All results / Stories / Marilyn Campbell

Ideas for Decking the Halls
Local designers create opulent holiday designs.
From traditional to glamorous, fresh to faux and high-end to old school, local tastemakers tell how they create dazzling holiday design extravaganzas.

Healthy Relationships for Life
Researchers say meaningful friendships help preserve health.
Bill and Betty Kenealy, of Springfield, make it a point to socialize regularly with their long-time friends, many of whom are other couples they met through work and through the activities of their five children. They’ve watched their children become adults, worked, retired and even survived cancer. Now they’re living together in a retirement community in Springfield. Bill is 85 and Betty is 81.

Experiencing Life with Special Needs
Potomac school program teaches empathy and acceptance.
A classmate led Sophia Collins across the gym floor during a physical education class at Wayside Elementary School in Potomac last week. Sophia tried to pick up a golf ball and put it in a cup. This may sound like an overly simple task for a first grade student, but Sophia needed help because she couldn’t see.

Choosing a Home for the Golden Years
Many options for retirement communities in the region.
Jim Harkin, 81, and his wife, Phyllis, 80, have little free time these days. Jim spends his days protecting and photographing wildlife on the 60-acre campus at The Fairfax, a Sunrise Senior Living Community, in Fort Belvoir. He helped build, refurbish and maintain more than 20 birdhouses on the grounds, including homes for tree swallows and purple martins.

Historic Home for Sale in Alexandria
Designer/owner brought the home up to date while preserving its architectural integrity.
“We wanted to keep the character of what it was. We were careful about integrating the spaces that we added.” — Sydnye Pettengill
Cleaning Up One’s Plate
Local nutrition experts encourage healthy eating during National Nutrition Month and always.
When it comes to healthy eating, Alexandria wellness educator Cheryl Mirabella encourages her clients to load up during meals, but she offers a caveat.

Setting a holiday table
Local tastemakers offer suggestions for creating festive tablescape.
As Thanksgiving draws near, thoughts of table settings and holiday décor abound.
During Black History Month: A Look at African American Art in Arlington
Promoting and preserving a part of history.
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Challenging A Child’s Mind
Experts say reading is critical to cognitive and emotional development.
Arlington mother Holly Karapetkova reserves time for reading in the schedules of her two young children. It has become such an important part of their daily routine that it is a treasured family activity. It is also vital to her children’s development says Karapetkova.
Keeping Pets Safe
Veterinary experts say common household items can harm animals.
Did you know that a bowl of grapes sitting on your counter can be fatal to your dog or that a bouquet of fragrant lilies could be lethal to a cat? Were you aware that a stick of gum might cause a life-threatening canine emergency? Veterinary experts say that while pet hazards are lurking around almost every home, many pet owners are unaware of them. From favorite foods to over-the-counter-pain relievers, a number of common household items are dangerous to family pets.
Halting the Summer Slide
Local educators offer suggestions to keep children learning through the summer.
Wendi Taylor, North Potomac mother of three, isn’t vacationing, however: She’s helping her three elementary school-aged boys keep their academic skills sharp.
Fatherhood in the 21st Century
Potomac psychiatrist creates program to help men become better fathers.
During more than 30 years as a psychiatrist specializing in children and adolescents, Dr. Bruce Pfeffer has witnessed the impact that fathers can have on the lives of their children.

Staying Fit and Healthy on Vacation
Advance planning is key to maintaining a healthy diet and fitness on the road.
Listening to Christian Elliot describe part of a recent vacation that he took with his wife, Nina, you might think he was attending a fitness bootcamp.

New Year, New Order: Organizing an unruly linen closet
If retrieving an item from the top shelf of one’s linen closet sets off an avalanche of mismatched sheets and tattered towels, it might be time for a linen closet reorganization.
Easing Election Fears
Local therapists say acknowledging, reassuring are keys to easing anxiety.
On the morning after what was possibly the most adversarial election in recent history, psychologist Carolyn Lorente, Ph.D. felt an urge to send a text message to her two teenaged children.

Celebrating Thanksgiving Like a Chef
Local chefs and culinary experts share family stories and recipes.
As a teen, Chef Guiseppe Ricciardi’s Thanksgiving dinners were anything but traditional. Ricciardi , the proprietor of Dolce Vita and Dolce Veloce in Fairfax, moved to New York from Italy with his family when he was 14. His family celebrated Thanksgiving in their new country, but they put an Italian twist on the holiday.

Workshop for Potomac Parents on Managing Family Stress
Feb. 11 event is part of Parent University.
Mental health specialist Elizabeth DuPont Spencer believes stress is a topic familiar to most busy families.

Natural Treatments for Anxiety
Experts say complementary medical treatments can help relieve anxiety and other mental disorders.
When 35-year-old Andrea Evenson decided to try meditation, exercise and yoga to deal with her anxiety, she had already been on a myriad of anti-anxiety medications.