This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.

Like humans, cats can pick up a wide array of infectious diseases that can range from minor colds to potentially fatal illnesses. Unfortunately, those infections can be spread just as easily in cats as human illnesses can in people. For example, infectious diseases can be transmitted from a mother to her kitten, through bite wounds, by sharing a litterbox, or even from sneezing or coughing.

One of the more worrisome infectious diseases that we tend to hear about is the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus or FIV. As its name suggests, it is a virus that is closely related to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). By understanding the risk factors for infections and how to treat an infected cat, FIV cats can live happy lives.

What is FIV? 

Like HIV, FIV is a virus that lives in a cat’s body for its entire life. However, though it is similar in nature to HIV, FIV only affects cats and cannot be transmitted to humans. It’s also still relatively rare. Only about 1 to 5 percent of cats in the U.S. have it.

FIV is a serious matter, but it is not always a death sentence for a cat that gets infected. FIV-positive cats do not always develop feline AIDS, and many are asymptomatic for more than five years after infection.

What cats are at risk?

Because the most common method of transmission is via saliva in bite wounds, outdoor cats that may get into fights are at higher risk than their counterparts who remain indoors. Obviously, kittens whose mothers are infected are likely to become FIV-positive as well.

How is FIV diagnosed?

 Your veterinarian will take a blood sample and run an FIV test. Like a human HIV test, this will detect the presence of FIV antibodies. The most common test that vets use is called ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay).

Though the use of ELISA is an industry standard, please be aware that false positives and negatives are fairly common. For example, your cat might test positive for FIV if it has been recently vaccinated against the virus. The test cannot differentiate between antibodies produced by the vaccine and those that come from the virus itself. Similarly, kittens with an infected mother might absorb the antibodies but not the virus through breast milk and that can result in a false positive. For this reason, kittens younger than four months who test positive should be retested at the age of six months, by which time the maternal antibodies should have disappeared. On the flip side, some cats that have been recently infected test negative because it can take up to eight weeks for a cat to develop antibodies to FIV. Read More

This is a sponsored article from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.  

There were 26 new listings that hit the Reston real estate market this week, bringing the total inventory to our new normal of about 250 properties for sale.

In typical Reston fashion, the price range on these properties goes from $117,500 to $3,000,000.

Here are a few of the new listings.

11406 Fairway Drive. 3BR ,2.5 BA TH. $529,000

11990 Market Street, #1714. 3BR, 2.5 BA Condo.  $1,280,000

11002 Howland Drive. 4BR, 2.5 BA SFH. $479,900

12004 Taliesin Place #14. 1BR, 1 Bath Condo. $269,900

11128 Glade Drive. 3BR, 2.5 Bath TH. $599,000

This is a sponsored post by Taylor Ryan of Apartment Showcase.

Looking for a new apartment? Keep these tips in mind to save time and money.

1. Set Your Budget

Renting an apartment should be thought of as a major financial decision. Granted it’s only for a year at a time, rent can be the largest monthly payment you will regularly make. On average, you should only spend between 20 percent and 30 percent of your monthly income on rent. For many of us, it’s a much higher percentage.

Rent isn’t cheap in Reston or in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Face it, you’re going to have to make a decision that you might be stuck with for at least a year. Let’s make sure you’re making the right choice.

First, decide on a budget. What is the price that you can live with while feasibly managing other bills, expenses, and costs that go along with living in this area? Use one of the many online monthly budget calculators like, The Budget Calculator and find out how much you can afford to spend on rent.

Once you have set a dollar figure that you can part ways with monthly, do a search based on that price. Websites like ApartmentShowcase.com do a great job of letting people search listings by rent price. See an example here on our site.

2. Know what time of year rent is the least expensive:

Did you know that rent prices fluctuate during the year depending on demand? There are multiple schools of thought on the best time of year to get a deal on an apartment. During the Summer and early Fall, you will have far more options but prices are higher. According to lifehacker.com, the sweet spot is October through December and then again from February through March. Many people aren’t willing to move during  cold months or during the holidays.
3. View more than one place:

Just because finding your next place is stressful, it doesn’t mean you should just go with the first place you saw because you want to be done with it. You need to see multiple places in order to compare experiences. Visits are an important way to gain insight into what’s important to you (distance to the metro, cleanliness, friendliness of staff, noise, neighbors, etc.) Despite what you’ve read online, seeing is believing. Read More

Meet this week’s Reston Pet of the Week, Cleo. She is a blue New Jersey Wooly rabbit who has political experience and is also a patron of the arts.

