Meet Rambo, a male Terrier & Shepherd mix puppy available for adoption locally.

Here is what his friends at Safe Haven Puppy Rescue have to say about him:

Rambo and his siblings Rocky and Stella are beautiful little mixed breed babies who likely have terrier, shepherd and collie genetics, a real doggie potpourri — they’re all just as cute and happy as they come.

As they’re fairly petite now at 12 weeks old we don’t think they’ll be very big when grown, maybe about 35 pounds or so, a nice medium size.

This great pup is a nice blend of friendly affection and normal puppy playfulness and will be great company. This friendly, happy little fella is going to bring lots of joy to some lucky adopters.

Are you and Rambo a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.

Meet Molly, a young Domestic Short Hair available for adoption locally.

Here is what her friends at Fancy Cats Rescue Team have to say about her:

This young lady (1.5 years old) is super friendly, adjusts quickly to new environments and loves to play. She especially loves throwing her toy mouse in the air and carrying it around with her in her mouth.

She does well chilling independently, but also loves to be around people and sit in laps. She would prefer to be the queen of the household, but would also be fine with another kitty if they give her space.

Although she might be too much for small children to handle, she would make a great addition to those with older children or someone that wants a furry roommate. She deserves a home where she can relax and be the young cat she didn’t get to be due to having kittens!

Are you and Molly a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.

By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction

We’ve all been there. We pin design and remodeling ideas like crazy on Pinterest, sit glued to our favorite HGTV show and watch with envy as another house is transformed into a dream home.

Or, we browse Houzz projects and wonder how such a dark, closed-in Kitchen became a light and airy space that looks twice the size, but… we are completely stuck when it comes to our own home!

There are a number of reasons why this happens:

• Maybe you just don’t know where to start, and the different ways to remodel is making your head spin
• The horror stories of renovation nightmares made you wary of taking on a remodeling project of your own
• You just don’t want to deal with the disruption and stress and put up with a space even though it bothers you every time you walk into it

It doesn’t have to be like this! While remodeling can be tricky, it doesn’t need to be stressful. It is possible to have a more zen-like experience and keep your stress in check. While there are many ways to feel more in control, here’s a FREE download of the top ten: Ten Secrets to a Stress-Free Home Remodel.

This month’s featured remodel is a single family home in Reston. Our clients were ready to update the home to better reflect the contemporary architecture as well as open up the floor plan of the Main Level. As a busy and musical family of five (with their eldest child soon to be college-bound), they have A LOT going on!

It would have been easy to put it off indefinitely or wait until all the kids were in college before getting started, but the entire family were “all in” and ready to partner with us to keep stress to a minimum during their remodel. Our main goal was to create more open, light filled spaces to allow the family to gather together and enjoy their home for many years to come.

If you’ve been thinking about remodeling for a while, but just keep putting it off because it all seems too much of a hassle, now is a good time to take the first step on your stress-free remodeling journey!

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

In April of 2016, we earlier wrote on the efforts of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and their efforts to receive equal pay as compared to the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team.

Much has happened in the past three years to warrant an update. For one, the women’s team has won another World Cup, recently with a 2-0 victory over the Netherlands. For another, national sponsors of soccer (e.g., Procter and Gamble) have begun to join the fight for equal pay on the side of the women’s team. Lastly, the equal pay movement has become stronger over the past three years. Attached is a copy of the original equal pay complaint.

Equal Pay Cases Take a Long Time

It is an unfortunate fact that the EEOC has taken so long with this case. As mentioned earlier, the case started in early 2016 and originally involved the five team captains of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team, such as Hope Solo and Carli Lloyd, who filed a wage discrimination complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on behalf of all members of the women’s team against the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Since the 3-year delay at the EEOC, all 28 women’s team players have withdrawn their EEOC case and filed suit in the federal district court in Los Angeles, alleging that the U.S. Soccer Federation has engaged in several years of institutional gender discrimination. A copy of that complaint is linked.

Equal Pay Complaint

In the latest filing by plaintiffs Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and other women’s team members, they allege the serious pay discrepancies that continue to exist between the men’s and women’s teams.

Specifically, members of the women’s team can potentially earn a maximum of $99,000 a year, while members of the men’s team earn an average of $263,320 per year. Other disparities include the U.S. Soccer Federation only providing charter air flights to the men’s team in 2017, but requiring the women’s team to take commercial air flights.

