By Bob Tagert For our September adventure, we decided to head south to the mountains of Nelson County and spend a couple of nights at Love Ridge Mountain Lodging in the town of Love, Virginia. We also decided to make our drive down to Love Ridge a real adventure and pick up Skyline Drive at Thornton Gap near Sperryville and then continue to the end and pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway to mile post 16 right before Love Ridge Mountain Lodging. With a speed limit of 45 mph on these beautiful roads we knew it would be a long trip. We departed Old Town at 10:45 on Monday morning and made our way to Sperryville, Virginia. We arrived in Sperryville at 12:30 after driving 85 miles. We made a stop at the Corner Store for some traveling treats and Lani had to have her Bud Light Chelada and some beef jerky! Leaving Sperryville, we entered the Thorton River Gap at 12:45 after a total of 92.4 miles of travel. It was a pretty cloudy day and we encountered heavy clouds at the highest point of the drive. The normally beautiful scenic overlooks were all clouded over so we didn’t stop much enroute to our destination. At 3:00 and 167 miles we picked up the Blue Ridge Parkway. Having never driven the Blue Ridge Parkway, I was expecting something akin to Skyline Drive. I was wrong…this is more of a transient roadway rather than a tour of the country side. There were few over look stops and very little traffic. We arrived at our destination at 4:48 after a total of 228 miles. Our cabin was one of the very first we came to. A rustic, well appointed, one room cabin with back and side porch as well as a…
By Jacqueline Murphy It’s September already and your garden may be looking a little fatigued, which is entirely natural. Soon it will be time to put it to bed for its winter rest. This does not mean, however, that you should toss aside your tools and put up your feet for the season. Whether your garden consists of a window box or two or a spacious yard, there is work to be done yet. If you must take a rest before starting on the more arduous tasks to hand, use that quiet time to cast a discerning eye upon the fruits of your labor to date. I like to assess the previous growing season and mentally catalog what worked well, what didn’t, what needs to be divided, pruned, etc., and start thinking about what I want to accomplish next year. Refresh worn-out plantings. September is also a good time to consider sprucing up a tired design with some late season color, either by adding some annuals (pansies, snapdragons, stock, ornamental kale) perennials (asters, mums, ornamental grasses), or woody plants that will offer some structure and visual interest into the winter months (camellia, beautyberry, hypericum, oakleaf hydrangea). Do your research. No idea what these plants look like, you say? Looking at photos in books and on the Internet is nice but it’s so much better to see the plants in situ in a well-tended garden. If you live in Alexandria, you won’t have far to go. Chances are very good that there are some fabulous gardens on your street. Most gardeners I know are delighted to show off their handiwork and discuss their triumphs with admirers so trot over and chat them up. If you’re too shy to quiz your neighbors about their horticultural endeavors, head to the nearest garden center…
September is recognized as National Aging Healthfully Month also known as Healthy Aging Month or National Healthy Aging Awareness Month. Now in its 33rd year, September is Healthy Aging® Month was launched as part of the National Healthy Aging® Campaign, created by Carolyn Worthington, President of Healthy Aging® multi-media and the non-profit Educational Television Network, Inc. We contacted Carolyn and she was kind enough to provide the majority of the content in this piece. In a nutshell, the purpose of this observance is to encourage people to focus on the positive aspects of growing older and to promote proactive steps for maintaining physical, mental, social, and financial well-being as they age. “We created the month to inspire people to take stock of their health and life goals in a realistic and positive way,” said Worthington. “September was a natural fit—it’s a time when people feel ready to start fresh, much like a grown-up version of back-to-school season. We also felt there needed to be a second time during the year in addition to May is Older Americans Month.” Welcome to Healthy Aging® Month 2025! Every September, we shine a spotlight on the power of positive aging, inspiring adults 45 and older to take charge of their health, happiness, and future. This year’s theme, “Never Too Late to Reinvent Yourself” reminds us that no matter your age or stage, it’s always possible to chart a new course—whether it’s through a career shift, new lifestyle habit, or personal growth goal. Unlike past years’ focus on just sustaining vitality, 2025 is about transforming your future with purpose and excitement. Since its founding in 1992, Healthy Aging® Month has received numerous local and national proclamations recognizing its value. In 2021, U.S. Senator Tim Scott’s office formally reached out to acknowledge the campaign’s impact and introduced a unanimous Senate resolution recognizing September as Healthy…
