we would,” says Kristine. Katherine adds, “When we found out that Woofie’s had launched a franchise opportunity, we knew it was the perfect fit [for us] and wanted to get involved.” “I mean,” Kristine asks, “who doesn’t love kids and dogs?” Naturally, there’s more to running a full-service mobile grooming and in-home pet care service than a love of animals. Both owners received Woofie’s training, but they also came to the franchise with professional backgrounds in accounting and human resources. Matching groomers and pet care providers to the unique needs of every family was a snap. Woofie’s also offers 24/7 access to experts, so providers never need second guess themselves if an unfamiliar situation arises. Providers themselves are pre-screened because they’re given access to owners’ homes, in addition to being trusted with the welfare of a beloved animal. “What sets Woofie’s apart is that we start with a consult with the client—meet them and their pets, understand their routine and what they’re looking for, then try to match them with the best sitter,” says Kristine. Your Woofie's Family

They have no trouble finding and retaining great sitters because of the flexibility in hours, the opportunity to get outside and exercise and

LIKE THEY ARE FAMILY

the added bonus that their clients are always happy to see them.

Leesburg Lifestyle | August 2019

Bathtime

Hello, Handsome!

Glad to See You!

Gabby Dolled Up

Walking my Human

Catchin' Some Rays

Puppy Cuddles in the Park

Belly Rub, Please!

Getting Ready for My Close-Up

If what we saw when we joined a Woofie’s “walk along” is any

The co-owners also thoroughly enjoy giving back to the

indication, pet appreciation is a tangible benefit. Harper, a golden

community, so they celebrated their opening at Black Walnut

retriever, was so happy to see her sitter she literally jumped for

Brewery in May by raffling door prizes to benefit Save the Tails

joy! Since every walk is followed by a serious belly rub, it’s hard to

(SaveTheTails.org), which collects rescues from rural shelters and

say which she anticipated with more enthusiasm. Being groomed

brings them regularly to adoption events in Leesburg and Ashburn.

at home also keeps pets happy because of the individual attention

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they receive in familiar surroundings. August 2019 | Leesburg Lifestyle

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OPEN HOUSE

ARTICLE MELINDA GIPSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BRYAN ESPOSITO, UPWARD STUDIO

“WONDER” IS THE ONLY WORD THAT ADEQUATELY DESCRIBES A VISIT TO HEDGELAND MANOR IN WATERFORD, A KID, PET AND ADULT PARADISE. The property spans 40 acres and is surrounded with wide meadows, ancient trees and an acre lake, conveying a sense of perfect privacy. One can look in every direction and not see another home while taking in breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge from every vista of the manor home and “barn.” Though they call the hand-crafted, timber-framed structure of reclaimed Douglas fir behind the house a barn, it could double as a clubhouse for many of the best resorts in Loudoun County. Impeccably crafted, the structure boasts a climate-controlled garage for up to eight vehicles on the ground floor and a 3,800-square-foot recreation space on the second. Gleaming tobacco pine floors and broad windows fill the space with light. The current owner’s love of entertaining is evident from the wide countertops and Vulcan range in the fully featured kitchen. There are even a bedroom and full bath for guests electing to stay over...or perhaps just never wanting to leave! Between the barn and main house lies a heated pool with travertine decking and a separate three-bedroom, one-bath carriage house. Of course, the main event is the 4,300-squarefoot main residence with four bedrooms, three full baths and two half baths, eight working fireplaces,

Hedgeland Manor WATERFORD WONDER: 40041 HEDGELAND LANE

Leesburg Lifestyle | August 2019

'Barn'

DINING ROOM

BARN KITCHEN WITH VIKING RANGE

ACRE LAKE WITH MATED SWANS

original hardwood floors and a state-of-the-art multi-zone heating,

The earliest historical reference to a home on the property dates

ventilation and cooling system. Were it not for the outline of the

between 1790 and 1800. Oral history traces its original ownership through

original separate kitchen on the rear brick wall, “walk-in” fireplace

a purchase by a Colonel Hamilton from Lord Fairfax for 1,000 pounds

and English kitchen surrounded by greater than three-foot-thick

sterling. An addition, including an expansive sunroom, was built in the

stone walls on the lower level, it would be hard to imagine that

1930s when the property spanned 250 acres. By 1980, it was subdivided

families have doted on the place for more than 200 years.

into nine parcels, four of which constitute the current pastoral estate. CONTINUED >

August 2019 | Leesburg Lifestyle

OPEN HOUSE

(CON TI N U ED)

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Leesburg Lifestyle | August 2019

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LOCALLY OWNED

Susan Morgan at We Rock the Spectrum Kidâ€™s Gym 26

Leesburg Lifestyle | August 2019

LET ’S PLAY! COULD BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR CHILDREN BE AS SIMPLE AS RELEARNING HOW TO PLAY?

“SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED CHICKEN NUGGETS!”” “LET’S PLAY!” is more than a brand for speech

texture and the sense of wellbeing and satisfaction

pathologist Susan Morgan—the exhortation is central

that results from eating foods they enjoy.

to her approach to communication therapy and goes a long way to explain why her patients adore her.

“Touching food, tasting it, saying, ‘crunch, crunch, crunch goes the carrot,’ or finding out what’s squishy

“In some ways, I’m a big, giant kid,” Susan says,

or splashy involves both physical and emotional

explaining her uncanny ability to build instant rapport

sensations. Expressing how you feel about those

with her patients, who typically range in ages 1-6 years

sensory experiences leads to learning about how

old. (She’s qualified to treat youth as old as 18 but feels

sensations impact behavior,” she explains.

a pre-school age range represents her “sweet spot.”)

“Behaviors are a byproduct of your sensations like

Don’t be fooled into thinking hiring Susan is like hiring

feeling hungry or being upset, surprised, angry or

a playmate, however. She added a Master of Science in

happy,” Susan says. “All of us have such feelings, but

communications sciences and disorders to a bachelor’s

not everyone understands the appropriate way to

degree in psychology and is certified by the American

express behavior in response to those feelings.”

Speech-Hearing Association. She is a Provisional

This, in turn, helps explain why disruptive “acting

Greenspan Floortime Therapist and is trained in the

out” in their children most frequently leads parents

Beckman Oral-Motor Protocol.

to call Susan. Being a picky eater could be a trig-

But, if anything, being trained in the science of

ger to bad behavior or a symptom of other physical

speech and non-verbal communication has rein-

issues. “They could be asserting their autonomy,”

forced Susan’s belief that, “play skills and prob-

Susan says. Or it could be even simpler. “Sometimes

lem-solving is what leads to language.” Being so

you just need chicken nuggets!”

expressive herself also helps her draw out even

Regulation and engagement are key. Regulation is

the painfully shy. Her sense of fun radiates from an

the process of understanding your physical and emo-

infectious smile, sparkling eyes and expressive hand

tional behavior in reaction to your sensations that

gestures. Because she comes to children’s homes

help bring you back into a calm state. Engagement

for their sessions, her subjects already feel comfort-

is looking at someone else and figuring out how they

able, and she quickly ends up on the floor involved in

can help you achieve regulation.

whatever form of play makes children happiest.

“This is as basic as pointing at what you want and

Depending on the age range, her next move may

then asking someone to hand it to you,” Susan

well be to encourage her young charges to play with

says. Or, with a less verbal child, it could involve

their food.

shaking the chains on a swing when you want to be

Say what? “Yes, I absolutely encourage kids to play

pushed higher. “Modeling words on top of gestures

with their food!” Susan says. Children’s most lasting

they’re already using is a way of building language,”

memories often involve food—the taste, the smell, the

she explains.

ARTICLE MELINDA GIPSON | PHOTOGRAPHY CHRISTY PRICE CONTINUED >

August 2019 | Leesburg Lifestyle

LOCALLY OWNED

(CON TI N U ED)

It would take a book to better describe how Susan helps kids become more fulfilled and expressive, and it’s definitely more fun to hear her tell it, but here are a few concepts that help to explain her process.

+ Observing how the children communicate and asking more openended or “how” questions can improve communication in the home as much as focusing on helping children better express themselves.

+ Silence is an opportunity. We all crave filling in silence with our words, especially when we’re trying to get our children to speak. But the more adults talk, the less opportunity the child has to feel the urge to fill the silence themselves. Take a breath, count to 10 and then count to 10 again before you speak.