The reason why this case is so newsworthy is the fact that the women’s team has been out performing the men’s team in rankings and World Cup wins for a long time. The women’s team has been ranked number one in the world for 10 of the past 11 years. Also, in more recent years, the women’s team has been outperforming the men’s team in revenue and profits as well, and in viewership. For instance, the 2019 Women’s Cup Final viewership was 22% higher than the 2018 Men’s Cup Final.

While the Soccer Federation has claimed market considerations as the reason for paying the men’s team more, the women’s team, according to the complaint, has started to outperform the men’s soccer team in revenue and profit in the most recent accounts. Additionally, according to the complaint, the women’s team had even proposed a revenue-sharing agreement where women’s player compensation would be less if their revenue decreased. It seems as if the U.S. Soccer Federation needs a reality check.

Conclusion

It is time that the U.S. Soccer Federation recognize and pay the women’s team at least the same as their male counterparts on the two national teams and provide them the same benefits. We represent employees in employment matters.

If you need assistance with a federal retirement or an employment issue, please contact our office at (703) 668-0070 or at www.berrylegal.com to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BerryBerryPllc.

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

The real estate market in Reston is holding steady with low inventory and strong demand.

Our numbers at this mid-year mark are looking good. We’ve sold slightly fewer homes than this same time last year with 677 this year vs. 721 in 2018; but things are generally very strong.

There are 201 active listings on the market and another 8 in a “Coming Soon” status. The average-days-on-market for active listings is 56 days, which is way above the average for property in a “Pending” status which is just 24.

The driver for a quick sale is always the price. Price is every seller’s best tool for generating action from buyers. Be the best priced, best presented item in your category and you will shorten your days on market, reduce your carrying costs and maximize your bottom line.

Here are a few of the new homes for sale in Reston this week:

• 11938 Barrel Cooper Court, 3 BR/2.5 BA — $394,900
• 1651 Cedar Hollow Way, 4 BR/3.5 BA — $635,000
• 2429 Alsop Court, 4 BR/2.5 BA — $469,900
• 11769 Indian Ridge Road, 4 BR/3.5 BA — $549,900
• 1951 Sagewood Lane #509, 2 BR/2 BA — $169,000

Meet Mika, a female Retriever and Border Terrier mix available for adoption locally.

Here is what her friends at Safe Haven Puppy Rescue have to say about her:

Mika is a striking and delightful pup who has one blue eye.

This great pup is a nice blend of friendly affection and normal puppy playfulness and will be great company. Mika is up to date on all shots and dewormings.

Precious pups like these go fast! This friendly little baby girl is going to bring lots of joy to some lucky adopters.

Are you and Mika a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.

Meet Angela, a young female Dachshund mix available for adoption locally.

Here is what her friends at New Love Animal Rescue have to say:

Angela is happy, loving and ready for a chance at New Love.

She can be a little shy at first and her new owner is going to have to be patient because it takes her a little bit to warm up to new people, but once she gets to know you, she will be your friend for life!

Angela stays in a foster home with another dog and some cats. The cats don’t bother her at all, and her current foster brother is pretty cool but she doesn’t like every dog she meets , so her new forever family will have to consider that.

She is an active pup in her early years and will need to continue her house training and learning manners as she transitions into a new home.

Are you and Angela a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.

This is a sponsored post from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. For a more complete picture of home sales in your neighborhood, contact her on Reston Real Estate.

The Reston real estate market continues to be strong. 157 properties changed hands in the past 30 days.

At this rate we’ve got less than 6 weeks’ worth of housing inventory. Some segments of the market are moving much, faster than others and some “types” of property are selling much faster than others. Average days on the market for condominiums is 36 while non-condos have an average days on market of just 12.

Here are a few of the properties that have recently sold:

1705 Wainwright Drive
3 BD/2 BA
List Price: $410,000
Sold Price: $415,000

11903 Triple Crown Road
6 BD/6 BA
List Price: $1,158,000
Sold Price: $1,090,000

1566 Goldenrain Court
3 BD/4 BA
List Price: $424,900
Sold Price: $430,000

11310 Myrtle Lane
4 BD/3 BA
List Price: $575,000
Sold Price: $580,000

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By Kimberly H. Berry, Esq.

In Virginia (and in many other jurisdictions) severance agreements are contracts that compensate an employee in exchange for them agreeing to leave their employment and waiving all claims against an employer.

