Meet this week’s Pet of the Week, Max. Max is a friendly 5-year-old who lives in Reston with his owner, Jennifer.
Here is what she has to say about him:
Don’t let Max’s young handsome face fool you! He’s about to turn a big five in march and weighs about 20 lbs.
He’s super friendly, sometimes too hyper but he knows how to show his doggy friends the best time when together.
He loves just about anything he can get his paws on and gets so grumpy when we go out in the rain and snow.
Jennifer and Max 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 sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.
Why are Europeans so fit? In part, because they walk everywhere.
Reston in general was model off of that European idea, and is a pedestrian-friendly place. The West Market community in North Reston is a perfect example, with grocery stores, restaurants, a movie theater, and anything else you could need just steps from the front door (even Target is walking distance).
West Market comprises two condo communities: Madison Park Condominiums and Lincoln Park Condominiums. Madison Park has 122 condominium units (24 of which are townhouses) within seven buildings. The Lincoln Park community has 104 luxury, two-story townhome-style condos.
Five different builders came together to create this architecturally diverse community. Most people first notice the rounded exteriors that are unlike anything else in Reston.
Spacious common areas include a clubhouse, which includes a main hall and kitchen for meetings and gatherings, a fitness center and sauna, and an outdoor pool.
This neighborhood was built in the late 1990s, just a few steps from Reston Town Center. That means dozens of restaurants, shops, and entertainment are next door.
In addition, Trader Joe’s and Harris Teeter are close by, and the W&OD trail and YMCA are practically in the backyard. You don’t need a car to live here, but if you do have one it is a quick hop onto Fairfax County Parkway and the Dulles Toll Road.
West Market is a great choice for anyone who wants to live in the Reston Town Center area without actually being in the Town Center.
Reston Chamber Spotlight is a feature by members of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now. Today’s spotlight is on new Reston restaurant Red’s Table. Speaking is co-owner Ryan Tracy.
Reston Now: Why did you decide to start your business in Reston?
Ryan Tracy: Reston is our home and it presents a tremendous opportunity to be successful and grow within the community. We believe that Red’s Table provides a product and service that the people of Reston deserve and will appreciate. The interior space is unique to Reston and the location overlooking Lake Thoreau is phenomenal. Reston is a great place to live and it has also become a destination location for business and pleasure.
RN: What are the challenges and rewards of being a business owner?
RT: The challenge is to remain consistent and maintain the highest level of service, along with a high quality product. At the same time adjusting to consumer demands and retaining quality employees can also be challenging. The relationships you build with employees and customers are very rewarding for a business owner. At Red’s Table we want our home to be yours, and the reward comes from customer enjoyment.
RN: Name something about your business that most people don’t know. Read More
This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. It does not reflect the view of Reston Now.
Golf course living is not a new concept in Reston. In the early 1970s, developers incorporated townhome communities into the Reston National Golf Course‘s design. Golf Course View Cluster is one of these lovely communities.
The 200 townhomes that comprise Golf Course View Cluster (Golf Course View and Golf Course Square) are situated in the middle of the golf course, surrounded by wooded areas.
The units are primarily three bedrooms, although each end unit has four bedrooms.
The residents take tremendous pride their neighborhood and their homes, creating a safe and welcoming community. This is a neighborhood to consider if you want to know your neighbors.
In addition to being surrounded by the golf course, it’s just a short hop over to the Newbridge Recreation Area — with its swimming pool, tennis courts and basketball court.
Located at the end of Golf Course Drive — off of Soapstone Road (at the Sunrise Valley Drive intersection) — in South Reston, the neighborhood is about one-half mile to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station.
If you need to drive, it’s just a short hop to the Dulles Toll Road. And, of course, the miles of Reston trails, Reston Town Center, and South Lakes Village Center are also close.
For families looking for the best that Reston has to offer and a close-knit community of neighbors, Golf Course Island Cluster is the perfect place.
