This is a sponsored column by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. She writes twice weekly on Reston Now.
For me, Memorial Day weekend is the beginning of summer. The sun is usually shining, and the weather here in Northern Virginia is perfect. One of the many great things about living in Reston is how many choices for things to do on Memorial Day weekend there are — from lounging at the pool to going on wild adventures. Here are some fun things to try out this year.
Go jump in a pool
The Reston Association pools will be open Memorial Day weekend. While the water is still a little cold for me, it’s fun to watch all the children splashing around in the water. If you can’t wait until Memorial Day to go for a swim, Ridge Heights pool in South Reston and North Shore Pool by Lake Anne are both heated and will open May 10. You can buy your pool pass online, which makes it easy to be ready for opening day!
Watch the Rolling Thunder rumble into town
For motorcycle enthusiasts, the Ride of the Patriots is a four-day event over Memorial Day weekend, with a ton of activities at (or beginning) at Patriot Harley-Davidson, located just West of Fairfax Circle on Fairfax Boulevard (Map). The highlight for many locals is Rolling Thunder® on Sunday. It’s awe-inspiring to see thousands of motorcycles rolling toward the Pentagon, united in the cause to bring full accountability for the Prisoners Of War-Missing In Action (POW/MIA) of all wars. Learn more about Rolling Thunder and the Ride For Freedom here.
Sample some wine, learn some history
May 24, The Winery at Bull Run
A good time for a good cause… What more could you want? Visit the historic Manassas National Battlefield, then sit back for some live jazz band and award-winning wine. Get into the spirit by wearing seersucker suits and sundresses, and feel like you’ve stepped into a bygone age.
The fundraiser supports Opportunities, Alternatives, and Resources, and organization that rebuilds lives and breaks the cycle of crime for thousands of individuals and families, providing support to families and opportunities for citizens to successfully return to the community after involvement with the criminal justice system.
Address: 15950 Lee Hwy, Centreville, VA
Times: 2:00PM to 5:00PM
Contact: Brandon Cosby
Phone: (703) 246-3184
Admission: $50
ViVa! Vienna! Festival
May 24 – May 26, Historic Vienna
For those who have lived in Northern Virginia for any length of time, ViVa! Vienna! has become an annual must-attend Memorial Day event. This family and community oriented celebration includes amusement rides, food, crafts, vendors and entertainment — fun for all ages! Vendors include handcraft artisans, retail vendors, professionals, political parties and candidates, and community and non-profit organizations. 100 percent of proceeds go to charitable, community and humanitarian organizations.
Address: 245 Maple Ave W, Vienna, VA
Times: Saturday & Sunday 10am-10pm; Monday 10am-6pm
Phone: (703) 255-4742
Admission: Free to attend; Food and Rides cost extra
This is a sponsored post from Michael Burns of RE/MAX Allegiance. The Just Sold column runs Mondays on Reston Now.
Here are some recently sold listings in Reston. For an update on current market conditions in Reston, see the market update below.
- 11760 Great Owl Circle. 2 BR, 3.5 BA TH. List price: $485,000. Sold price: $485,000
- 11600 Windbluff Court #8A2. 3 BR, 3.5 BA TH. List price: $335,000. Sold price: $332,500
- 11500 Fairway Drive #207. 2 BR, 2 BA Condo. List price: $450,000. Sold price: $450,000
- 1860 Stratford Park Place #308. 2 BR, 2 BA Condo. List price: $449,850. Sold price: $430,000
- 12013 Taliesin Place #36. 3 BR, 1.5 BA Condo. List price: $358,000. Sold price: $350,000
- 12079 Kinsley Place. 3 BR, 3.5 BA TH. List price: $889,000. Sold price: $873,500
- 1319 Dasher Lane. 4 BR, 2.5 BA SFH. List price: $865,000. Sold price: $850,000
- 1244 Vintage Place. 2 BR, 3.5 BA TH. List price: $469,500. Sold price: $452,500
- 11202 Bradbury Lane. 4 BR, 3.5 BA SFH. List price: $749,900. Sold price: $730,000
- 11974 Greywing Court. 3 BR, 3.5 BA TH. List price: $425,000. Sold price: $410,000
Current Reston Market Conditions
There are currently 198 properties for sale in Reston, and 145 properties under contract. The ratio (1.37) is very favorable for sellers, but has increased from last week.
