Get in on the ground floor at the new Whole Foods Market at The Boro at Tysons Corner when the soon-to-open store conducts interviews for key leadership and team member positions.

The store is rapidly staffing one of the largest Whole Foods Markets on the East Coast, a store that will offer an array of innovative, customer-centric shopping experiences.

Members of the Whole Foods Market management team will meet prospective supervisor and store support employees on Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5. Details for applying are here.

Day and night positions and skill requirements, paying $15 and up depending on experience, range from cashiers and housekeeping to meat and seafood specialists to prepared foods cooks and bakers. Product stockers are needed for each department, including body care, supplements and vitamins; clothing and gifts; and dry goods, bulk, dairy and frozen products. Specialty positions are open throughout the store, including cheese bar, coffee bar, and wine and beer bar.

No prior retail experience is required.

Industry-leading benefits include competitive health benefits, 20 percent in-store discounts, PTO cash-outs, career learning and development opportunities, and week-long health getaways for selected team members.

Begin your career with Whole Foods Market by applying today at this site.

Welcome to Luxury For Less, a weekly column highlighting the best deals in luxury real estate. Written by Brandy Schantz of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, Luxury For Less offers tips and tricks navigating the competitive real estate market and securing the home of your dreams. To learn more, visit ttrsir.com.

This week I am featuring a new build home in Pimmit Hills.

Pimmit Hills is a neighborhood in Tysons Corner that has seen many tear downs and rebuilds, a hallmark of the Tysons Corner area in general. Pimmit Hills was originally developed in the 1950s and consisted of rambler style homes sold to returning WWII and Korean War veterans using their VA loans. The neighborhood is now home to many new build houses. The benefit of buying a new build home in Pimmit Hills is the cost.

The neighborhood is still close to Tysons Corner but home prices are significantly less than neighboring McLean, East Falls Church and Vienna. New build homes in the low $1 million range is becoming more and more impossible in many Tysons Corner neighborhoods but can be found in Pimmit Hills. The neighborhood has a great location in Tysons Corner and is convenient to Washington, D.C.

If you are looking for a very large home but don’t have a budget over $2 million, Pimmit Hills is a great neighborhood to look in. This week’s feature has nearly 7,000 square feet on 3 levels and features a 3 car garage, spacious bedrooms, a 2 level foyer and a large master suite.

To see this beautiful home or any others, you can schedule an appointment by emailing or calling me.

2010 Kilgore Road Falls Church (Reduced $10,000)

Check out the rest of this week’s Luxury for Less listings:

• 7826 Swinks Mill Court McLean (Reduced $25,000) 
• 10020 Windy Hollow Road Great Falls (Reduced $21,000)
• 2064 Madrillon Road Vienna(Reduced $50,000) 
• 6520 Topeka Road McLean (Reduced $10,000) 
• 9720 Arnon Chapel Road Great Falls (Reduced $50,000)

The properties listed are a small selection of properties available in the Tyson’s Corner area. For a full list of properties listed on MLS and private exclusives, please contact Brandy Schantz.

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.

Maybe, just maybe, we’ll actually get a fall season in October where you can breakout pants and a cozy sweater.

I spent Saturday at Cox Farms in 95 degree heat and while still fun, it didn’t quite feel like a Fall Festival! I will say though, their cider donuts are so good! I did a roundup of the September Fall Festivals last month, so rounding that out with the ones in October below! If you had a favorite from September, drop it in the comments so others can plan for next year!

Cox Farms — Centreville, VA
September 14-15, September 21-November 5
Live music, cow milking, farm chores, hayride, tunnels, slides, swings, corn maze, goats, cider, donuts and their market! This is my favorite event all year and I actually hold my client appreciation event here in the fall. You really can’t beat a day in cooler weather walking around their farm!