Golf Course View Cluster/file photo
This week’s Reston Pet of the Week is Dolly, a Beagle who is in need of a forever home. Here is what the people at Mutt Love Rescue have to say about her.
Dolly is a young, blue-tick Beagle who weighs about 15 lbs.
You can tell she’s probably had a rough life before coming to us from North Carolina. Her ears are ragged and she’s timid around new things but she LOVES other dogs.
We have adoption events every Staurday from 12-3 p.m. Please note that not all dogs can attend every event, so if you are interested in meeting a particular dog, please complete a no-obligation application on our website or email [email protected].
Upcoming adoption events:
Saturday, Jan. 30, noon – 3 pm at Weber’s Pet Supermarket, 14508 Lee Road; Chantilly
Saturday, Feb. 6, noon – 3 pm at Weber’s Pet Supermarket, 10708 Lee Hwy (Fairfax Blvd); Fairfax
Saturday, Feb. 13, noon – 3 pm at Weber’s Pet Supermarket, 14508 Lee Rd; Chantilly
Saturday, Feb. 20, noon – 3 pm at Weber’s Pet Supermarket, 14508 Lee Rd; Chantilly
If you and Dolly are a match, let us know at [email protected]. We will give you $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 sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Reston Town Center that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement, and private sector employee matters.
A movement that has started in Europe would greatly influence our own employment laws if adopted in the United States. The movement is often referred to as the “Right to be Forgotten.”
If the movement takes hold here, we expect that such a change to the laws of the United States would definitely affect individuals seeking employment.
What is the Right to be Forgotten?
The Right to be Forgotten is simply the ability of negative personal information on the Internet to eventually be deleted or delisted on the Internet. This right is the result of a May 2014 ruling by the European Union’s Court of Justice which found that individuals can ask search engines to remove specific results for inquiries that include their name when the interest in those results is outweighed by the individual’s privacy rights.
This right, as it has been implemented in Europe, has applied mostly to search engines, such as Google, or websites, such as Wikipedia. For example, in Europe, information about misdeeds as a minor, old financial issues, or petty crimes from a long time ago could be deleted. In order to make such a request, a person can ask a search engine, like Google, to delink the material at issue.
Google currently provides a form for this type of request for covered individuals. If such a request is approved, then Google will delink the materials at issue from their European websites (not google.com in the United States).
There have been a number of lawsuits in Europe that have been successful at eliminating negative information on the Internet which no longer serves a purpose. The goal has been to enable individuals with bad prior media exposure, or perhaps unflattering or inappropriate pictures, the ability to move on with their lives without having the negative information remain public forever. To an extent, the Right to be Forgotten functions in a similar manner as outdated negative credit information which eventually falls off a credit report.
How the Right to be Forgotten Might Assist Employees
If implemented in the United States, the Right to be Forgotten would have a significant effect on people seeking employment. While there are legal issues that may exist involving an employer’s search of a job applicant’s background on the Internet, many employers still search prospective employees’ backgrounds on the Internet.
A job applicant’s likelihood of successfully obtaining the employment he or she is seeking significantly lessens if negative information is found about the applicant on the Internet by the potential employer. Should the Right to be Forgotten be implemented in the United States, it would be easier for those individuals that have significant negative information on the Internet to attempt to have a fresh start.
According to a survey by Adweek, 9 in 10 Americans are in favor of the Right to be Forgotten. It may take a few years, but this type of legislation is likely to come to the United States in some form or another. When it does, it may enable many individuals a new start, especially with regard to employment.
We represent employees in security clearance matters. If you need assistance with a security clearance or other 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 week’s Reston Pets of the Week are Honey and Merlin, siblings who have given their owner a lot of love over 11 years. Here is what owner Matt has to say:
Honey and her brother, Merlin, both came from a litter on my aunt’s property in Pennsylvania. She woke up one morning to find them all in her shed out back. By the time I adopted Honey and Merlin, the other four kittens were already adopted. These two were inseparable, so my aunt was hoping they could wind up together. I took them home, listening to Honey meow through her cage as I repeated over and over again not to worry — I’d take care of her now.
