This is a sponsored post that is part of an occasional series by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. Today’s spotlight is on InForm Fitness. (Note: Inform Fitness is also a Reston Now sponsor)

Reston Now: Why did you decide to start your business in Reston?

IF: Reston is an impressively sophisticated market, full of vitality, representing a huge potential of equally viable residential and commercial InForm Fitness clients. The demographic is perfect: whether one lives or works in Reston, they will typically be professionally ambitious, financially stable, mindful of their health, and conscious of their schedule demands.

We believe in one singular purpose of exercise – to build muscle safely and efficiently, with one or two 20-minute sessions a week. Our protocol of strength training offers extremely effective muscular and metabolic conditioning; from a safe, efficient, and sustainable program, through a high-intensity, focused technique.

InForm Fitness offers a revolutionary program for people with demanding schedules, who want optimal results in minimum time. And while not in the gym the typical four to five hours a week, our clients enjoy the time to live the lives they want.

RN: Name something about your business that most people don’t know.

Our Vision and Mission: Our company vision is to pioneer a sea change in the mindset of popular exercise culture to where the primary objective of exercise is to build and maintain muscular strength. Read More

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. Contact her for a more through analysis of what’s selling in your neighborhood.

Here is a look at some recently closed home sales in Reston.

2430 Cloudcroft Square. 2 BR, 2 BA TH. Sold price: $310,000

1830 Fountain Drive #405. 2 BR, 2 BA Condo. Sold price: $509,000

1855 Stratford Park Place # 308. 2 BR, 2 BA Condo. Sold price: $324,000

2459 Pyrenees Court. 4 BR, 3.5 BA TH. Sold price: $330,000

2150 Golf Course Drive. 3 BR, 3.5 BA TH. Sold price: $464,900

1604  Greenbriar Court. 4 Br, 3.5 BA. Sold price: $740,000

2416 Alsop Court. 3 BR, 2.5 BA TH. Sold price: $365,500

1727 Ascot Way #F. 2 BR, 2 Ba Condo. Sold price: $250,000

11616 Newbridge Court. 4 BR, 3.5 BA TH. Sold price: $435,000

This is a promoted post by Downtown Brambleton, a new development by Knuston.

• 22895 Brambleton Plaza, Suite 104, Brambleton, VA 20148
• List Price: Starting from $600s
• Knutson Sales Gallery open daily 11 a.m. – 6 p..m
• Downtownbrambleton.com

Expand your lifestyle beyond four walls when you live in the Downtown Brambleton Town Center.

A collection of 48 new main street townhomes provides you with unbeatable access to Legacy Park, the taps of Lost Rhino Retreat, Sport & Health, a date night at Fox Cinemas, and over 40 other shops and restaurants.

For a night in, enjoy your Yard In The Sky – a large private rooftop terrace, perfect for entertaining friends and family under the stars.

Homes range from 2,800 to over 4,800 square feet with up to five bedrooms. Available features include: private elevator, outdoor fireplaces and kitchens, sliding glass wall system, and more.

Construction is noe underway. Schedule your appointment today to visit Downtown Brambleton and discover the Knutson difference.

Contact Joanne Fisher, Sales Manager, 571-367-4778

This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care, a professional pet care service in Northern Virginia.

This week’s Reston Pet of the Week is Jingle, a cat offered for adoption by Fancy Cats Rescue Team. Here is what they have to say about him (in his own “words!”)

Hi there, my name’s Jingle, I’m a very cuddly, talkative, and loving boy. I like snuggling up with you, purring in contentment while I look up at you with my “Puss in Boots” eyes.

I like to sit in your lap or lay on your chest and make biscuits with my paws. I’ll even curl up next to you in your arms while you sleep, like I’m a teddy bear. I give great head butts, I’ll rub up against everyone hoping for more petting. I’m always right there at the door greeting you when you come home with head butts and happy meows.

I really like catnip toys and my kitty tunnel too, I roll around on the floor with my toys and then I’ll walk around in my crinkle tunnel exploring and playing.

I have medium-length fur, I keep fluffing out more each day now that I’m on a better diet and in a happy foster home. I was found in central Virginia when I was brought to the shelter. I was wearing a collar and had clearly been someone’s pet before.

I’m such a sweet boy, I don’t know why no one ever came to claim me. My time was just about up when I was rescued and came to Virginia. I get along well with other dogs, I live with several of them in my foster home and we all get along great. I’m laid back and non-dominant, I’m happy to be best friends with everyone I meet!

If you are interested in adopting, please fill out an application and a representative will get back to you shortly to answer any questions you may have. The application can be found at this link.

This is a sponsored post by the Neurology Center of Fairfax.

Busy medical speciality office in Reston seeks graduate student for flexible hours, one to three days a week.

Position is for front desk at a busy medical specialty office. Must be skilled with various computer applications and excellent data entry skills.

Position currently available, training in Fairfax office for office in Reston.

Email cover letter and resume to: [email protected] or fax to 703-940-1497.

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

I love Ivy Oak cluster. I think condominiums are a fantastic option for homeowners who don’t want the responsibility for the exterior of their property. But for many young families, a high-rise condo isn’t really an option either.

