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Fall-A-Palooza Brings Free Seasonal Fun to Reston Station

Fall into the fun at Reston Station’s Fall-A-Palooza on Sunday, October 25, from 4–7 p.m. Celebrate the season with an afternoon of live music, family-friendly activities, delicious food, and harvest-inspired drinks at 1900 Reston Metro Plaza in Reston.

A live DJ kicks off the festivities from 4–5 p.m., followed by the cover band headliner Gonzo’s Nose from 5–7 p.m., bringing an energetic soundtrack to your fall afternoon.

Between songs, explore a petting zoo, let the kids bounce into the fun at the bounce house, or add a little sparkle with glitter tattoos. Outdoor games and a photo booth offer plenty of ways to play and capture the day, while Sip-n-Stroll lets guests enjoy a festive drink as they explore.

Come hungry for giant Bavarian pretzels, pies, apple cider donuts, cotton candy, gelato, and more. Toast the season with seasonal cocktails and spiked apple cider, or cozy up with hot apple cider and hot chocolate.

Gather your friends and family and make an afternoon of fall’s favorite flavors, lively entertainment, and seasonal fun at Reston Station.

When a loved one passes away, families often face difficult decisions about funeral arrangements, finances, and the distribution of property. One common question is whether having a will automatically means the estate must go through probate.

Not necessarily. Whether probate is required in Virginia depends largely on how the deceased person’s assets were owned and whether those assets have another method of transferring to heirs or beneficiaries.

Understanding when probate is required—and when it can be avoided—can help families navigate estate administration with greater confidence.

What Is Probate in Virginia?

Probate is the legal process used to administer certain assets belonging to a deceased person, or decedent. In Virginia, probate generally takes place through the circuit court in the city or county where the decedent lived.

When probate is necessary, the court recognizes the will, if there is one, and appoints a personal representative to handle the estate. The personal representative is responsible for identifying and collecting assets, addressing valid debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining property according to the will or Virginia’s intestacy laws.

Importantly, having a will does not automatically mean every asset must pass through probate. A will generally controls probate assets, while certain property passes directly to another person through ownership arrangements or beneficiary designations.

When Is Probate Required?

Probate is generally necessary when someone dies owning assets in their individual name that do not have another method of transferring ownership.

Examples can include:

• Real estate owned solely by the decedent
• Bank accounts without joint ownership or beneficiary designations
• Vehicles, jewelry, collections, or other personal property owned individually

In these situations, probate may be necessary to give the personal representative authority to transfer or distribute the property.

When Is Probate Not Required?

Some assets can transfer automatically after death and therefore may not need to pass through probate.

Jointly owned property: Assets held jointly with rights of survivorship generally pass to the surviving owner.

Beneficiary-designated accounts: Life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and certain bank accounts can pass directly to the beneficiaries named on the account.

Revocable living trusts: Assets properly transferred into a revocable living trust generally avoid probate because the trust owns the property rather than the deceased individual.

Virginia also provides a simplified option for certain small estates. Under Va. Code § 64.2-601, qualifying personal property valued at $75,000 or less may be transferred using a small estate affidavit rather than a full probate proceeding, provided the statutory requirements are satisfied.

This simplified procedure applies to qualifying personal property, not real estate, and can be particularly useful when an estate consists of modest assets such as a bank account or vehicle.

What Happens When Probate Is Required?

When probate is necessary, the personal representative must complete several steps before the estate can be closed. These typically include identifying and valuing estate assets, filing the required inventory, addressing creditor claims and taxes, and distributing assets to beneficiaries.

Virginia also imposes deadlines for certain estate filings. The inventory generally must be filed within four months after qualification, while the first accounting is generally due within 16 months.

(more…)

Fall-A-Palooza Brings Free Seasonal Fun to Reston Station

Fall into the fun at Reston Station’s Fall-A-Palooza on Sunday, October 25, from 4–7 p.m. Celebrate the season with an afternoon of live music, family-friendly activities, delicious food, and harvest-inspired drinks at 1900 Reston Metro Plaza in Reston.

A live DJ kicks off the festivities from 4–5 p.m., followed by the cover band headliner Gonzo’s Nose from 5–7 p.m., bringing an energetic soundtrack to your fall afternoon.