+ Relearning how to play may be the best way for parents to help their children communicate, but toys are not always the answer. Toys are great and give our play inspiration, but they can distract from engagement if your child is more focused on the toy than you. Instead, become the toy! Put it on your head, drive it across your arm then across your child’s leg. Toys are really just tools upon which to build play.

+ Exaggerate your movements and vary your voice. See what type of animated movements and sounds get your child giggling and laughing, or even hiding! It’s okay to get startled, just acknowledge his fear and help him feel brave for the next time the “big bear” comes out.

+ Avoid explaining rules; your child hears that enough. Let them explore the bad guy role in a safe story so later he can stand up to the bad guys during the day.

+ Sign language and body language are important, and too often overlooked, forms of communication. Reintroducing gestures—including alternatives to saying “no,” or “enough”—can go a long way toward helping kids feel more in control of their emotions and their environment, and it can Susan Morgan and Muki

help them be more willing to engage more fully with others. Because this is our kids and pets issue, we’ll add that Susan also is a self-described dog mom to Muki, a certified therapy dog who manages a custom dog bandana company through Etsy. Muki’s favorite things include

“ALL OF US HAVE SUCH FEELINGS, BUT NOT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO EXPRESS BEHAVIOR IN RESPONSE TO THOSE FEELINGS.”

Leesburg Lifestyle | August 2019

nose bumps, tug of war and fresh baked cookies. Muki may have the opportunity to play with Susan’s patients or, to the extent that interacting outside the home becomes a focus of her therapy, she’ll often lead parents and kids to We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym in Sterling for a healthy romp, which also feeds into her goal of helping families relearn to play at all ages. WeRocktheSpectrumLoudoun.com LetsPlaySpeechTherapy.com

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INSPIRED BY

Kenneth Ray Harvey 30

Leesburg Lifestyle | August 2019

Literary Linebacker:

A little more than 20 years ago, former Redskins linebacker Kenneth Ray Harvey wrote a storybook for his then young sons, Anthony and Marcus. At the time, it wasn’t hard for the

AUGMENTED REALITY INFUSES KEN HARVEY’S CHILDREN’S BOOK WITH FRESH INSPIRATION

young African American boys to imagine themselves growing up to become pro athletes like dad, who played with legends like

Darrell Green. What was harder to visualize was all the other things they could become. Ken’s book portrayed for his preschoolers a world where they could grow up to be an airplane pilot, a boat captain or a race car driver. Either Anthony or Marcus could have pursued any of those professions, but not many children’s books of the day starred kids of color exploring their limitless options. Ken taught them to dream big in his book, Come Find Me, with an imaginative game of hide-andseek, where Marcus issues the age-old invitation and his older brother, Anthony, looks for him in (you guessed it), a plane, a boat and a race car. When he shared the idea with his then teammate Terry Crews, Terry immediately volunteered to illustrate it. (Yes, that Terry Crews, who plays Terry Jeffords on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, rocked Bedlam in Deadpool 2 and—because this is the kids and pets issue—hosted the Puppy Bowl last year!) Terry, now vastly more famous as an actor than he ever was as a linebacker in the NFL, pays homage to Ken for his starring role as father in the forward of the just re-released book, published by his own Amen and Amen Publishing. So, what possessed Ken, long retired from football and now serving as a wealth management partner for Fellows Financial Group in Leesburg (FellowsFG.com), a physical trainer for space tourists and writer of sports columns for The Washington Post, to republish his work so long after his kids were grown? Well, not surprisingly, Ken and Terry stayed good friends in the decades since, and Ken may be forgiven if he sometimes feels like he’s been “wandering in the wilderness” when comparing his life to Terry’s. It turns out, Moses is a kind of role model for Ken, because he went from a man literally at the top of the food chain in Egypt, to wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. God never exactly spoke to Ken from a burning bush, but when he mused about what he’d really accomplished in his life, the verse that inspired him to “do more with what I have” was Exodus 4:2, where God asks Moses, “What’s in your hand?” Ken is a writer of many more genres than children’s literature, including a detective novel, Xavier: A Hero No More, about a former NFL player’s fall from grace following a tragic accident and the feverish work of a detective who idolizes him and works to clear his name. There’s a sequel thriller in the works, following a book called Alone about a teenage boy raised by four women on a desert island, and several screenplays. Quite simply, what’s in Ken’s hand is not a staff but a pen, and he wanted to do more.

