Glory Days Grill is partnering with the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County (UPC) in the ‘Do More 24™’ fundraising campaign.

‘Do More 24™’ is a local movement that brings together nonprofit organizations, companies, and people committed to making a difference.  At the six Fairfax County Glory Days Grill locations, including locations at Reston North Point and Fox Mill, 10 percent of food and beverage sales on June 4 after 5 p.m. will be donated to UPC to support their mission to prevent substance abuse by youth and young adults in the County.

“Too many young people in our community are suffering from heroin and painkiller addiction and overdose, marijuana use and alcohol abuse,” said Lisa Adler, president of the nonprofit UPC. “Substance abuse is a public health issue needing a community response, and the Unified Prevention Coalition needs financial support to continue our vital work to prevent substance abuse by teens and young adults.”

“Glory Days Grill has been committed to the communities in which we operate since we opened our first restaurant on 1996. We are proud to support the tireless work of the Unified Prevention Coalition in their mission to prevent substance abuse amongst young people in Fairfax County,” says Gary Cohen, Vice President of Operations at Glory Days Grill. “We invite our friends and neighbors will join with us on June 4 to help raise funds to support this important work.”

Community members are invited to dine at Glory Days Grill on June 4 after 5 p.m. to help raise funds for this important work. Individuals are also encouraged to make a tax-deductible donation online at www.unifiedpreventioncoalition.org during the campaign, which will run from June 1 to 5.

This is a sponsored post by Dr. Elizabeth Arguelles, veterinarian and owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza.

Inappropriate elimination, or urinating outside the litter box, is a fairly common and frustrating problem for felines. As owners we tend to assume the cause is behavioral, but the cause could be rooted in a medical issue that requires treatment or even an emergency room visit.

The causes of inappropriate urination generally fall into one of two categories: environmental issues, such as stress, or underlying medical conditions. In the first of a two-part series, we’ll discuss the latter and talk about ways to address those problems.

Why do medical issues cause cats to urinate outside the litter box?

There are three broad types of medical conditions that can lead to inappropriate urination: those that make going to the bathroom difficult or painful, those that lead to more frequent trips to the litterbox, and those related to mental or physical deterioration.

In the first case, cats that have trouble urinating can start to identify the litter box with pain and discomfort. In the second, more frequent urination increases urgency and can lead to more “accidents” when your kitty fails to reach the box in time. In the third, cats who lose their cognitive abilities due to age or who have joint problems may end up avoiding the litter box.

What specific conditions can lead to inappropriate urination?

Below are some examples of each of the three categories. Please note that if you have a male cat exhibiting any signs of difficulty urinating, straining, frequent trips to the litterbox, vocalization while in the litterbox, or any signs of pain – IT IS AN EMERGENCY! If your male cat is exhibiting any of the listed symptoms, do not wait to seek medical attention — it is potentially a life threatening condition. Read More

This week’s Reston Pet of the Week is Clifford, a Great Pyrenees-Old English Sheepdog mix who needs a home that can accommodate a big guy. If you are interested in adopting him, please check out his Petfinder page. If you give him a new home, let us know, and you will get some treats and prizes from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care.

Here is what the folks at Blue Ridge Great Pyrenees Rescue and Education have to say about him:

Clifford is a 4-5 year old Great Pyrenees/Old English Sheepdog mix. He is so popular he has his own Facebook page.

He was roaming a neighborhood for a long time when a wonderful woman finally just went and picked him up. He had a harness embedded into his coat. The before and after pictures are amazing.

The guardian that took him in had to completely clip him so that he could move. It has taken six months to get him healthy enough to be placed. Clifford is extremely sweet and social. He is doing well with other dogs and people despite his condition when he was rescued.

If you would like to adopt Clifford, please complete an application for adoption at www.brgpre.org.

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.

Chamber Spotlight is a bi-weekly feature sponsored by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. This week’s spotlight is on Percepi, a consulting and leadership training firm. Speaking is Lead Facilitator Jared Detter.

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

Percepi: We’ve been providing consulting services to large international businesses very successfully from our base in Reston since 2001. Our focus has been national and international in scope, not regional. Over time, we’ve repeatedly heard from local, small to medium sized businesses that have been interested in accessing our services.

Small- and medium-sized business are not immune from the leadership challenges that face larger organizations, yet they are often more resource constrained and do not have anyone in-house to focus on leadership development.

We started Percepi specifically to address this need. Reston is the perfect location for supporting these types of organizations as they look to achieve their goals, and helps us contribute to growing the economy in the greater Washington, D.C. region.

Reston has been a great location for us as a business and we want to be good for Reston and support its place as a prime destination in the metropolitan community.

Reston Now: What are the challenges and rewards of being a business owner?

