If you’re suffering from Fibromyalgia you understand this sentiment all too well Local resident Elyse K found herself at a turning point when she noticed her diagnosis had started to take a toll on her marriage.
“I was angry all the time because of all the things I couldn’t do anymore because of my Fibromyalgia. That anger cycled through to depression and affected everyone around me, my husband more than anyone. It made our lives miserable.”
Fibromyalgia affects the entire body. To make things complicated it affects everyone’s body a little differently. To make things even more complicated, those effects can change on a daily basis. Sometimes you’re plagued with wide-spread muscle pain and fatigue, and other days it’s a headache and heightened sensitivity to touch.
“I could barely stand to have the light weight of bedsheets touching me, much less a hug from my husband.” explains Elyse.
This is what it’s like to suffer from Fibromyalgia. Symptoms make everyday life incredibly difficult. Mundane, daily tasks are nearly impossible.
I WAS TIRED OF LIVING WITH MY FIBROMYALGIA PAIN
Fibromyalgia has been difficult to treat and even more difficult to understand, UNTIL NOW!
Rachal Lohr, L Ac provides patients with much needed relief from Fibro symptoms!
And too often, these symptoms are only made worse because practitioners find it difficult to understand and even more troublesome to treat. It’s characterized by widespread pain in muscles, and tissues rather than inflammation of the joints, muscles, and tissues.
Then your primary care doctors suggest dietary changes, pain liniments, and, pharmaceuticals to the point where your life is no longer ruled by Fibromyalgia. It’s now ruled by a difficult routine and pill regimen in order to avoid flare-ups.
Elyse put it this way, “My life was no longer my own.”
Eventually, Elyse did her own research and discovered that acupuncture can improve the quality of life in Fibro patients. Determined to find the best in the business, she discovered FIREFLY Acupuncture & Wellness led by Rachal Lohr, L.Ac.
Rachal has been successfully treating difficult to manage, chronic pain cases for over sixteen years. She uses the time tested science of acupuncture integrated with modern medical advancements in healing and recovery
Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that is commonly used to reduce various forms of pain It works by reducing inflammation, stimulating the release of endorphins and offers much needed, effective symptom relief for Fibromyalgia. Then Rachal skillfully layers other non invasive therapies like ATP Resonance BioTherapy™ and other natural therapies for amplified, longlasting results.
“I feel like a new person. My husband comes with me to my appointments. He spends most of it thanking Rachal for giving him back the woman he married.
For the first time since we moved here, one of my neighbors told me I looked good! It’s a miracle she treated my Fibro, I don’t know how else to explain it.”
If you’re looking for a practitioner and a clinic who understands your diagnosis and has a proven solution for chronic pain, look no further than FIREFLY. Elyse describes FIREFLY almost as enthusiastically as she does their treatments. “I love it here!”
Rachal Lohr, L Ac is now accepting new patients and offering $40 consultations, but only for a limited time.
So call (703)263-2142 now to schedule a consultation.
Ashburn
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 4
PUBLISHER
Bruce Potter publisher@ashburnmagazine.com 571-333-1538
toward the fountain or the shoreline. But three-plus years later, that log is still there, sticking out of the pond. It became a bit of a running joke – but also a landing spot for birds, where if the wind is blowing right they can catch some of the cool spray from the fountain.
Then, this spring, an email landed from George Hegedus. An artist who lives in Ashburn, Hegedus wondered whether we would be interested in publishing some of his drawings of local scenes. He attached a few samples. When I opened one, which featured part of Broad Run High School in the foreground, I did a double-take. There in the background was not only the retention pond and its three fountains, but also the stick in the mud. Talk about realistic.
he days during the COVID-19 pandemic tend to run together, so I don’t remember whether the log showed up in late 2020 or early 2021. But during a torrential rainstorm in that time period, a log floated into the retention pond behind our Farmwell Hunt house and – perhaps because it was heading right toward a fountain – turned vertical and stuck into the muddy bottom, with 4 or 5 feet protruding above the water at almost a 90-degree angle. We always thought rushing waters from another rainstorm would dislodge the log, sending it careening
log
As it turns out, Hegedus lives in the same neighborhood and often walks the path along the pond, also marveling at the log. We actually downsized and moved to a different neighborhood in Ashburn this summer, but Hegedus’ drawings will help us remember our previous home fondly. You can learn about him and see his artistic version of the stick in the mud in the article that begins on Page 38.
In our cover story this issue, editor Chris Wadsworth profiles Susan Carroll, the president of Inova Loudoun Hospital, and looks at what’s next for one of our community’s largest institutions. Elsewhere, you’ll learn about students in a local music school who are using their talents to support good causes (Amazing Kids, Page 8), a new business that helps train local crew teams (Business Boom, Page 16), and the latest trend in tacos (Wine & Dine, Page 50).
And, as George Hegedus did, keep the good story ideas coming. You never know when one will, uh … stick!
BRUCE POTTER, PUBLISHER PUBLISHER@ASHBURNMAGAZINE.COM
The
stuck in a Farmwell Hunt retention pond became a landing spot for birds.
Hitting the Right Note
Local music students
perform to help others
BY CHARLES PEKOW
In August 2023, the students from Notes n’ Beats – an Ashburn-based music school – were performing a concert at the homeless shelter in Leesburg. Among the musicians was Sowmya Ramesh, a violinist.
“I noticed this girl in the corner,” said Sowmya, 15, who lives in Gainesville. “She looked like she wanted to play the violin. I let her play. I was able to meet with her family. My mom started to talk with her mom.” That meeting proved to be fateful for all involved. You see, the girl in the corner was Blessing Amuga. At the time, she was a rising junior at Stone Bridge High School and lived in the Leesburg shelter with her mother and two younger sisters.
