Top ten wild animals that will attack pets: Special warning for Ashburn and Northern Virginia area Loudoun County pet owners and companion animal residents

Brambleton, Loudoun County Parkway residents, and Dulles Technology Corridor neighbors, read on. PR Newswire has released a report about the top ten animals likely to attack pets. With so many wooded areas nearby, by food sources growing more and more scarce sue to development, it’s likely that everyone will encounter a wild animal at some point or another — even more so at night while walking dogs in our area. As such, be careful to keep your pet leashed and close in order to prevent an accidental bite from an undesirable non-domestic animal kingdom stranger that crosses your path. Be conscientious while visiting local Virginia and Maryland beaches as well, as swimming dogs are just as likely to come across sea life that can cause injury as adult humans and children are while playing and cooling off in the water.

BREA, Calif., July 20 /PRNewswire/ — Sometimes our pets go looking for a fight, but other times the fight comes to them–from land, sea, and even air. Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI), the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, recently reviewed more than 500 laceration/bite wound claims in search of animal-inspired incidents to determine which wild animals most frequently attacked and injured companion pets in 2008. In addition to the usual suspects–snakes, coyotes and raccoons–VPI received claims for pet injuries caused by a squirrel, scorpion, javelina, porcupine, ground hog, skunk, rat, goat, beaver, woodchuck, black bear, mountain lion, hawk, rabbit, sea urchin, and jellyfish. Following are the 10 animals aside from dogs and cats that were most responsible for pet injury claims in 2008:

Top 10 Animals To Attack Pets —————————– 1. Snake ————- 2. Coyote ————- 3. Raccoon ————- 4. Squirrel ————- 5. Scorpion ————- 6. Javelina ————- 7. Porcupine ————- 8. Ground Hog ————- 9. Skunk ————- 10. Rat ————-

Wild animal attacks typically result in pet insurance claims for treatment of lacerations, bite wounds, puncture, and soft tissue trauma. Snakebites may require antivenin and scorpion stings may cause allergic reactions requiring antihistamines. Treatment protocols vary depending on the severity of the attack and costs can range from hundreds of dollars for bandages or stitches to thousands of dollars for surgery for damaged organs or broken limbs.

Though animal attack claims came from all areas of the country, javelina and scorpion claims were exclusive to the state of Arizona. Javelinas, or peccaries, are feral pig-like omnivores native to the southwestern United States. They have been known to viciously attack both pets and people. For a detailed account of a javelina attack on a VPI-insured pet, visit http://press.petinsurance.com/pressroom/267.aspx.

“Whether in urban or rural areas, pet owners should be aware of the danger posed by wild animals,” said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. “VPI’s data reveals that not all members of the animal kingdom observe backyard fences, or appreciate the curiosity of a pet that may enter their territory. Always make sure that a pet’s rabies vaccine is up to date and if you know that potentially dangerous wild animals are present, or you’re in an unfamiliar area, take extra care to keep your pet close and secure.”

About Veterinary Pet Insurance

Veterinary Pet Insurance Co./DVM Insurance Agency is the nation’s oldest and largest pet health insurance company and is a member of the Nationwide Insurance family of companies. Providing pet owners with peace of mind since 1982, the company is committed to being the trusted choice of America’s pet lovers and an advocate of pet health education. VPI Pet Insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for multiple medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. Optional Pet Well Care Protection for routine care is also available.

Medical plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than 2,000 companies nationwide offer VPI Pet Insurance as an employee benefit. Policies are underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and in all other states by National Casualty Company, an A+15 rated company in Madison, Wisconsin. Pet owners can find VPI Pet Insurance on Facebook or follow @VPI on Twitter. For more information about VPI Pet Insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit petinsurance.com.

Loudoun County Fireworks Shows and Date listed by Community: 4th of July

2009 Fireworks Displays in Loudoun County for Fourth of July Independence Day celebrations — General Listings about where to go and how to plan your festivities. Things to do for Dulles Technology Corridor residents.