Great County Farms — Bluemont, VA
September 30-October 31
Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival featuring pick your own pumpkins (also apples), wagon rides, pig races, Dino shows, Marshmallow roasting, cider pressing, live music, 5-acre play area, donuts and their market. Adult pro tip: Bluemont Vineyard and Dirt Farm Brewing are across the street and the views can NOT be beat. There’s a coupon for tickets on CertifiKid.

Fall For Fairfax-KidsFest — Fairfax, VA
Saturday, October 5, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sunday, October 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Kids fall festival for elementary and pre-school aged children, which includes scarecrow making, pumpkin painting, pony rides, petting zoo, model trains, rides and 75 exhibits and food vendors. This event also has a coupon on CertifiKid.

Oktoberfest — Vienna, VA
Saturday, October 5, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Held on Historic Church Street by the red caboose, the event features live music, games, kids activities, German auto show, lots of food and drinks. *My company, McEnearney, has a booth at the event. Come meet me between 3-7 p.m.*

City of Fairfax Fall Festival — Fairfax, VA
Saturday, October 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The event includes over 400 vendors, children’s activities, 3 stages of music and entertainment, and carnival rides.

Halloween on the Green — Vienna, VA
Saturday, October 19, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Ages 2-10, family fun on the town green, which features crafts, games, storytelling, moon bounce, petting zoo, treats and decorate your own pumpkin.

Reston Farm Fall Fest — Reston, VA
Now until November 5, hours vary based on day
Weekends feature moon bounces, moon bounce slides, corn maze moon bounce, train rides, dog shows, puppet shows, face painting and food!

Town of Vienna Halloween Parade — Vienna, VA
October 23, 7 p.m.
A fabulous tradition that runs along Maple Avenue from Branch to Center Street. Read my tips on attending the parade from last year.

Amazing Farm Fun — Ticonderoga Farm, Chantilly, VA
Now until November 3, hours vary
Long list of activities includes hayrides, jumping pillows, tunnels and slides, petting farm, tire play, cowtrain, firepits and s’mores, and more.

Jack’s Pumpkin Glow — Reston, VA
Now until October 27, hours vary
A 1/3 mile train filled with over 5,000 hand carved jack o’lanterns into amazing structures. Buy tickets ahead of time. Tickets can be pricey, so check out the 20% off coupon on Certifikid.

Butler’s Orchard Pumpkin Festival — Germantown, MD
Weekends until November 3
Admission is $12/person and includes hayrides, jump pad, corn maze, giant slides and more. There’s also food available like cider, donuts, kettle corn and more. You can pick your own pumpkins, do a pumpkin cannon, face painting and pony rides.

Pumpkin Village at Leesburg Animal Park — Leesburg, VA
Open everyday, hours vary
Festival activities include wagon rides, giant slides, zip line, moon bounce, corn bin, hay maze, pony rides, animals, moon bounce pillow and 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 Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

Some states are beginning to offer victims of domestic violence employment law rights.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has not done so yet, but this article focuses on the jurisdictions that have enacted such legislation. The most major legislation in this area has come from New York and California. It is hoped that more states (and Virginia) will begin to enact these types of employment law protections for victims of domestic violence.

New York and California Laws Offer Employment Law Protections

The State of New York recently enacted Bill A5618/S1040, which offers employment law protections to victims of domestic violence. The new law enhanced previous New York protections which prohibited discrimination against victims of domestic violence within the workplace. The new law adds the following:

Reasonable Accommodation: The law requires employers to reasonably accommodate victims of domestic violence who must be absent from work for a reasonable amount of time to seek medical attention, therapy or legal services in connection with domestic violence.

Anti-Discrimination: The new law further ensures that domestic violence victims are considered a protected class and that employment discrimination against them is considered another form of illegal discrimination.

The State of California has enacted similar protections for victims of domestic violence. In some ways, the protections given to employees in California are slightly stronger than those in New York. California Labor Code §§ 230 and 230.1 provides employment law protections to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.

Like in New York, California requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to domestic victims. California also makes it illegal to discriminate or retaliate against a victim of domestic violence for taking time off of work to seek help.