Blessing was struggling with keratoconus, a rare disorder in which the cornea in the eye becomes cone-shaped, causing blurred vision. Blessing has keratoconus in both eyes and likely would have eventually become legally blind.
“It causes me to have extreme migraines and to have blurry vision even with glasses,” Blessing, 17, said in a video about her condition.
Due to her vision issues, the teenager had to make several emergency room visits and missed quite a few days of school.
Left: Blessing Amuga undergoes an eye exam as part of her treatment for keratoconus.
Below: Blessing Amuga (third from left) with her mother, Mercy Ambe, and Sowmya Ramesh (left) and Priya Subramanian (right).
So Sowmya and her fellow students at Notes n’ Beats jumped into action. Surgery could correct Blessing’s vision – but her family couldn’t afford the operation nor the follow-up care that would be needed.
Sowmya's mother, Priya Subramanian, worked her connections and eventually got in touch with Dr. G. Vike Vicente and Dr. Deepika Shah with Eye Doctors of Washington. Dr. Vicente provided the funding for the surgery on one eye, and Dr. Shah performed the operation last October. Now, all the music students needed to do was raise the funds for the second surgery and the rest of Blessing’s care.
Notes n’ Beats was founded in 2012. The kids at the academy study western music styles as well as classical Indian music. They regularly perform around the region, and they have raised money for causes
Students from Ashburn music school Notes n' Beats perform in a concert.
such as guide dogs for veterans and school buses for students in India. Blessing Amuga would be their latest good deed.
“They feel happiness and get excited over helping someone else,” said Veena Pandiri, the school’s founder. “I don’t think they come in with that mindset, but once they see the results, they want to do more.”
The students started a GoFundMe account for Blessing and helped publicize it. And then they held several benefit concerts, including one at the Lisner Auditorium on the George Washington University campus.
“For Blessing’s show, we did a Disney medley – songs like ‘Circle of Life’ and ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno,’” Pandiri recalled.
The events raised $4,900 for Blessing, and she had the second surgery in January. Students (and their parents) from Notes n’ Beats even drove Blessing to her various medical appointments.
“I could not go outside without sunglasses and was just having really bad headaches every time,” Blessing said. “After the surgery, the headaches have gone down and my vision is getting better, and now I can even get prescription glasses that actually work.”
Now a senior at Stone Bridge, Blessing has already visited the George Mason campus and is looking at other area colleges as
Students from Ashburn music school Notes n' Beats perform in a concert.
Knowing that through my music, I was able to help another kid to pursue her goals and her passions, it made me so happy.
well with the dream of studying ophthalmology and helping people like her in the future.
Meanwhile, the students at Notes n’ Beats hope to continue to help people like Blessing through their love of music.
“Knowing that through my music, I was able to help another kid to pursue her goals and her passions, it made me so happy,” Sowmya said. “If presented with the opportunity, I know [the students at] Notes n’ Beats would take care of every child they could.” A
Charles Pekow is an award-winning freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, Washington Examiner, Washington Times, Montgomery Magazine, Northern Virginia Magazine, The Hill, Washington Monthly and many other places.
Fall is a beautiful time in Loudoun. The leaves are turning and the air is crisp. It is a season of change. As a jewelry and gift store, Ketterman’s participates in the celebration of many life-changes: weddings, birthdays, new babies, and anniversaries to name a few. You can purchase beautiful finished jewelry for these occasions at Ketterman’s, but we can also re-purpose your that need adjustments to suit their size or jewelers can combine or divide heirloom pieces into wearable artifacts of family history. This month we are featuring some of these transformations. What do you have in your jewelry box that might be ready for a change?
moun�ng that was damaged beyond repair by chlorine.
On the �lus �ide (le���elow)
All of the diamonds in this mul�-genera�onal family ring were used in a custom moun�ng, adding a new matching side diamond from �e�erman’s. Our jewelers engraved the moun�ng to dis�nguish the past family diamonds from the new for current and future wearers.
Two Become One (right)
This vintage bridal set was repurposed into a pendant by removing the shanks to create the overlapping circles while featuring the original center bridge and crea�ng the bail out of the remaining diamonds from the band.
Students from Notes n' Beats outside the Loudoun Homeless Shelter in Leesburg, where they first met Blessing Amuga.
OK, we know all kids are amazing, but if you know of a kid who’s so amazing that they should be featured on this page, please email information to editor@ashburnmagazine.com.
Ashburn Teen Named State Merit Winner in 3M Young Scientist Challenge
Each year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge recognizes young people around the nation who have exemplified a passion for using science to solve everyday problems and improve the world around them.
To enter, students in grades five through eight submit a one- to two-minute video explaining an original idea using science to help solve an everyday problem.
Aneruddha Das, now a seventh-grader at Eagle Ridge Middle School, was named the 2024 Virginia State Merit Winner.
The title of his winning submission: “AI Bullying Prevention: A Unified Approach to Unveiling Cyberbullying with AI Sentiment Analysis, Fostering Awareness, and Empowering Students through Anonymous Reporting.”
Two Ashburn Students Named U.S. Presidential Scholars
Two Ashburn area students were named 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars. They are among just 161 students from around the country selected for the honor.
Sriya Yalamanchili, who graduated from Rock Ridge High School and the Academies of Loudoun this year, is one of the honorees. The other is Raaga Kodali, who graduated from Briar Woods High School.
Yalamanchili held leadership positions in high school, including vice president of the Rock Ridge National Honor Society, and interned at local health institutions, including Inova Schar Cancer Center. She now attends Brown University.