Listed here by community area… fun activity for children and parents — a patriotic thing to do to celebrate the holiday with friends is to plan a meet-up with family and friends to watch the fireworks together as an annual event. Fireworks displays make a wonderful low cost date night alternative, too!

EARLY DATE!!! Tuesday, June 28th

• Brambleton Fireworks Display – 9:30pm (rain date June 29)
• Dulles Town Center – 9:30pm (rain date June 29)

Friday, July 3rd

• South Riding Display at SR Golf Club- 9:30 (rain date July 5)
• Waterford – 9pm (rain date July 5)
• Lansdowne Resort- 9:25pm (NO rain date) ** There will be a concert beginning at 7:30pm.  Fireworks will follow.
• Eastern Loudoun Independence Day Celebration – 9:15pm (event is hosted at Sterling Golf Club)
• Lovettesville Community Center -9:15pm (Parade will begin at 5:30 at the community center.  DC3 will provide entertainment at 7pm)

Saturday, July 4

• Franklin Park – 9:30pm (rain date July 5)
• Ashburn Village – 9:30pm  (rain date July 5)
• Middleburg Community Center – dark (rain date July 5)
• Hillsboro Community Center – dark (rain date July 6)
• Claude Moore Park (old fashioned 4th of July) – Events held all day from 10:30am – 3pm (donations suggested)
• Ida Lee Festivities – 9:30pm (rain date July 5) – Parade begins at 10am.  Gates open at 6pm for live entertainment before the fireworks display.

For more information about fireworks displays in Loudoun County for 2009, please visit https://brambletonbuzz.wordpress.com/2009/07/02/4th-of-july-weekend-in-loudoun-county-fireworks-schedule-and-more-from-the-loudoun-county-parks-and-recreation-service/.

Brambleton Teens Present Theater Version of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” at Briar Woods High School

Excerpt from the Brambleton Friday Flash March 20, 2009

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Briar Woods High School drama department will be performing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on March 26 – 28 and April 3, at 7:00 p.m. as well as April 4 at 3:00 p.m.  The cost is $7.00 for an adult and $5.00 for a student.  Pre-sales will be held on March 19, 20, 26, and 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the front lobby of the school.  The Drama Department will also be selling Wonka Bars for $2.00 with a chance to win a golden ticket and two admissions to the show.

VOTING BOOTH LOCATIONS: Where to Vote in Loudoun County during the 2008 Presidential Elections