By Bob Tagert As we head into the final months of 2025, the heat has begun to leave as temps in the high 70s, low 80s are becoming the norm. It has been a blistering summer, but fall is on the way. To escape the heat, we headed south to the Virginia mountains and Love Ridge Mountain Lodging to do the R&D for Road Trip. With fall approaching, a slow drive down Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway may be the perfect fall escape. HINT: Don’t go on the weekend when leaf peeping is in full tilt. We haven’t published a real “themed” issue for quite some time but decided to give a little extra ink to those Senior Citizens among us, myself included. We corroborated with Carolyn Worthington, the force behind Healthy Aging® Month and she provided us with some great information for seniors in our Special Feature “Never Too Late to Reinvent Yourself”. In Business Profile, Lauren Davis writes about “A Compassionate Guide at Life’s Edge” – lessons we all should learn as we have loved ones who are moving on from this life. Elizabeth Hughes interviewed our good friends and two of Alexandria’s best, Kathy and Bob Condon, in Personality Profile, as they let us in on some of their secrets for growing older with zest! From the Trainer’s, Ryan Unverzagt writes about something we all need to understand…balance. At 78 years old, this is a subject that is dear to my future. Every month Ryan brings a great focus on our diminishing physical capabilities. Here is a partial round-up of more that awaits you in this issue: If your political anxiety is peaking, read Miriam Kramer’s review of Fever Beach in Last Word and relieve some of that stress. In To the Blue Ridge, Julie Reardon…
By Steph Selice Recently I talked with Steven Fiore, MD, of CannabisMD TeleMed about cannabidiol (CBD) products for pets. Dr. Fiore, a Virginia orthopedist specializing in medical marijuana for humans, is often asked how CBD could benefit pets. He shared a concise overview of CBD and some relevant veterinary research. CBD Legality for Virginian Pets CBD is derived from hemp. It is not tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive substance in marijuana that produces a high in humans but is toxic to dogs. CBD hemp-derived products that contain less than 0.3% total THC derivatives are now legal in Virginia, but not all hemp products are regulated alike (see Resources). CBD is not suitable for animal feed. However, it’s legal in products such as treats, oils, and tinctures available through specialty stores, hemp companies, and online retailers. CBD products won’t get humans or pets high but have other sought-after effects. In Virginia, producers (but not retailers) of CBD products for pets must be licensed through the Agricultural Commodities Program of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VCACS) Office of Plant Industry Services. Hemp-derived pet products are not regulated through Virginia’s Hemp Enforcement Program, but are held to strictly enforced state standards for animal safety. CBD Product Safety and Veterinary Prescribing Dr. Fiore stressed that CBD users need to ensure products they give their pets come from brands that source quality plants; conduct independent lab testing for quality, purity, and potency; and promote clear ingredient listings and dosage guidelines. Dr. Amy Savarino, veterinary pharmacist at Texas A&M, recommends asking CBD product suppliers for a current certificate of analysis (COA) about ingredient quality and composition. Reputable companies will likely share COAs. Dr. Savarino has compared a COA to a birth certificate for a product. Above all, as with anything else humans give their…
By Erin Shackleford and the AWLA Meet Ace, a handsome brindle boy who’s always dressed for a party. Ace can see into your soul with his big brown eyes, and he knows that you’re looking for a fun guy to hang out with every day. Conveniently, Ace is a playful 2-year-old with a bit of puppy energy! This 65-pound boy is ready to join you for enriching hikes, long neighborhood walks, and chasing his favorite toys. Ace enjoys a good game of fetch, and receiving rump scratches while he relaxes afterwards. This boy is food-motivated and could learn new cues in his forever home. Most of all, Ace is looking for cuddles and love that match his enthusiasm for life. If you are looking for a companion to join you on outdoor adventures, Ace is your guy! Meet Molly, a sweet and smart senior pup looking for a place to spend her golden years. She’s a beautiful brindle color, 8 years old, and weighs 50 pounds. While she’s a little shy meeting new people, she quickly opens up. Molly is also very well behaved and knows cues for sit, paw, and down – always taking treats politely from your hand. Molly is looking for someone with a laid back lifestyle who shares her love of leisurely walks, snuggling up on the couch, or simply hanging out enjoying a good bone. If you are looking for an easy going companion, Molly may be just right! Molly is currently relaxing in a foster home but you can schedule a time to meet her via email at adoptions@alexandriaanimals.org or calling 703.746.4774, option 2. Shyla is a spry, social senior gal. She’s 12 years old and 63 pounds. If she was in a senior living community, she’d be headed down to the community room for bingo (and maybe a couple glasses…
