This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.
I love dining out, especially in the summer when I can sit outside to enjoy a great meal and some wonderful people watching.
I also love trying new restaurants, so I was pretty happy when three new places opened this spring in Reston Town Center. All are great, and I’m looking forward to many wonderful evenings on the patios (or inside when it starts getting colder). Next time you’re in Reston Town Center, try one of them.
Barcelona is known for Spanish food and a long wine list– featuring, of course, lots of Spanish wine. The food is simple and filled with the flavors of olive oil, lemon, smoky paprika.
The restaurant is designed to recreate the feel and the look of an evening on the Ramblas in Barcelona. The result is sophisticated décor that evokes the world’s hippest cities such as Milan and Rio de Janeiro.
For the wine lovers, they have a comprehensive list of wines by the glass from around the world, with an emphasis on the lesser-known regions of Spain and Portugal.
Bartaco is for those who want an upscale TexMex menu. Can you say duck tacos? How about cauliflower tacos? And, of course, you can get all of the wonderful side dishes that make TexMex so popular — chips and guacamole, plantains, rice and beans.
Bartaco is like the best food truck you can imagine placed into a hip restaurant. It’s a great place to meet friends for a drink and a bite.
Neyla is the newest addition to Reston Town Center. Although I was sad to see Paolo’s go, I am excited about having a new Mediterranean bistro in town. This is a place where “old world leisure combines with new world convenience.” The menu is filled with garden fresh vegetables, select cheeses, meats and fish prepared with an Eastern Mediterranean influence. Their dishes feature coriander, cinnamon, basil, thyme, and coffee with cardamom… yum.
Are you hungry yet? I am. Maybe I’ll see you at Reston Town Center.
Photo: Barcelona at Reston Town Center
This is a sponsored post by Elizabeth Arguelles, veterinarian and owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza.
Preventive care and regular wellness checks at your veterinarian are an important part of helping your cat live beyond nine lives. In addition to keeping your feline friend’s vaccinations up to date, wellness care also gives your vet an opportunity to catch any disease processes early before further damage occurs.
How often should you take your cat in for wellness exams?
While it depends greatly on your cat’s particular needs, the general rule of thumb depends on age. For healthy cats seven years and under, annual examinations are recommended, even if no vaccinations are needed at that time. Senior cats, ages 8 to 14, need preventative exams once every six months, or twice a year. Geriatric cats, ages 15 and beyond, ideally need exams once every three months, or four times a year.
Factors that influence the frequency of the visits include your cat’s age, breed, prior medical history, lifestyle and vaccination history.
What preventive care will the vet administer during each visit?
The first and arguably most important part of every wellness check is a full visual and physical exam of your cat. The information that your veterinarian collects during this exam will help establish a baseline regarding your cat’s health for use in this and future exams.
When your vet does a nose-to-tail exam, they examine the following:
- Body condition score: Checking your cat’s weight and body condition on
- Weight: Checking for trends of weight loss or gain
- Coat condition: Checking if your cat’s coat is dry, oily, has any dandruff
- Eyes: Checking for any abnormalities and assessing vision
- Ears: Checking for any debris
- Mouth: Checking dental health including plaque, tooth decay, gingivitis a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being too thin and 5 being too heavy and whether your cat is grooming itself regularly
- Heart and Lungs: Listening for any abnormalities and assessing any
- Abdomen: Palpitate abdomen feeling for any abnormalities and checking
- Pain Assessment: Checking on a scale of 0 to 4 by applying pressure
- Walk/gait: Checking for any stiffness or abnormality
- Mouth: Checking dental health including plaque, tooth decay, gingivitis and overall gum health. Cats’ teeth can develop problems very easily, so regular dental checkups and cleanings are critical to maintaining good health, especially as your kitty ages. The dental screening often helps prevent mouth pain and infections that, if left untreated, could lead to other illnesses.
- Heart and Lungs: Listening for any abnormalities and assessing any heart murmurs
- Abdomen: Palpitate abdomen feeling for any abnormalities and checkingfor changes in size of liver, kidneys and the large/small intestine.