Honey was much more reserved and it was months before she let me pet her. Once she did, there was no going back. She became my shadow for 11 years. In a lot of ways, she was my first real love. She forced herself next to my body every night to sleep no matter how much I fought. She woke to eat breakfast with me, watched TV with me, and and has waited by the door for me to return home every day.
One month ago, she was diagnosed with cancer, so we’re in our final weeks together and I’m doing my best to live in the moment and appreciate the time I have, as opposed to focusing on the what the future holds. She’s been there for every new home, new girlfriends, the death of family members, the birth of my son, holidays, etc.
In 11 years, she’s gone from a feral cat in a shed to one of the most important lives to have crisscrossed with mine. Because her brother Merlin was always the more outgoing of the two, he always stole the spotlight with guests — but I’ve shared a secret, silent, and mutual adoration with Honey for 11 years and I thought it might be her time to be in the spotlight in Reston.
Honey, Merlin and Matt will receive $100 in Becky’s Bucks, as well as some treats, from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care. Also, best wishes to Honey as she battles her illness.
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.
Is one of your goals for 2016 to reduce your carbon footprint? It’s easier than you may think — and it doesn’t have to be a sacrifice.
There are so many little steps you can take around the house that add up to big environmental benefits. I’ve gathered a list of 12 things you can do right now (or implement one a month for the next year). Have fun being green!
- Clean your refrigerator coils. This will help the refrigerator run more efficiently, and that saves energy. Cleaning the coils isn’t something you think about much, but it’s not hard. Just pull the refrigerator away from the wall, vacuum the dust out of the coils and wipe with a damp cloth. It will take 10 minutes at most.
- Keep your freezer full. A full freezer runs more efficiently than an empty one. You don’t have to fill it with ice cubes and frozen dinners. There are a lot of things you can freeze. For example, milk freezes beautifully. So buy a bigger jug of milk, keep what you need and freeze the rest in mason jars. Rice also freezes well. I cook up large batches and then freeze single servings for when I need them.
- Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins at dinner. They’re prettier and don’t fill up the landfills. And if you’re a dainty eater, you may get several uses out of one napkin before you need to wash it.
- Change out your light bulbs to light-emitting diodes (LEDs). They use less energy and last longer. Yes, they are expensive. But they are worth it.
- Cold this winter? Before you turn up the heat, try layering. An extra sweater or a fuzzy blanket will keep you warm and cozy… and save on your energy bill.
- If you need to buy a new appliance this year, make it an Energy Star-qualified one. Even if they cost a little more, they’ll save you on your electricity bill in the long run.
- Stop using disposable roasting and baking pans. Sure they’re convenient, but they’re expensive in the long run and create waste. You can get a nice roasting pan for around $15. And a bonus: they are much sturdier. Taking the turkey out of the oven is much easier!
- Repair leaky faucets and toilets. It is staggering how much water you waste with a small leak. A friend who let a running toilet run for a few months was a little shocked when her water bill came — it really adds up. Also, it’s a good idea to install water-saving toilets and shower heads.
- Join Dominion’s Green Power program and use energy from renewable sources to power your home. It costs a little, but more is worth it.
- Stop using your dryer sheets, which are loaded with toxins. A wool ball with a safety pin in it will stop the static cling.
- Buy a new houseplant. They really do help keep your air cleaner.
- Thinking of freshening the paint in your house? Use low or VOC-free paint. Not only is it Earth friendly, it’s wallet friendly too.
Bonus tip: Take your own mug to the Lake Anne Coffee Shop (when we open; or wherever you get your daily fix) — some coffee shops will even give you a discount for bringing your own cup.
See, it’s easy to go green. What other tips do you have for an environmentally friendly home?