Loudoun County Polling Places Excerpt from www.loudoun.gov Blue Ridge District Broad Run District Catoctin District Dulles District Leesburg District Potomac District Sterling District Sugarland Run District Polling places in Loudoun County are listed below by election district. A listing of Virginia House, Senate and U.S. Congressional Districts can be found here. Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for all elections. Not Sure Where to Vote? If you aren’t sure which election district or precinct you live in, you can check your voter registration card or look it up online through the Virginia Election & Registration Information System. Link to Virginia Election & Registration Information System You may also call 703-777-0380. Blue Ridge District Precinct Polling Place Address Purcellville Emerick Elementary School 440 S. Nursery Avenue Round Hill Round Hill Center 20 High Street Hillsboro Hillsboro Elementary School 37110 Charles Town Pike Hamilton Hamilton Baptist Church 16 E. Colonial Highway Philomont Philomont Firehouse 36560 Jeb Stuart Road Between the Hills Neersville Fire & Rescue 11762 Harpers Ferry Road Middleburg Town Office 10 W. Marshall Street St. Louis Banneker Elementary School 35321 Snake Hill Road Aldie Aldie Methodist Church 39325 John Mosby Highway Broad Run District Precinct Polling Place Address Stone Bridge Stone Bridge High School 43100 Hay Road Russell Branch Ashburn Elementary School 44062 Fincastle Drive Cedar Lane Cedar Lane Elementary School 43700 Tolamac Drive Dominion Dominion Trail Elementary School 44045 Bruceton Mills Circle Farmwell Station Farmwell Station Middle School 44281 Gloucester Parkway Seldens Landing Seldens Landing Elementary School 43345 Coton Commons Drive Newton-Lee Newton Lee Elementary School 43335 Gloucester Parkway Belmont Ridge Belmont Ridge Middle School 19045 Upper Belmont Place Catoctin District Precinct Polling Place Address West Lovettsville Lovettsville Community Center 57 E. Broad Way Waterford Waterford Elementary School 15513 Loyalty Road Lucketts Lucketts Community Center 42361 Lucketts Road Greenway Leesburg Baptist Church 835 Lee Avenue, S.W. Balls Bluff Balls Bluff Elementary School 821 Battlefield Pkwy., N.E. Harper Park Harper Park Middle School 701 Potomac Station Drive Evergreen Evergreen Mill Elementary School 491 Evergreen Mill Road, S.E. Clarkes Gap Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 605 W. Market St., Leesburg Tolbert John W. Tolbert, Jr. Elementary School 691 Potomac Station Drive, N.E. East Lovettsville Lovettsville Elementary School 40 S. Loudoun Street Heritage Heritage High School 520 Evergreen Mill Rd, S.E. Dulles District Precinct Polling Place Address Sanders Corner Sanders Corner Elementary School 43100 Ashburn Farm Parkway Ashburn Farm Broad Run High School 21670 Ashburn Road Hillside Hillside Elementary School 43000 Ellzey Drive Eagle Ridge Eagle Ridge Middle School 42901 Waxpool Road Little River Little River Elementary School 43464 Hyland Hills Street Mercer Mercer Middle School 42149 Greenstone Drive Hutchison Hutchison Farm Elementary School 42819 Center Street Oak Grove Oak Grove Baptist Church 22870 Dominion Lane Briar Woods Briar Woods High School 22525 Belmont Ridge Road Freedom Freedom High School 25450 Riding Center Drive Leesburg District Precinct Polling Place Address West Leesburg Ida Lee Recreation Center 60 Ida Lee Drive, N.W. East Leesburg Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School 800 N. King Street Dry Mill C.S. Monroe Technology Center 715 Childrens Center Road, S.W. Smart’s Mill Smart’s Mill Middle School 850 N. King Street Cool Spring Cool Spring Elementary School 501 Tavistock Drive, S.E. Brandon Park Loudoun County High School 415 Dry Mill Road, S.W. Potomac District Precinct Polling Place Address Riverbend Riverbend Middle School 46240 Algonkian Parkway Algonkian Algonkian Elementary School 20196 Carter Court Potomac Falls Potomac Falls High School 46400 Algonkian Parkway Cascades Potowmack Elementary School 46465 Esterbrook Circle Buchanan Guilford Elementary School 600 W. Poplar Road Claude Moore Park Claude Moore Recreation Center 46105 Loudoun Park Lane Countryside Countryside Elementary School 20624 Countryside Blvd. Sterling District Precinct Polling Place Address Sully Sully Elementary School 300 Circle Drive Park View Park View High School 400 W. Laurel Avenue Rolling Ridge Rolling Ridge Elementary School 500 E. Frederick Drive Guilford Sterling Middle School 201 W. Holly Avenue Forest Grove Forest Grove Elementary School 46245 Forest Ridge Drive Sugarland Run District Precinct Polling Place Address Sugarland North Horizon Elementary School 46665 Broadmore Drive Sugarland South Meadowland Elementary School 729 Sugarland Run Drive Seneca Seneca Ridge Middle School 98 Seneca Ridge Drive Lowes Island Lowes Island Elementary School 20755 Whitewater Drive Mirror Ridge Sugarland Elementary School 65 Sugarland Run Drive South Bank Potomac Baptist Church 20747 Lowes Island Blvd.