Percepi: The benefits of owning a business are that there is the potential to make a difference in people’s lives on your own terms. You cast the vision and develop the business around your strengths and goals and have the opportunity to see your investment of blood, sweat, tears, and investment flourish. The biggest challenge of owning your own business is that there is no downtime — you have to be connected all the time. Effectively managing time and stress is key to success — you have to have lots of positive energy.

Emotional intelligence is a core skill. A major challenge of being a business owner is that the technical skill that allowed you to open up your own business doesn’t necessarily translate into the leadership skills that are necessary to help your business flourish. Percepi exists to address these challenges — not only have we developed proven approaches that help business leaders, we’ve experienced running a business first hand.

Reston Now: Name something about your business that most people don’t know?

Percepi: The workshops we conduct are based on models and exercises that we’ve successfully used for decades, helping leaders and teams in organizations become more successful all over the world. Being psychologists, we bring a unique perspective to business — one that is designed to drive results into the organization through more effective leadership. The workshops are immersive and most people are surprised at how deeply the learning affects them — it’s not uncommon for people to tell us that their experience changed their life. Read More

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

Spring is here, and that means people are buying and selling homes in Reston.

Whether you’ve lived here for years or are relocating to our community, it’s always helpful to know the neighborhoods. The sense of place is an important characteristic of Reston. While all the neighborhoods are great, they each have their own feel — a feel that will come through as you wander around the neighborhood and get to know the area.

Reston Association developed an interactive map of Reston, which is a great starting guide to orienting yourself to where each Reston neighborhood is located. Click the link above to visit the site.

Reston has 134 cluster associations (townhome and patio home-style neighborhoods), 30 condominium associations and 4,800 single-family homes. There are also 17 apartment buildings in Reston, comprised of over 3,800 units. There are six primary areas, five of which are built around each of the original village centers.

• Lake Anne: The first village center. Most of the homes were built in the sixties. Here you’ll find Waterview Cluster, Hickory Cluster, and Hook Road. And, of course, Lake Anne!
• Tall Oaks and the Uplands: This area is known for its fantastic natural areas, in part because much of the Tall Oaks area abuts Lake Fairfax Park. Tall Oaks is right off Wiehle Avenue, so easily accessible to the Metro. Uplands is close to Route 7.
• Hunters Woods: The first village center in South Reston, and home to the primary Reston Community Center facility. There are many single-family homes in this section of Reston. It is close to the Walker Nature Education Center.
• South Lakes: The second village center in South Reston, South Lakes is close to both Lake Thoreau and Lake Audubon. It’s also close to South Lakes High School, and students love wandering down to the village center after school.
• North Point: This is the newest Reston area. It was built in the 1980s. There is a great mix of single family, patio, and town homes in this area. It also has Lake Newport pool, the only 50-meter pool in Reston.
• Reston Town Center: Often viewed as the hub, there are many luxury condos in the Town Center area. Town Center itself has wonderful restaurants, shops, and access to all of Reston’s walking paths. It provides urban living in the heart of Reston.

The weather is glorious, so take advantage of it. Download the Reston map and explore Reston’s neighborhoods.

Map of Reston/Courtesy RA

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

There has been a lot of churn in the Reston real estate market.

We have 368 active listings , 120 properties with contracts pending and 95 properties that successfully went to settlement in the past 30 days. The influx in new listings has pushed the housing inventory to almost four-month’s’ supply. Still not enough to create a buyer’s market but not a good time to “test the market” with an over priced property.

Here are a few of the houses that sold this past week.

11990 MARKET ST #813. 2BR 2BA. List Price:$799,989. Sold Price: $800,000.

10929 HARPERS SQUARE CT. 2BR, 2BA. List Price: $425,000. Sold Price: $420,000. Seller Subsidy $7,000.

1851 STRATFORD PARK PL #209. 2BR, 2BA. List Price: $345,000. Sold Price: $341,500. Seller Subsidy: $4,000.

11707 NORTH SHORE DR. 3BR, 2FB, 2HB. List Price: $487,500. Sold Price: $485,000.

1536 TWISTED OAK DR. 3BR 1.5BA. List Price: $249,900. Sold Price: $350,000. Seller Subsidy: $7,000.

Here are a few of the new Reston listings:

11308 BRIGHT POND LN 5BR 4.5 Baths List Price $899,500

11819 RIDERS LN 4BR 4.5 Baths List Price $799,900

1561 TRAILS EDGE LN 5BR 3.5 Baths List Price $750,000

11500 FAIRWAY DR #402 1BR 1 Bath List Price $319,500

1601 INLET CT 4BR 2 Full 2 Half Baths List Price $600,000

Visit Reston Real Estate for more information.

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.