This is a sponsored post by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. This week’s spotlight is on BrandMirror and its CEO, Jen Dalton. Brand Mirror is a business that consults with businesses and people on their personal branding.
Reston Now: Why did you decide to start your business in Reston?
Jen Dalton: Reston is a great location with growing businesses, innovative and insightful leaders, and a fabulous sense of community and giving back.
RN: What are the challenges and rewards of being a business owner?
JD: A better question to ask is what is not challenging, that might be a shorter list. It is critical for small business owners to know their strengths and when to ask for help. For me, when I work with individuals — whether business owners just starting out or seasoned CEO — it is critical that I help them get clarity on their reputation and how to leverage it to grow their business. I always saw that business owners have freedom, but no free time.
RN: Name something about your business that most people don’t know?
JD: BrandMirror has a book coming out Jan. 19 on Amazon.com. It is an e-book, audio book, and the print book will be available in March. This endeavor was a lot of work and so worth it. There are 17 case studies of entrepreneurs and CEOs on their personal brand journey and we go through questions they had to answer and how they became a noisebreaker.
RN: Describe a typical day as the business owner.
JD: Working hard to deliver value and make a difference, while wearing lots of hats. Always trying to find the best way to deliver something that people and the market are willing to pay for and love utilizing. Read More
This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.
Privacy in a townhouse? That doesn’t seem possible. Many people who choose townhouse living do so at the expense of feeling like they have any real privacy.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Miller & Smith designed Arbor Glen cluster to maximize privacy. The 44 townhouses are arranged in groups of four to six in a “Z” row, which means that each house feels more private.
But the privacy doesn’t stop there. A private, one-way road loops the cluster, adding to the charm of the neighborhood and keeping through traffic out. So while Arbor Glen is right off busy Lake Newport Road, and close to Reston Parkway (only the soccer fields stand between the two), the neighborhood is very quiet.
Built between 1986 and 1988, when the North Point area of Reston was constructed, these spacious townhomes have three or four bedrooms.
While the community is close to North Point Village Center and the bustle of Reston Parkway, it’s nestled in a wooded area that makes it feel more secluded.
Arbor Glnn is less than a five-minute walk to North Point Village Center and Lake Newport Pool (Reston’s only Olympic sized pool). Reston Town Center is less than 2 miles away.
Arbor Glen has all of the pros of a townhome community, including beautiful common areas that you don’t have to maintain! That’s right — you don’t need a lawnmower if you live here.
Meet Indianna Jones, this week’s Pet of the Week. Indianna, a pug, lives in Reston with her people. Melissa and Phil. Here is what Melissa has to say about her:
Indianna Jones , or Indy as she is known to most, is a charismatic 4-year old fawn pug. From a very early age Indy has lived up to her name.
She was born in the Shenandoah mountains on a pug farm with five other brothers and sisters. My husband and I always like to say that we didn’t pick her, she picked us. Within her first few weeks of life she wandered right into a storm drain and had to be rescued through a manhole. Her only sustaining injury is her ongoing fear of any sewer drains she spots while on a walk. She avoids them at all costs! (Can you blame her???)
Indy loves walks around Reston Town Center and Lake Anne Plaza. She has traveled the country and spent time hiking and exploring in Washington State, Colorado, Iowa, and West Virginia. Indy is a pure delight and is loved by everyone who meets her! Her weaknesses are bananas and peanut butter and her strengths are her unconditional love and fetching regular-size tennis balls.
Indianna Jones and her owners 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 sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Reston Town Center that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement, and private sector employee matters.
Under new legislation passed by Congress, federal agencies will begin focusing on social media information as part of the security clearance review process. The new provisions were placed in a 2016 Omnibus appropriations bill (see Chapter 110–Enhanced Personnel Security Programs) by Congress that became law on December 18, 2015. Essentially, the new law establishes a more intensive personnel security clearance program for federal agencies.