Loudoun County Government 1 Harrison Street, S.E. • Leesburg VA 20175 703-777-0100

Brambleton Yard Sale Community Reminder for Ashburn, Sterling, Leesburg, Dulles, and South Riding Residents

Brambleton Yard Sale – RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBOR REMINDERS: Brambleton Fall Community Yard sale is scheduled for Saturday September 20, 2008 from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (rain or shine).  For a list of home sites that have registered, please click here.  Residents will also be at the Community Center Marketplace selling various toys, household and miscellaneous items from the Visitor Center Parking area. Bring cash, bring checks, bring the pickup truck or SUV. Brambleton Yard and Garage Rummage Sales are legendary for offering local Loudoun County residents fantastic buys and wonderful items.

Time Savers from RealSimple.com help Dulles Technology Corridor Residents Manage Life Easier On the Homefront Clock

All article details and photos excerpted from June/July 2004 www.realsimple.com

For a subscription to Real Simple magazine please call 1-800-881-1172 or go to www.realsimple.com/subscriptions

20 Timesaving Tips and Tricks

The best timesaving systems come from the people who need them most. Here, a celebration of streamlining tips from (and for) busy women [and men living in Virginia, DC, Maryland, and Metropolitan areas] everywhere…

Meredith Heuer

Cut Kitchen Clutter We have a special spot on the kitchen counter where everyone can put half-filled coffee mugs that need to be reheated, water glasses to be used again later, or sippy cups that can be refilled. At the end of the day, everything that’s still out goes in the dishwasher. It cuts down on kitchen clutter, and it also avoids shouts across the house of “Are you done with that coffee yet?” Katherine Weber, 33, New York City

Michele Gastl

Presort the Family Laundry Clean laundry is only half the battle — it still needs to be sorted and put away. Save those steps by keeping washer-and-dryer-safe mesh bags (27-by-36-inch mesh bag, $8, www.stacksandstacks.com) in each kid’s room — one for lights, one for darks. Throw the bags directly into the washing machine and dryer, then hand them back to the kids. If they’re old enough, they can do their own folding.

Meredith Heuer

Minimizing Trips to the Garbage While I’m preparing a meal, I have a big bowl on the counter. I put all my chopping, cutting, and peeling discards into it, then make one trip to the garbage instead of 10. Lori Tanner, 43, Oakland

Meredith Heuer

Quick Breakfast Smoothie Put all your fruit, milk, silken tofu, or yogurt in the blender pitcher and store the pitcher in the refrigerator overnight. (You can even prechop a banana. It will brown, but that will not affect the flavor of the shake.) In the morning, set it on the blender and press a button for breakfast.

Deborah Jaffe

Put the Kids to Work After too many years of hearing “What’s for dinner?” and “That again?” I finally decided to turn over the role of meal planner and cook to my family of seven (two adults, including me, and five children, ages 4 through 20). Now, every Saturday morning, each person (excluding the four-year-old) chooses a night that suits his or her schedule, fills in a dinner menu, and adds the needed ingredients to the grocery list. The rules are simple: a different menu every night, and only one pasta dish per week. Everyone’s food issues (allergies, picky taste buds) must be addressed. Every menu must be healthy and include vegetables. I retain the title of shopper. The kids have become quite adept at planning menus. And since there is also dish-duty sign-up, I have become quite adept at relaxing on weeknights. Jeanne Faulkner, 43, Portland, Oregon

Pernille Pedersen

Make Sandwiches for Dinner When in doubt, whip up a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich for dinner to save time. Make it with natural peanut butter, real fruit jam, and whole-grain bread. That way it’s “real” food, unlike many of the additive-laden prepackaged meals so widely available now. Kristen Bulkley, 29, Lake Peekskill, New York

Meredith Heuer

Keep an Everything Datebook Every August, I buy a weekly calendar. I jot down all the traditional things — school events, birthdays, appointments. But I also use it to keep track of nontraditional things. I write down bills that come through the mail and mark their due dates six days ahead. I’ll plan up to four dinners a week and write them on the calendar. I also use my calendar to record my daughter’s long-term assignments. That helps prevent those evenings of racing around to do everything at the last second. Cindy Olson, 36, Guilderland, New York

James Baigrie

Never Miss Another Birthday Send out birthday cards once a month. Receiving one a little early is better than not receiving one at all.