This ratio can be very different across different price points too. For example, the ratio in the $ 1 million plus price range is much higher (13.0). Furthermore, additional trends can emerge across property types (single family detached, townhouse, condo) and zip codes (20190,20191, and 20194).
If you are thinking about selling your house, or would just like to know the more relevant ratio for your property, simply click here to fill out this short form and we will send the information to you within 24 hours.
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Reston Town Center that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement, and private sector employee matters. They write biweekly on RestonNow.
Federal employees filing for disability retirement are either covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). One of the key components of a federal employee’s successful disability retirement application is a well-written physician’s statement.
When evaluating a federal employee’s disability retirement application, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is primarily seeking medical evidence that supports the federal employee’s information provided in his or her application. In order for OPM to support a federal employee’s claim that he or she is disabled and unable to provide useful and efficient service in his or her current position, the federal employee should provide a well-written and detailed physician’s statement when submitting the application. OPM most likely will deny a disability retirement application without such a statement.
OPM’s form SF-3112C and instructions do not actually provide much detail as to what specifically should be included in the physician’s statement. However, based on our experience, it is crucial that the physician provide a great deal of detailed medical documentation in the statement.
The best type of physician’s statement further addresses the federal employee’s specific medical conditions and symptoms, and how they prevent the federal employee from performing his or her job duties as described in the federal employee’s position description.
The federal employee should provide the physician with a copy or summary of his or her official and actual job duties. Keep in mind that OPM is not necessarily focused on whether the federal employee is fully disabled from completing a particular type of work. OPM is more interested in detailed medical evidence establishing how the federal employee is disabled in such a way that prevents the employee from performing his or her current job duties.
If a federal employee retains our firm to assist in his or her disability retirement application, we usually coordinate with the employee’s physician regarding the statement, assist the physician with information that might be important to include in the statement, and help to answer the physician’s questions about the disability retirement process.
In addition, we often assist the physician with the actual drafting of the physician statement since we recognize that physicians have very busy schedules. Also, it is sometimes helpful to offer to pay for the physician’s time in preparing the statement, if appropriate. Typically, most physicians want to help their patients in the disability retirement application process and are usually the first to recommend disability retirement to the federal employee.
When considering OPM disability retirement, it is important to obtain the advice and representation of legal counsel. Our firm represents federal employees in the disability retirement process before various federal agencies and OPM. Please contact us at www.retirementlaw.com, www.berrylegal.com, or by telephone at (703) 668-0070, for a consultation to discuss your individual disability retirement matter.
This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.
Does your cat see the vet often enough?
According to Banfield’s 2014 State of Pet Health, their 850 veterinary clinics across the country saw 2.3 million dogs and only 470,000 cats. There are more cats than dogs in this country. So why aren’t cats getting veterinary care?
The Bayer Veterinary Usage Study, determined several reasons why cats don’t get the appropriate preventative care that they need.
- A poor understanding of the need to get routine examinations. Many cat owners do not understand that their cat must see the vet every year, even it doesn’t require annual vaccinations.
- The costs of veterinary care. Unfortunately, vet bills can be steep, especially when your feline friend is fighting a life-threatening illness. But this is truly a case in which an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Catching and treating an illness early thanks to an annual checkup can ultimately save you thousands in the long run.
- Many cats either do not like being transported to the vet in a carrier or going to the vet at all. The resulting aggressive behavior that cats can display makes many owners reluctant to take their cats unless it is absolutely necessary. In previous articles, we’ve covered some ways to make this process easier.
Despite these hurdles, cats do need veterinary care. Unlike other animals, cats excel at hiding their illnesses, and it is easy to overlook subtle signs.
For that reason, the American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends that a vet examine cats seven and younger once a year and cats older than eight every six months. During the routine physical examination the veterinarian often detects conditions that could affect your cat’s health in the long run, so that they can be managed or treated before they become a bigger problem. Obviously, cats with chronic illnesses need to see their vet more frequently.
As a member of your family, your cat deserves the best possible care. And as its guardian, it is up to you to make sure he or she gets it, so that your cat can live a long and healthy life.
For a more a more comprehensive description on how to care for your cat please visit:
This is a sponsored article from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. She writes twice weekly on Reston Now.
This week, 33 new listings were added to the Reston inventory of homes for sale. The total inventory is right around 190. Sales are strong but days on market is slightly higher. Here are a few of the new ones that came on this week.
2258 Compass Point Ln. 4BR 3.5 Baths $1,495,000
11794 Indian Ridge Rd. 4BR 3.5 Baths $515,000
10713 Cross School Rd. 4BR 3.5 Baths $799,000
Classic Reston is a biweekly feature sponsored by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce that highlights businesses, places and people with deep roots in Reston.
As Sunset Hills Montessori School prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary, school founder Eileen Minarik reflects on the hundreds of students that have grown up with the school.
Those kids who started as tots in 1994 are now graduating from college, and Minarik says she can’t wait until the second generation of SHMS students starts enrolling.
“We’re like a family,” Minarik says of both her staff and the relationship with the school’s parents and children.
The family feeling comes, in part, from most of the staff remaining at SHMS for a long time, says Minarik. Many staffers have been there 10 years or more. Minarik says she is thrilled to promote from within, sending many from SHMS to additional teacher training.
Minarik says teachers get to know the whole family — even the extended family.
“We have established a certain atmosphere,” she said. “Grandparents, au pairs, nannies, all caregivers of our children. They are very much a part of the community. There are now five Montessori schools in Reston. They all have different personalities. Our personnel makes the difference.”
Minarik had already been involved in area Montessori schools for many years when she and her husband Joe opened Sunset Hills Montessori Children’s House in Isaac Newton Square in 1994.
By the end of the decade, after adding primary grades, the school was outgrowing its space.In 2003, the Minariks bought the former United Christian Parish building at 11180 Ridge Heights Rd.
Minarik said she used to drive by at night when the building was a church and see serenity in the lights of an evening service. When the space became available, she envisioned that sanctuary as an incredible place for the SHMS community.
She was even able to find the original church architect, Lawrence Cook, (who was also a Montessori parent) to renovate and add on to the building, which now has 24,000 square feet of space.
When the school moved to Ridge Heights it also changed its name to better reflect its offerings for toddlers through sixth graders. The current enrollment is 185 students.
The current location is nestled in a residential neighborhood, and Minarik says the school takes full advantage of the nearby Reston lakes, woods and paths. Also, many families are specifically looking for a school that they can reach by walking or biking, something they can easily do if they live close by, says Minarik.
The school has a host of extracurricular and after-school activities, says Director of Admissions Garrett Wilhelm. Among them: yoga, soccer, arabic, spanish and cooking. The school’s International Day attracts hundreds of community members. Last week, the entire Elementary program traveled downtown via Metro to attend the U.S. Science and Engineering Festival at the Washington Convention Center. Of course, they ran into some of Minarik’s former students on the Metro.
Prospective families are invited to join the school community for the May 18 anniversary celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. at the school. There will be music, entertainment, food games and prizes, as well as a tribute to the Minariks and a slideshow of SHMS’ history.
Photo: Sunset Hills Montessori campus/Credit: SHMS
This is a sponsored column by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. She writes twice weekly on Reston Now.