Virginia Lags Behind in Protections

Virginia lags far behind in the protection of domestic violence victims in the workplace. The legislature should move to adopt a law similar to those enacted by California and New York to ensure that employees suffering from domestic violence are not terminated or discriminated against for taking time off to get medical or mental assistance needed in order to get better.

Currently, Virginia only protects victims of domestic violence (and other crimes) for the time taken to respond to a summons or subpoena related to the criminal proceedings. Va. Code § 18.2-465.1. Virginia also requires an employer to permit a victim of a crime to be present at all criminal proceedings related to a crime against the employee. Va. Code 40.1-28.7:2.

Virginia also offers suggested (not binding) guidance to employers asking them to consider allowing victims of all crimes (including domestic violence) to be able to attend court without loss of pay. Va. Code § 19.2-11.01(A)(3)(a). Virginia should follow the lead of New York and California and protect domestic violence victims in the workplace.

Conclusion

If you need assistance with employment law issues, 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.

Welcome to New Homes, a monthly column highlighting the new construction real estate market, written by Conor Sullivan and Dave Moya of Three Stones Residential at Keller Williams Realty. We are here to share our experience and expertise in lot acquisition, financing and construction of custom homes. 

Quick Ways To Make Your Home “Smart”

New construction homes are popping up everywhere in Northern Virginia.

These homes are beautiful and updated with all the bells and whistles of “smart-home” technology, but may not be the perfect fit for everyone. To help your home compete against the new construction in the marketplace, there are a few simple upgrades to make your home smarter, safer and more efficient.

• Ring Doorbell: This motion activated video doorbell system allows you to view your front doorstep while you are away, or even speak to visitors remotely, all through the app. Keep an eye on packages that have been delivered, or who comes to your front doorstep while you’re not home.
• Smart Light Bulbs: These Wi-Fi enabled LED light bulbs allow you to access the lighting in your home from anywhere using an electronic device or smart speakers. Forgot to turn that kitchen light off before leaving? No problem — turn it off from your phone!
• Smart Speakers: Smart devices like Google Home or Amazon Echo can sync to your smart electronics via Wi-Fi letting you control them with your voice. Turn off your lights or the heat up hands free!
• Nest Thermostat: Installing this sleek new thermostat in your home is not only visually appealing, it’s convenient! Control the thermostat remotely from your smartphone using all the Nest technology features. The device will eventually learn the climate of your home and automatically adjust the temperature when conditions change.
• TP-Link Smart Plug: If your appliances don’t have Wi-Fi, you can use this adapter to easily control them from an app. Turn on your coffee maker before you even get out of bed!

Having these tech-savvy upgrades will not only bring your home to the 21st century and boost it’s value, it will give you peace of mind knowing you have security in place for when you’re out of town.

It could also help save money, if you forgot to turn off your lights or turn down the heat, it is now just an easy click away from your smartphone. If you have any questions about these upgrades or your home’s market value, please contact us at [email protected] or 571-429-7670.

Here are some current options for buying new homes in the Tysons area:

• 1911 Prout Place, Falls Church — $1,479,000 — 6,032 sq. ft.
• 519 S. Spring Street, Falls Church — $1,599,900 — 5,540 sq. ft.
• 7534 Lisle Avenue, Falls Church — $1,277,000 — 4,000 sq. ft.
• 502 Meadow Lane SW, Vienna — $1,699,900 — 6335 sq. ft.
• 916 Cottage Street SW, Vienna — $1,649,000 — 4,270 sq. ft.
• 1508 Linden Hurst Avenue, McLean — $1,850,000 — 4,460 sq. ft.

Want to learn more about financing a New Home build? McLean Mortgage (NMLS ID: 99665) can handle all of your construction financing needs. You can build your new home with as little as 5% down. Contact construction loan expert Troy Toureau (NMLS ID: 5618) at 301-440-4261 or AnyHomeLoans.com to learn more.

