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

Many Restonians value living green — they want to minimize their environmental impact as much as possible.

Heating a home with solar energy is one area where people can make an serious difference. That’s why the 35 patio homes that comprise Solaridge Cluster are so coveted. Every house has a solar attic with large, south-facing windows that collect heat on a winter’s day, and a blower and duct system that bring the warmth down to the living levels.

These gorgeous Contemporary homes have more to offer than energy efficiency.

Solaridge Cluster homes have natural cedar siding, feature open floorplans, and have expansive decks and patios. Of the 35 homes, 29 are two-story models and the six homes on the east side of the cluster have walk-out basements.

Despite the large windows, these single-family homes are very private. Your neighbors are close (and it is, in fact, a very tight knit neighborhood), but inside your home you feel like you’re miles away from everything.

The first house was built in 1983. Since the beginning, one of the things cluster residents most enjoy is a small neighborhood is one where everyone knows each other.

The springtime community clean-up and an annual block party foster a sense of community, and many residents have found “best friends” just down the street.

Solaridge Cluster is across the street from South Lakes Village Center and close beautiful trails, the Reston National Golf Course, the Dulles Toll Road, and the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station.

This is a sponsored post by Sean Aiken, founding Head of School at BASIS Independent in McLean. It does not represent the opinion of Reston Now.

As the father of a young child and the founding Head of School at BASIS Independent McLean in Tysons, Va., I know firsthand how often parents ask themselves, “Is my child set up for success?”

The key to laying the foundation for academic success is to ensure that preschoolers’ young, active minds are soaking up as much as possible. We want our kids to possess a joyful love of learning, and the best place to start is to expose their natural curiosity to as many kinds of thinking as possible.

Any good preschool will inspire and challenge your young learner, but there are many different ways to enhance their capacity to think critically and harness their creativity at home. I recently talked with Kate Briscoe, director of the Early Learning Program at our sister school, BASIS Independent Brooklyn, who shared five creative, easy activities for parents to do at home with preschoolers to keep the learning juices flowing:

Make Checking the Weather a Family Ritual

When checking the weather becomes a regular routine with your child, you begin establishing any number of critical thinking skills: Categorization, cause and effect, variable conditions — the list goes on.

“Keep a colorful chart to track and recognize days when the temperature gets colder and warmer and discuss why that might be happening. Is there a connection between clouds and weather? Are there clouds on sunny days? What about when it is raining?” Kate says. Take these observations and ask your child how they apply to specific actions. What clothes do we need today if it is snowing? What activities can we safely play outside?

Practice Writing in Different Mediums

Let’s be honest, 4-year-olds like getting messy.

“Put out a bowl of sugar and encourage them to practice writing numbers and letters, then have them try in shaving cream and rice. This helps students develop fine motor skills and is, of course, a ton of fun,” says Kate. “How does your finger feel when you move it through the sugar rather than the shaving cream or rice? What do you notice about the texture of the different materials (smooth and cool shaving cream versus bumpy rice versus grainy sugar)? Why does the shaving cream keep its shape?” Remember your compare and contrast essays in college? Same thing, but much gooier.

Turn Bath Time Into a Sink-or-Float Experiment

“At bath time, talk about which toys sink or float,” says Kate. “How many objects can you put onto a floating toy before it sinks? Bonus points to the parents who use terms like buoyancy and gravity!”

I know some of us remember the old David Letterman skit “Will It Float?,” so more adventurous parents may want to extend the game to other household items. Old veggies sitting in your crisper? Dad’s sandals?

(Fair warning, if you play this game frequently, keep track of your cell phone!)

Cook With Your Child 

There are so many learning experiences to be had through cooking: Measuring accurately with utensils of different sizes, working on numeracy and literacy, taste testing different foods for salty and sweet flavors and hypothesizing what happens when cookies are left in the oven too long (and why).

Not only can you foster healthy food choices, but you plant images into your child’s memory that will help them quickly grasp states of matter, energy conversions and algebra later.

“If the recipe says we need three eggs, and we only have one, how many do we need to buy at the store?”

Turn Household Objects Into Physics Experiments

You’d be surprised at how many different physics properties can be demonstrated with a yardstick and a few different balls. Show your preschooler how tilting the yardstick creates different slopes and affects how far balls will roll. What happens when you roll a marble versus a ping-pong ball? What happens when you roll the ball on a rug versus a smooth surface? Speed, acceleration, friction, inertia — these concepts aren’t scary the way they seem in most high schools, and your preschooler can prove it to you!