Depending on your particular profession, your employer may require you to sign a stand-alone non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, or other similar restrictive covenant or your employer may include a non-competition and non-solicitation clause in your employment or severance agreement.

Non-competition agreements or clauses typically stipulate that the employee agrees not to enter into or start a similar profession that competes with the employer’s business within a geographic area after he or she terminates employment. Non-solicitation agreements or clauses typically restrict the employee’s ability to solicit, encourage, or assist other employees with leaving or seeking employment with the employee at a competitive employer.

These types of restrictive covenants are usually in effect for a specific period of time and within a limited geographic area after the employment ends.

It is important to note that restrictive covenants narrowly tailored in geographic scope, duration, and type of activities are more likely to be enforced than more broadly drafted restrictive covenants. In particular, the scope of restricted activities and geographic area involved should be related to the employee’s job duties as well as the employer’s business.

Restrictive covenants that were created several years ago may no longer be considered enforceable based on changes in the law. Therefore, it is a good idea for employers to review and consider revising restrictive covenants that were written more than five years ago.

Employers should also note that non-competition and other important employment agreements usually are not enforceable against an employee unless a fully executed copy exists. As such, employers should make sure to sign and carefully maintain their agreements.

Virginia courts will not “blue pencil” or attempt to revise or enforce a narrower restriction in the covenant. As a result, a drafting error or otherwise unenforceable restriction in a larger restrictive covenant or agreement will typically render the entire agreement unenforceable in Virginia.

Furthermore, the Virginia Supreme Court clearly disfavors non-compete covenants. In fact, the Court has not rendered a decision that clearly favors the employer in a restrictive covenant case since the 1990s.

We represent employees and employers in employment law 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.

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

Reston is known for it’s custom designed homes. From its inception in the 1960s, the most talented architects were drawn to the area and put their signature on many of the neighborhoods.

One of the things I love most about Owl’s Cove Lane in South Reston is how each one of these contemporary homes is unique. What they all have in common are designs that are as relevant today as the day they were built.

Among the architects that made this neighborhood special are P.D Gravett and Peter Gulick, Cumberland Custom Builders, Roy Mason Associates, Rob Wellington Quigley, Oxman Stewart Associates and more. Each house is truly special.

The diversity of the homes adds to the charm. And you cannot beat the location. Residents have easy access to Lake Audubon, and it’s just three blocks from South Lake High School, Langston Hughes Middle School and Terraset Elementary.

You can enjoy the walking paths along the lake, and take easy strolls over to South Lakes Shopping center (and Starbucks, Cafesano, and soon, Red’s Table). The neighborhood is also convenient to the Reston Metro, Dulles Toll Road and every amenity Reston has to offer.

If you are looking for a unique, contemporary, single-family home, Owl’s Cove is worth a visit.

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

In Reston, 55 houses came on the market this past week. That brings our our total housing inventory to 348 active listings.

There is a lot of activity, with 37 properties going from active to pending. While it’s a lot of houses on the market, they are moving off at a good pace with 103 sold in the past 30 days.

At that rate, the current inventory would be completely absorbed in a little less than 3.5 months. The average days on market is 38.

Here are a few of the new listings.

11650 Mediterranean Court. 5BR, 4.5BA. List Price: $589,000

11301 Woodbrook Lane. 5BR, 4.5BA. List Price: $949,500

10823 Cross School Road. 5BR, 3.5BA. List Price: $719,000

1523 Park Glen Court. 3BR, 2.5BA. List Price: $429,900

11403 Hollow Timber Way. 3BR, 3.5BA. List Price: $644,500

11753 Dry River Court. 3BR, 2FB, 2HB. List Price: $424,000

Click here for more information on Reston Real Estate.

This is a sponsored post by Elizabeth Arguelles, veterinarian and owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza.

Though cats come off as solitary creatures, they carry strong bonds to their humans and other household companions.

The process of acclimatizing naturally territorial cats at a young age to sharing space with other animals is called “kitten socialization.” It’s essential to get your new kitten accustomed to the sights, sounds and smells of people, babies and any other inhabitants of your feline’s permanent home.

Though kitten socialization requires some effort on the part of the cat parent, it’s an essential part of helping the kitten grow into a healthy and well-adjusted adult that is comfortable in its surroundings.

What is kitten socialization?

As was mentioned above, it is the managed process of getting a new cat used to its new environment and its other residents. An important part of this is “localization,” which refers to efforts to get a kitten attached to a particular place.

How can you help socialize a new cat?