- Pain Assessment: Checking on a scale of 0 to 4 by applying pressure during examination at certain points and watching for reaction with 4 being very painful and 0 being no sign of pain
- Walk/gait: Checking for any stiffness or abnormality when walking/jumping; looking for signs of pain or potential joint disease
An exam should also include:
Annual Labs: By performing lab work annually, we may be able to spot underlying disease processes and create a treatment plan before symptoms become severe. Even if you have a young cat, annual labs can provide an important baseline for your veterinarian to spot future early disease processes. Read More
This week’s Reston Pets of the Week are kitten siblings Lucy, Andy, Sheriff Truman and Agent Cooper. They are about eight weeks old and in need of a home. They are currently being fostered by Fancy Cats Rescue Team. Here is what their Petfinder profile says:
Sheriff Truman and his siblings Lucy, Andy, and Agent Cooper were born on April 14, 2015.
These kittens are super fun-loving, affectionate, playful, and adorable! They were found under a parked car at around four weeks of age, with no mom, very hungry and a little bit hissy. They very quickly learned to trust people — foster mom equals food and attention.
They are little chow hounds — they love to eat. They are chunky little monkeys, that’s for sure! Sheriff Truman plays the most intensely out of all of this litter. Lucy is the tiniest of these not-so-tiny kittens. Her brothers may outweigh her, but she is scrappy and plays just as hard as they do. She’s usually the first one to head to their kitten bed after a play session. She and Sheriff Truman are best buddies. Andy and Agent Cooper like to roughhouse and have a great time together.
It is Fancy Cats’ policy that kittens be adopted in pairs or have an age-appropriate playmate in the home already.
If you adopt any of these kittens, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you treats and $100 in Becky’s Bucks.
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.
You don’t need to move to Greece to have your own beautiful Mediterranean home. You simply need to visit Mediterranean Villa in Reston.
Developed in 1970, the Mediterranean Villa homes feature pink stucco exteriors with tiled roofs, two-car garages, and about 1,900 to 2,500 square feet of living space. It’s a small and tight-knit community of 37 homes sited on a quiet cul-de-sac.
Yes, these patio homes are nestled among oaks and pines rather than the coast, but they are as bright and airy as you will find anywhere in the Mediterranean.
Mediterranean Villa is in an ideal location. Just off North Shore Drive, both Reston Town Center and Lake Anne are an easy walk. In fact, the Reston Association paths in this area are among community favorites and you are guaranteed to run into friends as you walk.
The neighborhood is also close to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro, Dulles Toll Road and Dulles International Airport.
The kids can walk to Lake Anne Elementary, which is just two blocks away. And the entire family can enjoy the Reston pools and tennis courts, also within walking distance.
Mediterranean Villa has it all.
For more real estate information, including home listings, visit Reston Real Estate.
Reston Chamber Spotlight is a feature sponsored by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. This week’s spotlight is on Training Solutions, Inc., and its President/CEO C. Michael Ferraro.
Reston Now: Why did you decide to start your business in Reston?
CMF: I actually started my business in Chantilly in 1995 and then joined the Reston Chamber in 1998. My last job before starting my business was in the corporate training department at Woodward & Lothrop department stores.
When the company closed in the summer of 1995, and I decided to try my hand at my own business.
RN: What are the challenges and rewards of being a business owner?
CMF: There are both many challenges and rewards in owning a business. Challenges include making the best use of your time. Determining how much time you spend running the business or delivering the services for your business is always a juggling act to find balance. You have to do the marketing and selling to win the business, but then you have to deliver the services. Lucky for us, we have both a product and service business so much of our revenue is buying and selling products.
RN: Name something about your business that most people don’t know?
CMF: What most people don’t know about our business is that we can help our clients obtain public funding and tax credits for the training they provide. It really only helps our larger clients and this is a bit time intensive, but the rewards can be great for those companies that participate in state or federal training grant programs. Read More
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.
The purpose of the Fairfax County Office of Human Rights and Equity Programs, Human Rights Division (HRD) is to receive and investigate complaints by individuals who have been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, age, familial status or disability involving employment, housing, public accommodations, private education, and credit.
With regard to employment, under the Fairfax County Human Rights Ordinance located in Chapter 11 of the County Code, the HRD evaluates complaints by employees who believe they have been subjected to discrimination and harassment by an employer in Fairfax County.