Three Stones Residential agents pride ourselves on our consultative service approach, local expertise and real estate market knowledge. With over 26 years of business experience in the DMV, we have consistently performed in the top 2% of local Realtors and are currently the #1 group at Keller Williams Metro Center. 

1911 Prout Place, Falls Church
6 BD/5 BA
Agent: KW Metro Center
Listed: $1,479,000
Open: Saturday & Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

6334 Cavalier Corridor, Falls Church
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: Re/Max West End
Listed: $875,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

7925 Yancey Drive, Falls Church
3 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Listed: $599,000
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m. & Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

7534 Lisle Avenue, Falls Church
7 BD/5 BA
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $1,277,000
Open: Saturday & Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

8223 McNeil Street, Vienna
4 BD/4 BA
Agent: Berkshire Hathaway Home Services PenFed Realty
Listed: $849,900
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

10116 Tamarack Drive, Vienna
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $764,900
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

502 Meadow Lane SW, Vienna
6 BD/7 BA
Agent: Samson Properties
Listed: $1,699,900
Open: Saturday & Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

5849 Aspen Wood Court, McLean
5 BD/4.5 BA
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $1,175,000
Open: Saturday & Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

6212 Nelway Drive, Vienna
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $975,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

Our role is to offer sound advice and guidance to our clients in order for them to achieve their goals in either buying, selling, leasing or managing real estate. We are truly “Your Home… for Everything Real Estate.” To schedule a private showing of these or any other properties of interest please do not hesitate to contact us here or email us at [email protected].

Three Stones Residential agents pride ourselves on our consultative service approach, local expertise and real estate market knowledge. With over 26 years of business experience in the DMV, we have consistently performed in the top 2% of local Realtors and are currently the #1 group at Keller Williams Metro Center. 

The following properties were recently listed in the Tysons, McLean, Vienna and Falls Church areas.

• 6736 Gouthier Road, Falls Church — $569,900
• 3305 Brush Drive, Falls Church — $500,000
• 7534 Lisle Avenue, Falls Church — $1,277,000
• 9520 Leemay Street, Vienna — $1,190,000
• 116 Tapawingo Road SW, Vienna — $1,449,900
• 2412 Cedar Lane, Vienna — $799,900
• 1806 Solitaire Lane, McLean — $1,550,000
• 6212 Nelway Drive, McLean — $975,000
• 1508 Linden Hurst Avenue, McLean — $1,850,000

Our role is to offer sound advice and guidance to our clients in order for them to achieve their goals in either buying, selling, leasing or managing real estate. We are truly “Your Home… for Everything Real Estate.” To schedule a private showing of these or any other properties of interest please do not hesitate to contact us here or email us at [email protected].

Welcome to Luxury For Less, a weekly column highlighting the best deals in luxury real estate. Written by Brandy Schantz of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, Luxury For Less offers tips and tricks navigating the competitive real estate market and securing the home of your dreams. To learn more, visit ttrsir.com.

This week we say good-bye to summer and officially begin fall with the autumnal equinox.

As you get ready for pumpkin spice lattes, Halloween and apple-picking trips, don’t forget to check out some great homes in the Tysons Corner area. We’re seeing more inventory and hopefully this will give buyers at least a little more choice than they’ve had previously this year. September has seen a lot of great homes come on market. These homes range from a studio apartment in Falls Church for $150,000 to a stately home in McLean for $1,875,000.

This week’s featured home is a modern home in Vienna. This newly built home features a stunning floating staircase and bathrooms designed with Duravit and Grohe products.

To see this beautiful modern home, you can schedule an appointment by emailing or calling me.

701 Ware Street SW Vienna (Reduced $59,000)

Check out the rest of this week’s Luxury for Less listings:

• 305 Seneca Road Great Falls (Reduced $49,000)
• 1864 S. Kirby Road McLean (Reduced $74,000)
• 2160 Royal Lodge Drive Falls Church (Reduced $50,000)
• 9909 Chappell Lane Vienna (Reduced $30,000)
• 1867 Beulah Road Vienna (Reduced $200,000)

The properties listed are a small selection of properties available in the Tyson’s Corner area. For a full list of properties listed on MLS and private exclusives, please contact Brandy Schantz.

