Sunday, October 28, 2007

Loudoun County's Modern Moms Magazine...

....launched this past week (by publisher Hulya Aksu, online at www.modernmommagazine.com); it's a free "mini-mag" available to pick up at local businesses. It's officially called "Loudoun County Modern Mom", and the current edition is for Winter, 2008.

What a great magazine, and a long time coming. There's been a developing online interest and build-up of Loudoun Mom-centric venues, like The Mom Link, Loudoun Moms.com, the Loudoun Moms Network and our own Dulles South Work-at-Home-Moms "Mom-Force" Blog.

This is really the first "offline" foray, however, and it's a really well put together blend of information, Mom profiles, local advertising and guidance to all things Mom in Loudoun County, with a definite focus on the finer elements of style, businesses and reviews. Great photos and graphics. It's also a really handy 6x9 pocketbook size for easy reference to material from flouride levels in Loudoun County to "7 secrets to starting a business while raising a family".

Altogether a seriously professional publication that deserves first-mover advantage in what's sure to be a growing market for Loudoun-centric publications.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Is your business "Made in Loudoun County"?

Show your pride.....Made in Loudoun County, VA!

Friday, October 19, 2007

Loudoun Reporter Erika Jacobson - Moving On

One of our favorite area reporters at The Connection, Erika Jacobson, is moving on to the Leesburg Today newspaper - but will still cover Eastern Loudoun County. Arguably one of the hardest-working reporters on the beat, her breadth of coverage and insight continually enhances the image of Eastern Loudoun as a professional destination.

Good Luck, Erika!

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Conflicting signs of economic recovery in South Riding

A couple of things caught our eyes and ears this past week in South Riding, which seemingly contradicted each other regarding the true gravity of the current US economic condition, hard-hit by the housing downturn. On the other hand, these "news" clips may only be the result of real journalists on vacation.

In this week's Easterner, "South Riding Scoop", mention was made of the fact that the nail salon traffic was way down....and therefore the authors, trying to understand why, were offering free do-it-yourself nail kits to see if these were the source of the issue. Obviously, the first thing to go in a tough market are your nails. (Good work, Easterner, with this amazing scoop...!)

Separately, we overheard several mentions and referrals to (A) local Botox parties, and (B) the "new granite".

(A) the Botox parties could either indicate actual upturn in local wealth, or perhaps a knee-jerk reaction to the "worry-lines" caused by the bad economy.

(B) the "new granite" refers to the latest "must-have" accessory around the house, new Boobs. That's right, you heard us...where once all neighborhood conversations revolved around which kind of granite upgrades were being put in, now this. All over the place, evidently.

Heads are spinning, over here.

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Top 10 Loudoun County Advertising Online Destinations

Here's a non-scientific, but professional, business-centric perspective on the top 10 website destinations available currently for businesses to advertise locally to Loudoun County residents and other businesses...

Loudoun Advertising Online

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

"The only tool you're using on us is a screwdriver"...

...remarked Phyllis Randall to Lori Waters, at tonight's feisty and audio-challenged Board of Supervisor's debate put on by the Loudoun League of Women Voters. Another blog entry here will delve further into the issues and comments (as will this weekend's Loudoun Rag articles - all of 'em were there), but here's the tasty soundbytes (not necessarily absolutely accurate quotes):

Miller - "I feel like I've scared off the school bully!" - referring to an absent Steve Snow, and following with many unanswered accusations, criticisms and charges regarding Snow's record and campaigning.

Waters - "I don't support the government simply giving up handouts" (to Randall).

Ryan - "Telework isn't a real solution; it doesn't work in the business community" (to Waters - um, it seems to work just fine to us...)

Miller - "Snow's failed his road test" - referring to a Snow statement that the BOS position can't be filled on a "learner's permit" (i.e. an inexperienced person).

Waters - "he's violated the forum policy" - referring to Bob Ohneiser (Broad Run School Board representative, who posed a question to Lori without revealing his support of Ryan nor his candidacy in the upcoming elections).

Ryan - "speaking of ethics, she's the only bad smelling thing here" (about Waters).

Randall - "it's time the leadership of Loudoun County looked like the citizens of Loudoun County" - general statement, in advance of the later statement "I only ask that the voters do not take my skin color into account when they vote".

Miller - "the first thing I'll do if elected is call Dietz construction and let them know I can't work for them for the next 4 years".

Everyone except Waters - "it's interesting how many initiatives have been started just over the past few months by this BOS".

Front row of spectators, on their T-shirts (before being requested to remove them) -"Danger, we live in the HCA fallout zone!".

What fun. Here's the 10 second opinionated review:

- Waters - most professional
- Randall - most energetic and motivated
- Ryan - most unremarkable
- Miller - most like a thoughtful professor in this school environment
- Moderator - nice and polite, but inexperienced in political settings
- Sound system - abysmal
- Student attendance - pretty good
- Audience participants (asking questions) - planted with specific agendas
- Coaches - lots of secret hand signalling from an audience member to Randall
-"Meet the Press" reporters (asked questions to the candidates; representing the Easterner, the Loudoun Times, the Connection, and Leesburg Today) - pretty uninspired, except for a little moxie from the Leesburg Today reporter

- Interesting, unique ideas or solutions - mostly from Miller, including a committee to improve the regulatory environment to help attract more businesses, many more commuter buses, a year-long budgetary process and discussion committee representing the BOS and BOE, drastically improvement the public commenting and participation process for BOS forums (so they don't go till 12AM, and everyone gets a pre-scheduled slot), and don't focus on cutting government services from illegal immigrants and their children, rather, focus on removing the illegal criminal element.