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

Though cats can generally live longer than other household pets, they actually age at a faster pace than their human companions. By the age of 8, a feline is already a senior citizen, meaning that a cat that lives to 20 or older will spend more than half of its life as an “elderly” member of your family. Geriatric cats, age 15 and older, can live quality years with a little extra care in their health care routine both at the vet’s office and at home.

Your vet may start by recommending that your cat undergo basic geriatric wellness testing as part of its regular checkups. This is designed to detect signs of early or subclinical diseases in what may otherwise appear to be a healthy cat. Senior cats, ages 8 to 14, need preventative exams once every six months, or twice a year. Cats that are 15 and older are considered geriatric and ideally need exams once every three months, or four times a year.

Geriatric wellness exams can include the following: lab work (including a biochemistry, complete blood count or CBC, urinalysis, and thyroid check), pain assessment, dental check, and general exam to look for overall health and changes in mobility.

Blood work: Blood work is potentially the most important part of your geriatric cat’s health care routine. It provides an overall view of your cat’s general health and function, and it can help detect diseases before they are outwardly apparent symptomatically.

• Biochemistry profile: This provides information about how well various internal organs are working. The biochemistry profile helps identify metabolic diseases and other illnesses, including liver and kidney functions, pancreatitis, diabetes, etc.
• CBC: This describes the number, shape and size of the various cells in the cat’s blood. It also shows if there are any anomalies. This test is comprehensive and measures both the white blood cells that fight infections and the red blood cells that transport oxygen through the body.
• Thyroid function and hormone testing: This ensures that the cat’s thyroid is producing hormones normally. As in humans, the hormones produced by this gland are vital to a cat’s health. If the thyroid produces too much, it can lead to hyperthyroidism, which can strain the heart if left untreated.
• Urinalysis: This examines the chemical components and solid materials present in the cat’s urine. With this test, your vet will also be able to evaluate the cat’s overall kidney function. He or she can also assess whether there are infections or inflammations of the urinary tract or kidneys. Because kidney disease is extremely common in older cats, make sure to have this done regularly as your cat ages.

General Health Exam and Pain Assessment: Routine pain assessments are an important part of your senior or geriatric cat’s health care plan. Arthritis and other joint disease can cause stiffness and changes in mobility. If your geriatric cat develops joint disease, there are different ways to increase their quality of life by making simple lifestyle changes for them. Some changes that can help include:

• Moving the litter box to an easier location
• Placing bedding, litter box, and food and water access to the same level in your house if you have stairs.
• Buying a litter box with a low rim so your cat doesn’t have to step up as high
• Joint supplements
• Acupuncture and laser therapy are non-invasive ways to provide relief from joint pain. Acupuncture uses tiny needles to stimulate healing by normalizing nerve function and circulation. It can help pain, stiffness, and even increase a cat’s mobility and energy level. Laser therapy uses a beam of laser light to penetrate tissue deeply without damaging it. The laser energy induces a biological response in certain cells leading to increased healing, and decreased pain and inflammation. Read More

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.

It’s a big week for Reston with Saturday’s opening of its first Silver Line Metro stop.

Metrorail will connect Reston in a straight shot with Washington, D.C., making the community an attractive option for both residents who work in Arlington or D.C. and workers in Reston who live to the East.

This week’s Classic Reston takes a look at he community’s quirky public transportation link of the 1970s.

When Reston was founded, the “Live, Work and Play,” motto was in place, but in reality, the “work” part was a work in progress. Most Restonians worked in D.C., and it was a long commute with no Dulles Toll Road or Orange Line Metro to Vienna.

But Restonians saw the need for a commuter transit, so — in the true pioneer spirit of the place — they founded a service themselves.  In the early 1970s, the Reston Community Association (RCA) and Reston developers Gulf Reston, created the Reston Community Bus Service (RCBS).

Some in Reston nicknamed the bus “the booze bus,” since there were free-flowing drinks onboard. Well, it was a long commute.

The drinks dried up in 1972 after a commuter threatened to complain to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

“We will inform our riders they are confined to Coke and potato chips unless we hear otherwise,” Reston Commuter Bus officer Howard Pearlstein told an Associated Press reporter in February of 1972.