Kodali served as the Virginia DECA chapter’s 2023 state president. She was also Briar Woods’ DECA chapter’s vice president of career development. Kodali also served as a research intern for Laura TeKrony, a member of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. She is now a student at the University of Texas at Austin. Created in 1964, the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars annually selects scholars based on academic success, excellence in the arts and in technical education through essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as a demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership. A
Raaga Kodali Sriya Yalamanchili
Making Waves
Two local crew coaches open state-of-art indoor rowing facility
BY CHRIS WADSWORTH
Maverick Rowing is all about the water – the boats, regattas, the Potomac River and Maverick’s state-of-the-art indoor rowing tank. But the plan for this H2O-centric enterprise came together in – of all places – a car.
“We made a 10-hour trek to check indoor rowing tanks at the Durham Boat Company in New Hampshire,” said Joe Carrier, a co-owner and coach at Maverick. “On the way back home, we sketched out an entire business plan.” That business was formally born early this year when Maverick Rowing opened in Lansdowne. The training center for area high school crew teams and other aspiring athletes took over an unused building near the community swimming pool in the Lansdowne on the Potomac neighborhood.
Carrier and his business partner and fellow coach, Dan Passarella, expanded the space, outfitted it with 22 Concept 2 RowErg rowing machines and – most impor-
JOE CARRIER
DAN PASSARELLA
tantly – brought in the only eight-person sweep/sculling rowing tank in Virginia.
(Sweep means a rower is using a single oar. Sculling is when a rower is rowing two oars.)
The two men may be making waves with Maverick Rowing, but their real claim to fame is as the coaches of the award-winning rowing team at Riverside High School.
The team’s first full season was 2021, and it won a shocking two golds and a silver at the Virginia State Championships. That success led to the idea to create Maverick Rowing.
“We had a really good first year,” Passarella said. “No crew team does well in their first year because you’re racing teams that have decades of experience. But we immediately knew there was a whole other level and we asked ourselves – ‘What can we do to get to that next level and be a top tier team?’ – and that’s what did it.”
Since opening, Maverick has seen athletes from a number of area schools pass through its doors. Seven Loudoun County public high schools have rowing clubs, and an eighth is being formed this fall. Rowing
Indoor rowing gives you the opportunity to teach things when you are standing right next to the rower rather than being in a motor boat 15 yards away.
clubs in the region can use the facility, and rowers from George Mason University have used it. Maverick also hosts “Learn to Row” sessions for middle-schoolers who might be interested in the sport when they reach high school.
The indoor tank is the key. Among the benefits, it allows serious rowers to get real on-the-water experience no matter the season, the weather or the conditions on the nearby Potomac.
Mike Love is entering his eighth season as coach of the Broad Run High School crew team. He and his student-athletes have used the Maverick facility several times.
“Indoor rowing gives you the opportunity to teach things when you are standing right next to the rower rather than being in a motor boat 15 yards away,” Love said. “I can actually grab the blade and talk to them while they are doing things and move them slowly through the proper positions.”
Carrier said the facility also has camera positions around the rowing tank , allowing coaches to observe and course correct while students are rowing. “Rowers can’t
INSIDE INOVA
Meet the president of our fast-growing local hospital
BY CHRIS WADSWORTH
As the president of Inova Loudoun Hospital, Susan Carroll has found herself in plenty of high-pressure situations. But one of the most memorable moments happened a few years back at Easter time.
That’s when the hospital’s team had arranged for an Easter bunny to entertain the children in the pediatric unit. Only problem – the bunny suit they rented was a size too small.
“Nobody above the height of 5 feet or so could fit into that suit,” Carroll recalled. “At my best, I’m 5-foot-2… and everyone turned and looked at me and I realized I was the
only one who was going to be able to fit. So I did it. I went out – no one on the floor knew it was me – and I hopped around, and when it was done and I took the head off, everyone laughed when they saw it was me.”
No job is too big or too small when you’re running a hospital it seems. Located in Lansdowne, just north of Route 7, Inova Loudoun has some 1,900 employees – all looking to Carroll to lead them as the facility and the community around it continue to grow.
Carroll holds a bachelor’s degree from Radford University and, not one, but two master’s degrees from Ohio University.
“I wanted to be a lawyer and – part of one of my classes – we had to do an internship,” Carroll said. “I got put in a hospital completely by chance. I never realized you could be in the hospital business without being a clinician. That experience led me to see that there was a whole profession out there that was attainable and that I was passionate about.”
Carroll began her career at Inova Loudoun in 1996 as director of business affairs and steadily rose through the administrative ranks, moving around to many different positions at Inova’s facilities in the region. She assumed her current role in 2021.
“I have worked at every hospital and actually been president of every hospital. It’s my claim to fame,” she said with a laugh.
Away from work, Carroll lives in Ashburn. She and her husband, Matt – a stayat-home dad – moved here 22 years ago. They currently share a home in the Belmont Glen neighborhood with their two sons, one in college at Elon University, the other a senior at Briar Woods High School. Oh, and we can’t forget Smokey.
“The love of my life,” said Carroll. “He’s a gray Bernedoodle. He should be about 30 to 35 pounds. He’s 70.”
Wanting to know more about what makes our local hospital tick, Ashburn Magazine interviewed Carroll about her position and this place that she is passionate about. Excerpts from our conversation begin on the facing page.
LIGHTNING ROUND WITH SUSAN CARROLL
dog lover. Here she is seen posing with Moo, one of the "Chief Comfort Officers" at the hospital who brings joy to patients.
FAVORITE BOOK:
“To Kill a Mockingbird”
FAVORITE MOVIE: “The Princess Bride”
FAVORITE DATE NIGHT SPOT: Parallel Wine & Whiskey Bar
FAVORITE FAMILY DINNER SPOT: Passion Fin
How would you describe a typical day as president of a hospital?
When I have a typical one, I’ll call you because there’s no such thing [laughs]. In 26 years, I’ve yet to have a typical day, so I’m not sure I could describe it. It is so varied. It’s being out in the community. It could be getting a call at 1 a.m. that the Internet is down and you can’t get to medical records. It could be working on strategy – how do you grow? How do you recruit new positions? How do you make sure that our team members are happy and satisfied? What are two or three things about Inova Loudoun that people might not know?
Can I share four things? One, we are a nonprofit hospital which means any excess revenues are used to improve our operations and surrounding community instead of distributing the surplus to shareholders in the form of dividends. Two, the Ladies Board of Inova Loudoun Hospital was instrumental in starting the hospital in 1912. And the Ladies Board continues to thrive. They recently fulfilled a $1.2 million pledge, marking the largest donation in their history.
That’s two things. What are the other two?
Three, we are the largest private sector employer in the county, and four, some hospital departments have waiting lists for people wanting to work here.
Inova Loudoun does a lot with pediatric care. There is a pediatric ER and a robust neonatal unit, and now a new pediatric unit is coming online. Tell us about that.
Our new pediatric unit will be opening next year. It will have the ability to go from 12 to 24 beds, depending upon how busy we are. It will remain a locked pediatric unit because safety is, of course, very important. Inova Loudoun and Inova Fairfax have the only inpatient pediatric units from Northern Virginia to Richmond so we serve as a transfer center for many pediatric patients across the region.
How is treating kids different from treating adults?
One thing I always say is that kids are not small adults. If you treat a pediatric patient, you have to really understand how to treat pediatric
FAVORITE ITEM ON INOVA LOUDOUN'S CAFETERIA MENU: During the summer, it’s the fabulous Fried Green Tomato BLT.
ONE SECRET NO ONE
Carroll is a
patients and it is very different. It’s not just treating a smaller adult. It’s not like you just need a shorter bed. You need child life specialists. You need physicians and nurses who specialize in pediatrics. You need to understand that you’re not just treating the patient – you’re caring for their entire family, and sometimes that includes the stress and pressures around siblings, which isn’t necessarily always the same with adult patients. When you take on a pediatric program, you have to really holistically treat the whole family.
There are many challenges in the healthcare industry, but what is the main challenge facing Inova Loudoun?
One of the unique challenges is keeping up with the growth of the county. When I started at Loudoun 26 years ago, we were an 80-bed hospital. Now we have 211 beds and are continuing to grow. So the challenge is an exciting one. What are we going to do next over the next 5, 10 and 15 years?
And how are you and your team responding to the growth?
Making sure that we can always stay one or two steps ahead of the changing population is something that's really important to us. This is probably our biggest challenge. We are very fortunate because 15 or 20 years ago, we purchased the adjacent 50 acres next to our hospital, even though we didn’t need it at the time. Now, we have more than enough space to grow and meet the community’s needs. It was a smart decision back then.
Carroll seen on the job at Inova Loudoun Hospital events.
THAI CUISINE
What’s the most rewarding thing about your job?
One rewarding aspect is being able to address issues in the community. In 2008, we noticed that uninsured women and those on Medicaid lacked access to the same quality of prenatal care as other Loudoun County residents. Many of these women were showing up in our emergency rooms with no prenatal care whatsoever, putting themselves and their babies at risk. To tackle this, we partnered with the Loudoun County Health Department and established the Inova
Cares Clinic for Women–Lansdowne. This clinic ensures that all women in the Loudoun community receive excellent prenatal care, improving birth outcomes and reducing NICU stays.
Down the road, what does the future hold for Inova Loudoun?
Moving to a Level II trauma center. We are currently a Level III trauma center. Level II requires us to have more physicians, and we’ll expand our trauma team. As a Level II, we’ll be able to treat more severe traumatic injuries.
Basically, Level II will greatly reduce our need to transfer patients.
Outside of the hospital, you and your family live in Ashburn. How do you like to spend your free time?
I spend a lot of time with my family. Having two boys who are very active in sports, the last 10 years have been filled with travel tournaments and baseball games. Now that my kids are 20 and almost 17, I’ve noticed we can do different things together. Recently, the four of us went to Spain. We also
attended a local concert, which was fun. We also have a lake house where we love to go to decompress. We built it so they could bring their friends and family. You never realize how many friends and family you have until you have a lake house – and we love hosting everyone. A
Building BRIDGES
Ashburn man serving in the Peace Corps
BY CHRIS WADSWORTH
It was definitely not a situation Alex Lowe ever expected to find himself in – more than 6,000 miles away from his home in Ashburn, standing in front of 200 people in a remote Central Asian village and singing in the Kyrgyz language.
But that’s just one of dozens – even hundreds – of unique moments Lowe has experienced since entering the Peace Corps a little over a year ago.
“I’m sure I looked like my terrified 5-year-old self on the first day of kindergarten,” Lowe said. “I am not a good singer. I don’t like to sing. Yet I have sung more in Kyrgyz in this past year than I have in English in my entire life.”
The Peace Corps was created in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. The agency sends volunteers to developing countries to work in fields such as education, health and entrepreneurship. Lowe, 23, grew up in Ashburn with his mom, Leena, his dad, Thad, and his twin brother, Kyle. He graduated from Briar Woods High School in 2019 and earned a bachelor’s degree in biological
systems engineering from Virginia Tech in 2023.