One of the central pieces of the new legislation requires the consideration of social media as part of the security clearance process. The legislation does not specify how federal agencies should use, gather, and/or evaluate social media data that they review from clearance holders. Those rules will be forthcoming in the future.
The law also requires that federal agencies establish plans for investigation of existing security clearance holders at least twice within a five-year period. Not many details were provided by Congress in the legislation regarding these additional checks, but it is expected that federal agencies will conduct automated or random checks of a clearance holder within this timeframe. The rules will likely be set for this process in the coming months by the Director of National Intelligence. The goal of the new legislation seems to be in moving to a more continuing process of evaluating eligibility for security clearances.
The new legislation also requires that agencies seek more information regarding clearance holders, including from other public sources such as commercial and consumer reporting databases. These new sources can include, but not be limited to, criminal, credit, and/or financial watch lists and civil legal records. The new law requires implementation of these changes to the security clearance process within the next five years.
We represent employees in security clearance matters. If you need assistance with a security clearance 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.
There seems to be some momentum returning to the market as local agents report increase traffic in listings. No doubt the anticipation of increasing interest rates is also motivating some buyers to get off of the fence and get back into the market.
Whatever the drivers, we’ve started the first days of 2016 with fairly strong sales. Current inventory is still under 200 properties and we settled 20 transactions in the first 11 days of 2016 keeping the supply of homes for sale at around three months.
Hopefully this return of activity will begin to shorten Days on Market which is still very high at 68 days — a painfully long time to keep your house is showing condition.
Here are a few of the houses that sold this week.
12087 EDGEMERE CIR. 3BR, 2.5BA.List Price: $484,000. Sold Price: $476,000. Seller Subsidy: $2,000.
2056 BEACON HEIGHTS DR. 3BR 3.5BA. List Price: $925,000. Sold Price: $920,000. Seller Subsidy: $1,500.
11924 ESCALANTE CT. 3BR, 2.5BA. List Price: $368,750. Sold Price: $371,750> Seller Subsidy: $11,200.
12000 MARKET ST #470. 2BR, 2.5BA. List Price: $525,000. Sold Price: $525,000. Seller Subsidy: $2,500
Visit Reston Real Estate for more information on the market.
This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.
Property inventory is just beginning to creep back up after a holiday lull that sent the total number of homes for sale in Reston to under 200. That’s the lowest it’s been in most of the previous 12 months.
At our current pace of sales, 88 settled transaction in the past 30 days, this represents just over 2 months of housing inventory. It’s a good start to the year and a good bit of activity given the holiday season.
Here are a few of the houses listed this week.
11106 BURYWOOD LN 4BR 3.5BA. List Price $799,900. Open Sunday
11811 BRETON CT #2B, 2BR ,2.5 BA. List Price $324,900
1333 DASHER LN. 4BR, 4.5BA. List Price $949,900
2316 SAINT BEDES CT 4BR 2.5BA. List Price $629,900. Open Sunday
Lake Anne Nursery Kindergarten (LANK), Reston’s first preschool, proudly announces our 2016 Open House dates.
During these sessions, you will tour the play-based preschool and full-day kindergarten, observe our programs, and meet the directors and staff. There will be time for you to ask questions and you will receive all pertinent enrollment materials.
If you would like to attend one of the Open Houses listed below, please call our office to register (703) 437-0035, or email [email protected]. We are located at 12021 North Shore Drive, Reston 20190.
- Friday, 1/8/16 9:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, 1/12/16 Kindergarten Information Session 10:00 a.m.
- Friday, 1/15/16 9:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, 1/20/16 9:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
- Saturday, 1/23/16 Open House 10:00 a.m. to noon
- Tuesday, 1/26/16 9:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
*Children are welcome to attend the open house, but due to state regulations, they will not be able to participate in our regular programming during that time.
For more information visit us at www.lankschool.com or www.facebook.com/lankreston.
The preceding post was written and sponsored by LANK.
