Meet Elliot, a Maine Coon & Domestic Long Hair male available for adoption locally.
Here is what his friends at Fancy Cats Rescue Team have to say about him:
Elliot is a vocal cat who is constantly asking you for attention. He loves being close to you and getting petted.
You need to make sure you watch where you step and he will sit on your feet if you are standing and doing something because he wants to make sure you know that he is there
Are you and Elliot a match?
If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.
Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
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.
Developed in 1974 by Jeffery Sneider & Company, the Links Pond Cluster of townhomes in South Reston features 3-level, 4-bedroom brick and siding homes.
The 67-home neighborhood borders Reston National Golf Course, and features the pond for which the cluster is named. It’s a common sight in the summer to see people spending lazy days fishing in the pond.
One of the things I love most about this neighborhood is that it feels like a little touch of country in the heart of Reston.
This is a great community for young families. The schools — Terraset Elementary, Langston Hughes and South Lakes High School — are all close. And as the children grow, there is plenty of parking to accommodate your needs as the number of cars you have grows. Each home has one assigned parking space, with plenty of additional parking on South Lakes Drive.
With easy access to the Reston Association paths, it’s easy to get out for a run or walk. Links Pond is close to both South Lakes Village Center and Hunters Woods Village Center, home to the Reston Community Center. Residents also have easy access to the Toll Road and the Wiehle metro.
As with every cluster that is part of Reston Association, Links Pond residents have access to the RA pools and tennis courts — nearby Glade pool with its waterslide is a favorite for kids!
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 past 10 days the Reston real estate market has seen an assertive increase in settled and pending transactions.
Just over 30 properties changed hands and 26 properties entered went under contract. It’s an active market, especially under $500,000 price point.
Here are a few of the recent sales in Reston:
1555 Regatta Lane
3 BR/3.5 BA
List Price: $925,000
Sold Price: $925,000
1737 Quietree Drive
2 BR/2.5 BA
List Price: $379,900
Sold Price: $392,000
11520 Links Drive
4 BR/2.5 BA
List Price: $530,000
Sold Price: $525,000
11463 Waterview Cluster
4 BR/3 BA
List Price: $549,000
Sold Price: $540,000
11660 Mediterranean Court
4 BR/2.5 BA
List Price: $597,700
Sold Price: $600,000
Click here for more information on Reston Real Estate.
This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.
There’s lots of activity in the Reston real estate market.
The new listings are staying even with the pending/sold listing which has our housing inventory holding fairly steady at just under 200.
Of the 35 properties that were listed for sale in the past week, 20 plus will be hosting Open Houses this weekend so if you’re in the market or, if you just like looking at houses there are a lot to see. Prices are ranging from 1.7 million in Reston Town Center to $199,900 in Northgate Square.
Here are some of the properties to hit the market this week:
Meet Ryder, a male Retriever & Dalmatian mix available for adoption locally.
Here is what his friends at Safe Haven Puppy Rescue have to say about him:
Ryder is an adorable little guy who is about 10 weeks old and weighs in at a bit under 8 pounds — we don’t think he’ll be too big when grown, maybe in the area of 40 to 45 pounds give or take. The people who brought him in said retriever and dalmatian but all we know is that he’s a mix and 100% adorable.
This great little fella is a nice blend of friendly affection and normal puppy playfulness and will be great company. He’s doing great in his foster home where his mom says “Ryder has so much expression in that little face of his. He picks up on all the sounds heard in the neighborhood, and gets so excited to meet people.”
Are you and Ryder a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.
Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
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.
We meet with federal employees and government contractors who are facing issues in the security clearance process.
They often ask our attorneys at what point they should consult with a security clearance attorney to assist, advise or represent them. The usual response is that an individual with a potential security concern should do so as soon as possible. Generally, the earlier that a person with possible security concerns consults with a security clearance lawyer, the better the odds become in avoiding a potential adverse outcome.
What Does a Security Clearance Lawyer Do?
There are a number of ways that an experienced lawyer in security clearance law can help someone with security concerns. It is often the case that they can advise an individual regarding potential strategies before a security clearance problem develops.