Like most Americans, Lowe had heard of the Peace Corps and always thought it sounded kind of cool, but it wasn’t until his senior year that he started considering it seriously. He was presented with an opportunity to teach English in Kyrgyzstan, a landlocked country of roughly 7 million people nestled against the western border of China in Central Asia.
It’s no small thing. Serving in the Peace Corps is usually a two-year commitment far from family and friends. Lowe received his invitation to serve via email and spent the next 72 hours waffling back and forth, struggling with his decision.
Top: Alex Lowe (back row) stands with teachers and colleagues at his school in rural Kyrgyzstan. Left: Lowe and another volunteer trying traditional Kyrgyz food during training.
Right: Lowe and a student building a birdhouse during a summer camp he helped run. Below: Horses stroll along the shores of Song Kul, a mountain lake in northern Kyrgyzstan.
“In the end, I noticed that all of the reasons preventing me from saying yes were based in fear,” he said. “I was scared to miss my family and friends. I was scared I wouldn’t be able to adapt to my new country. I was scared I wouldn’t be able to make an impact. I was scared I wouldn’t be able to make a community of friends and make Kyrgyzstan feel like home. Once I realized this, my decision became clear. I did not want to make my decision because of fear. I clicked yes on the invitation and haven’t looked back since.”
In the summer of 2023, Lowe flew to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, for 2½ months of culture and language training. His assignment turned out to be in a tiny hamlet in the Ak-Talaa region –far from the capital and one of the most isolated regions.
Lowe’s primary assignment in his new home was as an English teacher. On a typical day, his duties are probably not that different from those of his teachers at Briar Woods. He holds a few classes with local students, leads several English language clubs and then spends a couple of hours lesson planning and designing materials for his students.
“Seeing my students’ English progress
A traditional Kyrgyz tent called a yurt (far left) amidst photos of Lowe spending time with his English students, his host mother and his host father.
over the last year has been incredibly rewarding,” Lowe said. “Recently, some of my older students got the chance to meet one of my volunteer friends.
Seeing them talk with her, ask questions and have a long conversation in English made me really happy.”
Despite the success and the many new friends he has made, Lowe admits he misses his family and friends back in the United States.
“Being away from everything that was a part of my life before the Peace Corps for so long – and knowing that when I return, we will be different people at different points in our lives is challenging,” he said. “The relationships I have back home are forever changed, which scares me.”
It hasn’t been a walk in the park for Lowe’s family either.
“In the beginning, when he told us he was interested in the Peace Corps, I definitely saw it as a possibility, but it wasn’t a sure thing,” said Alex’s mom, Leena Lowe. “But when he got chosen… I hit the panic button. I was worried about his safety.”
Lowe did research, spoke to a friend from the State Department and soon felt comfortable that Kyrgyzstan is actually a safe country with a growing tourism industry.
Despite her initial worries, she also says the family is extremely proud of Alex.
“My immediate feeling was incredible pride that my son wanted to live this life of service and building bridges,” she said.
Alex Lowe still has almost a full year to go in Kyrgyzstan. His commitment is scheduled to run until August 2025. After that, he readily admits he’s not sure what comes next.
Right: Alex hiking at Sary Chelek Nature Reserve this summer. Below: Lowe's family from the U.S. came to visit him in August. Here they are in the capital of Bishkek. Alex Lowe (second from right) is wearing a black t-shirt. His twin brother Kyle is on the far left.
“What I do know is that my experience in the Peace Corps will make me chase a career that is in service to others, both people and the planet we call home,” he said. “I feel incredibly fortunate to come from a place with the resources that allow me to use my time to give back to others. So that is what I intend to do.”
And if some future opportunity involves stepping outside his comfort zone and – for example, singing in front of a crowd in a foreign language – Lowe knows he’s ready.
“There will be times where you do things that you never do back home, and times where you completely embarrass yourself. Many, many times,” Lowe said. “And I think that is amazing. If you are not putting yourself out there, making a fool of yourself, and having fun along the way, then you are probably not making the most out of your time in the Peace Corps.”
within Coloring
Artist spotlights local scenes with a unique perspective
BY CHRIS WADSWORTH
Ican’t paint, but I can draw and generally color within the lines.”
That’s the motto of Ashburn artist George Hegedus. And he’s being modest. This information technology executive, husband and father picked up a fun hobby during his pandemic downtime – using colored pencils (and sometimes other media) to create charming “folk art” showing scenes from around Ashburn as well as other communities where
he has lived.
“Little to no training? Check. A flattened perspective? Check. An expression of community life? Check,” he said.
Hegedus, who lives in Ashburn’s Farmwell Hunt neighborhood, has been drawing since childhood in Arlington Heights, Ill.
Lifelong friend Kevin Feliciano remembers sitting at a table at the back of their grade school classroom drawing with Hegedus.
“Somewhere around the sixth grade, we both began making these little flip books,” Feliciano said. “They were comprised of stick figures doing ridiculous things that would often resolve in a brutal or violent end. You know – the kinds of things that would highly amuse any pre-adolescent boy. It wasn’t until high school, though, where I really began to appreciate George’s artistic endeavors.”
cadet humor magazine, The Pointer.
“Just because of all the businesses I’ve Far left: Hegedus seen
However, his current works are less comic strip and much more inspired by artist Jane Wooster Scott, an American artist known for her bucolic scenes of American towns. The Guinness Book of World Records described her as “the most reproduced artist in America.”
“I’ve been a big fan of hers for a long time,” Hegedus said. “I really like [this style] because you can put a lot into a drawing, and the scale and angles don’t have to be perfect.”
He’s also a devotee of painter Erik Dowdle. Dowdle’s work gave him the idea to focus on communities where he has lived.
“I like to pick an area – Ashburn, Arlington Heights or West Point – and put in as many buildings from that spot as possible,” he said.