The shuttle to D.C. lasted a few years, dying out by the late 1970s. Eventually, Reston minister Embry Rucker helped start the Reston Internal Bus System (RIBS), which took people to various parts of the growing community.

After that, if you wanted to get into D.C., you were on your own — until now.

Reston’s new era begins at noon on Saturday, when the first train pulls out of Wiehle-Reston East heading toward Tysons Corner, Arlington and Washington. Find schedules and fare information on Silverlinemetro.com.

And remember, no eating or drinking on Metro — and certainly no cocktails.

Photo: Riding Reston’s Commuter Bus in the 1970s/Credit: GMU Archives

This week’s Reston Pet of the Week is Flip, a Black Lab Mix. Here is what owners Kristin and Joe have to say about him:

One year ago, we rescued Flip through City Dogs Rescue, which had saved him from a kill shelter in North Carolina right as his time was running out. He is calm and well behaved in the house, but definitely has his “crazy dog” side and loves to run around the yard like a wild maniac. His favorite things to do are to eat, play with other dogs and sit right at (or on) our feet. He likes to hang out wherever we are.

Flip is a smart dog with a freckled tongue who knows many words. He’ll tilt his head when we speak to him, and you’d better be careful if you say anything that sounds like “Do you want to eat?” He will immediately lick his chops and bark at you. Mention the words “walk” or “car ride” and you are also in trouble. We love everything about his enthusiastic attitude! Adopting him has made us appreciate life so much more.

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 from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

In May and June, real estate agents were reporting slowness in the market — which took most of us by surprise given how fast things had been moving.

The Just Sold numbers are now demonstrating that slowness.  Just 22 properties went from Pending to Sold last week in Reston. Thirty-eight new homes came on the market during that same period. Total number of homes for sell in Reston is at a two-year high of 284.

Here are a few that sold in Reston this week.

2429 Ansdel Court. List price: $365,000. Sold price: $345,000. Days on Market: 12

1851 Stratford Park Place #407. List price: $464,900. Sold price: $448,500. Days on Market: 12

11706 Indian Ridge Road. List price: $499,000. Sold price: $495,000. Days on Market: 44

11628 Chapel Cross Way. List price: $639,900. Sold price: $650,000. Days on Market: 2

2002 Turtle Pond Drive. List price: $750,000. Sold price: $710,000. Days on Market: 84

1514 Chatham Colony Court. List price: $429,000. Sold price: $426,000. Days on Market: 20

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

Disaster can strike at any moment, and it’s important to develop an emergency evacuation plan and kit in case of flood, fire, tornado, hurricane or other disasters for you and your family. As you prepare your emergency plans, don’t forget to include your furry felines as well! It’s important to have a location planned out and a disaster preparedness kit ready to go in the event of an emergency to keep your family and furry friends safe.

Due to local and state regulations, evacuation shelters often cannot take pets when families in the surrounding area are evacuated from their homes, with the exception of service animals. Make sure to have a list with phone numbers and directions of any shelters that will accept pets during emergencies, any surrounding hotels that will house pets, any family members or friends outside the area that would be willing to house you and your pets, and any boarding facilities.  Frequently when emergency shelters do allow pets, they need to be housed in a crate, so you’ll want to be sure to have a crate large enough to fit your cat, a litter box, and food/water.

Next, you’ll want to have a disaster preparedness kit for your pets. The kit should include the following items stored in waterproof pouches or bags:

• Prepared list of pet friendly evacuation locations with phone numbers and directions
• Complete medical and vaccination records, including current microchip numbers (if applicable)
• Any medications that your cat is taking and a prescription from your veterinarian in case your evacuation goes on longer than anticipated (including any prescription diets) Read More

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

We all enjoy getting a deal and saving some money. Apartment shopping can be stressful and time consuming. There a few things you can do in order to save yourself some time, money, and headaches.

Timing: This is simply a supply-and-demand scenario. If there are far fewer people renting during the winter months, then you’ve got a much higher chance of getting a better deal. When apartments sit vacant, the management company loses money.