CONTINUED >

ARTICLE MELINDA GIPSON | PHOTOGRAPHY MELINDA GIPSON AND PUBLICITY PHOTO August 2019 | Leesburg Lifestyle

INSPIRED BY

(CON TI N U ED)

The author at King Street Coffee keeps the Word always at hand.

“THE LITTLE BOYS FEATURED IN THIS BOOK BOTH GRADUATED COLLEGE AND HAVE MASTER’S DEGREES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS OF STUDY. I BELIEVE THEIR SUCCESS BEGAN WHEN THEIR DAD WROTE COME FIND ME, AND THEY ENVISIONED THEMSELVES AS THE ADVENTUROUS CHARACTERS IN THIS BOOK.”

—TERRY CREWS

Marcus 32

Leesburg Lifestyle | August 2019

Anthony

Enter Enrique Sanchez-Rivera of Augmented Island Studios, a pioneer in entertainment applications of augmented reality. Working together, the trio has created an experience where— when parents download the Come Find Me app on their phone and simply point it at the book’s illustrations—their children can not only dream of their adventures as a sea captain but touch the

703•327•0327

screen to see the boat rise off the page,

southridingdds.com

splash into the waves and hear the sound of the ocean and the full-throated cry of seagulls! (The book is available for purchase at ComeFindMe.com, and the app is free.) Ken hastens to assert that using augmented reality isn’t an excuse for par-

Nothing

ents to cede “story time” to yet another electronic gadget. “Younger kids especially care more that you’re spending emotional time with them,” Ken says. The book is a way to interact with the boys and use

Beats A Great

their adventures as an invitation to talk with kids about what excites them and learn more about what they want to do when they’re older.

- Karl Urban

Spoiler alert: The book ends with Marcus saying, “No, silly! I’m right behind you.” Ken would like the book to have enough of an influence that he might license the characters to have other adventures that would both ignite children’s imaginations and teach them compassion and a sense of responsibility to care for one another. For Ken, the unifying theme of Marcus and Anthony’s adventures is, “We have to look after each other. Everyone struggles, but help is right behind you, right next to you.” You and

can

find

Ken

co-captaining

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Let Us Create Your Dream Smile!

annual

Congressional flag football team which plays an annual game against the Capitol Hill Police team to raise money for charity, helping people plan their financial security or sometimes at the local Starbucks, writing.

CARL M. STEGER, DDS COSMETIC DENTIST

Designing Beautiful Smiles For Over 20 Years August 2019 | Leesburg Lifestyle

GIVING BACK

‘Kindness is a Superpower!’

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY MELINDA GIPSON

VENKAT TEENS SHOW HOW KIDS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

KIDS FEELING BORED BECAUSE “THERE’S NOTHING TO DO?” Introduce them to the Venkats. Teen sisters Shreyaa (16) and Esha (14) Venkat co-founded NEST4US to inspire kids to feed the needy, foster volunteerism and spread kindness. As they say on their Facebook page, “Kindness is a Superpower!” Here they offer tips to make your volunteering impactful.

Find something you’re passionate about. “Volunteering should come from the heart and not be about just racking up hours.” NEST4US helps teens “dip their toes in different pools of community service and find a volunteer activity they are truly passionate about.” Believe in yourself as a change agent. “Youth is the hope of the future! Empowering our generation to get involved in making the world better through kindness and community service will bring positive change.” Work with others. “Collaboration is a key element of our organization and has helped us achieve great success.” Working with others also builds leadership and teamwork, skills that help you excel throughout your life. Be relentless. “We are driven to keep spreading our message about kindness and volunteering across various communities so more youth become involved. This determination makes us successful.” Don’t hog the spotlight. Both have won many community service awards (from even the governor of Virginia!), but recognition isn’t the point. Esha quotes Anna Fisher, a NASA astronaut she met at a STEM event: “Work hard in silence; let your success be your noise.” (Notice how many other people are featured on their Facebook page.)

Want to “make some noise,” in your community? Visit Shreyaa and Esha at the Loudoun Cares Volunteer Awards

NEST4US.org, NEST4US on Facebook or check out Loudoun Cares’ Volunteer Center to find a way to share your time and talents at LoudounCares.org.

Leesburg Lifestyle | August 2019

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