Highway Trust Fund in Jeopardy

More than 700,000 jobs will be lost if the United States Congress doesn’t enact legislation that will fund the Highway Trust Fund in August. The House of Representatives passed the appropriations bill, but the Senate has yet to vote on the matter. The Association encouraged the people of Virginia to call their representatives and tell them to garner support from their colleagues for the bill. Such efforts seem to have borne fruit, and Sen. Barbara Boxer has promised results shortly. This is good news because 43,000 of the possible job losses would come from Virginia itself.

Exploring Silver Spring Historic Sites

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad station was built in 1945 and is a testament to the post-war development of the area. Since 2003, passengers have used a station a quarter mile away; the Georgia Avenue station is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Blair House and its accompanying park highlight the Greek Revival style of architecture. The house has belonged to the city since being donated by the Blair family in 1933. Hungry travelers with a taste for nostalgia can quench their growling stomachs at the Tastee Diner, which has been a downtown mainstay for 68 years.

Buying a Car Made Easy

Some people believe that buying a car involves a dozen complicated forms, stern looks from across the desk, falsely reassuring claps on the back and other uncomfortable experiences. But as long as one keeps a level head and knows what to expect, the process is smooth. There are a few simple steps to follow before taking possession of the keys.

First, get approved for financing before beginning the search. This will save the headache that comes with the statement, "Oh, I’m sorry. The loan was denied." After that, remember the three rules of shopping for a car: research, research, research. Besides Kelley Blue Book, there are, literally, dozens of other websites one can visit to see the value of trade-ins and get anidea of what new cars cost. Manufacturers and dealerships also have special deals and often maintain descriptions of those deals on their websites. Know them before you sit down at the desk.

After arming yourself with the right information, it’s time to put on the "tough negotiator" hat. Your earlier research will make it easier for you to tell when a dealer isn’t on the level when quoting irrational prices. Don’t be afraid to walk out if things don’t feel right. Reputable dealers will appreciate well-informed customers because they tend to be repeat customers when they realize they can trust the dealer. The final handshake should be a solid bond of mutual respect.

Down Syndrome Network: Fighting for Equality

Ever since its founding in 1986 as Parents of Children with Down Syndrome, the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County has worked and fought for equality, recognition and normal treatment for people with this condition. The organization arranges speaking engagements for professionals who are well versed in the disorder and promotes active education of parents, healthcareprofessionals and teachers in the various aspects of Down Syndrome.

The group also educates people with Down Syndrome themselves and gives classes on societal integration, maintaining focus while in class or at work and working with advocacy groups to promote understanding of Down Syndrome. Perhaps the group’s most important mission is to correct misunderstandings and misconceptions about Down Syndrome, of which there are, unfortunately, many.

For example, many people believe Down Syndrome to be an uncommon or rare condition; however, one out of every 691 babies in the United States will be born with the disorder. Also, while it may be true that, in the past, people with Down Syndrome didn’t live long lives, medical advances and increased knowledge of the condition have brought Down Syndrome-affected people’s lifespan up to nearly average levels. Contrary to popular opinion, Down Syndrome is not generally hereditary; only one percent of people with the disorder gained it genetically. In most cases, it occurs randomly.

Through its work, the Network, and other organizations like it, has raised awareness and built acceptance of people with Down Syndrome. Because of these efforts, Down Syndrome-affected people no longer have to waste away in asylums and other institutions. Almost all of them today live either at home with their families or have progressed to being able to live on their own. As a primary part of its mission, the Network seeks to empower people with Down Syndrome to be able to make crucial decisions about their own lives and medical care.

When it comes to education, great strides have been made over the last 20 years in integrating people with Down Syndrome into regular classes. While it is true that people with Down Syndrome have developmental disabilities, they are hardly the stereotype that people once perpetuated. In fact, through the hard work of intrepid educators and advocacy groups like the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County, many people with Down Syndrome are graduating high school with regular diplomas and even going to college.

The Network wants and needs both monetary and volunteer help from the community. It recognizes and values such voluntary contributions and encourages a well-informed public to be active in the promotion of the inclusion of people with Down Syndrome in everyday life and activities. The Network also strives to support ethical behavioral research in the scientific community, along with other types of research sanctioned within established human rights guidelines. In short, the organization envisions a fully integrated world where people with Down Syndrome can achieve everything they possibly can while being encouraged by the community.

Biography: Alex Perdikis

Throughout his almost 40 years, Alex Perdikis has devoted most of his time to work, family, charitable activities and sports. Even as a child, he was always on the go working odd jobs in his Bethesda, Maryland, neighborhood, playing competitive tennis during the summers and standing out as a linebacker on the football field. As an extremely disciplined person, he was able to keep all of these activities on track and lead the way in each one.

When the time came for college, Perdikis decided to stay close to home and only traveled two hours down Interstate 95 to Richmond. While there, he majored in business administration and focused especially on the key areas of management and marketing; both of these prepared him for his future success running a car dealership. He also played linebacker for the Spiders from 1993-1996 and was instrumental in helping the team improve from 3-8-1 in 1994 to 7-3-1 the following year. Unfortunately, Perdikis suffered a severe spinal cord injury that kept him out of his senior year. Today he keeps himself active by running occasional triathlons and playing golf and basketball when he can find the time.

Immediately after graduating from the E. Claiborne Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond in 1997, he joined Koons Automotive Company. His hard work and success did not go unnoticed: He was promoted into management just three months after joining the company. He’s remained instrumental in its success and growth ever since.

While at Koons of Tysons Corner, he promoted a culture of enthusiasm and professionalism in the sales and management team, which rubbed off on the other 16 dealerships of the company. The staff at that dealership was proud to hoist trophies such as the Jack Smith Leadership Award and the General Motors Mark of Excellence.

After a two-year stint at Koons Tysons Toyota from 2005-2007, Alex Perdikiswas promoted to Executive Vice President. During his time in that position, he played a major role in the acquisition of dealerships and oversaw the day to day business operations.  Wanting to get out from behind a desk to once again lead from the sales floor, Alex Perdikis moved over to Koons of Silver Spring in 2011. That dealership, owned by Perdikis, focuses on Ford, Mazda and Lincoln models and also has a significant pre-owned business.