Filing a Complaint
Generally, an employee must file a complaint with the HRD in person or by telephone within 365 days of the alleged discrimination. Complaints can also generally be filed at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The HRD and EEOC often cooperate with each other and in some cases a discrimination complaint will be considered cross-filed with both agencies. Some of the reasons for filing a discrimination complaint include:
- Denial of a job due to race, color, age, or disability
- Gender-based salary discrimination
- Termination due to pregnancy
- Termination after contesting an act of discrimination
Resolving Complaints at HRD
The HRD provides alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation, settlement, or conciliation, which allow the employee and employer to avoid future litigation. There can be substantial benefits and cost savings to both an employee and employer in resolving a matter without litigation.
Steps in an HRD Investigation
The HRD takes a number of steps in order to investigate an employee’s complaint. These steps include the following:
- submitting document requests to an employer relating to the alleged discrimination;
- conducting witness interviews regarding the alleged discrimination; and
- taking site visits to the employer regarding the alleged discrimination.
Following an investigation, HRD will determine whether there is probable cause to find discrimination. A finding of no probable cause can be appealed to the Fairfax County Human Rights Commission. The Commission can reverse the HRD determination, find probable cause, and grant a public hearing. If the Commission does not find probable cause, the employee can utilize the EEOC or court process to advance his or her dispute.
Public Hearing
If a public hearing is granted for an alleged case of discrimination, the case proceeds much like in civil court where information can be sought by the employee and witnesses can be examined. A pre-hearing is conducted to work out evidentiary and witness issues, after which a trial-type hearing is conducted. Following the public hearing, the Commission will determine whether a violation has occurred.
If the Commission finds a violation, it refers the matter to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for review and evaluation to determine whether the County Attorney should file a claim against an employer for violating the Fairfax County Ordinances on discrimination. If the claim is dismissed, employees can proceed with the court process.
We represent private and public sector employees in Fairfax County employment matters. If you need assistance with an employment law 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.
“My Mom Would Never Let Me Do That!,” is just one of the fun and educational Summer Art Camp sessions that the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) offers for rising 1st-9th graders. These week-long, full-day camps, led by outstanding professional art educators, have been redesigned for 2015 and are held at local schools. Each session features new, engaging hands-on art activities designed to stimulate campers’ creative and critical thinking skills.
Summer Art Camp Sessions include:
- Picture This! Photography Camp (Oakton)
- Gathering STEAM, putting the Arts in STEM (Reston)
- Art & Movement (Reston)
• GRACE Art Unleashed (Reston)
• My Mom Would Never Let Me Do That! (Reston)
There are two entirely new camp offerings for 2015: “Picture This! Photography Camp” and “Gathering STEAM (Putting the Arts in STEM)”.
“Picture This! Photography Camp” will give campers the opportunity to learn both digital and traditional darkroom techniques, build a pinhole camera, experiment with Photoshop, and take better photos with any camera. This session will be held in the fantastic photo lab at Oakton High School, where camp instructor Susan Silva teaches photography and leadership during the school year.
“Gathering STEAM (Putting the Arts in STEM)” will have students engaging their minds in some seriously fun project-based learning. Students will collaborate to design/build a working miniature golf course, create their own inflatable sculpture, and use science and engineering to explore new ways to make art! These projects focus on teaching students important 21st-century skills: communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. This camp was inspired by GRACE’s STEAM Pilot Program with FCPS, as well as the STEAM club led by camp instructor Kyle Anderson at his elementary school.
Perhaps the most unique camp session offered by GRACE is “Art and Movement.” Each day begins with a yoga session designed for young campers and led by our partners at Beloved Yoga, followed by hands-on art projects that will have campers moving while they create action-filled artwork!
Campers will be having so much fun with their projects, they won’t realize it’s educational! Sibling and multiple camp discounts are available, as are discounts for GRACE Members — but register soon as some camps have already sold out! Learn more about GRACE and each summer camp opportunity here.
Greater Reston Arts Center, located at the Reston Town Center, is a 41-year old non-profit institution dedicated to promoting involvement and excellence in contemporary art. GRACE operates most of its Summer Art Camps at Hunters Wood Elementary School in Reston (Photo Camp is held at Oakton High School). In 2014, GRACE was awarded the Arts Impact Award from the Arts Council of Fairfax County for its beloved GRACE Art program. GRACE offers a contemporary art gallery with free-to-the-public rotating exhibits and mediums, as well as year-round educational programming for adults, teen, and children, including GRACE Art, TGIF Free Fridays, Explore More, and more! Visit the GRACE website at www.restonarts.org for more information.