Virginia Tech’s 100% online Master of Information Technology program has been ranked the No. 1 online graduate degree for cybersecurity nationwide in the 2019 rankings list from CyberDegrees.org, a Washington, D.C.  based company.

In addition, the program was named one of the three best online graduate information technology programs nationwide for the seventh consecutive year in the annual rankings from U.S. News & World Report.

Based at Virginia Tech’s Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church, the online program is offered jointly by the Pamplin College of Business and College of Engineering. The interdisciplinary nature of the program allows students to develop a range of skills and focus their studies in a topic that best serves their career goals.

Cybersecurity is one of 11 areas of specialization that students can use to tailor their degree. Other areas include Analytics and Business Intelligence, Big Data, Health Information Technology and Software Development.

The program also offers six graduate certificate options for professionals that are not looking to pursue a full degree.

The program plans to continue adding new courses and graduate certificates that keep up with current trends in tech, particularly as the wider university takes on a central role in the cybersecurity ecosystem.

In 2010, Virginia Tech launched the Hume Center to lead the university’s research and experiential learning programs in national security. The center now has a research facility in Ballston.

In 2018, the Commonwealth of Virginia announced that Virginia Tech will lead its $25 million Commonwealth Cyber Initiative.

For more information about Virginia Tech’s 100% online Master of Information Technology Program, visit vtmit.vt.edu or sign up for an upcoming information session.

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Val Sotillo, Northern Virginia-based Realtor and Falls Church resident. Please submit your questions to her via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!

Question: We’ve owned our home for a couple of years and our partially finished basement is filled with every old and unwanted item in the house from old furniture to memorabilia. Do you have any tips for remodeling our basement and making the most out of that space?

Answer: We are lucky enough to live in an area where basements are a commonly built element of most homes. The basement is a perfect space that can be remodeled and finished so that it not only integrates with the rest of the home, but becomes a valuable asset to the property.

The best way to figure out how to put your finished basement to use is to determine what your home is missing and explore ideas that you often can’t apply to your main living space. A media room, living room, wine cellar, wet bar, gym, office, playroom, man’s cave and guest room are all popular choices for basement spaces.

I spoke with Caroline Goree, a Project Leader with BOWA, a local design build firm that specializes in luxury renovations from kitchens to whole-home remodels. Here are her answers to frequently asked questions about basement projects:

How do you make a basement feel more inviting and connected to the rest of the home?

Nowadays, many clients are trying to integrate their basements with the first floor of the house to create more of a “lower level” rather than dark, cold, “cellar” feeling.

In the past, the entrance and stairwell to the basement were narrow and dark. Today, we are seeing folks create stairways that are open and inviting, frequently featuring a nice railing or banister for an added touch. Generous lighting is also important in making the lower level feel warm and inviting, and most homeowners find they need significantly more lighting in this area than anywhere else in the home to achieve this objective.

If possible, take advantage of natural light by installing large windows or French doors. Don’t forget to also include ample lighting controls as well. By adding recessed lights throughout and highlighting different spaces with decorative wall sconces, it can completely transform the ambiance of this level.

How should you repurpose the basement to create a more functional space for your family?

Homeowners are much more interested in using the basement in other ways besides storage and laundry (many even requesting to move the laundry up to the main level).

Before diving into a construction project, we encourage our clients to start with an assessment of their needs. If you’ve had any life changing events, such as a new baby or caring for aging parents, you may want to consider a nanny or in-law suite. Just keep in mind there are egress requirements that will need to be met with rooms like these.

Or maybe you are looking to create a space for a hobby or passion? If you’re a wine enthusiast, consider adding anything from a wet bar with a wine refrigerator, to having your own temperature controlled, walk-in wine cellar and tasting room.

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