Hegedus drew comic strips about high school life and did artwork for the school newspaper. He continued during his time at West Point, submitting drawings for the
Hegedus has done a large piece that extended to three sheets of paper featuring Broad Run High School. He’s also done a drawing focusing on data centers – “for levity” he says. But his favorite subjects are the homes and buildings in and around the quaint Old Ashburn area along Ashburn Road.
frequented – Carolina Brothers, Wine’ing Butcher, Community Church – and of course, I love the rehab of the purple house,” Hegedus said.
He’s referring to the landmark bright purple house at the corner of Ashburn Road and Jenkins Lane. When he pulled an image of the house up on Google, he spotted a woman walking with an umbrella and – you guessed it – he included her in his piece.
“That’s happened a few times where I look up a house on Google Maps and a person just happens to be there, so I put them,” he said.
Hegedus says each piece takes him roughly 40 hours, and he can only draw and color a couple of hours at a time, or he gets “sloppy,” to use his word.
Hegedus’ daughter Audrey, a college student at Clemson, calls her dad’s art “super cool” and says he’s been creating art for as long as she can remember.
Above: A local Ashburn scene featuring our ubiquitous data centers. Left: In this Google image, a woman can be seen carrying an umbrella by the purple house on Ashburn Road. Hegedus included her in one of his pieces, seen on the first page of this article.
Hegedus out for a hike and one of his works featuring Ashburn locales, including the former America Online headquarters and its ubiquitous logo.
“He puts a lot of effort into every piece he does. He researches the places he is going to draw beforehand and also includes details that are important to the family he is giving the piece to,” she said. “He really enjoys what he does, and it brings him a lot of joy. It’s a great outlet for him.”
For Hegedus, his art is mostly just a hobby to amuse and please friends. He has a website – hegedusfolkart.com – to show it off and some of his works are for sale. He also sometimes turns them into puzzles and other items that he sells. But turning a profit and going pro is not his primary goal.
“I really do it for fun,” Hegedus said. “I rarely go a day without drawing or sketching something.” A
The Big Picture
Home sales declined slightly for the second straight month in the two Ashburn ZIP codes combined in June, compared with June 2023, as the real estate market remains tight. Countywide in June, home sales were down 3% compared with the prior year.
More inventory coming online… New listings in June were up 22% in the 20147 ZIP code and 12.7% in 20148, according to the latest available data from the Dulles Area Association of Realtors. Countywide, listings were up 6.4%.
The June Details
Closed sales:
• Up 1.1% in 20147 ZIP code
• Down 9.4% in 20148 ZIP code
• Combined sales totaled 168, down from 175 a year earlier.
Pending sales:
• Up 22.4% in 20147
• Down 1.4% in 20148
Median sales price:
• Up 5.6% to $710,000 in 20147
• Up 9% to $866,125 in 20148
Average days on market
(homes sold in June):
• 9 in 20147
• 16 in 20148
Top sales: The five highest-priced homes that sold in each of Ashburn’s two ZIP codes between mid-June and mid-August. Data and photos from Realtor.com.
A new, occasional feature where we update you on people and businesses that have appeared in prior issues of Ashburn Magazine.
Gold Medalist
ack in the March 2022 issue of Ashburn Magazine, we featured Emily Fox on the cover. The Stone Bridge High School graduate had been a star player at the University of North Carolina and made multiple appearances with the U.S. Women’s national team.
But at the time, playing in the Olympics was just a dream for Fox.
Fast forward to the summer of 2024 and that dream became a reality. Fox and her teammates not only played at the Olympic Games in Paris but they won the gold medal. The American team defeated Brazil 1-0, putting the women atop the Olympic podium for the first time in a dozen years. Fox, a defender who played in every match during the tournament, was one of the keys to success.
When not winning gold, Fox is a professional soccer player, currently playing for Arsenal in Great Britain.
Congratulations to Emily and her teammates for their amazing Olympic success. Your many neighbors and fans in Ashburn are thrilled for you.
—Chris Wadsworth
Winning Drives
In the very first issue of Ashburn Magazine, March/April 2019, we profiled former Briar Woods High School star quarterback Trace McSorley. McSorley played collegiate football at Penn State and at the time was preparing for the NFL Draft.
He wound up being selected in the sixth round by the Baltimore Ravens and later played for the Arizona Cardinals, where he made his only NFL start, in 2022. McSorley bounced around among several other teams last season before being waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers in January.
He was on vacation in mid-August when his hometown team, the Washington Commanders, called. The Commanders had lost two quarterbacks to injuries and needed another backup to help them get through the remainder of training camp and preseason. McSorley, now 29, ditched the golf clubs for a helmet and reported to training camp, only a few miles from where he played high school football.
Just 10 days later, on Aug. 25, in a nationally televised game before a home crowd, McSorley led a second-half comeback as the Commanders defeated the New England Patriots 20-10 in their final preseason game of the year.
Sadly, as of our press date, the Commanders didn’t have McSorley on their roster heading into the season, but his performance could spark interest from other teams. And regardless, we’re glad he had his moment in the sun for his hometown team.
— Bruce Potter
Boom Time for Birria
The taco sensation is popular on area menus
BY CHRIS WADSWORTH
Istill remember the first time that I heard the term “birria tacos.” My son, then a high-schooler, came home talking about some new kind of taco he wanted to make –something he had seen on TikTok. At first, I wasn’t sure whether to believe him. I thought I knew all the tacos there were. But then he showed me the video – a golden tortilla stuffed with rich dark brown meat being plunged into a bowl of amber liquid shiny with a bit of oil on top. I had to admit it looked decadent.