Here is what owner Tracie has to say about her:

Cleo has finely crimped angora fur, which can be used for spinning. She is a friendly, athletic, accomplished rabbit who enjoys her morning hop in the backyard and loves all fruits and vegetables except cantaloupe.

She represented her species on Capitol Hill supporting Rep. James Moran’s (D-Va.) “Humane Cosmetics” bill against animal testing and serves as a model and muse for her artist owner.

Cleo is often found with Tracie Griffith Tso in her Lake Anne workshop, where she makes and paints pottery, often with rabbits. Cleo travels to the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, where she meets and greets customers in-studio.

<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 from eKate Photography.

Whether for weddings, family portraits, school photos or corporate events, there are a lot of reasons to hire a professional photographer. Erin Loesley of eKate photography wants to be the creative professional to meet all your photographic needs.

Loesley’s friendly and easygoing style allows you to loosen up and let your personality shine through in the photos. She wants you to have fun and enjoy the session as much as she does. Loesley loves what she does and works hard to come up with new ideas and images that will make you smile.

Typical portrait sessions are two hours and start at $400. Not able to commit the time and money for a full session, or just not sure if it’s worth it? Not a problem.

Back by popular demand, eKate photography will offer the rare opportunity for you to take part in a mini session in Chantilly on Aug.24. It’s the perfect opportunity to get your holiday card or back-to-school photos. Contact eKate photography as soon as possible to ensure you secure a slot for this one day opportunity. More information about available mini session packages, timing and pricing can be found on the eKate photography blog.

Professionally taken photographs aren’t just for commemorating family events. More business people are getting in on the trend of using professional portraits

for personal branding on social media. You can also book Loesley to cover your corporate events.

Log on to the eKate photography website for a look at Loesley’s portfolio and for more information on pricing and booking a photo session. Contact Loesley online to book your session, or call her at 703-888-7986.

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

The Reston real estate market seems to be meandering through summer, with the buyers taking their time and evaluating their options.

This past week in Reston, just 13 properties went from PENDING to SOLD. We are holding steady with about 250 properties on the market — a little over two month’s supply of homes.

It’s not a classic buyer’s market, but seller’s will need to work a little harder to make their home stand out as the best choice in their price range–a big change from just a few months ago.

Here are the properties that sold last week in Reston.

• 2046 Durand Street. Listed $699,000; Sold $680,00
• 1416 Hemingway Court. Listed $684,500; Sold $684,500
• 2009 Lakewinds Drive. Listed $749,000; Sold $737,000; Seller Subsidy $4,800
• 2010 Colts Neck Road. Listed $225,000; Sold $210,000; Seller Subsidy $3,500
• 2314 Horseferry Court. Listed $399,500; Sold $385,000
• 11990 Market St #814 .Listed $625,000 Sold $615,000
• 11216 Chestnut Grove Square #118. Listed $259,900; Sold $245,000; Seller Subsidy $3,000
• 11325 Woodbrook Lane. Listed $895,000; Sold $901,000
• 2522 Farrier Lane. Listed $635,000; Sold $625,000; Seller Subsidy $10,000
• 1630 Autumnwood Drive. Listed $725,000; Sold $735,000; Seller Subsidy $10,300
• 1679 Bayfield Way. Listed $379,900; Sold $371,500
• 1409 Aldenham Lane. Listed $498,000; Sold $510,000
• 2377 Hunters Square Court. Listed $340,000; Sold $340,000; Seller Subsidy $9,500

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. They write biweekly on RestonNow.

On Aug. 8, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released its final regulations implementing a new phased retirement program that allows full-time federal employees to work part time and collect retirement benefits while employed. This article summarizes some of the key points about the new program.

The phased retirement program is notable because of its new part-time retirement/part-time employment option for federal employees. OPM has indicated that federal agencies can begin processing applications for this phased retirement program when the new rule becomes effective on Nov. 6, 2014. Not surprisingly, many federal employees have been interested in the program since Congress approved this new retirement option in 2012.

The new OPM rules were the result of an Act of Congress two years ago that permits federal employees to work part time (50 percent schedule) while they draw a portion of their retirement annuity (50 percent of their annuity) once they meet the eligibility requirements for retirement. Federal employees who elect the program will be required to spend at least 20 percent of their time in a mentoring status. Essentially, the objective is for federal employees to help train their replacements as they phase out of the federal workforce.

Those who are eligible for the program include federal employees in both the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) programs. CSRS employees will become eligible for the new program once they reach 1) 55 years of age and 30 years of service or 2) 60 years of age and 20 years of service. FERS employees are eligible for the program once they reach 1) 30 years of service and their minimum retirement age (MRA) or 2) 20 years of service and 60 years of age.