A property is much more likely to be hard pressed for new renters between Thanksgiving and the first of the year. Less people are looking to move during this time frame, so the chances that the apartment community is offering a rent reduction is greater.

Set up an appointment and show up like you’re ready to move in that day: My grandpa used to go on cruises for nearly 80 percent off many years ago because he would often show up to the dock with a suitcase in hand on the day of a cruise departure. He was friendly, courteous, and pointed out that empty rooms meant lost opportunities to make money.

After you do your homework, set an appointment to view an apartment two weeks prior to the end of the month. Bring a recent credit report, two forms of identification, a letter from previous landlord(s) as to your competency. If you’re really playing ball, bring two blank checks for a security deposit and application form. Avoid being pushy; rent if they’re willing to take a deposit that day.

Off the beaten path: Sometimes apartment communities don’t do a great job advertising their dire need for people to fill their vacancies. Sometimes properties are run in an “old-school” fashion and many will rely on signs/ foot traffic to do all the advertising for them. Maybe you’re out running errands and spot an apartment community that seems like it could be worth exploring. There’s no harm in going in and getting some information from the leasing office, concierge, or looking up the property online to set an appointment to view the place later.

You’re often more likely to get a direct and quick answer for pricing and availability questions in person rather than over the phone.

Search online properly: Many rental properties advertise deals through websites like ApartmentShowcase.com. You can save a month’s worth of rent often by locating these deals, but be sure to let the leasing agent know where you found the community when you make your final decision to rent the apartment.

Get real reviews: Ask current residents if they like the community you are considering. Beware that while Internet reviews may get you the dirt you’re looking for, 62 percent people who write reviews are angry and venting about one particular occurrence and not the overall experience. Just make sure you “read between the lines.”

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

The just sold for this past week fell to its lowest number in more than 12 months. The number of properties going from Pending to Sold was a mere 23, reflective of the sluggish activity we experienced in Reston in the early Summer. Properties going from Active to Pending for the same period was 33.

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

11405 HOOK RD. 4BR, 3.5 Baths — Listed at $650,000. Sold at $650,000.

11706 INDIAN RIDGE RD. 4BR,  2.5 Baths — Listed at $499,000. Sold at $495,000.

11288 FAIRWIND WAY. 3BR, 2.5 Baths — Listed at $486,900. Sold at $477,000.

1423 CHURCH HILL PL #1423. 2BR, 1.5 Baths — Listed at $300,000. Sold at $290,000.

10713 CROSS SCHOOL RD. 4BR, 3.5 Baths — Listed at $799,000. Sold at $800,000.

12009 TALIESIN PL #32. 2BR, 2 Baths — Listed at $369,500. Sold at $359,50 .

This week’s Reston Pet of the Week is Bentley, a playful Pug puppy. Here is what his owner Sarah has to say about him:

Meet Bentley. Bentley loves to snuggle and give puppy kisses. He enjoys running round playing with his Kong Tennis balls as well as chase the children around in the neighborhood.

Bentley is a singleton, meaning he was the only one in the litter. He is used to getting all the attention and we can’t go anywhere fast because everyone wants to meet him. We don’t mind because of the happiness he brings to everyone he meets. He also never stepped on grass until he came home to us. He is from Illinois.

Bentley loves Reston Town Center and we are looking forward to exploring Lake Anne. Bentley is a love bug. If you see him please come and say hi.

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.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and its amendments, requires employers to engage in a good-faith interactive process with employees who request a reasonable accommodation for their medical issues and disabilities. The interactive process is a collaborative effort by which the employer and employee informally discuss and identify the precise medical limitations of the employee and accommodations that the employer could potentially make to help the employee overcome these limitations.

The process may vary depending on how difficult or obvious it is to determine the accommodation. Some state disability laws impose similar obligations to the federal ADA requirements.

An employer’s obligation to engage with an employee in the interactive process arises when the employer becomes aware that the employee has a covered disability or medical issue under the ADA and requests an accommodation. The employee has a duty to inform the employer that he or she has a medical condition and request an accommodation for the job-related limitations imposed by his or her medical condition. 