In Ivy Oak Cluster, families can home their home and let someone else worry about the roof.

Ivy Oak Cluster has 96 condos built in 1970-71. The two-story townhomes have three or four bedrooms. They are well designed, feeling much larger than they are.

Each home also has a nice backyard space, many of which are fenced. For young families, the neighborhood has a large common space with a wonderful playground.

Ivy Oak is located off North Shore Drive in North Reston, close to Temporary Road. That’s the road that connects North Shore Drive and Reston Parkway.

Ivy Oak is about a 10-minute walk to Reston Town Center. There is a path that runs between the cluster and the Sallie Mae property, and it leads right out to Old Reston Avenue. Take a left, and then a right on the W&OD path, and Reston Town Center is pretty much right there.

Ivy Oak is also close to both Whole Foods and Harris Teeter, and has easy access to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station.

But really, the best thing about this neighborhood is the people. It’s a friendly community. If you want a condo that doesn’t feel like a condo right in the middle of everything, check out this neighborhood.

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

We are seeing the start of what may be a nationwide trend after Massachusetts recently became the first state to ban employers from asking job applicants about their salaries during the job interview process.

The bipartisan legislation that was signed into law in early August requires an employer to state a position’s compensation upfront based on what the job applicant is worth to the employer as opposed to what the job applicant made in his or her previous employment position.

Now other legislators are working at the Congressional level, as well as at the state level, to use this law as a model to create similar legislation. On Sept. 14, 2016, a bill was introduced in Congress by Washington, D.C. Representative Eleanor Homes Norton (D) and fellow Democratic Representatives Rosa DeLauro from Connecticut and Jerrold Nadler from New York.

Under the Pay Equity for All Act of 2016 (H.R. 6030), an employer could be subject to a fine of up to $10,000 if it asks questions about an applicant’s salary history. Employers could also be liable to employees or prospective employees for special damages up to $10,000, in addition to attorneys’ fees. Read More

This is a sponsored post from Reston Children’s Center, which has been providing quality childcare, preschool and kindergarten in Reston for 50 years.

By Buzz McClain

In 1967, a $1,000 donation by the Reston Foundation was enough to open the Reston Children’s Center, a preschool-through-school-age children (up to 12-years-old) institution that was badly needed by the burgeoning planned community. Thirty children attended the school in the United Christian Parish building on North Shore Drive.

That was 50 years ago. Now the RCC has its own building, an annual budget of $3.5 million, 70 teachers, administrators and support personnel and more than 250 children under their care.

To celebrate the half-century, Reston Children’s Center is starting the party early, with a kickoff picnic Saturday, Oct. 1 at Lake Fairfax Park.

The festivities, open to current and former families, students, teachers and staff are from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., with fun and games in between. Refreshments will be provided, of course.

“It has been very rewarding to serve Reston for so long,” said Fahemeh Pirzadeh, the RCC’s executive director who herself has been with center for 30 of its 50 years. “This is our way of thanking the community while bringing together old friends and new friends to celebrate our — and their — achievements.”

Reston Children’s Center is at 11825 Olde Crafts Drive in Reston. Call 703-476-8150 or email at [email protected]. See the website here. For information about the celebration at Lake Fairfax and to share your memories of RCC, see RCC’s Facebook page here.

This is a sponsored post by Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio and an award-winning, certified kitchen and bathroom designer. AKG Design Studio is a boutique design firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom designs and cabinetry sales. Contact her at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and check out her work on Houzz, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook.

While thinking about your upcoming remodeling project one thing to think about is sustainable design.

To create a truly green design, a space not only has to have energy-efficient appliances and planet-friendly features, it must be designed to withstand the test of time. Replacing or remodeling every few years is just as wasteful.

Let look at some items that can help save energy, save the earth yet keep you on track with your design style and needs.

 Lighting

To cut down on lighting costs, try using LED lighting. This cuts energy use by more than 50 percent.

If possible, add windows to use natural light to brighten up your kitchen and bring down your electrical bill.

Read More

This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care, a professional pet care service in Northern Virginia.

Meet Stanley, a young Beagle mix who is looking for a forever home. Here is what his friends at the Humane Society of Fairfax County have to say about him:

Your search is over!! Let us introduce Stanley. He’s cute, sweet, tiny but has a super large and loving heart.

He’s a 15-lb. Beagle mix who loves everyone he meets. Have other pets….perfect companion. Have kids……perfect best friend. Have extra space on your couch…..perfect pillow.

You don’t want to wait too long to send your application in for this special boy or he’ll end up as someone else’s best friend.

For more information or to see Stanley, submit an online dog adoption application online. After reviewing the application, staff will contact you, typically within 48 hours, to make an appointment to visit the farm where our dogs and horses are kept.

Are you and Stanley 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 by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

Here is a look at some of the recent home sales in Reston. Want a more thorough analysis of what’s happening in your neighborhood or how to price your home? Contact me at 703-582-6475 or by email at at [email protected].