Lake Anne Plaza is home to some of Reston’s funkiest mom-and-pop shops. Lake Anne has always welcomed small businesses — in fact, you won’t find any chain stores here. Instead, you’ll find small business owners that bring a little something special to our community.
It’s always worth a trip to the plaza to see visit the shops. Next time you’re at Lake Anne Plaza for the farmer’s market (which starts this Saturday), dinner on the lake, or a summer concert, visit one of these shops–you never know what you’ll find.
Reston’s Used Book Shop is the place “Where Books and People Meet.” With thousands of gently used books lining the shelves, you are guaranteed to find a great read. In fact, a few generations of young Restonians have gained a life long love of reading by perusing the vast children’s selection. Once a month, you can also attend a great bluegrass jam too.
Small change consignments has been a warm nurturing place to buy and sell children’s clothes, toys and equipment since 1981. This friendly neighborhood shop is a gathering place for parents and grandparents looking for brand name and imported clothes, shoes, dancewear, cleats, toys, videos, strollers, cribs, high chairs, exercisers and joggers — most at well under half the original price. For people with growing families, a visit to small change is a must.
If you’re in the mood for a great fresh juice or some of the best kale chips you’ve ever tasted, pop into New Family Naturals ~ Holistic Healing Center & Juice Bar. Their inventory is small, but always interesting. You can find some of the best natural/organic snacks, soaps, and other items on the shelves. And did we mention the kale chips and juice? You will feel yourself getting healthier just walking into the shop.
Lake Anne Florist, Virginia Wine and Gourmet
Whether for a large celebration or an intimate personal observance, you can find fresh floral arrangements and unique gift baskets to help make the occasion memorable. When flowers aren’t enough, you can find Virginia’s Finest™ specialty food items made locally and throughout the state of Virginia. And then there is the local wine selection. Virginia has some very fine wines, and it’s fun to taste them and try something new (yes, they have frequent wine tastings).
Nestled in the same space as the Lake Anne Florist you’ll find some of the finest chocolates in the DC area. The word chocolate says it all, really. Milk, dark, semi-sweet, with nuts, without nuts, truffles–you name it, you can find it at Chesapeake Chocolates. Their signature item is a solid chocolate crab in your choice of dark, milk, or white chocolate. Unlike the real thing, these chocolate crustaceans are available year round. A chocolate treat is a great balance for that healthy juice you get at New Family Naturals!
These are just a few of the shops you’ll discover down at Lake Anne Plaza. Visit today and see what else this historic shopping district in Reston has to offer.
Editor’s note: This post is sponsored and written by Becky’s Pet Care
Responding to Northern Virginia’s growing need for professional pet care services, Becky O’Neil founded Becky’s Pet Care, Inc. in her townhouse basement in 1998.
Becky was a one-woman show, running the operation as sole proprietor and sole employee. Thanks to her strict professional standards and knack for hiring devoted animal lovers, Becky’s Pet Care rapidly expanded and now occupies three commercial office space locations serving over 4,500 clients. Caring for these clients and their beloved pets are nearly 150 Pet Care Professionals and a fully-staffed administrative office.
Along the road to this success, Becky cultivated a formidable expertise in small business ownership, including personnel management, systemization, marketing, business planning and development, and human resources, all in a concerted effort to render her business interactions efficient and effective for employees and clients alike.
Becky’s Pet Care is committed to quality service and continuing education for the animal lover community. We are active in this community and encourage all pet owners to participate in our sponsored events – always fun for owners and pets!
We will have a booth on site at the Reston Pet Fiesta, happening Saturday, May 3rd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Reston Town Center.
This outdoor festival brings together local businesses, animal rescue groups and pet owners for an exciting day of activities, demonstrations and animals galore. Meet wonderful animals looking for their forever homes and check out the latest in pet products. Enjoy onstage entertainment, face painting and caricature artists. Gather the kids and join us for a day of pets and fun for the whole family!
This is a sponsored post from Michael Burns of RE/MAX Allegiance. The Just Sold column runs Mondays on Reston Now.
Here are some recently sold listings in Reston. For an update on current market conditions in Reston, see the market update below.
- 11713 Karbon Hill Court #J. 2 BR, 2 BA Condo. List price: $289,990. Sold price: $287,500
- 11872 St. Trinians Court. 3 BR, 2.5 BA TH. List price: $385,000. Sold price: $385,000
- 11818 Breton Court #21D. 2 BR, 1 BA Condo. List price: $190,000. Sold price: $190,000
- 2310 Archdale Road. 4 BR, 3 BA SFH. List Price: $535,000. Sold price: $515,000
- 11730 Summerchase Circle #1730-B. 1 BR, 1 BA Condo. List price: $230,000. Sold price: $216,000
- 1704 Lake Shore Crest #33. 2 BR, 1.5 BA Condo. List price: $292,500. Sold price: $285,000
- 1556 Northgate Square #21B. 2 BR, 1 BA Condo. List price: $207,000. Sold price: $205,000
- 12016 Talesin Place #13. 2 BR, 1.5 BA Condo. List price: $327,000. Sold price: $308,000
- 11711 Great Owl Circle. 3 BR, 2 FB, 2 HB TH. List price: $485,000. Sold price: $485,000
- 1205 Wild Hawthorne Way. 3 BR, 2 FB, 2 HB TH. List price: $535,000. Sold price: $535,000
Current Reston Market Conditions
There are currently 196 properties for sale in Reston, and 151 properties under contract. The ratio (1.31) is very favorable for sellers, but has increased from last week.
This ratio can be very different across different price points too. For example, the ratio in the $1 million plus price range is much higher (13.0). Furthermore, additional trends can emerge across property types (single family detached, townhouse, condo) and zip codes (20190,20191, and 20194).
If you are thinking about selling your house, or would just like to know the more relevant ratio for your property, simply click here to fill out this short form and we will send the information to you within 24 hours.
This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.
Even though we love our cats very much, we may not like every single thing they do. There are definitely some feline behaviors we can live without! Scratching our furniture, shedding on our black pants and coughing up hairballs are a few habits we’d just as soon not have to deal with.
One of the most frustrating, however, is our feline friends’ occasional tendency to urinate outside the litter box. When our cats, whose bathroom habits are normally quite fastidious, start finding new places to use as a litter box, it can cause an unsightly mess and leave the entire house reeking. And making matters worse is the fact that once a cat starts urinating in a particular corner, on a living room sofa, or on a piece of its owner’s clothing, it will probably continue to do so for a long time.
Urinating outside the litter box can be due to a variety of issues, some more serious than others. If you notice that your cat is doing it, it is critical that you address the situation immediately — both for your cat’s health and the integrity of your carpets and furniture.
Any time your cat starts urinating outside the litter box consult your vet immediately.
Your vet might suggest that you make sure that your cat’s litter box is clean. Some cats will urinate in inappropriate places if they find their litter too dirty. Switching to new litter can also lead to urinating outside the box if your cat doesn’t like the change.
If resolving the litter box situation doesn’t halt the inappropriate urination, the next thing to look for is stress. Sometimes, cats will begin urinating outside the litter box when they feel insecure, when there is a new cat in the house, when you’ve started using a new cleaning agent or when there is a new human addition to the family. The point of urinating outside the box can vary, depending on whether they are trying to mark their territories or signal their displeasure to you, but the results are the same.
If both the litter box’s condition and stressors can be ruled out, then there are a variety of infections and diseases that can cause inappropriate urination. Cats can’t tell you if it hurts to urinate and they might be trying to alert you to that fact. The causes may include:
- Crystals in the urine
- Bladder stones
- Kidney stones
- Urinary track infection
- Idiopathic cystitis
Your vet will check your cat’s blood work, urine and x-rays to determine if any of these issues could be causing the urination problems. If they are, the vet will prescribe the appropriate course of action.