OPM states in the new rule that the program “is not a one-size-fits-all program,” but that both an agency and an employee must agree that the phased retirement option is a good fit for both.  OPM has indicated that the various federal agencies will have the flexibility to work out many other details, including the length of the phased retirement and the number of employees who will be eligible. The phased retirement program was enacted with the general goal of preserving institutional knowledge within the federal agencies while simultaneously saving the federal government money.

For a full synopsis of OPM’s new phased retirement program, the final rule (79 FR 46607) can be viewed here.  The new OPM retirement rules can be very complex. We recommend that federal employees obtain legal representation and advice when considering this new phased retirement program, especially during the early stages of the program.

Our law firm represents and advises federal employees and retirees in all federal retirement matters. If you need legal advice or representation regarding the new phased retirement program or any other federal retirement matter, 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 veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.

Feline asthma affects about 1 percent of cats between the ages of 2 and 8. Though Siamese cats may be slightly more susceptible to developing the condition, it can appear in any breed. Overweight felines are at greater risk. As with bronchial asthma found in humans, feline asthma is characterized by hypersensitivity to environmental allergens. For example, seasonal allergies may exacerbate asthma in cats that have the condition. There are a number of things that can trigger feline asthma. They include:

• Pollens or mold, house dust mites, and dander from pets or people
• Inhaled debris or external irritants such as cat litter dust, cigarette smoke, carpet cleaners or scented laundry detergents
• Viruses and bacteria
• Parasites such as heartworms and lungworms

Clinical signs of asthma The most common symptom to look for is coughing. Cats are excellent at vomiting, so as an owner, if you see something that looks like your cat is trying to vomit, but doesn’t produce anything, it’s probably a cough. When coughing, your cat may also assume a squatting position with its neck extended. The next sign to watch for is respiratory distress, which includes difficulty breathing, shortness of breath and open-mouthed breathing. You may be able to hear wheezing, but not necessarily. If you suspect that your cat may have breathing troubles, ask your vet to check. He or she can easily hear any wheezing with the stethoscope. If you notice open-mouthed breathing, take your cat to your vet or a 24-hour veterinary center immediately. Asthma attacks can be fatal to cats! Diagnosing asthma Your vet will first run diagnostic tests that could include comprehensive lab work, feline heartworm test, a fecal exam and urinalysis. These tests can assess your cat’s general health and show if there are any other potential causes of the clinical signs, including feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency. The presence of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, is associated with allergies or parasitic diseases. Higher levels of eosinophils can support a tentative diagnosis of asthma. Your vet might also take a chest x-ray to determine if there are any changes in the lungs due to asthma or any other respiratory or cardiac diseases. If necessary, a fecal exam on your cat’s stool may be required to rule out lungworms, which can cause asthma like symptoms. Occasionally, there will be no clear cause of the breathing difficulties despite extensive diagnostic testing. In these cases, additional specialized testing may be necessary including a bronchoscopy, cytology and/or tracheal lavage. The bronchoscopy allows the vet to look into your anesthetized cat’s airways with a small fiberotic scope. The cytology exam looks at mucus samples from the cat’s bronchi. In a tracheal lavage, a small amount of saline is flushed into the airways and retrieved, bringing a small sample of material from the lung in the process. Treatment of asthma There are several options for treating feline asthma. For any cat with asthma, it’s helpful to understand what triggers or aggravates your cat’s airways and causes an attack so you can reduce your cat’s exposure to those triggers. In some cases, it might be as simple as changing the brand of litter you buy, not smoking in your home or limiting your cat’s time outdoors. Part of your cat’s maintenance plan will likely include corticosteroids. They are effective in decreasing the production of mucus and inflammation, and help to open up your cat’s airways. Unfortunately, corticosteroids have some side effects and should not be given or stopped without consulting your veterinarian first. Additionally, many feline asthma patients, just like humans, need some variation of a bronchodilator. These drugs open up the airway quickly and allow your cat to breathe more freely, especially during an attack. Adaptors that fit on the end of the inhaler can be purchased to help you give it more effectively. Additionally your vet can help train you on proper administration. In serious cases that require hospitalization or in an emergency situation during a severe asthma attack, your cat will likely be given a combination of bronchodilators, oxygen cage therapy, fast-acting glucocorticoids and/or epinephrine. For more information please visit our Feline Health Library.