11459 Waterview Cluster. 2 BR, 2 BA TH. Sold price: $399,800

2519 Freetown Drive. 4 BR, 2.5 BA SFH. Sold price: $560,00

2334 Millennium Lane. 3 BR, 3.5 BA TH. Sold price: $414,900

2066 Royal Fern Court. 2 BR, 1 BA Condo. Sold price: $189,900

11723 Summerchase Circle, Apt C. 2 BR, 1 BA Condo. Sold price: $235,000

11400 Tanbark Lane. 4 BR, 3.5 BA SFH. Sold price: $625,000

11510 Maple Ridge Road. 3 BR, 2 BA TH. Sold price: $405,000

11431 Summer House Court. 3 BR, 2.5 BA TH. Sold price: $634,900

2325 Emerald Heights Court. 3 BR, 2.5 BA TH. Sold price: $327,000

11713 Great Owl Circle. 3 BR, 2.5 BA TH. Sold price: $520,000

2064 Lake Audubon Court. 4 BR, 3.5 BA TH. Sold price: $664,900

1632 York Mills Lane. 4 BR, 3.5 BA SFH. Sold price: $645,000

This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care, a professional pet care service in Northern Virginia.

This week’s Pet of the Week is Bette, a Collie mix who was born in June. She is finally ready yo be adopted to a forever home. Here is what the people at Collie Rescue Inc. have to say about her:

Welcome to the world, Bette! This pup was born in early June 2016 along with four others in the litter.

Their mother is a Collie mix. Although we do not know the father, the puppies are definitely Collie mixes as well. A rural Virginia shelter had no place to keep these puppies, so Collie Rescue, Inc. is helping find them some new forever homes.

Bette has a slight puppy heart murmur (It is very common for young puppies, to develop an innocent heart murmur while they are growing rapidly. The murmur may first appear at 6-8 weeks of age, and a puppy with an innocent heart murmur will usually outgrow it by about 4-6 months of age.)

Bette is currently being fostered in Centerville, Va., so you must be willing to go there to meet the puppies before adoption.

Our standard adoption fee is $350. This fee helps us to cover the expense of providing each dog with a Health Exam, Rabies/DHPP vaccines, Heartworm Test, Heartworm Preventative, Flea & Tick Protection, Microchip, Neuter/Spay, and a bath.

Are you and Bette 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 promoted post by Visit PA, the Tourism Board of Pennsylvania.

By: Buzz McClain

School is back in session, work is heating up and vacation time is over. Or is it? We in the “DMV” are fortunate to have the “P” waiting to welcome us just to the north.

Pennsylvania is close enough for interesting day trips to historic city sites-where you can be out in the morning and back at night-and big enough for extended stays in scenic countryside that varies from picturesque lake fronts to slow rising mountains.

The scenery amid Pennsylvania’s 46,055 square miles seems to change every few miles: If you make the drive north and a little west from points in D.C. and Northern Virginia, you’ll reach the 51 miles of shoreline with Lake Erie; go east and you’ll get to the 57 miles of shore along the Delaware Estuary.

In between are opportunities to explore the Poconos and the Alleghenies, the Lehigh and Susquehanna Valleys, as well as, of course, the history, arts and cultural offerings of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Need ideas for destinations and activities? There is the handy “Happy Traveler” guide created by the Pennsylvania Tourism Board that catalogs the Keystone State’s highlights as well as some of the attractions off the beaten path (a trip along Dutch Country roads, anyone?). Download it at this address.

Meanwhile, consider some of these day trips that are an easy drive from D.C. and NoVa and start making plans for one- to three-day weekends this fall.

• York: Explore Colonial history at the York Heritage Center.
• Pittsburgh: Celebrate the city’s 200th birthday (born: 1816!) at the Senator John Heinz History Center.
• Hershey: Hmmm. Let’s think. Oh, right, chocolate. Explore the candy at Hershey Chocolate World.
• Bethlehem: Speaking of candy, did you know PEEPs were invented in Pennsylvania in 1953? Get the facts at the PEEPs Company Store.
• Nazareth: Speaking of inventions, C.F. Martin built his innovative Martin guitars here. Visit the museum and factory here.

And we didn’t even get to Gettysburg yet.

This is a promoted post from the Neurology Center of Fairfax.

Busy medical practice with offices in Fairfax and Reston seeks full0time patient care assistant to assist doctors in managing care of patients.

Direct patient contact responsibilities, requires strong computer skills for EMR responsibilities, ability to multitask and must have strong English language skills. Job requires full and independent mobility, and ability to stand for long periods of time.

Work day shifts, Monday through Friday. Excellent salary and benefits.

Email cover letter and resume to: [email protected] or fax to 703-940-1497.

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

There are usually two parts to a security clearance case: (1) responding to the security concerns at issue (individual disqualifying and mitigating factors) and (2) overall mitigation.

Overall mitigation is most often used when the security issues are true or partially true, but they should not bar an individual from the ability to retain or obtain a security clearance. Overall mitigation is usually referred to as the Whole-Person Concept for security clearance matters. This evaluation focuses on whether the individual, even with security concerns, is an acceptable security risk. Read More