The employer should engage in the following interactive-process steps with the employee:

1. Analyze the particular job at issue and determine the purpose and essential functions of the job.
2. Consult with the employee to ascertain the precise job-related limitations imposed by the employee’s medical condition and how those limitations could be overcome with a reasonable accommodation.
3. Consult with the employee to identify potential accommodations and assess the effectiveness each accommodation would have in enabling the employee to perform the essential functions of his or her job.
4.  Consider the preference of the employee, then select and implement the accommodation that is most appropriate for both the employee and employer.

A more detailed explanation of the interactive process is in the federal regulations (29 CFR §1630), but it is important to note that the interactive process requires the employer to assess both the job at issue, including the job’s actual duties and purpose, and the specific abilities and limitations of the employee. If the employer and employee have difficulties reaching a consensus on the potential accommodations, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) advises parties to seek technical assistance from the EEOC, state or local rehabilitation agencies, or private organizations.

Both the employee and employer are responsible for advancing the interactive process through active participation. Notably, however, the employer is often in a better position to move the process along once the employee raises his or her need for a reasonable accommodation.

Read More

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

Cats experience pain like all other animals, but the signs that they are hurting are much harder to detect. It can be frustrating and disheartening as a cat owner, to suddenly find out that your furry friend not wanting to climb the stairs anymore was actually due to painful arthritis. But by learning some of the more subtle signs of pain in felines, you’ll be able to notice the symptoms sooner and help your cat even more.

There’s actually an evolutionary answer to why cats hide their pain so well. As solitary animals, cats try to conceal their injuries. In the wild, cats that show obvious signs of pain are more likely to become another predator’s prey, so the species has developed a stoic approach in the face of pain as an evolutionary advantage.

To ensure we don’t miss these subtle signs of pain, it is crucial to notice even minor changes in your cat’s routine or behavior. For example, a cat might suddenly refuse to jump onto favorite spots like the windowsill or similarly, some cats will suddenly stay on the ground floor and not climb stairs. It might be due to pain or discomfort. Additionally, the American Animal Hospital Association recommends pain assessments at every physical exam, whether it’s for annual wellness or a sick visit, to make sure your furry family member isn’t in any discomfort.

The following is a list of potential indicators that your cat may be in pain. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and that these symptoms may indicate other issues! Each cat is a little different, and yours may have his or her own way of letting you know that something is off. Always contact your veterinarian if you feel your cat is in pain.

• Changes in demeanor. If your cat is generally noisy, it may suddenly become quiet. Likewise, if your cat is not generally talkative, it might become vocal. Normally docile and friendly cats may become more aggressive, hissing or scratching when approached or handled.
• Excessive sleeping
• Soiling outside the litter box. This could be an indication that your cat is having pain when stepping in and out of the litter box.
• Lack of appetite. Cats that are hurting will often stop eating.
• Hiding. If your cat is suddenly missing for long stretches of time or you find them hiding in places they don’t normally spend much time, it could be an indication that something is wrong.
• Decreased grooming OR increased grooming. Keep an eye out for new bald spots that develop, especially on the stomach.
• Sitting hunched with back arched, paws gathered under the body, nose resting on the floor, and eyes closed. This is known as the “meatloaf” position.
• Purring when not receiving any positive stimulus. Cats don’t just purr when they are happy. They also do so when they are scared, and some purr to comfort themselves when they hurt.
• Distant or faraway look in the cat’s eyes
• Resisting handling or being picked up
• Stiffness or limping
• Any unusual or strange changes in behavior

Remember, you know your cat best, so if you think something is wrong or seems off, contact your veterinarian for an appointment. Prior to the appointment, make sure to observe your cat’s behavior carefully so that you can describe the symptoms accurately. A log or journal tracking the frequency of worrisome behaviors is very useful so that your vet can help identify the problem faster and pinpoint when it started.

For more information, please visit our Feline Health Library or the American Animal Hospital Association’s website.

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

There are 45 new listings that came on the market this week, bringing the total homes for sale in Reston to 254.

The market has been busier as buyers are back from the Fourth of July weekend and getting back in the hunt. Those hoping to be settled before school starts in September need to get focused.

Reston’s 254 properties for sale represent a little fewer than a two-month supply of homes. While we’re adding slightly more homes per week than we’re selling, it will take a while to build enough inventory to shift the market from a Seller’s Market to a Buyer’s Market.