Sean Aiken is the founding Head of School of BASIS Independent McLean, a new preschool-grade 12 independent school located at 8000 Jones Branch Drive in Tysons Corner.

BASIS Independent Schools, located in New York City, Silicon Valley and now Northern VA offer a world-acclaimed, liberal arts, STEM- focused course of study. Learn more at mclean.basisindependent.com.

Photo Courtesy BASIS Independent

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

While the weather hasn’t exactly been cooperating, the new housing inventory says that spring has arrived in the Reston Real Estate market.

There are currently 192 active listings for sale and 132 pending sales in Reston.

The past 30 days has seen 68 homes go from pending to sold. That leaves us with just under three months (2.8), of housing inventory.

Houses are still sitting on the market longer — the average days on market is 61 before getting a contract. That’s a long time to have your house on the market,  especially if you’re living in it!

Here are a few of the new listings:

2303 HURLINGHAM LN. 4BR, 3.5BA. List Price: $650,000. Open Sunday.

2419 ALSOP CT. 3BR, 2.5BA. List Price: $380,000.

11570 LAKE NEWPORT RD. 5BR, 3.5BA. List Price: $1,229,00. Open Sunday.

1605 HARVEST GREEN CT. 2BR, 1.5BA. List Price: $342,000. Open Sunday.

11509 MAPLE RIDGE RD. 4BR, 2.5BA. List Price: $350,000. Open Sunday.

1323 DEEP RUN LN. 5BR, 3BA. List Price: $674,900. Open Sunday.

This week’s Reston Pets of the Week are Leonna and Winchester, a mother-and-son duo who need a new home. Here is what the people at Home Stretch Animal Rescue have to say about them:

Leonna (female – more orange – 8 years old), and her son Winchester (male – lighter color – 7 years old) need a new home. They are both sweet cats who love affection.

They are indoor cats, healthy/fully-vaccinated, front-declawed, litter trained, and friendly with babies/children. They are not used to dogs, so would probably do best in a home without dogs.

They have supplies (including one fancy, expensive small cabinet that hides litter boxes and a nice cat-condo) that would come with them.

Are you and these cats a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you $100 in Becky’s Bucks, as well as some treats.

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.

The following is a promoted post from Heartland Dental, which is holding a job fair for positions around the D.C. area.

We are looking for Business Assistants, Dental Assistants and Hygienists in Northern Virginia.

Positions with Heartland are more than just a job, it’s an opportunity to learn and grow with a terrific dental team. We’re dedicated to offering proficient, trustworthy dental services and care, and the Dental Assistant’s, Business Assistants and Dental Hygienist position will play a large role in that. If this sounds a like a good fit, we would love to hear from you.

Our job fair will be held Friday, February 26 at the Hampton Inn & Suites, located at 117 Fort Evans Road NE in Leesburg, Virginia.

Interviews will take place between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Please bring your resume and certificates in preparation for an on-site interview

We understand that you work hard, which is why each supported location provides an excellent compensation and benefits package. Additionally, Heartland Dental’s extensive training and continuing education opportunities are unparalleled and exceed industry norms. Additional benefits include health and vision insurance, life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, 6 paid holidays off and the potential for 2 weeks’ vacation.

For any questions, please contact Cyndi Baggarly, Regional Recruiter at [email protected].

Apply at www.heartland.com/careers.

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 a number of circumstances that may cause the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to end a federal employee’s disability retirement.

The three most common reasons why OPM would rescind federal disability retirement benefits include:

1. Restoration to Earning Capacity: Until a federal disability retiree reaches the age of 60, he or she will typically be given a survey by OPM about the disability retiree’s annual income in the previous year. OPM may consider a disability retiree restored to earning capacity if the individual’s earnings from wages and/or self-employment in any calendar year while a disability annuitant reaches or exceeds 80 percent of the current rate of basic pay of the position the individual occupied immediately prior to retirement. If the disability retiree’s income reached the 80 percent earnings limit in any such calendar year, OPM will usually write (although sometimes belatedly) and inform the disability retiree that his or her disability annuity will terminate.

2. OPM Deems an Individual Recovered: OPM may contact a disability retiree and ask the retiree to provide a current medical report from a physician regarding the status of the medical condition that was the basis for disability retirement. A disability retiree can also be asked by OPM about his or her current employment status and other relevant activities. If this information shows a recovery, then the disability retirement annuity may cease. If a disability retiree does not respond to the request by OPM, his or her disability annuity payments may also be suspended.