Classic Reston is a biweekly feature sponsored by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce that highlights businesses, places and people with deep roots in Reston.

As Fairfax County planners begin to re-evaluate — and possibly re-imagine Reston’s village centers — they may look to what did and did not work with the original plans for the new town.

Reston founder Robert E. Simon envisioned Reston with seven European-style village centers where residents could gather, kids could play and shops could do business. In the mid-1960s, as America’s suburban car culture was building and strip malls and indoor malls were flourishing, Simon’s idea of a central plaza was unique.

And so in the mid-1960s, Lake Anne Village Center was born, followed by Hunters Woods Village Center in 1972. Later village centers in Reston followed a more traditional strip-mall footprint, but they may be rearranged in the future depending on the outcome of this latest comprehensive plan amendment.

Simon, who at age 100 lives in Heron House overlooking Lake Anne Plaza, still believes that village centers should be the hallmark of Reston. He says that the Reston Master Plan Phase II is a crucial time for Reston’s future and he would like to see

“The village centers are my chief passion, of course,” says Simon. “The reason for the incredible reception (of Reston) when it was built was because of the plazas. I would like to see all the village centers look like Lake Anne, with plazas surrounded by density. Density IS coming to Lake Anne now.”

Simon is referring to Lake Anne Development Partners’ revitalization plan, chosen by the county in 2013, that will bring 60,000 square feet of new retail space, up to 82,500 square feet of office space, and 1,037 residential units near the plaza. The plaza itself will not be altered as it has a historic preservation designation. However, it is expected that the interior of the plaza will see a boost (and some cosmetic work) as more retail and residential is built around it.

The redevelopment is expected to get underway in mid-2015. It will take about 10 years to phase in all developments, Republic officials said.

Republic’s plan was selected by the county after years of studies, discussions and charrettes on ways to revitalize Lake Anne. Lake Anne was once home to a supermarket, a library, a child care center, a coffee house and other retail necessities. But though the lakefront setting was attractive, as the years went on, it proved difficult to get many Restonians out of their cars and running errands by foot.

It was a similar story at Hunters Woods, minus the lake views. The original Hunters Woods Village Center was designed “oriented towards people not automobiles,” according to an early marketing brochure. Some of the more stable tenants over the first 10 years: Drug Fair, Safeway and Baskin-Robbins. Others that came and went: Bangkok West, Big Daddy’s restaurant, La Gazelle, Ryder’s, Pizza Inn, the Seafood Emporium and the Alpenhaus Cafe. Fritzbe’s was a popular restaurant there for 14 years, from 1980 to 1994.

But it did not become the village gathering spot once envisioned. By 1979,  Martha Pennino, Reston’s rep on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, said the way the center was built was “simply not conducive to good business. People go to the liquor store and the Safeway, and then leave,” the Washington Post reported.

By 1997, the center had been sold several times and a new plan was submitted to the county. The plan called for tearing down the entire 114,000-square-foot center and building a new one in its place.

The “new” Hunters Woods, now 16 years old, now faces the parking lot. Just like Simon was trying to avoid.

Photo of original Hunters Woods Village Center/Credit: Northern Virginia Digital Archives

This is a sponsored post by Taylor Ryan of Apartment Showcase. Rental Trends runs alternating Thursdays on Reston Now.

People are drawn to Reston for all kinds of reasons. Many like it for its beauty; others like it because it’s the right mix of suburbia. Some enjoy the community, and others like it’s convenience for work. Reston also offers a colorful range of indoor and outdoor activities. Let’s break down some great things to do in Reston.

Things to do:

Reston has a number of hidden gems that you need to take a day to experience. Grab a few friends or the family and stop over at The Water Mine at Lake Fairfax Park. This place is a great time for young and old. It’s a well-kept (cleanliness is important in water parks) medium-sized water park with a lazy river, water slides, obstacle courses, and more.

After the water park, play some Frisbee golf at Lake Fairfax. If that’s not your thing, maybe you’re into fishing? They stock the lake every year to allow anyone to come by and spend some time reeling in a bass, trout, sunfish, etc. You will also find picnic areas with grills and a skate park.

Of course I’m going to mention the Reston Zoo. This place has a petting barn (you’re never too old to pet a baby goat), grazing area, and a reptile. The price is right, currently $12.95 for an adult ticket and $9.95 for children under 12.

Maybe you want to get away from it all and grab a coffee and curl up with a book. Take a quick trip out to Lake Anne. It’s almost never crowded during the week and it includes a cozy used book store, a few restaurants, RA boat rentals, stand up paddleboarding, a handful of shops, and a farmers market on Saturdays.