We have found that most individuals have a good sense as to whether or not they may have a security concern (e.g. recent drug use, bankruptcy, foreign contacts) as they prepare to complete their security clearance forms like the e-QIP, SF-86 and/or different various of the SF-85. The earlier advice is sought when there is an issue, the more that can be possibly done to mitigate the concern.
Clearance lawyers also advise individuals during the investigative process and during any security clearance responses or appeals.
Delays Can Hurt the Ability to Mitigate Security Concerns
One of the major issues that we see in the clearance process is where an individual has waited too long to consider or in starting to address a potential security clearance concern until it may be too late.
Sometimes, individuals who have had financial issues which could have been explained or refuted initially, wait too long thinking that if they lose during the clearance hearing or personal appearance that they will just retain an attorney further on in the appeals process. This is usually the worst strategy.
When people with serious security concerns have waited too long to address them, or gone through an in person response without representation, it is usually too late to do much on further appeal. One example I remember is a case where a government contractor had an alleged debt that was overdue, didn’t respond with evidence that it was not his debt thinking that he could appeal it after the administrative judge had ruled.
The debt was clearly not his, but because the clearance appeal could only be based on the evidence already presented, the clearance could not be saved.
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.
I’ve been writing about the fast pace of Reston real estate and about the constrained inventory.
It’s true that things are moving fast — although not all segments of the market are moving with the same intensity. More than half of Reston’s current housing inventory is condominiums. Condos also account for slightly less than 50% of the year-to-date property sales.
This segment of the market has its own dynamics.
I’m always writing about the price sensitivity of our markets — this is especially true in the condo market. Because the condo market has a larger supply you must price to drive motivation from the buyers. Presentation is also especially important in the condo market — you have more competition so you need to make your property stand out to the buyers.
Reston has a huge variety of types and prices of condos, from very low density properties like Vantage Hill to much more urban settings like Reston Town Center.
Likewise, prices cover a huge range as well; current condo listing prices go from a low of $189,900 for a garden style in South Reston to $1,750,000 for a penthouse property in Reston Town Center; clearly something for every price point.
For many buyers condominium living has a lot to offer. If you’re a person who can deal with living in closer proximity to your neighbors, then condo living might be a good option.
Many people love being able to just shut the door and go without having to worry about yard work and everything else that comes with single family living.
Meet Ginger, a Hound mix adult available for adoption locally.
Here is what her friends at Boxer Rescue and Adoption Inc have to say about her:
Ginger needs a family to give her attention, love and the time to turn her into their special girl. She has learned a lot while she’s been with us and we’d love to see her get a home that has a fenced yard.
Give her a Jolly Ball and she’ll play with it by herself. Ginger needs someone who can wear her out playing, taking walks, or just plain loving on her.
Ginger is very pretty and is a sweet girl, but needs lessons in how to behave nicely. She plays with our younger rescues, but is way too mouthy, which could cause trouble with dogs that don’t know her.
Are you and Ginger a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.
Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
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 past 10 days saw 23 Reston properties make it to a successful settlement and another 47 properties go under contract.
In that same period of time we added 57 new listings plus 6 are showing as “Coming Soon.” We’re adding a few more to the market than we’re selling but not by much; total inventory of houses for sell is still under 200.
Of those 200 houses currently on the market more than half are condominiums. The single family market in Reston is very constrained with just 29 properties currently on the market; 62 townhouses round out the balance of the housing inventory.
Prices of the properties that went under contract or sold in the past 10 days ranged from a $175,000 condo to a $1,195,000 single family home — Reston really does have something for every home buyer’s budget.
Here are some of the recent sales:
1386 Cameron Heath Drive
4 BR/3.5 BA
List Price: $1,250,000
Sold Price: $1,195,000
11315 Handlebar Road
4 BR/3.5 BA
List Price: $749,000
Sold Price: $740,000
2042 Royal Fern Court #1B
2 BR/1 BA
List Price: $230,000
Sold Price: $238,000
11233 Silentwood Lane
2 BR/1.5 BA
List Price: $374,900
Sold Price: $374,900
1629 Parkcrest Circle
2 BR/2 BA
List Price: $278,500
Sold Price: $275,000
By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” This inspirational quote from Helen Keller has been a guiding principle at Synergy Design & Construction since the company was founded over 10 years ago.
