BRAMBLETON BUZZ: LATEST NEWS & EVENTS IN LOUDOUN COUNTY

What’s Trending in Brambleton – August Edition 2015

Posted August 18, 2015

All New Brambleton Website is now LIVE!
Be among the first to check out our new, mobile-friendly website which just launched on Monday at www.brambleton.com!
Live Brambleton. Live Connected.

Brambleton Awarded “Best Residential Community” Two Years in a Row

Brambleton is Posh Seven's Best of Suburbia Winner

Thank you, Posh Seven Magazine readers, for voting Brambleton the “Best Residential Community” two years in a row! We’re honored to share the spotlight with several of our Town Center merchants and builders – Van Metre Homes, Lost Rhino Retreat, Brambleton Sport & Health, Nick’s Taverna, Dr. Costa from Costa Family Dentistry, Dr. Saleh from Little Smiles Pediatric and Costa Family Dentistry, Dr. Casagrande from Northern Virginia Orthodontics and TanOrganiq.  For the full list of winners, please click here.

Facebook selects the Brambleton Town Center Facebook Page to Receive Their Bluetooth®Beacon 

 

“Facebook Bluetooth® beacons help people who visit your business see more information about your business on Facebook. Using Bluetooth® technology, beacons send a signal to the Facebook app on your customers’ phones to help

us show them the right place tips about your place.”  Next time you are at the BTC, open up your Facebook app and check in (be sure your Bluetooth® has been enabled!)

Brambleton Bettas are an undefeated community swim team in Loudoun County, VA.

Brambleton Hosts ODSL All Star Swim Meet

Almost 500 swimmers from 27 teams throughout Loudoun County came out to Brambleton to compete in the annual All-Star Swim Meet on Saturday, August 1st. We are pleased to announce that Brambleton took first place at All Stars completing another season sweep. Politician Tag Greason and Olympian Charlie Houchin handed the awards. Way to go Bettas! View the amazing film footage that was captured at the event here and pictures here.

All-stars wrap up ODSL season on high note.

Brambleton Town Center Receives BEAM Award

The Brambleton Town Center is pleased to announce that Rappaport submitted an application for the prestigious BEAM Award and WON!  They selected to highlight their involvement with one of their premier shopping centers, Brambleton Town Center. They entered into the following three categories: Community Involvement, Technology & Innovation and Tenant Relations. Their responses on those three topics are available via this link: https://www.youtube.com/ Note: Community Involvement opens the video, Tenant Relations starts at approximately 9:25 and Technology & Innovation starts at approximately 14:56.

Rappaport provides the Washington, D.C. area with professional real estate services centered exclusively on the retail sector. Founded in 1984 by Gary D. Rappaport, Rappaport owns and develops shopping centers and provides leasing, tenant representation, property management, marketing, development, construction management, receivership services and consulting for retail space in shopping center and mixed-use properties throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Rappaport holds an ACCREDITED MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION ® designation, the only one in the industry that recognizes excellence among real estate management firms.

The award will be presented at the next regular IREM Chapter 8 General Membership meeting, Tuesday, September 15 at Clydesdale Gallery Place.  Incidentally, that is also the day Rappaport will be presented with their AMO (Accredited Management Organization) designation before the general membership.

Humans of Brambleton – Dr. Zach Casagrande of Northern Virginia Orthodontics

This month we chatted with Dr. Zach Casagrande of Northern Virginia Orthodontics about what it’s like to be the official orthodontist of the Capitals, Wizards and Mystics, how he gives back to the community, and why you should be having fun at the orthodontist.  View full blog here.

Calling All Bakers for Brambleton’s Big Birthday Bash

In honor of Brambleton’s 14th birthday on September 24 and the Brambleton Town Center’s 10th birthday in October, we are holding a Brambleton Birthday Cake Decorating Contest at the Welcome Center. Showcase your talents by decorating a cake that represents one of Brambleton’s themes (think TV Channel, nature, technology, lifestyle, entertainment, movies, shopping, dining, health, garden, trails, etc).

To enter the contest, simply send an e-mail by 5:00pm on Sunday, September 20th, letting us know you plan to bring in a decorated cake to brambletoninfo@gmail.com. Then bring your edible and decorated cakes to the Welcome Center by 1:45pm on Thursday, September 24. After the judging takes place at 2:00pm, we will have a community birthday party to enjoy your creations! Winners will be announced promptly after the judging is complete.

There will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes consisting of ribbons and Brambleton Town Center gift cards. If you have any questions, please contact the Welcome Center at 703-542-2925 or send an e-mail brambletoninfo@gmail.com. Good luck, and happy baking!

Summer concerts are the most popular events in Ashburn VA, hosted by the Brambleton Town Center.

Brambleton Idol and BONUS Summer Concert

Friday, August 21st, at the Brambleton Town Center, 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM.  Do you have what it takes to be the Brambleton Idol? Join us for our first Brambleton Idol contest!  The winner will receive a $100 gift card plus bragging rights.  Not only will you get to stand on the big stage, but you get to sing with the LIVE karaoke band HARIKARAOKE!  The contest will run from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM, but the fun doesn’t stop there.  Covered with Jam will take the stage at 8:00 PM and play all your favorite classic rock tunes into the night.   Please email events@brambleton.org with any questions.

Summer Selfie Photo Contest
We’ve got a new photo challenge for you! Post your best summer selfie from one of the last Brambleton concerts (8/21 & 8/27) for a chance to win a Lost Rhino Retreat gift card! Post to Facebook or Instagram using ‪#‎BramLife or ‪#‎Brambleton. The winner will be notified and announced via social media.

Development Update:
New underpasses, Creighton Road expansion and new elementary school site prep! More photos here.

Little Free Libraries are Here! 

Brambleton is making it easier for you to enjoy your favorite book.  Six new, fully stocked library kiosks have been installed throughout the community, each containing a fun mix of books for readers of all ages.  Need a book?  Take a book!  For more details on locations, borrowing, or donating books, contact us at programs@brambleton.org or visit the Brambleton Community Association’s website.

The B_Fit Trail Challenge, presented by Fitness Image Results and Families in Training, will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2015 in Brambleton. Timed waves will compete on approximately 2.5 miles of paved trails including 11 fitness stations with a range of strength and agility challenges along the way.  Registration Now Open! $27/person, which includes a technical shirt and registration fees. Proceeds from this event benefit the pediatric cancer cause.

Participants can opt to compete as a team or individually. When you register, you will select a wave time based on your approximate 1-mile pace. Most people will be able to complete the course in 35 minutes or less.

Team competition: Your top 4 team members’ times will be averaged to determine your team’s score. Team members do not need to participate at the same time. Join an existing team or create a new one! All ages 6+ and abilities are welcome! They are capping this event at 120 participants, so secure your wave time before it’s gone!

Save the Date Brambleton’s Realtor Birthday Bash will be held on Tuesday, September 22, from 12-2 PM at the Lost Rhino Retreat.

The 3rd Annual LCSO Child Safety Day at the Brambleton Town Center

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office held their 3rd Annual Child Safety Day on Saturday, August 8th from 12-4PM at the Brambleton Town Center! This free event featured law enforcement displays and highlighted some of the services that the LCSO can offer. Kids also had the opportunity to check out LCSO cruisers, motorcycles and other vehicles! Event photos here.


Meet the Brambleton Town Center Merchants – Chris Montague, Next Step Fine Footwear

When Chris opened The Next Step Comfort Shoes in Brambleton Town Center his goal was to build a tremendous business based on a great quality product, along with a superior level of customer service, as he says “Good Enough Does Not Live Here!” It is all about making certain his customers are happy & they return for years to come.

Just one of many compliments Chris has received over the years, “This is the store in the Ashburn, Leesburg, Sterling & Chantilly areas to find the newest styles of comfortable AND stylish shoes!!! They have great brands: Birkenstock, Naot, Mephisto, Dansko, Keen and more. You won’t be disappointed.” It looks as though Chris is well on his way to many years of success at the Brambleton Town Center.

 

Summer’s Last Hurrah: Before-They-Head-Back-to-School Guide

Loudoun County Public Schools start in less than two weeks, which means you have just a few days to get one last hurrah in with the kids before they head back. We’ve assembled a quick and easy list of ideas to end the summer on a high note in our “before you head back-to-school” guide.  Click here for guide.