Most employees in Virginia are considered “at will,” which means they can resign or be fired at any time by an employer. When employment ends, an employer may offer (or an employee may request) a severance package in exchange for the employee’s waiver of all rights to sue for discrimination, sexual harassment, whistleblower retaliation or other alleged violations of law by the employer.

Employers, in the absence of an employment contract which requires severance, generally have no obligation to provide employees severance pay. If severance pay is offered, an employer will offer the employee a Severance Agreement along with the proposed compensation.

Employer Severance Agreements

A Severance Agreement is just a contract between an employee and an employer that resolves all outstanding employment matters between them. A Severance Agreement may be offered to an employee who resigns or is terminated. Additionally, Severance Agreements can also be offered to employees who are laid off or who are facing retirement.

In order to be valid, a Severance Agreement must have consideration — i.e., something of value to which the employee is not already entitled. Employers are usually required to provide an employee time to consider the Severance Agreement before signing and advise them to consult with counsel before signing. An employee typically has a 21-day consideration period to accept an employer’s Severance Agreement unless the employee is over 40 years of age.

The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) requires that an employer provide employees over 40 years of age with a 45-day consideration period and at least a 7-day revocation period.

Reasons for Severance Agreements

There are a number of reasons why a Severance Agreement may be proposed or agreed to by employers. These reasons can include the following examples, but many others exist:

• An employee is fired, for conduct or performance and the employer wants to avoid risk for potential claims against them by providing severance in exchange for a waiver of employee claims.
• An employer is looking to downsize their operations and seeks to avoid potential liability in the process by offering severance terms to a number of employees.
• An employee has been fired, no Severance Agreement was initially proposed by the employer but the employee approaches the employer seeking one.
• An employee wants to resign and seeks to initiate severance negotiations with the employer.

Common Severance Agreement Terms

Some of the terms to consider in a Settlement Agreement may include, but are certainly not limited to the following:

Severance Pay
Non-Disparagement
Retirement benefits
Re-employment possibilities
Tax consequences
The timing of severance payments
Confidentiality terms
Security clearance issues
Continuation of employment benefits
Rights to unemployment compensation
Waiver of Claims
Scope of non-competition
Preservation of trade secrets
References and reference letters
Recommendation letters (Positive and Neutral)
Applicable law
Consequences for violating the Severance Agreement

Severance Agreements will almost always include a General Release (Waiver) that stipulates the employee cannot sue his or her employer for wrongful termination or attempt to seek unemployment benefits.

Before an employee signs a Severance Agreement, he or she should consult with an attorney to discuss the rights that he or she may be waiving and the terms of the Severance Agreement.

Conclusion

If you are in need of employment law representation, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.

Meet Holly, a young Domestic Short Hair female available for adoption locally.

Here is what her friends at Fancy Cats Rescue Team have to say about her:

Miss Holly isn’t quite ready to come out of her bed to explore or say hi yet. But — she gladly accepts pets and attention if you’ll sit next to her for a while.

Very shy, Holly found her way to some cat loving people who brought her in from the outside and with our help, got her healthy and ready for adoption.

For now, we’re looking for some cat experienced people who can continue to help Holly on her way to being a friendly and social girl ready to give as much love as she gets.

Are you and Holly a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.

Meet Chase, a male German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever mix available for adoption locally.

Here is what his friends at New Love Animal Rescue have to say about him:

Chase is happy, loving and ready for a chance at New Love!

His foster family says he is just a super sweet goof-ball of a puppy! He loves to eat, loves to play with his human foster siblings, and really loves to cuddle and give kisses.

His foster family is working with him to learn basic obedience such as leash walking, sit, and stay so he’ll be ready for his new forever family as soon as they find him!

Are you and Chase a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

Some states are moving to not only legalize marijuana but also bar drug screening in employment for its use.

Nevada is such a state. Beginning next year, most employers in the State of Nevada will not be able to turn down a job applicant solely for failing a marijuana drug test. This is the result of a new state law, Nevada Assembly Bill 132, that is set to become effective on January 1, 2020. There is some discussion that a similar law will also be coming to Colorado and other jurisdictions soon.

Nevada’s New Law

The new law will not stop employers from testing job applicants for marijuana usage, and it will not bar them from refusing to hire applicants that test positive for other drugs. There are some exceptions to the new law.

It will not apply to physicians, emergency medical technicians, firefighters or those that have job requirements involving driving and in positions which could adversely affect the safety of others. A copy of the new law can be found here. It is likely to be the first of many similar laws that are enacted in states that have legalized marijuana usage.