There is a lot that you can do to ensure that a young cat grows up comfortable around humans and other household pets. Early handling, for example, not only gets a kitten used to being around people, it also aids in in its physical development. Here are some other steps you can take:

• Make an effort to introduce the kitten to a variety of new people and situations.
• Reinforce playful and inquisitive behavior with treats and affection.
• Adopt a more gradual approach if the kitten is fearful or withdrawn.
• When introducing the kitten to another pet, restrain the other animal to reduce the risk of a fight or an attack that can lead to a lifelong fear.

Please be aware that there might be a great deal of variation from cat to cat. While some cats will adapt quickly to new people and other pets, others might take longer to adjust. So be ready to tailor your approach to each kitten and talk to your veterinarian about different options before you begin the process.

When is the best time for kitten socialization?

As with human babies, kittens begin adapting their behavior to their surroundings at a very early age. So it is extremely important to start guiding that process as soon as possible. Studies have shown that kittens are the most receptive to socialization between the ages of two to seven weeks. If they are handled frequently, have pleasant interactions with other pets and enjoy generally positive experiences during that period, they are more likely to grow into friendly adult cats.

Conversely, if they have not had much social contact by seven to nine weeks of age, kittens are more likely to fear humans and other pets for the rest of their lives.

Though handling a kitten is beneficial to its development, it does not mean that it should be separated from its mother at too early an age. If possible, a kitten should stay with its mother for up to 12 weeks after birth. Taking a young cat away from its mother before this time not only can leave psychological scars but can also deprive the kitten of important skills. Young cats learn a lot from observing their mother, so seeing the mother interacting positively with the people and other pets in the house passes on an important lesson.

This week’s Reston Pet of the Week is Sampson, a Collie in need of a home. If you are up for adopting him, let us know and we will reward you with treats and gifts from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care.

Here is what his people at Collie Rescue, Inc. has to say about him:

Meet Sampson! He’s a sweet boy who is 6 years old. He just came to CRI and we gave him a nice grooming and dental cleaning. We do know that this friendly guy has poor vision, so we are having a specialist check out his eyes. But so far, he seems to get around just fine.

He is super friendly, affectionate, and very sweet. He longs for attention and will sit on your feet and lean into you to ask for some hugs. Sampson loves to play with other dogs, both big and small. He is a wonderful big boy!

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 and tick protection, microchip, neuter/spay, and a bath. Visit www.savecollies.org to learn more.

If you are interested in rescuing a collie, please complete this short adoption questionnaire. 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. Thank you for your consideration in adopting a collie in need.

To see more on Sampson, visit his Petfinder adoption profile.

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.

Chamber Spotlight is a regular feature sponsored by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. Today’s spotlight is on Teresa Sikes, owner of TeresaKatherine Designs, a web- and graphic-design firm.

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

Teresa Sikes: I moved to the area to take advantage of the wealth of science and technology businesses in the Dulles Corridor. Reston has a town-like feel and is growing immensely, so I decided to position myself in the middle of that growth.

RN: What are the challenges and rewards of being a business owner?

TS: It’s so rewarding helping my clients see their visions and ideas come to life (often in ways beyond what they dreamed). Being a business owner affords me the possibility of working on projects I am passionate about. The challenge is getting others to see why your services are unique and essential, especially with many of the template-based designs out there.

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

TS: This business was born out of necessity; I am a scientist-turned- designer passionate about uplifting STEM-related ideas and research. A mentor once put it to me, designing for STEM is not sexy, that’s not why people go to art school. But I love it and I want to get the best ideas out there and in to action. The only way for that to happen is for researchers and companies to get funding, and to get funding you have to win over your colleagues and competitors. If no one can understand your figure and your materials are hap-hazardly put together, who will take your idea seriously? I started TeresaKatherine Designs to fill this niche and allow me to use my training and help others in the realm of design.

RN: What is the unique value proposition your clients get from you?

TS: They know they will receive a well thought-out and custom design based on careful research for their needs. I’m a scientist, I look at a diverse set of sources for inspiration and am very thorough.

RN: Describe a typical day at your business.

TS: I like to get all my busy work and so-called boring tasks done in the morning as I’ve found I’m much more creative at night. One day a week is reserved for business TLC; this allows me to save any specific business-related needs to tackle together so I’m not interrupting my work with finances nor I am letting business upkeep get out of hand.

RN: How has the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce helped your business?

TS: I’ve been a member just over a month and thus I’ve made great connections and hope to continue making more leads.

RN: What is the quote that best describes your business?

TS: Bonding art and science.

RN: What is your advice to someone who is thinking about owning a business?

TS: To me, it feels like getting married (I am not married, but what I imagine it would be like). You go into the courthouse and get in line with everyone waiting for a marriage license, sign away at the dotted line, and vow to stick with it through thick and thin. Though you feel giddy, you know it’s going to be a hard road ahead. It’s a huge milestone, but it’s exciting and I love what I do, so I say go for it.