3. Re-employment in the Federal Government: If a disability retirement annuitant is re-employed in the federal sector, his or her disability retirement annuity amount may change or terminate.

If OPM suspends or terminates an individual’s disability retirement annuity, the disability retiree can contest OPM’s determination and/or move to have his or her disability annuity restored depending on the situation.

For example, if a disability retiree is restored to his or her earning capacity but then later drops below the 80-percent threshold, the disability retirement annuity can be restored. Other examples include situations involving medically recovered individuals who experience later recurrences of the disability.

We represent employees in federal employee retirement and 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.

While snow and ice can dull real estate activity, the Reston market has done fairly well these past few weeks.

Inventory is still on the low side with just 177 active properties but that should improve as we move into the Spring market. At current levels we have 2.76 months’ worth of housing inventory. We have 131 pending home sales and 64 homes sold in the past 30 days.

Here are a few of the new listings.

1560 MOORINGS DR #1A. 1BR, 1 BA. $220,000

11208 BEAVER TRAIL CT #11208. 1BR, 1 BA. $225,000

1563 SCANDIA CIR, 3BR, 2.5 BA. $437,500

2457 FREETOWN DR. 4BR, 3.5 BA. $549,900

1518 TWISTED OAK DR. 3BR, 1 FB, 2 HB. $399,900

12025 CREEKBEND DR, 4BR, 4.5 BA. $879,900

This week’s Reston Pet of the Week is Charlie, a 2-year-old Terrier mix who needs a permanent home. Here is what the people at Safe Haven Puppy Rescue have to say about him:

Charlie is a 2 year old, 27 lb. Terrier mix. Charlie is an absolute joy to be around. He loves attention. This guy would be happy to play with you and his toys or just sit by your side looking at you with that face that will melt your heart. Charlie is looking for his forever home. Will you be the one to give it to him?

Charlie is up to date on all his shots and deworming , he had been neutered and heartworm treated. He has an adoption fee of $325 which includes microchip.

This guy is going to bring lots of joy to some lucky family. For an adoption application, please contact the adoption coordinator, Dondra at: [email protected].

Are you and Charlie a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you $100 in Becky’s Bucks, as well as some treats.

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. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.

If you are looking for a charming and friendly neighborhood, Chatham Colony Cluster in the Lake Anne area of Reston is a perfect fit.

Chatham Colony, a small neighborhood of about 45 Colonial-style townhomes, is the kind of neighborhood where neighbors know each other.

The townhomes have brick exteriors, shuttered windows, two designated parking spaces and wooded backyards.

Like many Reston homes built in the 1970s, each has beautiful hardwood floors and large windows. With three bedrooms and full basements, each home offers plenty of space for growing families and empty nesters alike.

Perhaps one of the best features is that this neighborhood sits right off Moorings Drive and North Shore Drive, just a five-minute walk to Lake Anne Village Center and a five-minute drive to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station.

Although not directly on  Lake Anne, the cluster does have a private dock for those with canoes, kayaks or small sailboats. The cluster also offers easy access to the Reston Association trail that circles Lake Anne, making walks around the picturesque lake easy.

Neighborhood children are zoned for Forest Edge Elementary, Langston Hughes Middle School, and South Lakes High School. Reston Association’s North Shore Pool is an easy walk across Lake Anne Plaza, and the Lake Anne sprinkler park is practically in the neighborhood’s backyard.

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.

Conventional real estate wisdom says the Spring market begins after the Super Bowl.

Well, it’s the weekend after the Super Bowl and lots of new listings have hit the market in Reston.

Here are a few to check out:

12000 Market Street #175, 1 BR, 1 BA Condo, $296,500

11400 Washington Plaza West, #601, 2 BR, 2 BA Condo, $330,000. OpenSunday

10805 Cross School Road, 4 BR, 2.5 BA TH, $638,900

1268 Vintage Place, 3 BR, 3.5 BA TH, $425,000

2315 Archdale Road, 4 BR, 2.5 BA SFH, $524,000

11821 Blue Spruce Road, 4 BR, 3 BA SFH, $600,000

11694 Stockbridge Lane, 3 BR, 2.5 BA SFH, $625,000

This week’s Reston Pet of the Week is Lucy Rocket, who lives with her people near Lake Audubon. Here is what her owner, Laura, has to say about her:

Lucy Rocket came to live with her family just over a year ago. Her mother was a Red Heeler and the rest is anybody’s guess.