It has been important from the very beginning to grow our impact within our local community — especially to those in need — just as much as growing the Company. That’s why it is such an honor to be recognized for this commitment as a 2019 Best of Reston Honoree!
Best of Reston recognizes the contributions of individuals, businesses, civic and community institutions and organizations who demonstrate significant contributions to the greater Reston/Herndon area through their philanthropy and volunteerism. So, this month, rather than feature one of our remodels, we are celebrating our Community and our Team.
Beyond the sticks and bricks of beautiful remodels, there is an underlying dedication at Synergy to give back to others.
Our team members show their commitment every day from working on housing repairs at Cornerstones transitional housing, helping make the holidays special at the Embry Rucker Community Center, mentoring and participating in the Special Olympics Virginia, donating to ReStore, leading Girl Scout Troops, running an arts program at a local elementary school to our recent participation in Walk MS Reston… and much, much more!
Inspired to volunteer? Here are more ways to get involved in our community:
- Cornerstones offers year round volunteer opportunities
- Reston Community Center has a number of needs throughout the year
- You don’t need Marie Kondo to have a clear out. Green Drop will pick donations up right from your front door
- Volunteer Reston offers teen volunteer youth/family groups opportunities for middle and high schoolers
- All about the arts? Greater Reston Arts Center needs volunteers of the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival in May
- Help make someone’s day brighter at Reston Hospital Center by delivering flowers, helping at the Information Desk or visiting with patients
- Give nature a helping hand from bird box monitoring to wildlife counts to Earth Day projects at the Walker Nature Center
Read more about our Best of Reston Honor and how we try to make a difference everyday in our local community. If you see us out and about, come and say “Hello!”
Ready to remodel with a company who cares? Get in touch!
This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.
The Reston market is moving at a really brisk pace.
It’s a great time to sell, if you’re buying it’s a little more challenging. In either case the key to success is being ready. If you’re selling do all that you can to get your house ready. If you’re buying get your paperwork in order with your lender so you can get qualified quickly.
Here are a few newcomers to the Reston real estate market:
The Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University has been named No. 2 in the country in the 2019 U.S. News & World Report for its security studies programs.
If you dream of a career in international security, homeland security, emergency management or other fields that tackle “wicked problems” around the world, the Schar School has top-rated master’s degrees, graduate certificate programs and PhD programs to help you achieve your goals.
The Arlington, Virginia-based Schar School, convenient to the decision-and policy-makers of Washington, D.C., boasts a faculty that includes program former Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency director Michael V. Hayden, former ambassador Richard Kauzlarich and inaugural Carnegie Fellow and terrorism expert Louise Shelley.
Faculty also includes border security expert Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, former president and CEO of the Stimson Center Ellen Laipson, regional economics expert Stephen Fuller and former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe.
The Schar School is an important part of George Mason’s Research 1 Doctoral Universities rating as its faculty and students contribute research of consequence in fields including biodefense, homeland security, emergency management, global relations, war, elections, federalism, economics, energy and others.
For more information about Schar School offerings, including graduate programs in Biodefense, International Commerce, International Security, Organization Development & Knowledge Management, Public Administration, Public Policy, Political Science, Transportation Policy and Operations & Logistics, click here.
Join us for an online information session to learn more about the Schar School’s Master’s in International Commerce and Policy program. The webinar begins at noon (EST) on Thursday, April 11. The webinar is free. Register here.
Meet Princess, a domestic short hair adult female available for adoption locally.
Here is what her friends at Fancy Cats Rescue Team have to say about her:
Princess is extremely affectionate, curious and gentle.
She likes to greet you with a meow, or by rubbing up against your legs. She is content to hang out with you on the couch and will snuggle up next to you, especially at night. She loves to use her scratching post regularly.