Town Center Tidbits

  • Brambleton’s Spotlight Tenant of the Month is Papa Tony’s Trattoria. Enjoy a unique combination of extraordinary Italian cuisine, beautiful décor, affordable prices and great specials! Stop by the Welcome Center anytime this month and enter your name in Papa Tony’s raffle for a chance to win dinner for two.
  • Never Hide Your Smile Again!Northern Virginia Orthodontics offers unparalleled orthodontic service for children, teens, & adults. Our complimentary smile analysis will provide a treatment plan that will not only straighten and brighten your teeth, but will also help you maintain a lasting, healthy bite. Give us a call today and find out why we’re consistently rated the Washington area’s Top Orthodontic Practice. 703-327-1718 or visit us online.
  • Back to School with a BIG Smile – Summer is almost over, and Little Smiles and Costa Family & Cosmetic Dentistry has just the thing for you! Book your appointment now with our board-certified pediatric dentist before school starts!  Starting August 3rd, we will have weekly drawings for all patients seen that week. The lucky winners will receive a $50 gift card for Back-to-School supplies.  Call today 703-542-7000 to make your appointment.
  • BBQ Night is coming to an end – Blue Ridge Grill’s Sunday BBQ Night ends on September 6th. It’s your choice of a full rack of our mouth watering Baby Back Ribs, or a combination of Ribs and BBQ Shrimp or BBQ Chicken. Each comes with fries and beans for just $16! Go big and try all three for $21! The BBQ Night specials begin at 3:00 pm on Sunday for dine-in only. You have just two weeks left to enjoy this fantastic deal. Come take advantage of it while you still can!
  • Fall Into a Brambleton Job – If you’re looking to start making some extra money for the holidays or maybe even a ski-trip with your friends this winter, then come check out all the places hiring in Brambleton! Blue Ridge Grill, Bella Ballerina, Nick’s Taverna, California Tortilla, and Papa Tony’s all have part-time and full-time job openings. Stop by any of their stores and apply today!
  • Insight Eye Optique Holds Contest for Their Adorable Little Patients – Children ages 5-12 are encouraged to participate in Insight Eye Optique’s drawing contest! Just draw some pictures and write a story to go with it. It can be anything as long as it’s eye exam related or the characters wear cool glasses. The top 3 winners will get some fabulous gifts to help get started in the new school year. To enter, please email your child’s photo to info@insighteyeoptique.com, attention: Farzana, with the subject: Contest Entry. Be sure to include your child’s name, age and favorite thing to do. Contest ends September 15th!
  • Sport&Health – We’re hosting a back-to-school party for parents and preschool aged children on Aug 31st from 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM. Join us for special group classes in our east parking lot, kids activities, food and refreshments. Members may bring a guest for free! Contact 703.879.2009 and ask for Bridget for more information.
  • Our Talk of the Town August Edition is now showing on the Brambleton TV Channel Verizon FiOS#42! We hope you are enjoying your summer so far – send us a video or photo with the hashtag ‪#‎bramlife‬ or email it to brambletoninfo@gmail.com for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to one of our Town Center Tenants.
  • Hot off the Press – The Brambleton Town Center‘s August newsletter is now available at the Brambleton Welcome Center

Builder Buzz

  • Brambleton’s featured Home of the Week is the Devon from Camberley Homes’ English Manor Towns Collection, priced at $629,900*.  Enjoy the privacy of your own rooftop terrace escape! This full-brick front villa has over 4,800 sq ft, a 2-car garage, 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths all in an open style floor plan. Contact Juan Rodriguez at 703-327-2231 for more information.
  • Congratulations to Van Metre Homes who was selected as one of the region’s Healthiest Employers by The Washington Business Journal. Full list here.

Single Family Homes:

  • Single Family homes are priced from the upper $500s
  • No price changes from last month
  • Average Base Price of a Brambleton SF = $664,477*

Town Homes:

  • Towns and Villas are both priced from the low $400s
  • Van Metre Hillcrest Collection (Sect 24) has increased by $5,000
    * Represents a 1.2% change from previous month
    * Priced from $412,390*
  • Van Metre Townsend Collection (Sect 33) has increased by $2,500
    * Represents a 0.5% change from previous month
    * Priced from $477,465*
  • Two Van Metre model homes are for sale:
    * Hillcrest Plan D model, priced at $499,990* – 30 day delivery
    * Brixton Plan M model, priced at $529,990* with lease back through Nov
  • Average Base Price of a Brambleton TH = $474,683*

Brambleton Sales

2015 YTD Sales = 238

  • 2015 Year-to-Date single-family home sales = 68
  • 2015 Year-to-Date townhome sales = 170

PTD Sales = 4,769

  • Project-to-Date single-family home sales = 1,993
  • Project-to-Date townhome sales = 1,977
  • Project-to-Date condo sales = 799

*Prices, terms, conditions subject to change

New Home Information Packet: www.issuu.com/brambleton
Model Home Map: www.issuu.com/brambleton
Brambleton’s Builder Model Home Video Tours can be viewed on our Youtube Playlist here.