Here are a few of the new listings for this week.

• 11438 Links Drive, 4BR, 3.5 Bath. $575,000
• 1706 Quietree Drive. 2BR, 2.5 Bath. $375,000
• 2040 Beacon Heights Drive. 3BR, 3.5 Bath. $999,999
• 12350 Lima Lane. 3BR, 3 Bath $647,000
• 1675 Parkcrest Circle #101. 1BR 1 Bath $224,999
• 12116 Walnut Branch Road. 5BR, 4.5 Baths. $1,065,000

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.

Every summer weekday morning, when dozens of children are dropped off for Reston Association Day Camp at Brown’s Chapel Park, they play among the mature trees close to the chapel.

The trees are original to the plot of land that is now the park. The chapel, however, is not.

Browns Chapel was originally built in 1879, when Augustus and Sarah Brown deeded a half-acre of land on what is now Leesburg Pike to the “Methodist Episcopal Church.”

It remained in use as a chapel until 1967, when the congregation was dissolved. The Northern Virginia Methodist Board of Missions offered the structure to the Fairfax Historical Landmarks Preservation Commission for relocation. That organization in turn contacted Gulf-Reston, Inc., who were by then the developers of Reston.

In May 1968, Gulf-Reston opted to move the 70-ton chapel a few miles down the road to Baron Cameron near Lake Anne. The park, now part of Reston Association, grew around it. Today, it includes baseball fields, a basketball court, picnic facilities, a playground and other recreation amenities. On rainy days at RA Camps, the chapel is a refuge for indoor games.

Meanwhile, a cemetery owned by the church is still located at Baron Cameron and Route 7. More than 200 graves, some of them unmarked, remain. Some of the members were buried there as late as the 1980s — long after the chapel itself was gone.

Photo: Moving Brown’s Chapel in 1968/Credit: Fairfax County

This week’s Reston Now Pet of the Week steps out of the box a bit and into the fish tank.

Meet, Fins, a freshwater fish. Here is what his owner Wendy has to say:

Hi-Hi-Hi-Hi-How Are You? Feed Me! Hey Where Are You Going? FeedMe! Over Here! Hey,Human — You Need Glasses Or What?-Hi-Hi-Hi-Hi…Food Goes In My Mouth. HIIIIIIIIII!

You might think that’s a dog talking, but in fact it is a freshwater fish. Fins is a member of a rock dwelling African cichlid species that hails from Lake Malawi.

Fins was our very first fish and is now about 4.5 years old. When we got him, he was a scared-to-death two-inch long silver creature. Now he’s a six-inch long, blue and orange fish who commands the tank as he swims around it, and settles in any cave he wants to.

In our house, we are allergic to both cats and dogs, and while at the start I was unsure whether fish could be pets in the same way that cats or dogs are, a lot of fish species have big personalities and are very attuned to humans. That’s mostly because we give them food.

However, watching fish being fishy is one of the most relaxing activities I can think of, and on a daily basis, we slow down and hang out and really enjoy the company of other people, because of our fish.

He likes chasing girls, making sure the other boys don’t fight, and food.

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 Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. She writes twice weekly on Reston Now.

Lakewinds Cluster is situated on shores of Lake Thoreau in South Reston — one of the most lovely spots Reston has to offer (which is saying something).

The charming homes are located with in walking distance of South Lakes Village Center, and are a short drive to the Dulles Toll Road and Reston Metro Station.

Lakewinds consists of 93 brick and cedar townhomes, of which about 70 percent are on the lakefront. In fact, many residents have small boats or barges to take advantage of the lake. The three-level, three- and four-bedroom homes were built between 1975 and 1978.

Lakewinds is divided into two clusters, Lakewinds I and Lakewinds II. Each home has assigned parking spaces; the Lakewinds II townhomes have one carport spot.

The local schools are Terraset Elementary School, Langston Hughes Middle School, and South Lakes High School — all of which are within walking distance. Other nearby South Reston attractions are Reston National Golf Course and Walker Nature Education Center. This neighborhood is great for anyone who values spending time outdoors.