Regardless of the cause, the longer this has gone on it can be challenging to retrain your cat to use the litter box once the problem has been resolved. Be sure to talk with your vet about strategies get your feline friend back into the box.
This is a sponsored article from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. She writes twice weekly on Reston Now.
There were 26 new properties that came on the market this week, bringing the total inventory to right around 190.
Days on market has crept up especially in higher priced homes with the average hovering around 40.
Long & Foster is having a companywide Open House extravaganza this Sunday so there should be lots to see. Below are a few of the houses that are new to the market this week.
11405 PURPLE BEECH DR 4BR 3 Baths $899,900
2258 COMPASS POINT LANE 4BR 3.5 BATHS $1,495,000
2009 LAKEWINDS DR 3BR 3.5 BATHS $749, 000
This is a sponsored column by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. She writes twice weekly on Reston Now.
Perfect for singles or young families, Woodcrest Cluster is a neighborhood of quaint, Colonial-style townhomes located in North Reston.
This small development of 63 townhouses is walking distance to North Point Shopping Center (grocery store, restaurants and more) and Lake Newport Pool. It is surrounded by Reston’s walking paths.
These adorable two- or three-level townhomes have an average of 1,000 square feet of living space, two bedrooms, and 1 1/2 or 2 baths. Several of the homes feature fireplaces. Many of the homes have fenced-in back yards–perfect for letting the dog out! Surrounded by wooded areas, they afford privacy and are light and bright.
The proximity to Reston Parkway, Fairfax County Parkway, and Route 7 — and Dulles Airport for those who travel — make commuting a breeze from this location. Armstrong Elementary School is walking distance, and Herndon Middle School and Herndon High School are a short ride away.
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Reston Town Center that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement, and private sector employee matters. They write biweekly on RestonNow.
Fairfax County has a grievance procedure for County employees, such as teachers and police officers, to attempt to improve employee-management relations and resolve employment matters contained in Chapter 17 of the County of Fairfax Personnel Regulations.
What Can Be Grieved?
Items that can generally be grieved include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Terminations
- Demotions
- Suspensions
- Application of Fairfax County policies
- Retaliation
- Discrimination
- Whistleblower
Generally, County employees cannot file a grievance involving:
- Wage or salary
- Position classifications
- Employee benefits
- Promotion decisions
- Oral reprimands
Five Steps of the Grievance Process
Step 1 of the grievance process is for the County employee to discuss the problem with his or her immediate supervisor in a meeting within 20 business days of the date the County employee reasonably had knowledge about the problem that gave rise to the complaint.
If the problem is not resolved after the Step 1 meeting with the immediate supervisor, the County employee may file a Step 2 written grievance on “Complaint Form — Second Step” with the division supervisor. The division supervisor shall meet with the County employee within five business days of the receipt of the Complaint Form. After the meeting, a reply from the division supervisor shall be made within five business days.
If the problem is not resolved after Step 2, the County employee may file a final Step 3 written grievance on “Complaint Form — Third Step” with the department head. The department head shall meet with the County employee within five business days of the receipt of the Complaint Form. After the meeting, a reply from the department head shall be made within five business days.
If the grievance cannot be resolved by means of Steps 1 through 3 of the process, then the County employee may request a determination of the grievability of the complaint within 10 business days following the receipt of the Step 3 reply from the department head. Step 4 involves a determination as to whether the grievance can go to a hearing. This decision is made by the County Executive and can be appealed to the Fairfax County Circuit Court.
If the County Executive or the Court finds that the grievance is grievable, the County employee may then proceed to Step 5 and file a request for a hearing with the Fairfax County Civil Service Commission. The grievance appeals are reviewed by a three-member panel, and if the Commission accepts the grievance then a hearing is scheduled.
The Grievance Hearing Process
Hearings on grievances before the Commission are similar to civil litigation. Attorneys give opening statements, examine and cross-examine witnesses, introduce evidence, and provide closing statements.