                                                     Brambleton                     All of Loudoun
Average Sold Price                          $565,680                              $531,528
Average Days on Market                      38                                          45
List Price/Sale Price                           98.2%                                     98%

RE/MAX Gateway Brambleton
42365 Soave Drive, Suite 200 – Brambleton, VA 20148
Brambleton Community Association News

August 2015 Newsletter – This is the latest monthly community news from the Brambleton Community Association. Click here to view the August Newsletter and click here to view the New Resident Handbook (iPad friendly). You can also follow their latest news LIVE on Facebook.  If you would like to advertise in their monthly newsletter, please email communications@brambleton.org.  View the Media Guide here.

Sponsorship Opportunities – The Brambleton Community Association is always looking for area businesses who would like some exposure and advertising. A great way to do this is through Brambleton event sponsorship.  There are a lot of options available, including customizing packages to make them work best for your business.

Congratulations to the Loudoun South Little League 9/10 National All-Star Team! 

Brambleton residents Tyler Fetterman, Cooper Nelson, Troy Koerner and Colin Scherer were all part of a team that swept through the District 16 Championship and went on to become Virginia State Champions.  They competed in the Tournament of State Champions this week in Greenville, North Carolina, where they defeated teams from Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia before falling to North Carolina in a hard-fought championship game.  Congratulations on a great run boys!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

August 21st – Brambleton IDOL & Sizzlin’ Summer Concert 5-9:30PM
September 6th – Doggone Wild Pool Party*, 3-5PM
September 12th – Brambleton Kids’ Triathlon, 8-10AM
September 19th – B_Fit Challenge, 7:30AM-10AM
September 22nd – Realtor Birthday Bash, 12-2PM
September 24th – Brambleton’s 14th Birthday, Cake Contest 2PM
*Residents Only

Brambleton’s Farmers’ Market and Lost Rhino Retreat team up! Stay tuned for the special announcement.

Check out the LoCo Ale Trail

Loudoun currently features 14 breweries with more popping up all the time! The pairing of a modern and urban eastern corridor with wide-open rural seclusion on farms and pastures in the west makes Loudoun the perfect destination for every beer-loving visitor. Check out LoCoAleTrail.com to learn more about Loudoun’s craft beer scene – you can even find Brambleton’s very own Lost Rhino Retreat on the trail!

MS-9 Construction Awarded For $49M

While the coming Brambleton area middle school still awaits a name, the Loudoun County School Board has hired the
company to build the school.

The construction contract for the school referred to as MS-9 has been awarded to Winchester-based Howard Shockey & Sons Inc. for $49.34 million.
The board voted Tuesday to award the project to the company, which had the lowest responsible bid, according to board records. Howard Shockey & Sons also built Tuscarora High School, among other Loudoun schools.

Leesburg Today’s 40 Under 40

Leesburg Today’s “40 Under 40″ awards recognize Loudoun’s rising business and community leaders, honoring 40 bright stars under the age of 40 annually. The date is set! Excited to announce that this year’s 40 Under 40 awards dinner will be Thursday, Sept. 24, at Stone Tower Winery!

The Happiest Places in America – Loudoun County is #1

Residents of the United States enjoy a quality of life that is among the highest in the world. The U.S. consistently ranks in the top 10 of the OECD’s “Better Life Index,” which compares countries based on a wide variety of factors. In 2015 the red, white and blue ranked 6th overall – just behind Canada.

However, along with being one of the happiest countries in the world, the United States is also one of the most diverse. Just as no two people are the same, no two U.S. counties are exactly alike. Even within individual states, the quality of life can vary greatly from one area to the next. SmartAsset analyzed data on metrics ranging from marriage rates to bankruptcies to life expectancy to find the U.S. counties with the highest quality of life – the happiest places in America.