Our Reston Pet of the Week is Melchi, a rescue dog who likes hiking, swimming and ice cream cones.
Here is what his owner Cary has to say about him:
Melchi is a 3 1/2-year-old black lab/pit bull mix, rescued by Operation Paws for Homes, who brought him up to NoVa from a rural shelter in North Carolina. Melchi my first dog, and he is the literal love and light of my life.
Melchi was adopted as a puppy and started going to the Reston Dog Park when he was just four months old. The first few weeks he went, he was so scared he wouldn’t even leave the safety of “home base”– his mom’s legs. After a while, the friendly, awesome and kind people and dogs of the dog park helped to pull him out of his shell and build his confidence. Now Melchi is a dog park regular with many friends from the park who we get together with for hikes, dog parties and play dates.
Melchi is a very active dog when activities are planned, but will be a couch potato when home. His favorite things to do are go off-leash hiking in the woods, swim in rivers and lakes (oceans are too scary for him), and play fetch by having his dad hit him Chuck-It balls with a whiffle ball bat — either on land or in the water. If you throw it, he will not go after it. And if you throw any other ball but the Chuck-It, forget it. But if it’s “his” ball and it’s hit, he will go until he drops.
Melchi also loves to spend time with all of his dog park friends and especially his brother, Richie, who his mom’s aunt adopted at the same time from the same litter. They are true BFFs. Lastly, Melchi will do just about anything for an ice cream cone or a frozen marrow bone.
Melchi would love to suggest a few favorite spots for his fellow canine pals to hit up: Seneca Tract Park for hiking/swimming; The Dairy Godmother for an ice cream cone or one of their “puppy pops;” the Reston Dog Park to play with some awesome doggie friends; and Matapeake Dog Beach for a true “beach” experience on the bay!
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.
Condo living in Reston is perfect for young professionals starting out, empty nesters who are downsizing, or really anyone who wants to live in a lovely, low-maintenance community.
Edgewater Cluster in North Reston is a great example. Located at the intersection of Baron Cameron and Town Center Parkway, these condos offer easy access to major roads, shopping (right across the street from Trader Joe’s), and entertainment.
While they are in walking distance to Reston Town Center, they’re a little bit removed from the hustle and bustle — perfect for people who want a quieter environment.
Built between 1992 and 1995, this low-rise condominium complex features primarily two-bedroom units with 1 1/2 or 2 baths. Units range in size from 801 to 1224 square feet.
In addition to the two-bedroom condos, you can find studios and one-bedroom units as well. Every unit has a balcony, and the upper units have a lovely loft.
Many of the condos face a large pond, which is a perfect place to walk your dog or just hang out on a lovely evening.
What’s especially nice about Edgewater is that the complex is divided into small clusters, which lends to a tighter community feel. The complex also has it’s own pool, tennis facilities, and clubhouse, which provide ample places for residents to hang out and have some fun.
Edgewater is walking distance to Reston Town Center, Reston Regional Library and the Reston Hospital Center. It is located between the Fairfax County Parkway and Reston Parkway, so residents have easy access to any place they need to go — the Dulles Toll Road and Route 7 are within a few miles.
If you want access to all the Reston Town Center and Reston have to offer at an affordable price, Edgewater Cluster is a great value.
This is a sponsored post by Dr. Elizabeth Arguelles, veterinarian and owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza.
Nothing is more frustrating for owners than inappropriate urination, which is the leading cause of feline surrenders. Once you’ve diagnostically ruled out medical reasons for inappropriate urination with your veterinarian, the next step is to isolate what environmental elements are causing your cat’s unwanted behavior. With owner dedication, behavioral inappropriate elimination can be rehabilitated helping you and your cat to have a better quality of life.
What are the behavioral causes of inappropriate urination?
Behavioral disorders that result in urinating outside the litter box generally fall into one of two categories: dislike of or aversion to the litter box and new sources of stress.
Why would your cat start disliking the litter box?
A number of different things might make your cat reluctant to use its litter box. Inaccessibility is one obvious reason why a kitty might start going elsewhere. Other causes could include the following:
- The litter box has not been cleaned frequently enough for the cat’s taste.
- There are not enough litter boxes for all the cats in the household.
- The kitty’s litter box is too small, making it more difficult to use.
- The box has a hood or a liner that bothers the cat in some way.
- The owners are trying a new brand of litter, and the feline simply does not like it.