Ellen Silverman

Keep a Paper Shredder Handy Stow a small paper shredder near the mail to destroy credit-card offers and “checks.” (InnoDesk hand-held shredder, $16, www.amazon.com).

Monica Buck

Try a Double-Duty Dustbin I empty my rectangular plastic bathroom garbage can and use it as a bucket when I wash my bathroom and hardwood floors. I rinse it in the tub, then fill it with white vinegar and water. Both the floors and the garbage can are clean when I’m done. Marci Small, 34, Metuchen, New Jersey

Keate Barker

Start a Recipe Chain Letter I love to cook, but planning menus and getting the ingredients together for a quick meal after work can be time-consuming. That’s where my recipe-exchange “chain letter” comes in. It’s made up of a group of friends who forward their favorite easy-to-make recipes to one another via e-mail. Since we all know one another’s tastes and cooking ability, the recipes are simple enough for everyone. I also keep a few cookbooks at the office and download recipes from the Internet to a folder on the computer. I can photocopy or print out the ingredients list while at work and then buy groceries during lunch or on the way home. Katherine Fausset, 29, New York City

Meredith Heuer

Squeeze Citrus Juice Now, Use Later If you have leftover lemons and limes from a cocktail party, squeeze them and freeze the juice in an ice-cube tray. Once they’re frozen, store the cubes in zippered plastic bags and use them for recipes that call for fresh lemon or lime juice. (One cube equals about one tablespoon of juice.)

David Prince

Use Lists to Stay Organized Keep a Shopping List Whoever unwraps the last bar of soap from the four-pack or scrapes the last spoonful of mayo out of the jar should be responsible for writing it down on the shopping list. Write Realistic To-Do Lists Each night I write down no more than five things I want to accomplish the next day. This takes discipline, because it seems like I should be able to do so much more, but I know myself and how I work. And I know that I’ll be fielding phone calls and e-mails all day long. It’s psychological: If I get five out of 10 things done, I just get frustrated. But if I get five out of five, I’m batting a thousand. Tera Leigh, 39, Wrightwood, California

Monica Buck

Time-Stamp Your Photos Edit and label your images as you go (and sometimes, before you leave the photo counter) When you get your photographs developed, label the envelopes before leaving the store. On the top of the envelope, jot down the date, subjects, or activity. It’s easier than trying to remember the details later. Or take it one step further and throw out — right there in the store — any flattering, uninteresting, or unclear photographs.

Formula Z/S

Getting Ready for Morning the Night Before My husband, Steve, sets up his breakfast cereal before he goes to bed. He measures out water and kasha next to the stove so when he wakes up, all he has to do is dump the ingredients into the pot and light the flame. Even though it doesn’t take long to set up, it’s still one less thing he has to think about at 5:30, when he’s getting ready to leave the house. Erika Bleiberg, 44, Glen Ridge, New Jersey

Bob Hiemstra

Create a Beauty Station I have two daughters — one teen and one preteen — so it’s a great benefit to have a mirror by the door, along with a basket filled with last-minute primping tools. No one has to run all over the house looking for brushes, barrettes, sunscreen, hand lotion, or various makeup essentials: It’s all in the basket. There’s even a blow dryer, so no one leaves the house with a wet head. Stefanie Sigal, 43, Oakton, Virginia

Ellen Silverman

Keep a Checklist in Every Bag Write a contents checklist in your pocketbook, dopp kit, or diaper bag. Then you won’t wonder if you have everything you need. Bib? Check. Diapers? Check. Pacifier? Check…. (Sally Spicer Red Dragonfly Diaper Bag, $99, www.diaperbags.com.)