Following the hearing, which can be binding or non-binding, the Commission can, depending on the issues, take such actions as reinstating a terminated employee, reducing suspensions, and providing back pay as appropriate.
Contact Us
If a Fairfax County employee is considering filing an employment grievance, it is important to obtain legal advice and legal representation beforehand. Our law firm represents Fairfax County employees, such as teachers, police officers, and other county personnel in their employment grievances filed with the County. We can be contacted at www.berrylegal.com or by telephone at (703) 668-0070.
This is a sponsored post from Michael Burns of RE/MAX Allegiance. The Just Sold column runs Mondays on Reston Now.
Here are some recently sold listings in Reston. For an update on current market conditions in Reston, see the market update below.
- 11197 Longwood Grove Drive. 6 BR, 4.5 BA SFH. List price: $1,085,000. Sold price: $1,057,500
- 11774 Stratford House Place #204. 2 Br, 2 BA Condo. List price: $539,900. Sold price: $539,900
- 2265 Gunsmith Square. 3 BR, 2.5 BA TH. List price: $375,000. Sold price: $373,000
- 11963 Grey Squirrel Lane. 5 BR, 3.5 BA SFH. List price: $800,000. Sold price: $780,000
- 11056 Saffold Way. 4 BR, 3.5 BA TH. List price: $439,000. Sold price: $444,000
- 1563 Twisted Oak Drive. 2 BR, 2 FB, 2 HB TH. List price: $379,900. Sold price: $379,900
- 1558 Moorings Drive #2A. 1 BR, 1.5 BA Condo. List price: $215,000. Sold price: $215,000
- 1246 Weatherstone Court. 3 BR, 2 FB, 2 HB TH. List price: $549,900. Sold price: $530,000
- 11485 Heritage Commons Way. 2 BR, 3.5 BA TH. List price: $482,900. Sold price: $483,000
- 2148 Greenkeepers Court. 3 BR, 2 FB. 2 HB TH. List price: $460,000. Sold price: $460,000
Current Reston Market Conditions
There are currently 177 properties for sale in Reston, and 157 properties under contract. The ratio (1.13) is very favorable for sellers, but has decreased from last week.
This ratio can be very different across different price points too. For example, the ratio in the 1 Million plus price range is much higher (13.0). Furthermore, additional trends can emerge across property types (single family detached, townhouse, condo) and zip codes (20190,20191, and 20194).
If you are thinking about selling your house, or would just like to know the more relevant ratio for your property, simply click here to fill out this short form and we will send the information to you within 24 hours.
This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.
Kidney disease, kidney failure or chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a renal disease in which a cat’s kidneys progressively shut down. Just as in the case of humans, cats often develop CKD as part of the aging process. Compared to us, however, cats are much more likely to get the disease. CKD will develop in 10 percent of cats older than ten and 30 percent of cats older than 15. Younger cats can also get CKD, but in those cases, the illness generally is caused by exposure to toxins.
CKD can be a very difficult disease to treat because it is usually diagnosed only after it has progressed significantly. It cannot even be detected until a cat has lost more than 65 percent of their kidney function. It is hard to know when this happens, because the cat will often not even display any symptoms until the disease’s later stages. Moreover, the symptoms of CKD, if displayed, may also indicate a completely separate infection.
If you suspect that your cat may have CKD, ask your vet to run a a blood chemistry panel and a urine test. The latter measures the concentration of the urine, which usually decreases as kidney functions are lost. It is important to conduct additional tests to rule out the aforementioned infections.
After their cat has been diagnosed, people usually want to know how bad it is and how the disease can be treated. The answer to both depends on the stage of the disease.
Stage 1: The creatinine level in the blood test is lower than 1.6, which means that less than 66 percent of kidney functions have been lost. At this stage, most vets suggest switching the cat to a more kidney-friendly prescription diet that is lower in processed protein. Read More