That may have been the first time I encountered birria tacos, but it wasn’t the last. It seemed that within months birria was popping up on menus at Mexican restaurants everywhere.
“It’s been around for probably 50 years, but you know social media these days –they bring all kinds of things to the surface,” said chef Basir Ahadi. “Everyone was asking their favorite taco shops if they had birria.”
Ahadi is the founder and owner of Taco Zocalo, a fast-growing local Mexican chain. From his original restaurant in Reston, he has added locations in Ashburn, Chantilly, Falls Church and – soon – Sterling.
Readers of Ashburn Magazine honored Taco Zocalo with the “Best Tacos” award in the Best of Ashburn 2024 contest.
At Taco Zocalo, the birria tacos are extremely popular – and limited in
www.astriwee.com photography@astriwee.com
availability. You can only order them on Tuesdays and Sundays.
“It’s very time-consuming,” Ahadi said. “We cook the birria in stock pots for 17 hours. It is slow-cooked, so we decided to have it as a special only for Taco Tuesdays and Sundays.”
BORDER-HOPPING BIRRIA
Birria tacos reportedly started in the Mexican state of Jalisco. They made their way to the Tijuana area and then crossed the border and started popping up at food trucks and restaurants in Los Angeles.
That’s where entrepreneurs and chefs started posting photos and videos of their birria tacos to social media – Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok.
The original meat used in the Mexican version of birria tacos was goat. But goat is very lean, and cooks soon found they could make beef go farther.
BIRRIA BASICS
Crazy as it sounds, the name birria comes from a Spanish word for garbage or something of little value. But before you laugh, that just speaks to the dish’s humble roots. Today, birria is usually made with short rib or beef brisket that is marinated in a mixture of vinegar, dried chiles, garlic and herbs and spices and then cooked in a broth.
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And that broth is the key – served on the side in a ramekin or small bowl for dunking.
Traditionally, there is no cheese in authentic birria tacos, but that hasn’t stopped chefs and restaurants from innovating and making as many different types of birria dishes as you can imagine.
BIRRIA IN ASHBURN
Rebel Taco, in Brambleton Town Center, has birria tacos made with braised lamb shoulder, cheese, onions and cilantro. Plus, the dipping “consommé,” of course.
At Señor Tequila’s, a Mexican restaurant in Loudoun Station off Shellhorn Road, you can find “QuesaBirrias” – a quesadilla-style creation with birria meat and cheese in a tortilla that is then grilled. The restaurant also has the requisite birria tacos, as well as birria nachos, on its Happy Hour menu.
In the past, Señor Tequila’s has experimented with birria stew, birria fries and even birria pizza.
“Oh, it’s very popular,” said Mario Villalta, the restaurant’s general manager. “One time, I asked a couple at the bar, ‘How do you know about birria?’ and they said, ‘We saw it on TikTok.’ Now people are ordering birria tacos every day. For here. To go. It’s a big thing.”
A BIRRIA PRO
Corbin Nathan lives in Broadlands and is a self-described “huge fan of Mexican food.” At home, his specialty is fish tacos in corn tortillas topped with some
Private Schools Serving Ashburn
Since 1961, the Fairfax Christian School has inspired students with a passion for learning. Our exceptional teachers follow a time–tested curriculum that brings excitement to learning, promoting critical thinking and creativity while focusing on the success and talent of each student.
Beginning with four-year-old kindergarten, your child will set out on a nurturing, motivating, and challenging academic path that continues through lower and middle school with Christian values, which develop ethical and emotional intelligence.
Your child will excel in high school with a university-prep program, including dual enrollment and Advanced Placement classes that prepare our students for top universities.
Our Loudoun County campus offers state-of-the-art facilities, including science and computer labs, a library, a performance hall, a large gymnasium, and outdoor sports facilities.
Preschool is your child’s introduction to their community, and learning begins the very first moment they step through the doors of The Gardner School.
Our blended curriculum nurtures intellectual growth, while open-ended play helps students build friendships, curiosity, and confidence. With experienced and caring teachers who foster creativity and encourage daily exploration, your child can thrive.
We serve families in Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, and areas surrounding Loudoun County. To learn more about our intentional approach to early childhood education, schedule a tour to visit us today!
The Fairfax Christian School is fully accredited by Cognia and Christian School International.
The first 20 patients to start their clear NEW AND IMPROVED aligner therapy in August or September!
off Your Patient Portion
- DON’T MISS OUT!
Expires 10/1/2024 Angel Aligner is an innovative technology with discreet and comfortable wear to improve your smile without the use of traditional metal braces and wires. The treatment consists of a series of clear, molded aligners that are custom fit to your teeth. Your nearly invisible aligners will straighten your teeth overtime based on a treatment plan designed by Dr. Kim to ultimately create your ideal smile.
DULLES DAY PLANE PULL
Dulles International Airport - Cargo Area
Head to the airport and follow event signage to parking
Saturday, Sept. 14, 10 a.m. (gates close to new arrivals at 3:30 p.m.)
The 2024 Dulles Day Plane Pull to benefit the Special Olympics features pre-registered teams pulling a giant plane in an intense competition. There’s also a lively festival with a car show, entertainment, food vendors, live music, games and more.
DUELING PIANOS WITH THE FLYING IVORIES
Ion International Training Center 19201 Compass Creek Parkway, Leesburg Saturday, Sept. 14, 8 p.m
Get ready for an unforgettable evening of music, laughter and high-energy entertainment. The Flying Ivories are known for their dynamic and engaging dueling piano shows, where two talented pianists take the stage for a non-stop, audience-driven performance.
THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
ARTfactory 9419 Battle Street, Manassas
Sept. 20-Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Complete with sass from the audience, cascading toilet paper and an array of other audience participation props, this deliberately kitschy rock ’n’ roll sci-fi gothic musical is more fun than ever.
WANT MORE?
For a complete list of events around Northern Virginia, visit InsideNoVa.com/calendar
Ion International Training Center
19201 Compass Creek Parkway, Leesburg Saturday, Sept. 21, 8 p.m.
Spice up your Saturday night with an evening of salsa dancing. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or a complete beginner, this event is for everyone. Join in for an electrifying night of music, dancing, and fun with DJ Angel.
BUY TICKETS HERE
WOMEN’S CEO SUMMIT 2024
Washington Dulles Airport Marriott 45020 Aviation Drive, Chantilly
Friday, Sept. 27, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Come for a pivotal day of growth, learning and connections at the Women’s CEO Summit. This year’s theme, “Say Yes to Growth,” is a powerful invitation to women business owners ready to elevate their leadership and business success.
The 2024 Leesburg Airshow has it all –vintage aircraft, high-flying performers, FAQs with pilots, bounce houses and other kids’ activities, plus food and beverage vendors.
Morven Park International Equestrian Center 41580 Sunday Morning Lane, Leesburg Oct. 11-13, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Celebrate more than 50 years of eventing at Morven Park with the best seats in the park. With a VIP Pass, you can relax in the covered tent while keeping an eye on all the exciting competitions and enjoying delicious catered food.
Dillon’s Woods (adjacent to Firemen’s Field Park) 250 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville Saturday, Oct. 12, Noon-5p.m.
Purcellville celebrates in style with carnival activities and games for the whole family, food and beverage vendors, and live music from local bands.
DISCOVERING TREASURES TOUR
The Davis Mansion at Morven Park 17269 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg Friday, October 25, 10 a.m.
The Morven Park Mansion is full of unique and interesting treasures from around the world. Discover the oldest artifact in the collection, check for secret drawers in the writing chests and peek inside the wardrobes.
MORVEN PARK INTERNATIONAL & FALL HORSE TRIALS
TICKETS HERE
SALSA WITH DJ ANGEL
BUY TICKETS HERE
FLYBY
CELEBRATE PURCELLVILLE FALL FESTIVAL
A round-up of the latest restaurant, retail, and other cool news from Ashburn and beyond. Check out The Burn at TheBurn.com and follow it on Facebook, and Instagram.
1 NEW QDOBA MEXICAN RESTAURANT ON THE WAY
A new Qdoba restaurant will be taking a roughly 1,900-square-foot space in the Ashbrook Commons shopping center. That’s the Harris Teeter-anchored center near Ashburn Village Boulevard and Route 7.
Qdoba – a fast-casual brand serving Mexican cuisine – is going into the spot that formerly was the Sweet Frog froyo shop. The California-based national chain has more than 750 locations nationwide. Locally, there are a number of Qdoba stores in Northern Virginia, including Herndon, Fairfax, Manassas and Gainesville.
2 DIG PLANS SEPTEMBER
OPENING AT ONE LOUDOUN
Dig, a fast-casual restaurant specializing in “seasonal comfort food,” has announced an opening date at One Loudoun in Ashburn. Work has been underway on the former
Zoe’s Kitchen space since at least early June, and recently the signs for Dig were installed on the facade of the building. Now the brand has officially said that Sept. 6 will be opening day – so by the time you read this, you should be able to “dig in” at Dig. The brand has more than 30 locations stretching from Boston to Washington, with most in the New York City area. Locally, there are Dig outposts in Georgetown and Bethesda.
3 CONFIRMED: NEW TARGET STORE NEAR ASHBURN IN THE WORKS
A new Target department store is officially in the works just south of Ashburn – confirming a report first published on The Burn back in 2023. Loudoun County Supervisor Matt Letourneau announced that Target will be the first anchor store at the upcoming Shops at Arcola retail center. That center will be built near Loudoun County Parkway and Dulles West Boulevard, just a few minutes south of Brambleton. Construction on the 150,000-square-foot store is expected to start immediately.
4 MATSUPOKE SUSHI OPENS IN ASHBURN
A new fast-casual Asian restaurant called Matsupoke Sushi has opened in Ashburn. It’s in the Cameron Chase Village Center retail plaza next door to the Ashburn Ice House. That’s the same center with Ford’s Fish Shack’s Ashburn location. Matsupoke’s menu includes poke bowls, sushi rolls, plus soups, salads, appetizers and desserts.
5 LOUDOUN’S FIRST CONTAINER STORE DEBUTS AT ONE LOUDOUN
The first Container Store in Loudoun opened at One Loudoun in Ashburn in late July.
The 17,000-square-foot store was packed on opening day as shoppers snapped up baskets, bins, filing cabinets, desks, organizers, dorm room supplies and more.
The Container Store, part of a national chain, took over the space vacated by Great Gatherings, a defunct outdoor furniture retailer. That’s across the street from the Barnes &
Noble bookstore. The previous closest Container Store location to Ashburn had been in Reston.
6 RUSH BOWLS SIGNS LEASE FOR SECOND ASHBURN LOCATION
Açai bowls are all the rage right now, and a fast-growing bowl brand is planning its second location in Ashburn.
The new Rush Bowls will be taking a roughly 1,200-square-foot location in the Ashbrook Commons shopping center. That’s the Harris Teeter-anchored plaza near Russell Branch Parkway and Ashburn Village Boulevard.
We’re told the owners hope to open the new store before the end of the year if everything
goes according to schedule. Otherwise, they will be aiming for some time in January. The first Rush Bowls in Loudoun opened in the Brambleton Town Center this spring. At least three additional local stores are planned for the brand. A
