From the Arlington & Ashburn Patch – What’s the best place to live in Virginia? That depends on who you ask, but according to a new set of rankings released by Niche.com, the D.C. suburb of Arlington is the best place to live in Virginia. Not surprisingly, Northern Virginia dominated the list, and particularly Loudoun County, which owned most of the top 10. Brambleton came in at #3, earning an overall A+ on the report card with high marks for great schools, housing, jobs, outdoor activities, health & fitness, and diversity.
Ashburn also ranked on Livability.com’s national list of the Top 100 Best Places to Live. With plenty of high-tech businesses, Ashburn is a place with a strong economy and an upscale quality of life where the median income for families is more than $100,000. The website also points out that the “Beaverdam Creek Reservoir highlights the city’s many outdoor recreation options.” Brambletonians benefit from the close proximity of this top amenity!
Set to open in 2019 across from Madison’s Trust Elementary School, the Hal and Berni Hanson Memorial Regional Park will feature more than a dozen soccer fields, lighted cricket pitch, walking paths and equestrian facilities, among dozens of other features, spread out over 250 acres in Brambleton. More than just a traditional park, the facility will also feature a sprinkler fixture for children to play in as well as event lodge for weddings or banquets. Surrounded by hundreds of new homes, located near the new Brambleton Library and just down the road from the Beaverdam Reservoir, the new park will be a focal point of Brambleton’s development in the years to come.
“It’s going to be a busy hub for the community,” said Loudoun County Chief Park Planner Mark Novak. “It’s totally different than what we used to be building.”
That includes bringing a new skate park on the property. The Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services brought in renowned skate park designer Wally Holladay to lead plans for an original design spread over 15,000 sq ft. It will be the third skate park in the county, along with similar facilities in Leesburg and Dulles South, but the first with direct access to such a wide range of amenities.
Hanson park will be a great addition to Brambleton which already has over 15 miles of paved trails plus multiple pocket parks and open spaces.
When my husband and I decided to relocate our family to VA in 2007, our search brought us to Brambleton. Raising our daughters in a community offering so many amenities and events has allowed us to create great friendships, which is why we have stayed in Brambleton for 10 years! I was born and raised in Northern Virginia, but have also lived in Chicago, Atlanta and Charlotte. Prior to becoming a Realtor, I worked as a Project Manager and a Teaching Assistant at Legacy Elementary School. Since becoming a licensed Realtor in 2015, I have helped many families, purchase, sell or rent right here in Brambleton. My goal as a Realtor is to ensure my clients experience a stress free process that is smooth and seamless. I promise to provide each one of my clients with the guidance they need throughout their entire transaction and beyond! Click on my photo to watch my spotlight video.
Realtor friends, want to be in the Brambleton spotlight? Sign up for our monthly “Spotlight Realtor” by sending an e-mail to brambletoninfo@gmail.com. Featured realtors will be asked to provide a flyer, video, bio and business cards to be displayed in the Welcome Center and on our website.
On May 7, the 7th Annual Loudoun Lyme 5K/10K/1K will drive awareness and raise money to help find a cure for Lyme disease – the number one tick-borne illness in the United States. The Loudoun Lyme 5K/10K will also feature a 1K fun run, as well as an information fair to educate the public about Lyme disease, its causes, symptoms and treatments. Register for this event.
JDRF One Walk has one goal: to create a world without Type 1 diabetes (T1D). We know you want to make a cure a reality too, and we can’t wait for you to join us to help turn Type One into Type None! Register to walk with us on Sunday, May 21 at the Brambleton Town Center. Check-in at 8 AM, walk begins at 9 AM. Find the link to register at www.brambleton.com/events/.
Rain did not dampen the spirits of those who came to Brambleton for the 10th Annual Step Sisters’ Ribbon Run to kick off the 2017 Race Brambleton series. Nearly 1,200 registered to participate as runners and walkers while 150 volunteers supported the event and the Step Sisters in their mission to assist local breast cancer patients. Online registrations were up 58% over last year’s event!