- The cat prefers other surfaces, such as carpets, potting soil or bedding, over the litter box.
What stressors can cause inappropriate elimination?
Cats like predictability and do not generally react well to stress. Urinating outside the litter box can be your kitty’s way of letting you know that it is not happy with recent changes to its environment. If it’s clear that none of the factors mentioned above are causing litter box problems, then stress could be the source. Read More
This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.
What a difference a few weeks can make. After years of constrained housing inventory we’ve suddenly got close to 400 properties on the market in Reston.
At the rate that houses are selling that’s still only 3.3-month’s supply but it does translate into a lot more options for the buyers.
But is it a buyer’s market? A buyer’s market is one in which supply exceeds demand, giving the buyers the advantage over the sellers in price negotiations. A Seller’s market occurs when the opposite condition exists — demand exceeds supply and sellers have an advantage over the buyers in price negotiations.
While there is a lot more property on the market than we’ve previously had a 3.3 month’s supply is still considered a “seller’s market” although we’re not seeing the appreciation that is typically associated with a seller’s market — prices have been flat, especially above the $500,000 end of market.
Does that mean you can throw a sign in your yard and expect the offers to roll in? Not by a long shot.
Buyer’s are demanding and they’re informed. They recognize the when a seller has reached the correct intersection of price and condition.
Current Conditions in Reston: 331 properties for sale; 126 pending home sales; and 118 properties sold in the last 30 days. The average days on market is 31.
Here are a few of the houses that sold in the past week in Reston.
2414 ALBOT RD. 3 BR, 2.5 BA. List Price: $399,990. Sold Price: $395,000. Seller Subsidy: $4,500.
2228 WHEELWRIGHT CT. 3 BR, 2.5 BAA. List Price: $400,000. Sold Price: $412,800. Seller Subsidy: $5,000.
1550 CHATHAM COLONY CT. 3 BR, 3.5 BA. List Price: $439,000. Sold Price: $439,000. Seller Subsidy: $5,250.
1629 BENTANA WAY. 3 BR, 3.5 BA. List Price: $410,900. Sold Price: $430,000. Seller Subsidy: $0.
1629 BENTANA WAY. 2 BR, 3 BA. List Price: $455,000. Sold Price: $445,000. Seller Subsidy: $5,700.
11609 BROMLEY VILLAGE LN. 3 BR 2.5 BA. List Price: $559,900. Sold Price: $555,000. Seller Subsidy: $2,500.
For more information, visit Reston Real Estate.
This week’s Reston Pets of the Week are Audrey and Wally, two dogs being raised as siblings.
Here is what owner Katie has to say:
Audrey is a 12-year old Shar Pei-Hound mix who was adopted almost nine years ago from Lost Dog Rescue. Wally is an 8-year old beagle-basset mix who was adopted three years ago, also from Lost Dog Rescue. We would like to say they’re best friends, but mostly they’re just legally brother and sister.
Audrey is a sweetheart who was born with three legs. She loves to make new (people) friends, and would be happy with a hand constantly petting her head. She’s mostly a homebody with some limited couch access due to her softie Dad. She loves any kind of treat and is always happy to share a bite with you.
Wally is a little quirky, even after three years we still haven’t quick figured him out. He loves chewing on bones, chasing after squirrels and of course sniffing the entire neighborhood. Wally loves to go on long walks and follow his mom around the house. He was formerly known as Buddha and still gets called “Buddh” from time to time.
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.
Summer is almost here, and it’s hard not to spend my days daydreaming about the adventures I could be having.
While Reston has so much to offer — pools, tennis courts, walking paths, parks and more — sometimes you just want to get in the car and take off. Fortunately, Reston is perfectly located so you can do any number of fun day trips. Here are three of my favorites.
The Beach and Shark Teeth
Did you know you could be at the beach within an hour? Yes, we are that close … at least to the beaches of the Chesapeake Bay. (If you want to drive three hours, the entire Eastern Shore is waiting for you). Chesapeake Beach, Maryland is about a one-hour drive, and it is well worth it.
From charming restaurants to sandy beaches, it’s the perfect summer day trip. It’s fun to hunt for shark’s teeth, an activity that keeps kids young and old occupied for hours. The best spot is along Calvert Cliffs, and you will see people sifting through the sand at all hours of the day.