Lucy’s likes include chasing sticks, squirrels, deer, foxes, and birds. She also loves to catch tennis balls, and she will get very focused if anyone has a ball (she almost never misses).

Dislikes include baths, turtles (rocks that move), and one neighborhood cat that charged her and made her run yelping all the way home.

Lucy Rocket can be found enthusiastically greeting others while walking the trails of South Reston with her family or on the front of a paddle board on Lake Audubon in the spring and summer.

Lucy Rocket and Laura will receive $100 in Becky’s Bucks, as well as some treats, from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care.

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 sponsored by Erickson Living. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.

Making the decision to move your loved one to a long-term care setting can be difficult and confusing. Here is some important information to consider:

WHO would benefit from long-term nursing care?

Longterm care is appropriate for seniors who need complete assistance with daily living tasks like bathing, eating, dressing, and toileting. It is most appropriate for older adults with major health conditions or those who have permanent physical limitations brought on by a stroke or other serious illness. Seniors diagnosed with dementia or Parkinson’s disease may be good candidates for long-term care.

WHEN is the right time to seek additional support?

Caring for a loved one with around-the-clock needs can be challenging. Consider making the transition to a longterm care facility if your loved one’s health condition requires a level of support that exceeds what can be provided in your home by a family caregiver.

A continuing care retirement community like Ashby Ponds in Ashburn, Va., may be an excellent choice. Ashby Ponds employs full-time physicians and health providers who specialize in senior care. As an integrated team, they create a personalized plan to match your loved one’s unique needs and preferences.

HOW will I pay for long-term care? Read More

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.

South Reston is simply gorgeous. Two lakes, a nature preserve, and miles of walking paths make the area an outdoor lover’s paradise.

Living on Lake Thoreau or Lake Audubon is the epitome of the Reston lifestyle.

Located near the intersection of Twin Branches and Glade in South Reston, Lake Audubon Terrace is a great neighborhood since approximately half of the townhomes are direct lakefront property.

The Cluster was built between 1983 and 1988, and is located on Thrush Ridge Road and Glade Court.

All of these townhomes have three or four bedrooms. They are three-level homes and feature brick and siding. Some of the units have one-car garages. No garage with your unit? No worries. They all have assigned parking spaces with plenty of visitor parking available.

But it’s really all about the lake. Residents have Lake Thoreau access, complete with a private dock. You can launch your canoe or kayak, or just sit on the dock and enjoy the view.

Have a dog? The neighborhood pups love walking on the Turquoise Trail, which passes by the neighborhood. They also like the award-winning Walker Nature Education Center, which is just down the street. Here you’re just minutes away from nature and all that the Reston Association trails have to offer.

Students attend Reston’s Sunrise Valley Elementary School, Langston Hughes Middle and South Lakes High School.

South Lakes Village Center, featuring a grocery store and many restaurants, is an easy walk from Audubon Terrace.

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 that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement, and private sector employee matters.

In a significant move, President Obama has initiated the process for new rules that would be a stronger focus on enforcing equal pay. Specifically, the president, through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and other agencies, is proposing new regulations that would require companies with over 100 employees and certain government contractors to report pay data by gender, race, and ethnicity. The proposal would cover over 63 million employees.

The Chair of the EEOC, Jenny R. Wang, stated that “[t]he pay data will provide EEOC . . . with insight into pay disparities across industries and occupations. Our agencies will use this data to more effectively focus investigations, assess complaints of discrimination, and identify existing pay disparities that may warrant further examination.”

Chair Wang’s remarks and additional information were delivered at the White House Equal Pay event on Jan. 26.

Companies with over 100 employees and certain government contractors with more than 50 employees are currently required to report the number of individuals they employ by job category and by race, ethnicity, and sex. Under the new rule, such companies will also be required to report employees’ taxable earnings for the past year, including tips, taxable benefits, and applicable bonuses.

These new reporting requirements will help the enforcement of equal pay laws and likely cause employers to ensure that they are paying attention to disparities in pay between men and women. The new regulations are likely to be completed by 2016 and the initial reporting requirements for employers are likely due in September 2017.

We represent employees in federal employment matters nationwide, as well as private and public sector employees in employment matters in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. If you need assistance with 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.