Virginia Law Still Criminalizes Marijuana Use

While Nevada and other states have moved forward with decriminalizing marijuana usage and beginning to bar employment-related drug screening, Virginia still criminalizes marijuana usage. Virginia employers remain able to terminate employees for marijuana usage. Attorney General Mark Herring recently suggested changing these laws, which could be the start of a long process in Virginia.

Federal Law Remains Unchanged

Individuals should keep in mind that even as these states legalize certain drugs, these state laws have no effect on federal drug laws barring usage. Furthermore, federal employees and security clearance applicants/holders are still barred and can be fired for marijuana usage.

I suspect that this will likely change in the next 5-10 years, but at present federal employees and security clearance holders can lose their security clearances with even one-time use in a state or jurisdiction that has legalized marijuana.

Conclusion

If you are in need of employment, retirement or security clearance law representation, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.

Meet Patches, an adult female retriever and terrier mix available for adoption locally.

Here is what her friends at Safe Haven Puppy Rescue have to say about her:

Patches is an awesome little dog! She came in with some coat and skin issues, which are totally cleared up now. She will make a fabulous dog for a family with kids… she is friendly and smart as a whip.

She already knows to sit and plops her little butt right down for a treat. Knows “up” and loves toys.

And… she gives great hugs! She also quickly figured out where the cookie jar is kept — very clever girl. This great pup is a nice blend of friendly affection and normal puppy playfulness and will be great company.

Are you and Patches a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.

By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction

Unless you live in a new or recently built house, chances are your home was designed with distinctly defined rooms like the kitchen, dining and family room that are closed off from one another.

In some cases, this can be a blessing. If you are using the formal dining room as an office or playroom, it’s a simple step to close the door on the mess (or the noise) when you have visitors!

However, top of the wish list for most of the homeowners we work with is to make their main level feel “more open.”

Most homeowners are ‘over’ walls that block views between rooms or to the outside of the home, the labyrinth of doors that mean one has to be shut before another can be opened, or the dark, closed-in feeling of the kitchen.

Whatever the scenario, creating a more open feel for a space usually starts with removing doors and taking down walls. Although the overall square footage of a space doesn’t necessarily increase, the visual it provides makes it feel like a much bigger space. It’s also a much better way to use space.

With most homeowners rarely using a formal dining room even when they have one, and preferring to be able to see into the eating area or family room when they are in the kitchen, an open floor plan provides better flow between spaces and allows for flexibility in how it’s used. An open concept also allows for more natural light to flow throughout the entire area.

But wait! Before you get too carried away, a few things to consider:

• A more open concept may not be for everyone. Noise travels, heating and cooling costs may change, flooring may need to be replaced throughout, wall space for artwork is reduced and having a line of sight throughout a space means any messes will instantly be on display. Take time to think about how you use your space before determining if an open floor plan is right for you.
• Removing load bearing walls can be complicated and costly. Always check with a professional remodeler or structural engineer first to find out if the wall or column you want to remove is load bearing or houses electrical, mechanical or plumbing lines.
• You don’t have to remove an entire wall to make a space feel more open. Removing a door and taking down part of a wall to create a larger framed entrance between 2 rooms can also make a space feel completely different.
• Similarly, if square footage is at a premium and you want to retain storage or countertop space, removing the upper half of a wall but retaining the lower half and adding an island countertop (with or without cabinets below) is also a great use of space.

This month, our project highlight features a Lake Townhome in South Reston. It’s hard to beat lake living in Reston!

This townhome has a gorgeous view and a great location, but our clients were ready to update the entire first floor of their home including the kitchen, family room and powder room.

We opened up the space between the kitchen and dining room to maximize the beautiful water view but retained usable storage space by adding under-counter cabinets. The kitchen is now lighter and brighter with an all-season view of the lake.

Our client loves a black and white color scheme, but the backsplash accent tile in the kitchen makes a statement and provides a pop of glorious color.

Ready for your home transformation? We’re always happy to discuss what works in your space!

Meet Aces, a small adult female tabby available for adoption locally.

Here is what her friends at Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society have to say about her:

Aces is just a delightful young lady. She is very sweet and loves to sit next to and cuddle with her foster mom and the child in the home.

She loves being picked up and held by the young child. Aces gets along just fantastically with other cats. She was found living outdoors, perhaps having gotten lost or perhaps abandoned by her previous family.

It is estimated that she is about a year old. Come meet this sweetie!

Are you and Aces a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.