Maura McEvoy

Start a Day-By-Day Shelf System As a personal fitness trainer, I have to leave the house at 5:30 A.M. to make my early-morning appointments. To get out the door more quickly, I have dedicated certain parts of my shelves to specific days of the week. When I remove things from my backpack at night, I place each item on the appropriate shelf. If I won’t be seeing Monday’s client again until Thursday, her chart and equipment are placed in Thursday’s section. My wallet, transit card, and cell phone have a designated spot. I even have a “take care of me” bag, which contains sample-size cosmetics — like hand lotion — that I can apply during downtime or on the morning train. Michelle Adams, 46, Rahway, New Jersey

Meredith Heuer

Organize Your Future Hand-Me-Downs I keep a “future bin” in each of my three boys’ closets for hand-me-downs and clothing I purchased on clearance in larger sizes. I purge their closets about once a season, when they are at school or napping. Anything I remove goes to one of three places: the younger brother’s future bin; the charity bin, which is in my closet; or the trash. Many charities, such as Goodwill, call quarterly to let us know they will have a truck in the area, so I don’t have to load my car and make an extra trip. When they call, I leave the bin out front for pickup, and they hang the receipt (for tax purposes) on my doorknob. This is also a good time to get rid of any toys that the kids have outgrown. Gina Scherer, 35, Tucson

Who offers the best AV and Home Theater Installations in the Mid-Atlantic Region? Art Cuevas from Silver Screen & Sound, INC. (DC, VA, MD)

Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, and Luxury Home owners in the Baltimore Washington Area recommend Art Cuevas of Silver Screen & Sound, Inc. for all your home indulgence and high-tech lifestyle needs in the Dulles Technology Corridor or Greater Baltimore Washington areas.

For a personal referral, please contact Maserati of Baltimore General Manager Jack Davis (jdavis@mbalt.com) or ask Art for a list of recommendations from some of the most elite clientèle of Washingtonians residing locally in our region.

Silver Screen & Sound, Inc. is the area leader in custom designed and installed Home Cinemas, Video & Music Distribution, Lighting Control, Automation, Media Servers, Computer Networking and all of your other electronic lifestyle needs. The business was established by Art Cuevas in 1993 and has remained successful under the same corporation since its inception. Art’s background is in electrical engineering, control systems, and acoustics. Over the years he and his company have completed over 1,000 installations, won 6 International Awards (including Top 10 Installer in the Nation), and have been featured in dozens of national and local publications. Their top notch engineering/installation team receives special training in-house as well as CEDIA certifications and specific manufacturer training.

Silver Screen & Sound is very particular about the products they sell and are constantly evaluating new product lines. All products must not only perform well, but must be installation friendly. This ensures simple and reliable operation by homeowners, with consumer satisfaction being the ultimate goal of all Art’s professional endeavors.

Their current state of the art product lineup features:

Projectors – Marantz, JVC, Sony, Mitsubishi

Surround Sound – Lexicon, B&K, Marantz, Sunfire

Media Servers – Kaleidescape, Escient, ReQuest

Multi-Room – Elan, B&K, Marantz, Niles

Speakers – Snell, Sunfire, NHT, RBH, Elan, Niles

Video – Sony, Samsung, DVDO, Panasonic

Automation – Elan, RTI, LiteTouch, CentraLite

Accessories – Monster, Furman, Panamax, Bass Industries, Sanus + many others!

For more info, check out their website: www.HomeCinemas.biz

——————————————————–

Art Cuevas

Systems Engineer/Owner

Silver Screen & Sound, Inc.

Established 1993

Winner International Best Home Theater 2000 from CEDIA

Winner International Best Home Theater 2001 from CEDIA

Winner HBAM Award of Excellence 2002

Winner Top 10 Custom Installer in the Nation 2002

Winner Baltimore’s Best Home Theater firm 2003

Winner International Best Home Theater Technical Design Level 1 2006

Winner International Best Home Theater Technical Design Level 2 2006

Showroom: 410-296-0202

Toll Free: 877-2CINEMA

FAX: 410-296-0203

Art (direct): 443-677-3400

www.SilverScrn.com

www.TheaterRooms.com