 

Loudoun County, Virginia – Loudoun County has grown rapidly in recent years. The population has exploded from less than 90,000 in 1990 to over 310,000 today. One reason for that growth? Loudoun County offers residents the highest quality of life of any major county in the U.S.

Loudoun County ranked in the top 20 out of the nearly 1,000 counties in SmartAsset’s study for six of the eight metrics we considered. The county’s poverty rate is just 3.6%, lowest of any major U.S. county. Meanwhile, the life expectancy of 82.6 ranks sixth and the marriage rate of 62.3% ranks 11th out of all U.S. counties with a population over 50,000.

Loudoun’s Population Grows By 33 People A Day

Loudoun continues to rank as Virginia’s fastest-growing county, according to updated figures released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau—adding population at a rate of more than 1,000 people per month during the past year.

The population of Loudoun County was estimated to be 363,050 as of July 2014, up more than 50,000 residents since the 2010 Census count—a growth rate of 16.2 percent. The county’s population grew by 12,091 between 2013 and 2014, according to the new figures.

Loudoun’s growth rate during the first four years of the decade ranked as the 14th highest in the nation and outpaced Prince William County (44,122 more residents, 11 percent growth), Arlington County (19,232, 9.3 percent), New Kent County (1,589, 8.6 percent), and Stafford County (11,040, 8.6 percent). Several Virginia cities also made the Census Bureau’s list of the top 100 fastest-growth jurisdictions: Fredericksburg ranked seventh in the nation (4,327, 18 percent); Manassas ranked 43rd (4,242, 11.2 percent); Falls Church ranked 48th (1,312, 10.7 percent); and Fairfax ranked 91st (1,941, 8.6 percent).

Fairfax County is Virginia’s most populous jurisdiction, with 1.37 million residents. Virginia Beach is second (450,980), followed by Prince William (446,094), Loudoun, and Chesterfield (332,499).

 

Redskins’ Fan Day In Ashburn Will Be Aug. 23

Even though the Washington Redskins’ training camp is in Richmond, the team will host a special fan day in Ashburn on Aug. 23
The special practice at Redskins Park, presented by Loudoun County’s Department of Economic Development, is free to attend, but tickets will be distributed by a lottery. Fans wishing to attend may enter the lottery at redskins.com/fanday.

Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

America’s Best Idea—the national parks—is even better when it’s free! Mark your calendar for these entrance fee–free* dates in 2015:

  • January 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • February 14–16 Presidents Day weekend
  • April 18–19 opening weekend of National Park Week
  • August 25 National Park Service Birthday
  • September 26 National Public Lands Day
  • November 11 Veterans Day

Silver Line Scenario Planning Workshop Set for August 26, 2015

Loudoun County has scheduled a second public workshop for the Silver Line Scenario Planning Study. The workshop will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, August 26, 2015, at Moorefield Station Elementary School, 22325 Mooreview Parkway in Ashburn.

ABOUT THE STUDY: This Silver Line Scenario Planning Study is a project of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors that is being managed by the Loudoun County Department of Planning and Zoning. The study is being conducted by a multi-disciplinary consultant team led by Stantec Consulting. Other project team members include Rhodeside & Harwell, TischlerBise, W-ZHA, and Placeways.

 

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The Silver Line extension is under construction and two stations are scheduled to open in Loudoun County in 2020: Loudoun Gateway and Ashburn Stations. A key next step is reexamining the future land use patterns in this part of the County— reaffirming a vision for growth and establishing plans, policies, and ordinances that maximize the benefits of the County’s commitment to the Silver Line and public infrastructure expenditures. Loudoun County’s Silver Line Scenario Planning process is a six-month initiative to actively engage a broad range of stakeholders in achieving these land use planning goals.

Silver Line already paying dividends at Tysons Corner
The Silver Line has already boosted the local economy and added jobs to Tysons Corner, according to the head of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.  President and CEO Gerald Gordon said in a statement the new Metro access brought satellite provider Intelsat S.A. and online event-planning company Cvent to Tysons, along with hundreds of new jobs.

StoneSprings Hospital Center Launches new website
StoneSprings Hospital Center is excited to announce the launch of their new website, www.stonespringshospital.com. The site has a fresh new look, provides user-friendly navigation, and is mobile friendly. Check it out today!

They are making great progress. 75% of the Medical Office Buidling exterior has been installed. On the inside, casework and flooring are projected to be completed this month.