Between songs, explore a petting zoo, let the kids bounce into the fun at the bounce house, or add a little sparkle with glitter tattoos. Outdoor games and a photo booth offer plenty of ways to play and capture the day, while Sip-n-Stroll lets guests enjoy a festive drink as they explore.

Come hungry for giant Bavarian pretzels, pies, apple cider donuts, cotton candy, gelato, and more. Toast the season with seasonal cocktails and spiked apple cider, or cozy up with hot apple cider and hot chocolate.

Gather your friends and family and make an afternoon of fall’s favorite flavors, lively entertainment, and seasonal fun at Reston Station.

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Game, set, Gala! On Saturday, Nov. 14, the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation’s annual Tennis Creates Gala, presented by QTS, comes to The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, celebrating the transformative power of tennis.

The evening raises critical funds to make the sport accessible to all across Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and eastern/southern West Virginia.

Every dollar goes back into local communities through programs like Girls Rule the Court™, which has served more than 2,000 girls, along with Junior Player Scholarships and Tennis in Schools. Gala funds also help restore public courts. Over the last three years, the Foundation has invested $505,000 across 17 public facilities.

Emceeing the evening is Emmy Award-winning ESPN journalist Malika Andrews, host of NBA Today and NBA Countdown, who joined ESPN’s tennis coverage this year for the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.

Andrews has pointed to the electric moment American tennis is having, with stars like the DMV’s own Frances Tiafoe reaching the 2026 US Open men’s semifinals, and says she’s grateful for the chance to support the sport at the local level.

Joining the celebration is new USTA CEO Craig Tiley, who took the helm of the national governing body in July after over 20 years at Tennis Australia. As he leads the USTA toward its goal of 35 million players by 2035, the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation drives the grassroots work to grow the sport right here in the region.

The Foundation will present its Tennis Creates Impact Award to Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck, U.S. Navy (ret.), 63rd Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, recognizing his leadership in fostering character, community, and well-being through tennis.

The heart of the night is the 2026 Tennis Creates Awards, honoring local changemakers. Alexandria’s Leigh Ann Jackson receives the Adult Leader Award for coaching Girls Rule the Court at Groveton Elementary, where she has served 130 students over five seasons and championed the program’s expansion to Hybla Valley.

Arlington’s Gabrielle Berg earns the Youth Leader Award for founding a Northern Virginia chapter of Tennis For Fun, which runs free year-round clinics for people with special needs in partnership with the Arlington YMCA. Burke’s Khoi Truong, head coach at Lake Braddock Secondary School, is the 2026 Coach of the Year.

They’ll be joined by fellow honorees Dr. Ellen Markowitz (Community Champion), James Skinner (Provider Champion), and Janelle Nichols (Tennis in the Classroom Awardee).

Tickets and tables are now available. Can’t make it? Make a gift to USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation or bid in the silent auction to help put a racquet in the hands of the next generation of players.

The Tennis Creates Gala takes place Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, from 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean, VA 22102.

For more information, visit TennisCreatesGala.com.

Fall-A-Palooza Brings Seasonal Fun to Reston Station

Fall into the fun at Reston Station’s Fall-A-Palooza on Sunday, October 25, from 4–7 p.m. Celebrate the season with an afternoon of live music, family-friendly activities, delicious food, and harvest-inspired drinks at 1900 Reston Metro Plaza in Reston.

A live DJ kicks off the festivities from 4–5 p.m., followed by the cover band headliner Gonzo’s Nose from 5–7 p.m., bringing an energetic soundtrack to your fall afternoon.

Between songs, explore a petting zoo, let the kids bounce into the fun at the bounce house, or add a little sparkle with glitter tattoos. Outdoor games and a photo booth offer plenty of ways to play and capture the day, while Sip-n-Stroll lets guests enjoy a festive drink as they explore.

Come hungry for giant Bavarian pretzels, pies, apple cider donuts, cotton candy, gelato, and more. Toast the season with seasonal cocktails and spiked apple cider, or cozy up with hot apple cider and hot chocolate.

Gather your friends and family and make an afternoon of fall’s favorite flavors, lively entertainment, and seasonal fun at Reston Station.