Hiking in the Catoctin Mountains
Most people know of the Shenandoah Valley, and it is certainly beautiful. But some of my favorite close hiking is in the Catoctin Mountains in Maryland. The expansive vistas are stunning. Although you can get to hiking in trails within an hour of leaving Reston, you can stay overnight if you want — many people enjoy camping out in the Adirondack Shelters. Many of the hiking trails take you near Camp David, so it’s always fun to try to glimpse the President (no, you won’t get a glimpse, but it’s fun to try).
Ladew Topiary Gardens
There are actually many lovely gardens within a three-hour drive of Reston. One of my favorite (aside from Meadowlark Gardens in Vienna) is the Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, Maryland, which is about an hour and a half to the north of Reston.
It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the grounds are stunning with more than 100 topiaries filling the landscape, including a pack of dogs traipsing through the grounds (I think they may be on the hunt, but I’m not sure).
If you can swing a vacation this summer and want to have some local fun, give these day trips a try. Or, for more ideas, visit Northern Virginia Magazine’s list of 52 day trips.
Reston Chamber Spotlight is a bi-weekly feature sponsored by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. This week’s spotlight is on Maid Bright, a housecleaning company and 2015 Best of Reston winner. Co-owner Yusef Mehmetoglu explained his business philosophy to Reston Now.
RN: Why did you decide to start or locate your business in Reston?
MB: Our business is located in Sterling, but we are part of the Reston Chamber. We live in Reston and believe it is a great community to be a part of and raise a family.
RN: What are the challenges and rewards of being a business owner?
MB: Being a business owner is both rewarding and challenging. For one thing, you are your own boss. But this also means you are responsible for everything that happens in your company. You have to keep a good reputation and make sure your customers are satisfied. Also, being a business owner can sometimes mean that you are working longer hours than you normally would at a full-time job.
RN: Name something about your business that most people don’t know?
MB: We started Maid Bright from the basement of our townhome about 11 years ago, and we actually cleaned some of the homes ourselves in the beginning because we did not have enough cleaning crews.
RN: What is the unique value your client’s get when using your services?
MB: Our clients know that we never compromise on our service quality and we have a 24-hour guarantee. If for some reason our client is unhappy with their service, we will resend our cleaning crew to complete the job to their liking. We use environmentally friendly products, which they know will not harm their children, home and pets.
RN: Describe a typical day as the business owner.
MB: My day starts out by looking at my schedule for any meetings, interviews or customer issues that I need to take care of. Then, I check-in with our office staff to discuss any important issues for that day or week like sick calls, vacations and any feedback or request that we need to respond to from a customer. Depending on my schedule, I am usually out of the office and making phone calls and attending networking events and meetings.
RN: How has the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce helped your business grow?
MB: The Reston Chamber of Commerce has enabled us to meet many people and introduced us to the community. Furthermore, the chamber hosts many networking events that we have attended to reach out to the community and grow our business.
RN: What is the quote that best describes your business?
MB: “Whatever you do, do it well. Do it so well that when people see you do it they will want to come back and see you do it again and they will want to bring others and show them how well you do what you do.”-Walt Disney
RN: What is your advice to someone who is thinking about owning a business?
MB: My advice for someone who is planning on owning is a business is to have a good business plan. Be prepared for the challenges you may have as your business grows such as costs associated with hiring, advertising, finding good people to work with and committing your time.
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.
U.S. Senator Jon Tester of Montana introduced the Security Clearance Accountability, Reform, and Enhancement Act of 2015 (S.434) on Feb. 10, 2015. If passed, the new bill would modify the existing security clearance process for both federal employees and government contractors.
Federal agencies would also be required to terminate or place on administrative leave any federal employee who is involved in certain types of misconduct related to security clearance investigations. The new bill would also prohibit government contractors involved in similar conduct from performing background investigations. In addition, government contractors would be required to report violations by their employees to government agencies.
There are other provisions in the new bill, but the ones listed above seem to be the most significant provisions. The new bill was recently approved this month by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and will move to the full Senate. A summary of the changes that would be enacted if S.434 is passed are provided by the Congressional Budget Office.
If such changes to the security clearance system are enacted, we will likely see an increase in the number of disciplinary actions taken against cleared federal employees. The new bill essentially enables the federal government to terminate federal employees who have been found to have been dishonest in the security clearance process.
We represent federal employees and government contracts in security clearance matters. If you need assistance with an employment law 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.