By Elizabeth Hughes “Just look at what I wake up to every morning.” That’s former New York County prosecutor – turned Alexandria, Virginia local – Robert “Bob” Condon talking about his wife of 36 years, happy tears welling up in his eyes. We’re sitting in a hip, Old Town restaurant where the Condon’s have ordered three glasses of Rose’ for what will be a 75-minute interview that feels more like a conversation with trusted friends. Bob, or “Bobby” as Kathy aka Mrs. Condon refers to the noted attorney, listens to his wife talk about her career path and their respective lives together. It’s her turn. He’s about a decade older now, but sitting here coiffed to perfection and reading the room, the only thing that gives away his 88 years are a pair of eyeglasses around his neck. I put on my own, taking notes and listening to Kathy, 73, discuss a path that took her from the massive campus at University of Minnesota to George Mason University – eventually – to pharmaceutical sales, and to a lucrative, twenty-five-year stint with Lexis-Nexis. She called on government accounts, lobbying firms, and other power players. Regarding the move out of pharmaceutical sales, she acknowledges that “…the pipeline ran out and I needed to make a change.” Both Bob and Kathy say they didn’t meet through Lexis-Nexis, which is now known for breaking ground in legal AI. “We saw each other around town (in the District) at a time that I was ending my first marriage. We were social acquaintances for several years,” says Bob. For her part, Kathy says that in her 30’s she was determined to couple with someone who met her threshold and with whom she might age well. “I get asked this all of the time by younger women…
By Lori Welch Brown As you read this, I’ll likely be in celebration mode as it’s the birthday month. Yes—that’s right. I plan to celebrate the entire month. Not because I think I’m that special, but because at this stage of my life, I look for reasons to eat cake and light candles and kick my heels up. And actually, it’s my and XXL’s anniversary also so a double whammy. But hey—just because it’s not your birthday, anniversary or Arbor Day, don’t fret. September has you covered. September is a reason to celebrate in its own right. It’s a month of change—a month of new beginnings as we say goodbye to summer and the dog days of August and launch off into a new chapter. Perhaps it’s sending the kids off to high school or college. Or maybe it’s going back into the office after vacation or signing up for a new class. Whichever direction you’re headed, you get to step into it with a new attitude. Since I was a kid, I’ve viewed September as the month of fresh starts and new beginnings. It was a chance to re-invent myself in some ways. After a summer of time away from school friends, I could emerge from my sand-crusted cocoon, spread my wings, and fly into the classroom with a whole new style and attitude. Of course, my classmates would notice how the summer had matured me and bestowed a beautiful glow upon my freckled cheeks. They’d notice how I carried myself differently—more like Brooke Shields and less like Pippi Longstocking. They’d notice how I’d discarded my Hong Kong Phooey lunch box in favor of a smart brown pleather number with a shoulder strap and matching thermos. They’d notice how my acne scars had faded and new beauty marks had…
By Mark Edelman September marks the beginning of the DC theater season—time to get back into the habit and enjoy the great theater the DMV has on offer. If that’s not enough to get you to click off Netflix and hit the streets, check out this year’s Theater Week at http://www.theatreweek.org. From September 18 to October 5, there are good deals to be had at some of these venues: PLAY ON! Signature Theatre Now thru Sep 15 The Duke gets his due in this sensational production with impressive performances all around under the nimble direction of Lili-Anne Brown. Greg Watkins channels a smooth Nat King Cole in his portrayal of the Duke, reigning composer at Harlem’s famed Cotton Club, who’s stricken with writer’s block when the woman he loves (a formidable Awa Sal Secka) won’t love him back. Enter Violetta (cute as pie Jalisa Williams), a songwriter herself, who gets disguised by Uncle Jester (non-stop Wesley Jr Barnes) to cheer up the Duke. Instead, Violetta (now Vy-Man) falls in love with the guy. If this sounds a bit like Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, you got dat right. Kanysha Williams scats up a storm as Miss Mary and Chuckie Benson’s Rev shows the romantic potential in Malvolio, if only the Bard had given him the shot. All that and timeless classics from “Take the ‘A’ Train” and “Mood Indigo” to “I Got it Bad and That Ain’t Good” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” combine to make for a most joyful noise. Play on! Indeed. Tickets at http://www.sigtheatre.org HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD National Theatre Now thru Sep 7 Holy Hogwarts! Harry and his pals are all grown up, but—wouldn’t you know it—there are still dark forces at work, compliments of he who shall not be named (Voldemort, not…
Longtime friends and subscribers, Linda Plant and Dave Allin took their June copy of the OTC on the road with them when they embarked on their trek to Croatia and several surrounding countries in July. Pictured here, is Linda reading from the balcony of their room at the Hotel Istra overlooking Kvarner Bay and the Franz Joseph I Promenade on the Istrian Peninsula in Opatija. The Promenade provides dozens of swimming access points with flagstone sunning platforms and ladders into the crystal-clear seawater. This second photo was taken near the fountain adjacent to the large public beach in central Opatija. If you would like to see your photo in this space, take the OTC with you on your next adventure and take a high resolution photo or photos of you and yours checking us out and send it with information for the caption to office@oldtowncrier.com and put “On the Road” in the subject line.
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