Read More

This week’s Reston Pet of the Week is Ava, a rescue from the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. Here is what her owner, Katie, has to say about her:

Miss Ava is a 1-year-old Husky Australian Cattle Dog mix that came into my life this past February.
I adopted her from the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, where I fell in love with her beautiful blue eyes.
She has properly filled a hole in my heart with the loss of my Siberian Husky, Sadie.

Ava is a sweet soul and lots of energy. Our time together is spent hiking, long walks, and “bikejoing”(mountain biking with a dog) on the W & OD trial. She is getting acclimated to her new life in Reston and adjusting well. I, on the other hand, have had to adjust to a youngster back in the home! Discipline, consistency, and love have worked to have our lives blend together.

I’m grateful to have Ava in my life. She is a handful but, worth it.

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. They write biweekly on RestonNow.

Many job applicants are aware that potential employers will try to gather as much information as possible about them during an interview. However, job applicants should be mindful of illegal questions asked during the job interview.

Often times such questions are used by employers in an attempt to obtain information that is improper to consider in the hiring of job applicants. Any questions that will reveal a job applicant’s race, religion, marital status, age, or sexual orientation are considered illegal. The following are some examples of illegal questions a potential employer may ask a job applicant:

Do you plan to get pregnant in the near future? This question may lead to pregnancy discrimination.

I see you limping?  Is there anything wrong? This question may lead to disability discrimination.

How many children do you have or plan to have? Who in your household will care for your children while you are at work? How old are your children? These questions may lead to pregnancy and sex discrimination.

Do you mind giving us your Facebook account login information to see if you are a good fit? This question may lead to all forms of potential discrimination and some state laws protect employees against turning over social media information.

I like your accent. Where is that from? This question may lead to national origin and race discrimination.

Have you ever been arrested? Employers can sometimes ask about a prospective employee’s conviction record, but they risk raising discrimination issues by asking this type of question during a job interview.  Some states have specific prohibitions on these types of questions.

Are there any specific religious holidays that you need to observe requiring you to take time off? This question may lead to religious discrimination.

Are you married or planning to get married anytime soon? This question may lead to gender discrimination.

How many sick days did you take in the last two years?  This question may lead to disability discrimination and other issues.

How well do you work with women? This question may lead to gender discrimination.

The following are some guidelines to help employers avoid legal problems following a job interview:

• Avoid asking a job applicant the above potentially discriminatory or illegal questions.
• Create a standard list of questions that all candidates will be asked during the interview process. The more that such a process is standardized, the better the defense may be to later claims of bias and discrimination.
• Have employment counsel or human resources review the list of interview questions for job applicants prior to the interview process.
• Interview prospective employees with two or more personnel present during the interview. This helps to ensure that if a claim is later filed by an unsuccessful applicant that there is more than one witness to respond to claims made about the interview process.
• Don’t ad lib during the interview process and ask questions that could be misconstrued, such as those listed above.
• Avoid making excessive promises about the potential position during the interview that could potentially lead to a breach of contract claim.  For instance, avoid promises such as “the person that is hired for the position can expect to stay for the rest of his or her career as long as he or she performs well” or that “the position is permanent.”

If a job applicant was asked a potentially discriminatory or illegal question during an interview, he or she may have legal recourse against the potential employer.  Our law firm represents and advises employees and employers in legal matters related to employment interviews. We can be contacted at www.berrylegal.com or by telephone at (703) 668-0070.  Please also visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BerryBerryPllc

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

There were 27 properties that went from Pending to Sold this past week in Reston.

The good news is that only 24 new properties were added to the Reston market for a total inventory of 278 homes for sale, which is a little over 2 months of inventory. Average days on market is now 25, about 7 — 10 longer than it was in the Spring.

The implication for sellers in this slower market is that when your home hits the market your price and condition must be on point in order to be the best home in your category so that you can create some urgency in the buyers.

Here are a few of the homes that sold in Reston  this week.

2243 Castle Rock Square #1B. Listed at $179,500. Sold at $179,000 (Seller Subsidy: $5,821).

2108 Green Watch Way #301. Listed at $265,000. Sold at $260,000.

1524 Chatham Colony Court. Listed at $499,900. Sold at $521,250.

1925 Upper Lake Drive. Listed at $847,000. Sold at $836,000.

1830 Fountain Drive #1501. Listed at $1,349,000. Sold at $1,265,000 (Seller Subsidy $1,200)

*Seller Subsidy is when the seller contributes cash to the buyer’s closing costs.