This year’s Ribbon Run saw more than 35 breast cancer survivors participating in the event, acknowledged by the group with a pink sash and a gift bag. Adjacent to the course, Sharon’s Showcase offered breast cancer resources, refreshments, massages and giveaways as well as a post-race breakfast hosted by Blue Ridge Grill.
Truly a community event, participants had a variety of reasons for taking part. More teams participated this year with many groups forming to walk or run in the honor or memory of a loved one. Several teams also fundraised for the cause. The top fundraising team participated in support of Brambleton resident, Melanie Small, and her breast cancer fight. Briar Woods athletes came out in force. And, Rock Ridge High School students ran for their beloved coach, Brian Schmidt, who was celebrating his birthday and a return to racing after a terrible cycling accident less than a year ago.
The event raised nearly $40,000 for The Step Sisters who assist local breast cancer patients by funding practical support services. The Ribbon Run is the Brambleton-based organization’s largest fundraiser of the year. For more information, visit www.StepSisters.org.
Join an organization that will make a positive impact on our community: the Friends of Brambleton Library (FOBL)! Currently in its infancy, FOBL needs volunteers who can help advise and offer support for fundraisers for programming and supplies not covered by the library’s operating budget. Volunteer commitment is typically 5 hours per month; however, more time may be required during event planning and execution. Introductory meetings will be held monthly until FOBL is formalized, with the next one scheduled for May 18 at 7:30 PM in the Brambleton Welcome Center. Please make plans to attend! Email FriendsOfTheBrambletonLibrary@gmail.com for more information, and be sure to “Like” their page on Facebook.
We would like to extend a big thank you to Brambleton resident, Robyn Beck Dietter, who has taken on the role of organizing FOBL.
Total Development Solutions, LLC (TDS) was awarded the Heavy Construction Contractors Association (HCCA) Excellence in Infrastructure award in the $5-$15 million category for the construction of the Loudoun County Parkway. This project was chosen from among numerous applications submitted by other HCCA member firms and the awards committee. The award is given to recognize Heavy Construction Contractors in the greater Washington area for projects that show excellence in aesthetics, difficulty of execution, and technical quality. This project was truly a partnership with numerous contributors and team members.
Brambleton Middle School recently unveiled their new logo, which reflects the school’s mascot – a bear! The new logo was designed by Brambleton Middle School parent and graphic artist, Elizabeth Fujiwara, who generously donated her time and talent to the new school. Stay current on the school’s progress and upcoming events by “liking” their Facebook page.
Bear Backyard Bash: Tuesday, August 22 at 4 PM – 5:30 PM
Mark your calendars for the Brambleton Middle School Community Picnic! A time to get to know each other and have some fun! More details will be sent out closer to the event. Check out the Brambleton Middle School website or Facebook page to stay current on their latest news and construction photos.
Visit the Wellness Connection’s Weekly Farmers’ Market on Saturdays from 9 AM to 1 PM in the StoneSprings Hospital parking lot. The market season runs from April 22 – October 28 and will feature locally grown, farm-fresh produce at affordable prices from these vendors.
StoneSprings Hospital Center is pleased to host a monthly “Coffee & Conversation” discussion group. Each month, join the conversation with a community healthcare provider to learn more about healthcare topics that matter to you. In May, we’ll be discussing stroke awareness and prevention. Join Dr. Nadia Ahmed to learn more about stroke risk factors and warning signs, prevention, and life after stroke. There is no cost to attend but registration is required. Register online or by calling 855-226-7344. This event will be held on May 3, from 7-8 PM at Mug ‘n Muffin in the Stone Ridge Village Center.
A giant housing proposal is now in notoriously housing-wary Loudoun County’s pipeline. On par with some of the largest development plans ever considered by Loudoun, the plan for Silver District West, from the developer of Brambleton, includes 3,744 residential units, and more than 900,000 square feet of non-residential uses across 161 acres.