Princess thoroughly enjoys bird and squirrel watching too! She loves to be brushed and scratched under her chin, and will reward you with rumbling purrs.
Are you and Princess a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.
Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
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.
We represent employees in Virginia who have been fired from their employment. Sometimes, our representation involves claims against the employer and/or negotiations and other times it involves the issue of how they obtain a new position in light of their termination.
The following are 7 tips to consider if an employee ever finds themselves in this particular situation.
Handle Termination Day Calmly
When an employee is terminated, it can be an extreme shock. Sometimes the reasons are known, sometimes the employee is specifically informed about the underlying issues, and other times they really cannot figure out why. In any case, it is very important to handle termination day with as much grace as possible.
Be calm, follow any reasonable instructions and be polite as you leave. Doing so will help the former employee in the future when they are applying for other work. We have represented many employees where termination day ended up badly and the employer made additional notes in their personnel record or even contacted the police.
If Wrongful Termination is Potentially Involved, Obtain Legal Advice
When an employee has been fired, it is important for them to consider all of their options. If there has been a potential illegal action taken by the employer against the employee (e.g. firing the employee for whistleblowing or based on illegal discrimination) it is important to get legal advice about whether or not to pursue any legal options about the termination.
If a wrongful termination exists, there may be ways for an attorney to resolve the matter with the company in a way that makes the employee more readily employable.
Where Appropriate File for Unemployment Compensation
If an employee is terminated unjustly, it can be worth it for them to apply for unemployment compensation while they are finding a new position. Sometimes, employers decline to object to compensation or fail to show up at such hearings. In many cases, employees can be awarded unemployment compensation even if they have been fired.
Prepare an Updated Resume
When an individual who has been fired starts the job search, it is important to work on their resume. Even though the individual has been terminated, it is important to update their resume and list all of their experience and any skills or education gained from the past employer. The sooner this is done, the quicker the ability to rebound becomes.
Write a Note to the Former Supervisor
While this may be difficult, writing a thank you note to a former supervisor can go a long way to mitigating what they may say to another employer. This can be difficult, especially if the employee was treated unfairly, but it can pay significant dividends in terms of future employability. Many supervisors, even if they fire an employee will feel some guilt in doing so.
If an employee responds with a kind letter to them, it can go a long way in mitigating any bad feelings. I find that when terminated employees take this step, many former supervisors will provide them recommendations when they apply for other positions.
Use Other Contacts as References if Needed
Sometimes a supervisor will not provide a reference for your prior employment. In that case, it is important to find others who can potentially vouch for an employee’s service during their prior employment.
For example, sometimes a former supervisor who is no longer with the employer is willing to provide a positive recommendation. In other instances, former co-workers can sometimes provide a recommendation as well.
Practice Job Interviews
When trying to get a new position after being fired, it is important to practice interview skills. It is also particularly important to be able to explain the termination if need be, and to provide other references. It is usually good advice to stay away from sounding defensive or vindictive toward the former employer in explaining the reasons for termination.
A calm and neutral explanation of the termination is usually the best strategy. However, practicing the delivery is very important.
Take an Interim Job if Necessary
Sometimes, when a termination is based on difficult facts for the former employee, it can be important to take a less than ideal employment position to bridge the gap from the termination.
Basically, in this type of situation, the employee takes a position that either doesn’t pay as much as they are used to or where they are overqualified in order to have a current position on their resume as they apply to their ideal position later. This often alleviates or minimizes future concerns from the prior termination.
Conclusion
If you are in need of employment law advice or 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.
This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.
The spring market is upon us!
Inventory is low but new listings are generally keeping pace with property going under contract. The middle of the market from 475k-675k is super active and days on market is dropping.
I know I say this every, single week — but it bears repeating. If you are selling your property, the speed of this market is not driving crazy price escalations. If you want to see multiple contracts you should try to come on the market just a little bit on the lower side of your range. That is your very best chance of getting multiple offers with favorable terms.
Status: Pending Sales Past 10 Days
Here are some of the new houses to hit the market:
