Loudoun Now for Jan. 26, 2023

Evictions Spike as Rent Protections Stall

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Rapidly rising rents coupled with already-high costs of living are driving people out of their homes while governments take limited action— or none at all.

The most recent report from global commercial real estate services firm Newmark indicated in the third quarter of 2022, Loudoun had seen effective rents in multifamily buildings going up 10% year-over-year. That was considered a slowdown— in the first quarter of 2022, the same report showed 14% growth.

Meanwhile, special COVID-19 pandemic-related protections against evictions in Virginia expired on June 30. Federal ARPA and CARES Act money, some of which was directed toward housing costs, has stopped coming. Virginia’s Rent Relief Program, which disbursed more than $1 billion, stopped taking applications in May and ran out of money in October.

Data collected by nonprofit law firm Legal Services of Northern Virginia shows evictions and eviction filings in Loudoun trended upwards in the latter half of 2022, from 10 filings and three evictions in March up to 84 filings and 61 evictions

EVICTIONS

continues on page 35

School Board Takes Deeper Dive into $1.67B Budget Request

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

After sitting through three budget work sessions since Acting Superintendent Daniel Smith introduced his $1.67 billion fiscal year 2024 budget proposal, the School Board is preparing to put its stamp on the spending request.

Since the Jan. 10 presentation, the board has held budget briefings with

several departments, hearing the $901.2 million request from the Department of Instruction, a 4.1% increase over the current fiscal year; the $226.5 million request from the Department of Support Services, a 17% increase; the $63 million request from the Department of Digital Innovation, a 10% increase; and the $313.3 million request from the Department of Student Services, a 2.4% increase from the current budget.

Chief

Sharon Willoughby said two-thirds of this year’s proposed $106.7 million increase over last year’s budget was driven by state initiatives, although the state provided less than half the funding for those initiatives.

The biggest asks in the budget plan includes pay raises, increased benefits, and more full-time employees.

The pay raise proposed by Smith included an annual step increase, a onetime 1% payment to those at the top of the pay scale, and salary increases for positions not on a salary scale totaling $23.8 million.

Another $43.7 million was proposed for a cost-of-living adjustment for employees not on the teacher salary scale, and an adjustment to the teacher salary scale to provide a minimum 5% pay increase for all eligible full-time employees moving up a step on the scale.

Last year, the division met the state’s requirement to provide the 5% average pay increase for employees. This year, Willoughby said, the division wants to do more.

Willoughby said there is another $67.5 million in the budget to support step increases and scale adjustments for the 5% minimum pay increase, with the state funding 43.1% of it, leaving 56.9% of that cost to be funded by local tax revenue.

Additionally, there is $5.4 million from

SCHOOLS BUDGET

Financial Officer

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

LEA president Sandy Sullivan speaks during a rally in support of collective bargaining for school employees Tuesday night at the School Administration Building. The proposed school budget does not include the $3.5 million and 14 new employees that administrators say would be needed to launch the program.

Greenway-Backed Tolls Bill Returns in General Assembly

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

The Dulles Greenway’s owners will once again seek to remove new oversights on toll rates and to be permitted to hold closed-door negotiations with the state Commissioner of Highways on new tolls with legislation filed this year in the General Assembly.

The bill’s opponents worry it amounts to a “bail out” of a company with limited financial transparency that, despite the high tolls, has racked up massive debt and operates at a reported loss.

It is the third year running that a similar bill has been filed. Where previously state law all but guaranteed the Greenway annual rate increases, new legislation passed in 2021 after more than a decade of effort by local legislators tightened the state’s oversight over those rates—and since then, the Greenway has not applied for a toll increase. The bill also puts rules on the Greenway refinancing its debt, which has more than tripled since the road was first financed 30 years ago.

The new bill seeks to instead allow the Greenway to negotiate a new deal, and would give the Commissioner authority to enact the new deal without any further votes from the General Assembly. It mentions but does not require the new deal to include lower tolls and distance-based pricing. The Greenway also would no longer pay taxes.

This year’s bill removes some parts

of last year’s bill, such as requiring the commissioner to hold two public meetings to gather input before beginning the negotiations. It also does not include last year’s requirement to allow Loudoun Board of Supervisors members and the county attorney to sit in on those negotiations, albeit as non-voting members under a non-disclosure agreement specifically exempted from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

At the Jan. 19 meeting of the Senate Committee on Transportation, Sen. Jennifer B. Boysko (D-33), who signed onto the bill for the third year, said “whether it’s on this paper or not, I’m going to trust that the Secretary [of Transportation] is going to make sure that we continue to be involved.”

“I am hoping that we have a gentleman’s agreement here that folks will bring the elected officials and at least confer, to do a check-in, to make sure that we are somewhat in the same frame of mind,” she said.

The Board of Supervisors continues its opposition to the bill, joined by one of the chief patrons of the 2021 law that put new oversights on Greenway tolls, Del. Suhas Subramanyam (D-87).

“We fixed the law that governs them, and so now they’re trying to get out of that code section,” Subramanyam said. “What’s going to end up happening if we pass this bill is, they’re going to take a process that is very public, and take it out of the hands of the general public, the

people, and the General Assembly, and put it in the hands of a few people behind closed doors.”

He warned a new deal would likely include short-term political wins but longterm costs.

“A good lawyer can write something to say, ‘yes, I’ll lower tolls for a couple years,’ but then turn around and increase tolls long-term, and I haven’t seen anything to indicate that they want anything other than guaranteed toll increases long term,” he said.

Burke Sen. David W. Marsden (D-37), who brought the Senate version of the bill, argued in committee it would result in lower tolls and traffic relief.

“It will relieve traffic on nearby roads, it will put people onto the Greenway, and I think there is a sweet spot that we can arrive at that will allow the Greenway to serve more people, earn more revenue, [and] become a viable road,” he said.

Based on reported 2021 finances, the Greenway would have had to bring in 29% more toll revenue to break even.

Loudoun County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) told the committee “obviously there is nobody who doesn’t want distance-based tolling.”

“If we got distance-based tolling done this year, especially in an election year, I would go out and campaign on that and probably win just because of that,” she said. “So obviously we believe in Loudoun County there’s more to this issue than just the distance-based issue.”

She pointed out under the proposed legislation, the state would own the road, and said that has financial implications for the state. And she pointed out the loss in tax revenues. The Greenway reported paying $1.7 million in real estate taxes in 2021.

Randall argued the proposal should get a formal cost-benefit analysis from the secretary of finance.

“We’re hoping we get distance-based tolling. We know for a fact we’re going to lose [taxes],” she said.

The bill’s language cutting out Loudoun and the General Assembly— along with the public benefit analysis typical for that type of public-private partnership—troubled Richmond Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan (D-9), the only vote against the bill in committee.

“We, the General Assembly, seem to be completely handing over the decision to the commissioner without any further review, and in doing that we are—if the decision is made to put the road under the [Public-Private Transportation Act], we are exempting several provisions of the PPTA,” she said. She argued the bill could be amended to give the General Assembly a chance to vote against the deal after it’s made—which Marsden opposed.

“Putting this off any longer I don’t think is an option,” he said.

The committee voted 13-1, McClellan

GREENWAY TOLLS continues on page 34

Planning Commission Hears Zoning Ordinance Concerns

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.comm

The Loudoun County Planning Commission held a lengthy public hearing on the newly released draft of the more than 350 pages of a new county zoning ordinance, finally putting in front of the public a draft of the full document.

The zoning ordinance is the enforceable regulatory document that implements the policies and vision of the 2019 Comprehensive Plan. And since the Board of Supervisors adopted that new plan, the zoning ordinance and comprehensive plan in many places have been out of sync, while the land development and permit applications have continued to roll in. The county has been working since early 2020 to rewrite the entire ordinance.

Much of the ordinance went before a

public hearing on August 2022, but the full document wasn’t yet ready. The balance of that document went before the public on Jan. 5 and brought a crowd to the hearing Tuesday.

People from different sectors pushed to do more to encourage affordable housing.

“When teachers in our community cannot afford to live in the community that they’re teaching in, we’ve failed somewhere,” organizer Vanessa Borg said.

“The greatest threat to Loudoun’s prosperity and quality of life is the availability of a skilled workforce,” Loudoun Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tony Howard said, arguing the answer is to allow much more residential construction.

And longtime affordable housing developer Kim Hart—for many years the only affordable housing developer in Loudoun—said he has not had responses from county staff members to his nine

submitted concerns.

“In my professional opinion, this current draft… will be so difficult to implement that it will make it impossible for Loudoun to ever meet the goals of the Unmet Housing Needs Strategic Plan,” he said.

Others pushed to do more to protect Loudoun’s environment and natural spaces. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy Executive Director Michael Myers pushed more specificity in regulations to protect natural resources. He said they “must be clear and specific to be effective.”

“Most of us acknowledge that we are approaching potentially catastrophic climate change. The mountains are our ally,” Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains President Peter Weeks said, urging changes to mountainside protections.

And farmers pushed to protect Loudoun’s agricultural legacy–and future.

“I’ve heard the word ‘diversity’ spo-

ken about a lot tonight, and I would not blame anyone who is not involved in agriculture for assuming that when we talk about farming, we’re talking about old white guys sitting on tractors,” Pam Jones of Gathering Springs Farm said. “But in Loudoun County, we have this incredibly diverse, entrepreneurial, inspiring group of young farmers that are doing what they need to do to farm in this economic climate, in this area, where land prices are prohibitively high.”

The CEO and some tenants of business incubator Frontier Kitchen in Chantilly worried the zoning ordinance language threatens fledgling small businesses like theirs. Pho From Home founder Khai Nguyen said he spent 25 years in corporate America, on Wall Street, and in Fortune 20 companies, “but I’ve got to tell

ZONING CONCERNS continues on page

Loudoun

Transit, Teachers Unions Make Pushes

STAFF REPORT

Tuesday began and ended with demonstrations by public servants in unions.

On Tuesday morning, Amalgamated Transit Union International President John Costa, Secretary-Treasurer Kenneth Kirk and Executive Vice President Yvette Trujillo joined demonstrating ATU Local 689 members, entering the second week of the Loudoun Transit strike. The union and the county’s transit contractor, Keolis North America, have not budged in a battle over cut benefits and better pay for local bus drivers, who were paid less than commuter bus drivers under a previous, separate contract.

“I am proud to be here with you today. Your strength and solidarity is sending a strong message to Keolis, a French company, that we demand a fair and just contract that allows you to provide for your families. They called us heroes during the pandemic, but are treating us like zeroes,” Costa said, according to the union. “You have the full support of your International, and together we will hold the line until we get what we deserve.”

Tuesday night, the Leesburg Town Council—not a party to the contract— weighed in with a letter penned by council member Zach Cummings urging Keolis to go back to the bargaining table.

“Many of our residents in Leesburg use the public transit system and we urge you to work toward a solution that restores service to our residents and honors your employees who work to safely deliver people to and from their destinations,” the letter reads. “It is imperative that you work to find solutions to protect your employees’ wages and benefits. More importantly, we urge you to find solutions to ensure employees are properly scheduled throughout their work day, ensuring safety for your drivers and the public. Safety must always be our top priority.”

The Town Council voted 5-1-1 to send the letter, with council member Patrick Wilt opposed and Todd Cimino-Johnson absent.

“The public bus system is vital for Leesburg and Loudoun County residents,” Cummings stated after the vote. “As a council, we’re urging Keolis to return to the negotiating table and work toward a solution that ensure the drivers earn fair wages, benefits, and scheduling that ensures safety for drivers and riders.”

With the strike on and limited staffing, commuter bus service and Silver Line bus

ON THE Agenda

Electoral Board Drops Sunday Voting

The Loudoun County Electoral Board on Jan. 12 voted to end Sunday early voting in Loudoun after two years.

A Loudoun Office of Elections report noted in 2021, 693 voted on the single Sunday of early voting, and in 2022, 387 people voted on Sunday.

The decision drew swift condemnation from Loudoun Democrats. The Loudoun County Democratic Committee noted the decision came at the first meeting of the three-member panel that has a Republican majority.

service are shut down, while local bus service routes are slightly limited.

And Tuesday night, Loudoun Education Association members, who have pushed the School Board to allow collective bargaining for more than a year, rallied once again.

“We are here to show the school board and the community the strong support for educators to be part of the decision making for our students and colleagues,” LEA President Sandy Sullivan said. “When it comes to students, we want—we need— educators to be at the heart of the decision making. Who knows our students and their needs better than the educators who work with them day in and day out? Decisions are constantly being made which deeply impact our students, decisions are constantly made which impact us and our colleagues. Our voices are important, our voices are needed. Our voices must be heard. Collective bargaining makes this happen.”

At the rally she said six School Board members support collective bargaining. The General Assembly passed legislation in 2021 enabling localities to bargain with public employee unions if they choose.

A School Board vote has been delayed since January 2022 and will face its next deadline in February.

The LEA is tasked with getting signatures from a majority of employees saying they favor collective bargaining before opening a dialogue with the School Board. The association sent a letter in October 2021 that it had obtained all the necessary membership in the form of

authorization cards signed by educators, but the division argued it needed to verify the accuracy of the information before moving forward. Many teachers and staff members objected to that review, citing privacy concerns.

Things sat stagnant for several months, with COVID-19 exacerbating staffing issues. In May 2022, the LEA confirmed it had miscalculated its membership numbers and in June, the board approved a 90-day extension to get the required signatures. That was extended again in August to 180 days to ensure the signatures already gathered don’t expire. The 180day extension expires at the beginning of February.

The School Board is not required to extend collective bargaining rights even if a majority of members support it.

The budgetary impact remains a factor. The school division’s adopted fiscal year 2022 budget included $2 million and 12 staff positions to administer collective bargaining, had the School Board decided to launch it. The proposed fiscal year 2024 budget, which the School Board was deliberating Tuesday night, does not include funding to support collective bargaining.

Acting Superintendent Daniel Smith estimated the school district would need to add 14 full-time staff and $3.5 million dollars to the budget to begin collective bargaining.

Teachers at the School Board meeting Tuesday urged the board to do that.

UNIONS IN LOUDOUN continues on page 7

“Nationally, Republicans’ voter suppression efforts have made clear their disdain for allowing every eligible person to exercise their franchise. Thus, it could have been predicted that the Electoral Board would take the opportunity at their very first meeting of the new year to end Sunday Voting, one of the few procedures under county control,” the committee wrote in a press release.

At the Jan. 17 Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) said she was “appalled” at the Electoral Board’s decision. She pointed out Sunday voting was only available at one location and said it should have been expanded to more locations.

“This is blatant voter suppression from a party that knows they cannot win in Loudoun County on the issues,” she said.

Supervisors

Approve

New Precincts, Polling Places

The Board of Supervisors has adopted new precincts and polling places following redistricting, meaning changes for many voters on where to go on election day.

In total the county added 11 new precincts, eliminated two, renamed four, and redrew the boundaries for 49 more. They also moved two early voting locations and changed or established the polling places for 17 precincts. Those changes, like

ON THE AGENDA continues on page 6

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 members, employees of Loudoun Transit contractor Keolis North America, demonstrate on Tuesday morning as part of their ongoing strike.

“It started out as a normal outing. My wife and I had to run to the grocery store. We were driving down the road casually going over our shopping list when the car ahead of me started to slow down anticipating the yellow light.

I started to move my foot from the gas to the brake as any normal person would do when they see brake lights in front of them but I couldn’t. I couldn’t feel my foot. The car kept moving forward and I just couldn’t get my foot on the brake. And CRUNCH!

I finally came to a stop when I hit the car in front of me.”

This tragic story was shared with us by Dan S an Ashburn resident who has peripheral neuropathy. And while no one was hurt in this accident, Dan S had suffered almost every day of his life with tingling and burning in his feet until numbness set in and he could no longer feel even the brake pedal beneath his foot.

“The first stage is pain.” shares Rachal Lohr, Acupuncturist of FIREFLY Acupuncture & Wellness. “You feel burning, tingling, sharp pains, or you feel like you’re walking on tacks or marbles. This pain eventually subsides and the numbness sets in Unfortunately the numbness brings with it a whole other host of problems ”

This was the case with Dan. “I said I wasn’t going to drive again What if that had been a pedestrian?”

It is terribly common that peripheral neuropathy and its debilitating symptoms interfere with a person’s ability to live their life. Dan was now reliant on his wife to drive him around, even the simple pleasure of cruising down to play golf or taking her out to dinner was outside his capabilities And even more common, Dan’s general practitioner and several specialists told him there was nothing they could do other than prescribe him pills that would ease the pain of his neuropathy.

That’s where Rachal Lohr and her staff at FIREFLY come in. “About 75% of our current patients come to us suffering from the same condition as Mr. Dan,” tells Rachal.

“They’re in constant pain from neuropathy and it prevents them from not only living their lives but more importantly, it prevents them from enjoying it.

Depending on the severity of their nerve damage, we typically see tremendous progress in 3-4 months of treatment

I like to say we’re in the business of making your golden years golden.”

Local clinic has a modern, medical solution to treat your Peripheral Neuropathy and is seeing incredible results!

“I can’t lie,” confides Dan. “I was skeptical at first. The folks down at my pain center told me there was nothing that could be done and then there’s a doctor right here in Loudoun who tells me she can help. Turns out she was right! About three months after treatment I was able to confidently drive myself to my appointments!

My wife and I celebrated by buying ourselves a new car! It’s hard to put into words how incredible this is, quite frankly [Rachal] gave me my life back.”

While FIREFLY specializes in acupuncture and it’s definitely part of their protocols in treating neuropathy, the real secret is in a more modern medical solution called ATP Resonance BioTherapy™. “This technology was originally developed by NASA to expedite healing and recovery” shares Ann, a Senior Patient Care Coordinator at the clinic “It’s like watering a plant. ATP Resonance BioTherapy™ stimulates the blood vessels to grow back around the peripheral nerve and provide them the proper nutrients to heal and repair ”

You can learn more about Rachal Lohr at FIREFLYAcuAndWellness.com. If you’re ready to schedule a consultation call (703)263-2142 and do so quickly.

FIREFLY is a very intimate clinic and the staff takes pride in their ability to take their time with each patient so they are very limited in their ability to take on new patients

Lancaster Launches Commonwealth’s Attorney Primary Challenge

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Attorney Elizabeth Lancaster, who represented Scott Smith, the father thrust into the public eye after his daughter was a victim in a school sexual assault scandal, will challenge Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj in a Democratic primary this year.

Lancaster, a former public defender and attorney at WhitbeckBennett, announced the primary challenge outside the county courthouse on Tuesday, backed by Smith, his wife Jessica, former Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Sean Morgan, and county supervisors Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) and Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn).

Lancaster said high turnover, empty positions and chaos in the chief prosecutor’s office led to incidents like the murder of

ON THE Agenda

continued from page 4

the local redistricting, go next to the state Attorney General for a “Certificate of No Objection.” If certified, they become official.

The Loudoun County Office of Elections and Voter Registration plans to implement the precinct and polling place changes later this year, and to notify voters by mail of changes in their precincts and polling places before the next election. If it’s held, that will be the June 20 primary, the first election in the new local districts.

Supervisors approved the precinct changes at their Jan. 17 meeting 7-02, with Vice Chair Koran T. Saines and Supervisors Matthew F. Leatourneau (R-Dulles) absent. See the precinct and polling places changes in the report prepared for the Board of Supervisors meeting here. Find more information about voting in Loudoun County at loudoun.gov/vote.

County to Opt In to State Green Energy Program

The county will move toward joining the Virginia Statewide Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy or C-PACE Program, following up on Loudoun’s local version of that program.

The program helps commercial, non-residential property owners get lowcost, long-term financing for energy efficiency, water efficiency, and renewable

Politics

Regina Redman, whose husband allegedly killed her with a hammer while out on bond for domestic abuse charges; Smith’s daughter’s assailant not being placed on the sex offender registry after a judge found the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office had not provided proper notice; a murder case upended after no witnesses were subpoenaed; and “multiple victims of domestic violence” calling the Board of Supervisors in tears about how they had been treated.

“One of the most important things I dealt with when I went out into private practice is I got to see the other side of domestic violence,” she said. “I got to represent victims. I got to be a victim advocate. I got to hold the hands of women as

energy improvements to their buildings. The private-sector loans are backed by voluntary special assessments liens levied by the county against the borrower’s property and run with the property if it is sold. Loudoun launched its C-PACE program in 2019.

The Virginia Department of Energy now sponsors a voluntary statewide C-PACE program to provide a more standardized approach and encourage more private sector lending, administered by the same nonprofit that administers the county’s program. County staff note it has substantial similarities to the county program.

Supervisors on Jan. 17 voted 7-0-2, with Vice Chair Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) and Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) absent, to take steps to join the state program. County staff will now work to advertise a new public hearing, repeal the current county ordinance for a local program, and propose a new ordinance joining the state program.

Revised County Equity Resolution Online

The final version of the “Resolution of the Board of Supervisors Regarding Social and Racial Equity as Fundamental Values” passed on Jan. 17 and is available on the county’s website.

The resolution, which first version was criticized by some board members for focusing on racial equity to the exclusion of classes such as sex, gender and age, was amended on the fly at the county board meeting Jan. 17. It now commits to “elim-

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Elizabeth Lancaster announces she will challenge Loudoun Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj in a Democratic primary, backed by Jessica and Scott Smith, outside the county courthouse Tuesday, Jan. 24.

they sought protective orders against their abusers.”

She said domestic violence and drunk

inating barriers to progress and access due to ability, race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation or gender identity), national origin, language, age (40 and older), disability, and genetic information (including family medical history), and socioeconomic status” in county government initiatives.

“We brought this resolution forward because we want to make sure that as we conduct county government business, we do so in a way that invites voices and talent from various perspectives and life experiences,” Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) stated in a county press release after the vote. “This effort directly impacts only the county government but invariably could positively benefit every resident of Loudoun County.”

County staff members are directed to provide an annual report on county equity initiatives to the Board of Supervisors, draft an Equity Plan for Loudoun County, and develop an implementation plan to “embed equity principles in the county’s work,” and create an equity analysis for decision making in each county department.

A link to the resolution is at loudoun.gov/equity.

Exotic, Venomous Animals Ban Public Hearing Feb. 15

The Board of Supervisors has scheduled a public hearing on its proposed ban on private ownership of certain exotic and venomous species Feb. 15 at 6 p.m.

Members of the public may pro-

and reckless driving are her top safety issues.

“Many people believe the narrative is that these cases are not being prosecuted—these charges are being dismissed— because of some notion of criminal justice reform,” she said. “Let me challenge that. ‘Criminal justice reform’ is not a dirty word. These people are not being released from jail because of some mission, or vision, or values. These cases are being dismissed because of mistakes and incompetence in the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.”

“There can be no mission, there can be no mission or values, if you cannot maintain a team,” she added.

Lancaster represented Smith when he was charged with disorderly conduct and

PRIMARY CHALLENGE

continues on page 7

vide feedback by signing up to speak at the public hearing at loudoun. gov/signuptospeak, by contacting the board at bos@loudoun.gov or 703-777-0115, and by commenting online at loudoun.gov/Chapter612addition.

The proposed ordinance would prohibit breeding and private ownership of some types of exotic and venomous animals like wolf hybrids, kangaroos, scorpions, baboons, venomous snakes and other venomous reptiles, and non-native venomous spiders. Similar ordinances exist in the Town of Leesburg and Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William counties.

The ordinance excludes entities with state or federal license or permits to house those species, such as zoos, exhibitors or rehabilitators. It would also allow current owners of those animals to keep them but would require they be registered with the county. Violating the ordinance would be a Class 4 misdemeanor with a fine of up to $250.

The ordinance arose in response to first responders encountering venomous or other potentially dangerous animals on calls, including an incident in which Officers from the county Department of Animal Services and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources responded to a property with three alligators, a caiman, and seven venomous snakes. One of the alligators wandered off the property and went missing for more than a week, during which time it was spotted from a nearby vineyard.

More information is online at loudoun. gov/Chapter612addition. n

Primary challenge

resisting arrest after a June 2021 School Board meeting that exploded into chaos. After photos and video of Smith bloodied and arrested at the meeting appeared in the news nationwide, and he was drawn into public debates around the school district and the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office—and some Republican politicians sought to draw him into their campaigns.

But Smith said he and his wife grew close to Lancaster as she stuck by them even as other attorneys took over the case, and as both got criticism for their association and friendship.

“Elizabeth was taking some serious heat from some of her friends and family and colleagues about representing us and some of the things we stood for, and we were getting some of the same flak from some of our people saying, why do you have her, a Democrat?” Smith said. “Well, what I found out was Elizabeth practices law and treats people as human beings, and not if you have an ‘R’ or a ‘D’ on your chest.”

He said Lancaster helped his family

Unions in Loudoun

“Collective bargaining is not all about the money. It’s about establishing collaborative relationships between LCPS and its staff,” high school government teacher Jeff Dunn said. “It’s about creating a culture of ownership by teachers and other staff and developing a strategy of improvement whether in areas of staff retention, curriculum and instruction, grading policy, equity, staff calendars, you name it.”

“It’s a simple fact that the more we are given what we need as professionals, the more our students benefit,” said retired middle school special education math teacher Steven Myer. “I’m for collective bargaining because as professionals we need a seat at the table so we can do better at what we do.”

Sullivan said at the School Board meeting they had reached their “50% plus one goal” and plan to send a certification letter to the board later this week with a timeline to vote on a resolution.

The Board of Supervisors, too, will decide this year whether to fund collective bargaining administration in its next annual budget. Last year, supervisors cut that expense—estimated at a half million dollars—out of the current budget, forwarding it to the next. n

navigate their challenges and appeal to “the common people” while staying as politically neutral as possible.

“Elizabeth stood behind us through thick and thin, and it had nothing to do with politics,” Smith said. “I don’t even think if Superman showed up with an ‘R’ on their cape I would vote for them. This isn’t about politics to us. This is about getting the right person into the office.”

Biberaj was removed from prosecuting Smith’s case in September 2022.

Meanwhile, Morgan served as chief deputy commonwealth’s attorney under former Commonwealth’s Attorney and

now Circuit Court Judge James Plowman. In 2019, Morgan was one of two attorneys the Loudoun Bar Association recommended for a Circuit Court judgeship, although the General Assembly that year sidelined the usual review process and appointed then-Fauquier County Commonwealth’s Attorney James P. Fisher.

“I bring in my colleague Sean Morgan, who has 17 years of institutional knowledge in how to run that office, because I know I’m going to need that help,” Lancaster said. “It is not enough to have vision and values. You have to know how to build that team, and Mr. Morgan and I are going

to build that team to make sure that what we have seen over the last three years does not happen again.”

Umstattd said Lancaster brings an understanding of the impacts of violent crimes on victims, and dedication to victims of domestic violence.

“When I look at Ms. Biberaj and her successful efforts to let violent offenders out of jail, with resulting murders and sexual assaults, I think we need someone who actually cares about victims. And I think Elizabeth does in a way that the incumbent clearly does not,” she said. n

Leesburg AROUND Town

New Council Sets Priorities for 2023

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The Leesburg Town Council gathered at the Ida Lee Recreation Center on Saturday for a six-hour planning session aimed at setting the priorities for its new term.

The council enters its term with two new members—Todd Cimino-Johnson and Patrick Wilt—and without the longest tenured member of the previous term, Marty Martinez, who did not seek reelection after serving 20 years.

Wilt did not attend the planning retreat.

The session was led by L. Kimball Payne III, a former Lynchburg city manager and former county administrator in Spotsylvania who works with The Berkley Group to provide consulting assistance to local governments.

Council members discussed a wide range of issues that will top their agendas in the months ahead.

Much of the day’s conversation

focused on initiatives in the downtown area, including work to establish a Main Street program, and opportunities to develop a boutique hotel and a performing arts center in the historic district. Parking also was a top topic, with the council indicating it wants to evaluate the merits of establishing a parking authority to manage the system and collect fees, and to conduct a downtown parking master plan.

Planning and zoning issues also will be featured during the term. The town already is conducting a review of its Crescent District zoning rules that regulate land use in a redevelopment zone east and south of the historic district. In the coming weeks, the council is expected to launch an effort to rewrite the zoning ordinance to better implement the recently revised Town Plan. That work is expected to take two years.

Council members also highlighted the need to make more efficient use of the town’s advisory boards and commission, and to explore ways to provide better sup-

port to the town’s businesses.

Amid the continuing battle over the town’s efforts to annex more of the Compass Creek development along with the Microsoft data center complex there, council members cited a need to improve town-county relations. However, they said little was likely to change until the annexation effort is settled or taken to court following a review by the state’s Commission on Local Government, and until after the Board of Supervisors elections in the fall.

Next up, the council will work on the fiscal year 2024 budget. Town Manager Kaj Dentler will present his recommendations Feb. 14.

Facing increased competition for hiring, especially in the Police Department, and soaring inflation, Dentler predicted the council will face difficult decisions.

“Leesburg has an artificially low tax rate. It is not sustainable,” Dentler said. “I can only reshuffle the deck chairs so many times.” n

Town Leaders Review Green Initiatives

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The Leesburg Town Council on Monday night was briefed on the progress of three ongoing environmental initiatives.

The presentations by Public Works Director Renée M. LaFollette and Assistant Director of Operations Christopher Kohr covered the status of the town’s recycling program, efforts to add hybrid and electric vehicles to the town’s fleet, and opportunities to incorporate green infrastructure elements into the Capital Improvements Program.

The recycling report followed a recommendation from the town’s Environmental Advisory Committee to launch an educational campaign aimed at improving the quality of materials put into recycling bins by residents and businesses.

“Many well-intentioned residents still put items in the recycling toters that are not recyclable. Due to high recycling cost, the Town pays a premium for these items that ultimately get sorted out and sent to the landfill as trash,” according to the staff report.

The town’s waste hauler, Patriot Disposal, typically collects 200 tons of recycling per month. The material is taken to Waste Management’s materials recovery

facility in Sterling, where it is sorted and prepared for shipment to recycling or reuse vendors. Or, depending on the market for a certain type of material at the time, is shipped off to a landfill for burial. Unmarketable, unrecyclable or contaminated material taken to a landfill makes up about 17% of the collected items, according to the report.

While there remain strong recycling markets for paper and metal products, the reselling or reuse of plastic and glass is more problematic. The demand for plastic—and each of the seven different types of plastic—varies in the market and drives how much is reused or discarded each week. Glass collected in the region is mostly crushed and used for daily cover at landfills, LaFollette said.

She said one option evaluated by town staff members was to pull glass from the town’s curbside recycling collections and instead use the purple drop-off bins that Loudoun County and other area jurisdictions have begun using. The county has six glass collection sites, but none in Leesburg.

She said glass makes up about 7.6% of the town’s recycling collection. The savings from separating that from the recycling stream would be unlikely to cover the cost of setting up and maintaining collection bins, she said.

The town is also moving away from

gasoline engines as it retires aging vehicles from is fleet. Of the town’s 203 vehicles, up to 131 could be replaced with hybrid or electric vehicles, Kohr said.

The town is in the first phase of a pilot project, planning to purchase one hybrid this year and four more in fiscal year 2024. In fiscal year 2026, the plan calls for the purchase of two EVs. In Phase 2, the town expects to purchase hybrids for most of its replacement vehicles and to begin phasing in EVs for the Police Department and Public Works.

A key challenge to that rollout is the installation of charging stations. The town is planning to include charging stations as part of the construction of new buildings, including the Police Station expansion and the new Utilities Maintenance Building.

The council discussed other green initiatives, including a new state law that, after July 1, would require localities to construct many of their new buildings to LEED standards designed to promote cost efficiency and environmental sustainability.

As part of the town’s going green efforts, the council may add one more project. Council member Zach Cummings suggested a study of installing a solar energy array above the fourth level on the Town Hall parking garage, with a majority of his colleagues supporting the concept. n

Strong Position, Challenges Highlighted in Latest Financial Report

The Town Council was presented with a pre-budget-season snapshot of its financial position Monday night, drawing high marks from long-time financial advisor David Rose of Davenport & Company.

Rose said the town continues to operate in a strong financial environment boosted by strong fiscal reserves and prudent use of its debt capacity— factors that have contributed to its triple-A rating among the top three bond rating agencies.

“You’re in good shape,” Rose said.

The key challenges facing the town are increasing inflation and competition in the employment market.

Rose also suggested the council evaluate additional revenue streams. Specifically, he noted Leesburg’s 3.5% meals tax is lower than other jurisdictions in the region. Purcellville’s is the highest at 6%. In FY2022, Leesburg’s meals tax brought in a record $7.5 million.

Increasing the meals tax by a halfcent would be expected to generate $1.1 million in additional revenue, he said, while adding a penny to the real estate tax rate only adds $1 million to the town coffers.

Tolbert Environmental Award Nominations Sought

The Leesburg Environmental Advisory Commission is seeking nominations for the 2022 Tolbert Environmental Achievement Award.

This program recognizes individuals, community groups, businesses, and students who improve the town’s environment by conducting or participating in activities such as innovative use of recycled materials, pollution prevention, waste reduction, protection of the natural environment, habitat improvement, beautification of the environment, environmental education or monitoring environmental conditions.

Nominations may be made at leesburgva.gov/eac by March 5. The Tolbert Environmental Achievement Award will be presented at a Town Council meeting. n

Sully Elementary Gets 10 New Coding Robots

Education Mars Family Gives $22M to Foxcroft

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Robotics company iRobot, makers of the Roomba, donated 10 coding robots to Sully Elementary School on Friday.

The robots, designed specifically for educational use, are meant to help students learn about coding, problem solving and critical thinking, according to a press release.

Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) spoke to third grade students who were the very first students in the school to play with the robots.

“I am happy you get these awesome robots. The really fun thing about them is they are just fun, you get to play with them. It’s partly like a puzzle, partly like a game but really it’s 100% fun… and you will learn important skills,” Wexton said.

Principal John Tuck said the new robots give students more opportunities to have hands on interaction.

“When you have 20 students and only three of something, not everyone is getting as much exposure, so with this and what we already have, it allows them to work in pairs and really be able to get some experience with it,” Tuck said. “The more you can put something in a student’s hand and not have them be a passive observer, the better it is.”

Tuck said the STEM lab had about five older model robots; the addition brings the lab to 15.

The Title I school has a new dedicated STEM lab to help the students learn coding and reinforce science skills they learn in the classroom. Tuck said students

in grades 3-5 get an hour a week dedicated to STEM in the lab, and kindergarten through second grade students get 30 minutes a week.

The kids dug right in and began playing with the robots with the help of Tuck, Wexton, Assistant Principal Jeff Mayer, Acting Superintendent Daniel Smith, Deputy Superintendent Ashley Ellis and Chief of Staff Neil Slevin.

Tuck said his favorite part was watching the kids dig in and start figuring them out.

“I think LCPS has done a wonderful job to embed computer science in the curriculum anyway, and this provides a way to do it better,” Tuck said.

“We believe that providing students

with hands-on, engaging STEM learning experiences is crucial for their success in today’s technology-driven world,” Chairman and CEO of iRobot Colin Angle said. “We are excited to see the impact that these robots will have on the students’ learning and future careers.”

Wexton said the kids taught her a thing or two.

“It was fun, it was a learning curve for all of us,” she said.

The robots will be used in both math and science classrooms as well as in coding workshops and after school programs. The company will provide training to teachers to make sure they are effectively integrated into the curriculum, according to the release. n

Ashburn Student Donates $900 in Gift Cards to Shelter

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Sophomore Abhi Badia is no stranger to volunteering. He’s been cooking hot meals at home with his mom Priya Dodla for emergency shelters and helping where he could with her since he was eight years old.

At 15, he has organized canned food drives for food pantries, made sandwiches for a shelter and recently helped his mom and several others put 24 care packages together filled with beanies, gloves, blankets and food and delivered them to homeless people in Washington, DC.

He also helps his mom and her friends Kavita Nagar, Sindhura Vadlamani, and Saritha Bashetty regularly cook hot meals for the Embry Rucker Community Shelter in Reston and the Loudoun Homeless Services Center in Leesburg.

Badia is a member of Nest4US, a

nonprofit, volunteer organization that gives students opportunities to serve in various ways like tutoring and mentoring, technology workshops and food drives among others. As a member of the organization, he is always looking for ways to volunteer and help those in the community.

A month ago, he wanted to do more for the 70 bed Embry Rucker Community Shelter, which is run by nonprofit or-

GIFT CARDS continues on page 11

STAFF REPORT

Foxcroft School has received a $22 million gift to support the construction of a STEAM wing on the Middleburg-area campus. It is the largest gift made to the all-girls school by living donors in its 108year history.

The grant was made by members of the Mars family who graduated from the school, Victoria Beth Mars and Pamela Mars Wright and their daughters Bernadette Schuetz Russell and Charlotte Audrey Rossetter.

The creation of a Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math wing is part of Foxcroft’s $65 million, 10-year “Building for Our Future” campaign.

“For a family to come together and give a transformative gift like this because they see the current and future possibilities of the school is amazing. This gift will create new learning spaces and laboratories that reflect best practices for teaching girls the way they learn best, which is at the heart of Foxcroft’s mission,” Head of School Cathy McGehee stated.

Russell also serves on the school’s board of trustees.

“The four of us—my mother Victoria, my aunt Pamela, my cousin Charlotte, and myself—feel very strongly about the school and our experiences there and believe in the need to give back and help the school advance,” she stated.

“We made this gift because we believe in women supporting women, in investing in the place that is important to us, and in inspiring others to join in support of this vital effort to help our school reach its campaign goal.”

Victoria Beth Mars and Pamela Mars Wright previously served on the board and have regularly shared their experiences and expertise as leaders of Mars, Inc., one of the largest privately held companies in

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) works with third grade students on new coding iRobots donated to Sully Elementary School on Jan. 20.

Badia

Gift cards

ganization Cornerstones. He reached out to Cornerstones Manager of Volunteer and Community Engagement Saira Sufi to find out what he could do to help the shelter during the holidays.

Sufi said because he wasn’t 18 years old, he couldn’t volunteer in the shelter, but suggested he do a gift card drive to benefit their clients. She told Badia the greatest need was gift cards for groceries because some clients are moving into affordable housing, and others need gift cards for meals from fast food restaurants.

She also told him their clients have found receiving gift cards to be more empowering.

“I wanted to do this… and it was something I was passionate about, so I told my parents, and they were very supportive of it and that is how it started,” Badia said.

He said at first, he got the word out by talking to his friends at school and through Facebook. Badia, an Ashburn resident, is a student at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County. He said his bus ride to and from school is about an hour each way so he would often use that time to talk to friends or spread the word on social media. His mom also helped get the word out about his gift card drive by telling her friends and family members.

Badia, who considers himself shy, said it was hard to go out of his comfort zone to ask friends if they would like to donate, but he said he was able to work through that because he knew what he was doing was for a good cause.

“I’d ask them if they’d be willing to donate any amount of money, $5, $10, anything really, and that is how we got to the $900. Everyone donated what they could, and it was good. We had so many people doing that,” he said. “It was an overall effort of students and adults. My mom’s friends stepped up and I’m really grateful for that.”

He said he didn’t have a goal when it got started, just an end date of when he wanted to deliver the cards, but he said he wanted to see how much could be raised.

“At first it was $500 that we raised, and it was going slow. Then we hit this exponential curve and the next day it was $600, then $700, then eventually $900 by the last day,” Badia said.

He said local friends bought and delivered the gift cards in December. Others who wanted to help but weren’t local sent his mom money and she bought the cards. Badia said family members living in other parts of the United States donated this way.

The gift cards varied in amounts and were for stores like Target, Walmart, Chick-fil-A, Subway, Chipotle and other restaurants.

Badia said they had more than 100 cards when the drive ended, and with his mom’s help, he made two gift card bouquets to deliver to Sufi.

Sufi said getting $900 in gift cards at the end of the year was a welcomed surprise, and said it was needed.

She said they had originally counted 50 adults who would be coming to the shelter, but as the weather turned colder there was a greater need, and thanks to

Badia’s donation they were able to serve 80 clients, with many taking more than one card depending on their need.

Sufi said sometimes there are kids who volunteer to get hours and do the bare minimum. She said Abhi went above and beyond, and said, “you can tell it comes from the heart and that he’s a good kid.”

“I feel like gift cards have a more personal touch to them. You feel happy about it, it’s more like a gift. And gift cards can be used for things for their kids like clothes or gifts,” Badia said.

Sufi sent Badia an email to let him know how helpful his drive was to the cli-

ents of Cornerstones.

He said it made him happy to know he had helped so many.

“I accomplished what I wanted to do. Even helping 10 people or one person in my opinion is such a great thing,” he said.

He encourages everyone to volunteer.

“Everyone should volunteer, even if it’s one time or two to three times. Giving back to the community is such an amazing thing, you feel gratitude and humble and you become a better person from it,” he said. “Don’t be scared. I’m also shy, but don’t be scared. Just donate and find some way to help and have fun doing it.” n

Byard Petitions Court for Specifics on Perjury Charge

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Loudoun County Public Schools Public Information Office Wayde Byard sought specifics on which statements to a special grand Jury led to his felony perjury charge in a Jan. 12 court filing. Special Counsel Theo Stamos in a Jan. 19 response wrote there were “multiple statements.”

The special grand jury investigating the school division’s handling of repeated sexual assaults by the same student unsealed the perjury indictment on Dec. 12, after which Byard, who has been the school district’s Public Information Officer since 2000, said he was placed on unpaid leave. The panel accused him of lying under oath during testimony Aug. 2, 2022; if convicted he faces a sentence of up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. A person convicted of perjury also cannot hold “any office of honor, profit or trust under the Constitution of Virginia” or serve as a juror.

In the filing Byard’s attorney Jennifer Leffler of LefflerPhillips asked the court to order prosecutors to precisely identify the allegedly false statement. And she argued he could be wrongly convicted for statements to the jury—presumably false—that were not material to the jury’s investigation.

“Without precisely identifying the allegedly false statement, the prosecution is able to cast a wide net over all of the Defendant’s testimony,” the motion reads. “Such uncertainty renders the Defendant, who testified to a wide range of subjects and topics on August 2, 2022, unable to prepare a defense. Furthermore, the Defendant will be subjected to the danger of the jury improperly convicting him of the offense based on other statements from

his testimony that were not the subject of the indictment by the Special Grand Jury.”

“The Commonwealth expects to provide multiple statements, but notes that it only has to prove any one of the false statements to sustain a conviction,” Stamos wrote in response.

Stamos argued that Byard “is well aware of why he was being questioned before the Special Grand Jury on August 2, 2022.”

“Defendant was aware that the Special Grand Jury was impanelled subject to Executive Order No. 4 of Governor Youngkin, to investigate, in part, allegations that the ‘Loudoun County School Board and school administrators withheld key details and knowingly lied to parents,’ regarding sexual assaults that occurred at county high schools in 2021. … This information alone is enough to put the defendant on notice of what was material to his testimony,” the filing reads.

Stamos has said she expects a two-day trial in the spring. Byard has said he plans to plead not guilty.

Byard is also implicated in the special grand jury report that led to the School Board firing former superintendent Scott Ziegler, who faces threes misdemeanor charges. The grand jury found he wrote the email to parents from Stone Bridge High School Principal Tim Flynn the day of the first sexual assault, which addressed the father of the victim, Scott Smith, being escorted out of the building. It made no mention of the assault on his daughter the same day, or that the assailant had gone missing inside the school for hours afterward. The jury wrote the email “deliberately makes no mention of the sexual assault that took place just hours earlier” and was “jeopardizing the safety of all students.”n

Foxcroft gift

Loudoun Electoral Board Picks School Board

Staggered Terms

At its Jan. 12 meeting, the Loudoun County Electoral Board selected which School Board seats will be up for two-year terms in the November 2023 election.

Board members elected next year to the Broad Run, Algonkian, Broad Run, Dulles, Leesburg and Sterling seats will serve two-year terms before facing election again. Members elected to the Ashburn, Catoctin, Little River and At-Large seats will serve the normal four-year term.

State legislation in 2021 called for picking districts randomly to serve onetime shorter terms, after which School Board members will serve staggered fouryear terms with elections every two years. Follow-up legislation in 2022 specified the Loudoun Electoral Board would conduct a random drawing at its first meeting of 2023, no later than Jan. 31, to determine four members to serve four-year terms.

This year’s local elections will also be the first under the new election districts adopted by the Board of Supervisors last year following the 2020 U.S. Census.

February is Career and Technical Education Month

On Tuesday the School Board proclaimed February as Career and Technical Education Month.

There are more than 130 CTE courses offered to 30,000 students in grades 6 through 12 in Loudoun County Public Schools, according to the division.

CTE courses are competency-based instruction, meaning they provide workplace readiness skills and work-based learning experiences related to students’ goals.

Learn more at lcps.org/cte.

Classroom Pledge of Allegiance Policy Updated

The School Board voted on consent to approve the changes made to school policy 5015, the daily pledge of allegiance, recommended by the Curriculum and Instruction Committee.

The policy update changes the word “shall” to “may” when referring to students standing and saying the pledge, and changing “his or her” to “their.”

The policy update is part of the fiveyear review cycle, last updated in 2018. n

continued from page 10

the U.S., with the school community.

“These two generations of women epitomize Foxcroft’s legacy of educating girls who will become tomorrow’s leaders, solve real-world problems, and who will make a positive impact on the world,” Board Chair Kate Hasting stated. “Victoria, Pamela, Bernadette, and Charlotte have ensured that our facilities will be equipped with the resources, technology, and physical spaces to reflect better

our pedagogy and curriculum for the future of our girls. On behalf of the Foxcroft Community, we are forever grateful for the Mars family’s vision in making such a positive impact on our school.”

Foxcroft’s Building for Our Future Campaign seeks to provide state-of-theart facilities for Foxcroft students to develop 21st-century skills through inquiry-based learning and includes renovation to the schoolhouse, the school’s main academic building, and the music building, and the construction of the Ruth T. Bedford Performing Arts Center in addition to a STEAM wing.

Learn more at foxcroft.org. n

Public Safety

Round Hill Man Convicted in Child Pornography Case

A Round Hill man faces up to 20 years in federal prison following his Jan. 17 conviction on charges of receiving child pornography and attempted destruction of evidence.

According to Federal District Court records and evidence presented at trial, from at least November 2019 through January 2022, Max Christian Frear, 35, used a peer-to-peer file-sharing program to receive child pornography. When the FBI executed a search of the defendant’s home, law enforcement found a damaged computer storage device in his toilet. The evidence showed that Frear tried to destroy the storage device by dunking it in liquid for his 3D printer, breaking it in half, and attempting to flush it down the toilet. The FBI recovered the storage device, which contained 84 videos and more than 5,600 images depicting child sexual abuse. Many of those files depicted the sexual abuse of prepubescent minor victims, including infants and toddlers.

Frear faces a sentence of five to 20 years in prison. A May 26 sentencing hearing is set.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched the Department of Justice in 2006. For more information, go to justice.gov/psc.

Racist Flyers, School Graffiti Under Investigation

The Sheriff’s Office is investigating

the distribution of white supremacist propaganda flyers in several areas of western Loudoun, and Leesburg Police are investigating racist and antisemitic graffiti found at two Leesburg high schools.

Approximately 50 flyers were found in driveways along Sagle Road west of Hillsboro, Hamilton Station Road, and Waterford Creek Circle near Waterford on Jan. 19. The flyers were similar to those found in the past several years, placed in plastic bags and weighted with birdseed, in the days before the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. This year’s distribution came three days after the holiday. No charges were filed in the previous incidents.

Investigators ask anyone who may have information or surveillance video related to the cases to report it by calling 703-777-1021.

In Leesburg, the graffiti was found in a bathroom at Loudoun County High School on Jan. 19 and at Heritage High School on Jan. 20. The incidents remain under investigation.

“There is no place in our society for this type of hateful behavior. The Leesburg Police Department takes such reprehensible actions seriously,” the department stated.

Anyone with information about the case who has not already spoken with law enforcement is asked to call Officer Carter at 703-771-4500, or the tip line at 703-443-TIPS. n

fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov www.fairhousing.vipnet.org

BY LONA CHOI-ALLUM AARP Research

Older workers more than ever are rethinking their priorities and want jobs that are meaningful, not just a means to a paycheck, according to a recent AARP survey.

AARP Research conducted a study of adults ages 40 years and over working full time, part time, unemployed but looking for work, retired and working, and retired and looking for work. According to the survey, which is conducted every five years, work–life balance remains a key concern of older workers. Some 90% of those surveyed said a job must offer meaningful work before they’ll accept a position, noting that work is “an important part of who

Workers:

I am.” This shift in priority has become far more common since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Capitalizing on the slower pace and spending more time at home during the pandemic over the past three years has led workers to reevaluate their personal goals and retirement plans, as well as reprioritize how work fits into their lives.

Among those surveyed, the 40–49 age group were more inclined to do so, including spending more time on personal goals (77%), taking time to relax (74%), exploring ways to help reduce work stress levels (74%), reprioritizing how a job fit into their lives (72%), removing unsupportive people from their lives (71%), spending more time on career goals (70%), seeking out a new personal support system (54%), and relocat-

ing or considering relocation to be closer to family (50%).

This review of work–life balance isn’t surprising given that a high percentage of the older workforce is burned out.

Over half of those ages 40–49 (53%) are caregivers of a parent, friend, partner or spouse, in-law, or another adult relative. Many of them acknowledged having to work remotely, change work hours, reduce hours, use accrued sick or vacation leave, take temporary leave, use paid caregiving leave, or quit their job altogether to provide care.

Older workers still prefer flexibility via hybrid and remote work arrangements, with 44% working remotely. In fact, one of the top reasons for working independently was the flexibility to decide when and how much they work. The

autonomy of being one’s own boss was also high on the list. Workers ages 40–49 (32%) were more likely than those ages 50-plus (26%) to have an outside gig, with both groups most likely to earn money through contract or freelance work (14%).

But job stability and good pay still overrule flexibility and remote work. Before accepting a job, older workers continue to emphasize job stability (88%), competitive pay (87%), retirement savings (64%), full-time work (62%), pension benefits (60%), and the option to phase into retirement (60%). Other important job requirements include workplace-wellness benefits such as paid leave, health insurance, caregiving leave,

WE ARE EXPANDING!

at Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury

The future is now, as Phase One is underway! We are adding 97 extraordinary residences to our community for exquisite senior living. Each new Villa apartment has a corner location and will feature open floor plans, energy efficiency, large patios, and personal garages with immediate access to every amenity on our 87-acre campus. Live in a neighborhood of natural beauty and give yourself financial security with our Lifecare Program knowing a full continuum of care is available if necessary. Act now by making a priority deposit on a

300 Westminster-Canterbury Drive • Winchester, Virginia Call (540) 665-5914

Older employment

continued from page 15

flexibility to care for someone, and maternity or paternity leave.

Meanwhile, many older workers worry about their job security, with 44% noting they experienced a workforce disruption in the past five years and about a third fear losing their job in the next year due to a weak economy. Finding another job is a concern for many, who are wary about discrimination based on age and on being unemployed.

Older workers feel that their job is an important part of their identity, but some feel they are treated differently at work because of their age. Based on what they have seen or experienced, over three in five (64%) believe workers face age discrimination in today’s workplace and few see the situation improving. And, two in five (41%) report experiencing some type of ageism at work in the past three years.

Much like employees of all ages, older workers agree that respect, inclusion, acceptance, and a place that values different perspectives and opinions are key attributes for joining an organization, in addition to a friendly work environment.

In the end, older workers want to continue to learn new skills and grow professionally in their careers and use their skills and talents. A high percentage noted they believe that they have much to accomplish in their careers.

In fact, 61% of older workers surveyed have updated their resumes, applied for jobs, posted resumes, gone on job interviews, created LinkedIn profiles, or met with recruiters. As the skilled labor shortage continues, respondents who took some type of training (54%) cited keeping current skills up-to-date and developing new ones as the top reasons.

As today’s workforce continues to evolve, understanding older workers wants and needs can benefit workers and employers alike. The number of older workers is projected to grow substantially over the next decade, which offers an opportunity to build a more age-diverse and inclusive workforce.

Read the full report at aarp.org/ research. n

Ensuring Good Nutrition of Children and Caregivers

STATEPOINT

There are 2.5 million children in the United States growing up in “grandfamilies,” meaning they’re being raised by relatives or close friends without their parents in the home, and they face higher rates of hunger and food insecurity, according to a new report.

The Generations United report, “Together at the Table: Supporting the Nutrition, Health and Well-Being of Grandfamilies,” highlights the particular struggles of such households, which are often unprepared financially for the unexpected job of raising a child, and may encounter difficulty accessing food and nutrition programs designed to help.

In fact, 25% of grandparent-headed households experienced food insecurity between 2019 and 2020, which is more than twice the national rate. The long-term health implications of food insecurity—including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, obesity and eating disorders—are dire. Additionally, food insecurity negatively affects a child’s ability to learn and grow.

While families from all areas of the country face food insecurity, for the

large number of grandfamilies living in the South and in rural areas, services are often more limited or challenging to access. What’s more, grandfamilies are disproportionately Black, Latino and American Indian and Alaska Native, populations that already have disproportionate rates of food insecurity due to years of systemic racism.

Recently, the White House released a sweeping national strategy to reduce hunger. While advocates describe the plan as welcome and comprehensive on many levels, and say that it identifies the importance of improved outreach to grandfamilies, they also believe it must go further.

According to Generations United, some key policy changes to reduce insecurity for grandfamilies include:

• Developing quality kinship navigator programs that connect grandfamilies to support and services in their communities. These programs should provide food and nutrition support to grandfamilies outside the child welfare system.

• Expanding access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

by making a “child-only” benefit that is based on the needs of the child as opposed to household income and by increasing outreach to grandfamilies.

• Ensuring automatic access to free and reduced school meals for children living in grandfamilies.

• Improving outreach of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to help reach more grandfamilies and connect them with benefits for which they are eligible.

• Creating joint meal programs for grandfamily caregivers and the children they raise.

“Research shows that being raised by family members or close friends is the best option for children who can’t be raised by their parents,” said Donna Butts, the executive director of Generations United. “But unfortunately, these families face hunger and food insecurity at much higher rates than the average family. The fact that many of our policies and programs to reduce hunger were not designed with grandfamilies in mind should not stand in the way of this right.” n

WE OFFER

Specially trained care staff 24/7 Specialized levels of care, with higher levels of care and end of life services available if needed

Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy services available as needed Three freshly made meals daily plus snacks to meet a variety of dietary needs Onsite salon

Daily scheduled activities focusing on life skills and promoting happy life moments. Shared and private suites Long-term and respite stays

SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR COMMUNITY

A Bed and Breakfast style assisted living located in the heart of historic Leesburg, VA. Offering long-term care and short-term care.

Conveniently located on West Market Street, in the heart of historic Leesburg Near the Outlet Mall and restaurants.

Easy access to Loudoun County Health Center, INOVA Health System, & INOVA Loudoun Nursing & Rehab

246 W. Market Street • Leesburg, Va 20176 703-777-1971

Business

Loudoun Chamber Celebrates Community Leaders

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

The Loudoun Chamber held its 2023 Community Leadership Awards during its 55th Annual Meeting on Friday night, honoring five people and organizations for their community impact over the past year. It’s the 10th year of the awards program.

The winners were named from among 20 finalists across five categories. In the small business category, that was Road Runner Wrecker Service. Owner David Butcher said, “it’s been a real privilege serving Loudoun County for 30 years.”

“We haven’t closed in 30 years,” he said. “We’re 24 hours, seven days a week, 365 days a year, nonstop. We’ve got people working right now.

We’re always ready.”

Among large businesses, the chamber honored the HHMI Janelia Research Campus.

“HHMI has a ton of very dedicated people. They go out in the community, and they do STEM outreach, they do charity teamwork,” Innovations and External Relations Director Michael Perham said.”

In the young professionals category, the Chamber honored HHMI Janelia Research Campus Community Relations Manager Monti Mercer.

“We all like to be the people that are behind the scenes, really pushing other people forward to shine,” he said.

In the executive leader category, the chamber honored Inova Loudoun Hospital Department of Emergency

Medicine Chairman and Medical Director Dr. Edward Puccio. He recalled the growth at Inova since he joined in 2001, and the crises they have faced in that time like COVID-19, SARS, Ebola, and monkeypox.

“One of the things that drew me to it the most is, in emergency medicine, we treat patients regardless of their ability to pay,” he said. “We treat everyone that walks through the door. And I was so fortunate to find Inova Loudoun Hospital, because they have that same mindset.”

And among nonprofit executives, the chamber honored Loudoun Education Foundation Executive Director Danielle Nadler, who recalled covering education systems across the country in her career in journalism.

“What I found, from California, to

Barbe to Lead Loudoun Chamber Board

STAFF REPORT

Backflow Technology President and CEO Carol Barbe has been elected chair of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 2023.

“It is my distinct honor and privilege to serve as the 2023 Board Chair,” Barbe stated. “I’m excited to

work alongside our dedicated Board of Directors and Chamber team who are all committed now more than ever to helping our members build their brands, grow their businesses, and become leaders in the community. 2023 will be a year of opportunity to continue to build upon and enhance the great work we do in supporting our members and community during the economic challenges our businesses face today.”

Barbe has served on the Chamber board since 2017, and officially debuted her new post during the 55th Annual Meeting & Community Leader-

ship Awards on Jan. 20 at The National Conference Center. She takes over for Modern Mechanical owner Shawn Mitchell, the 2022 chair.

“It was such a great privilege to serve our Board of Directors and our entire membership as Chair this past year. With Carol Barbe at the helm of the membership committee, we added over 276 new members and exceeded our goals for member renewals. I know she will be just as successful leading this amazing member organization as Chair for 2023,” Mitchell stated.

Barbe will be joined by new First

Nevada, to Minnesota, to Virginia is that the health of a community is really reflected by public schools,” she said. “And I think we all know that that’s true here in Loudoun, that really when the school systems thrive, the business community thrives, and vice versa. And I love that synergy, and I’m so thankful that I get to play a very small role in creating that synergy.”

Each winner gets the chance to name a nonprofit to receive a $1,000 grant courtesy of the Community Foundation of Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties.

“Our grants depend upon building personalized grantmaking, endowment and funds with people like you and

Vice Chair/Chair-elect 2024 Angela Mitchell, President and CEO of ARM Consulting; and Second Vice Chair/ Chair-elect 2025, Scott Loftis of Pinnacle Financial Partners.

The Chamber board also welcomed five new members: Roman Blazauskas, SpeedPro Imaging Northern Virginia; Tina R. Johnson, CEO Consulting Group; Joe Kroboth, III, Loudoun County government; Daisy Saulls, Equinix Digital Infrastructure Internship Program; and Andrea Whitehouse, M & T Bank.

Form more information visit loudounchamber.org. n

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

From left, Loudoun Education Foundation Executive Director Danielle Nadler, HHMI Janelia Research Campus Community Relations Manager Monti Mercer, Inova Loudoun Hospital Department of Emergency Medicine Chairman and Medical Director Dr. Edward Puccio, HHMI Janelia Research Campus Innovations and External Relations Director Michael Perham and Road Runner Wrecker Service owner David Butcher accept awards at the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Community Leadership Awards Friday, Jan. 20.

Barbe

Visit Loudoun Seeks Board Members

STAFF REPORT

Visit Loudoun is seeking candidates to serve on its board of directors and on the board of its charitable foundation.

The board terms run from July 1 through June 30, 2026, with a transition period beginning in May. Applications must be received by Feb. 3.

Visit Loudoun is the not-for-profit destination management organization for Loudoun County and its incorporated towns. As the county’s programmatic arm for tourism, it promotes the county to travel consumers worldwide.

The Visit Loudoun board is comprised of up to 24 elected members who serve staggered terms.

Separately, the Visit Loudoun Foundation was established in 2008 to support the county’s hospitality and tourism industry. The foundation offers scholarships to graduating high school seniors, as well as coordinates and supports industry educational programs and market research opportunities.

Interested candidates should submit a résumé outlining their business/professional career, including any tourism-related experience. This may range from owning a tourism-related business, to

having experience in hospitality and/or tourism marketing, to volunteering with a tourism-related organization. Special business skills such as communications and community involvement should also be included.

To apply for the Visit Loudoun board, three business references also should be submitted, along with a response to the statement: “My service on the Visit Loudoun Board of Directors will help Visit Loudoun and tourism in Loudoun County because ….”

Applications for the Foundation board should also include three business references along with a response to the statement: “My service on the Visit Loudoun Foundation will help build the future of tourism in Loudoun through …”

Submissions are due to the Visit Loudoun office by 5 p.m. Feb. 3. The office is located at 112 South Street, SE, Suite 200, at Market Station in Leesburg. Electronic copies may be submitted to Greg Harp at harp@VisitLoudoun. org. Following review of the submissions, selected candidates will be scheduled to interview with the executive committee in March.

Additional information on Visit Loudoun is online at visitloudoun.org. n

Leaders

businesses like yours, so that funding is here 100, 200, 300 years from now,” President and CEO Amy Owen said. “We have 115 unique funds, including the Loudoun Chamber Foundation. Each has a unique role in grantmaking vision, from scholarship funds, to memorial funds, to donor-advised funds. We serve Loudoun County’s philanthropicallyminded business and citizens, and we make it possible for anybody to be a philanthropist.”

Outgoing Chamber Board of Directors Chair and Modern Mechanical owner Shawn Mitchell gave Langhorne Custom Homes Managing Director Kirsten Langhorne the 2022 Chair’s Award, recognizing her service on the chamber’s public policy committee and executive committee.

“Under Kirsten’s leadership, the Loudoun Chamber continued to amplify the business community’s voice and drive solutions on important issues such as attainable housing, economic growth and workforce development,” Mitchell said. The chamber also welcomed its new

Board of Directors members and 2023 Chair Carol Barbe, the co-founder, president and CEO of Backflow Technology.

“To my fellow board members, thank you for your support of our mission,” Barbe said. “Our role is to serve the needs of our members and the success of the businesses. You’ve done that well, and together in 2023 we will continue to positively advance the interests of our Loudoun businesses and our nonprofits.”

And the chamber celebrated its recent five-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. U.S. Chamber Federation Relations and Grassroots Advocacy Senior Director of Operations Allie Ehrlich said that made the Loudoun Chamber one of only 142 to achieve the distinction from among around 7,000 chambers across the country.

“Loudoun is blessed with so many leaders who give generously of their time, energy and resources to make this our nation’s finest community to grow a business, pursue your passion and raise a family. The Chamber is proud to honor these outstanding leaders, and to thank them for the generosity, commitment and sacrifice they have given to strengthen our community,” Chamber President & CEO Tony Howard stated. n

Towns

Purcellville Planning Commission Again Votes Against County Plans

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Purcellville Planning Commission on Jan. 19 again recommended that the Town Council deny five applications by the county government for zoning and special use permits for the Fields Farm sports complex and a commuter park and ride lot.

These recommendations come after the town sent the plans back for the commission’s review following an initial rejection by the Planning Commission and concessions made by the county after negotiations with the town.

The Town Council will now decide whether to approve the county’s applications. It was scheduled to review the commission’s evaluation Tuesday night.

The commission found it could agree to one application—a special use permit for the sports complex—if the county made specific additional changes. Those include having the county provide a report detailing the methodology, data sources and analyses that demonstrate the need for and potential impacts of the recreational fields; having the county evaluate the impact of public services for the facilities and mitigate impacts to the Purcellville Police and Fire and Rescue or

have the public safety services fulfilled by county public safety agencies; and considering whether a revenue-sharing plan with the county can be achieved.

Commissioner Brian Green also presented a plan to reduce the number of soccer fields by one, leaving three multiuse fields. He also suggested that the access road to Woodgrove High School be pushed further away from the Mayfair neighborhood into the space initially

reserved for a soccer field, a move designed to reduce the impact on the neighborhood and create a larger buffer.

Regarding the applications in general, the commission found that the plans for the sports complex and commuter lot were not in line with the town’s comprehensive plan and that the impact on near-

PURCELLVILLE PLANNING continues on page 21

Philomont Advances Toward National Register Listing

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The Village of Philomont is expected to achieve national recognition for its role in Loudoun County’s agricultural and commercial industry through the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is evaluating an application sponsored by the Philomont Village Foundation. Historic preservationist Jane Covington has been interviewing and compiling the historical file during the past year, working with Philomont native and historian Laura Pearson.

Upon final approval, the village would be added to the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic

towns

Places. The designations are honorary and do not come with any additional zoning or regulatory property restrictions.

The VDHR plans a community meeting on the applications at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7, in the Roszell Chapel’s event room.

The nomination focuses on the village’s historical role as a commerce center along a major western Loudoun thoroughfare—the Snickersville Turnpike, which was added to the registers last year.

“Those who came to Philomont and settled on the much-traveled turnpike, especially after Hibbs Bridge was finished in 1829, supported the surrounding agricultural industry with their many tradesmen, such as leather tanners, blacksmiths, doctors, and carpenters,” according to the application.

Philomont was the midway point along the 15-mile turnpike. Travelers stopped in the village to pick up supplies at the General Store, get equipment repaired and other services.

Today, many of the original homes, some dating back to the late 1700s, remain. Most of the original log cabins are still visible even in homes that have had stone and/or wood frame additions. At least 10 log cabins can be identified within a one-mile radius, according to the application.

At the heart of the village are the General Store, the firehouse, and the Community Center, a former school dating back to 1919. Roszell Chapel, which was moved and rebuilt in 1890, still holds Sunday services to this day. n

LOVETTSVILLE

Ruritans Offer Scholarships, Grants to Students

The Lovettsville-Waterford Ruritans Club is offering four $2,000 scholarships to Lovettsville and Waterford students interested in pursuing higher education.

There is also a $1,500 grant available to entrepreneurial students interested in starting a business, or in need of assistance to pay for technical training or needed equipment to start a business. All scholarships are available to public, private or homeschooled students who reside in the Waterford or Lovettsville area.

The Irma and Roger Powell Good Citizen Scholarship recognizes students who have served their community by significantly contributing to their school environment and community through volunteer activities.

The Mickey McDowell Ambitious Spirit Scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated and documented overcoming challenges or adversity.

The Henry and Marty Dyker Community Service Scholarship recognizes students who have significantly contributed to the community through their volunteer and leadership activities. The emphasis is on the larger community contributions outside of school.

The Barbara Carr Scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated sustained focused services efforts on behalf of genuinely needy individuals or communities.

The Buddy Williams Entrepreneur Grant will go students who may not necessarily choose the traditional path of a four-year college but instead, wish to pursue their dreams of starting a business or pursuing a technical career.

The application deadline is March 28. Learn more at lwruritans.com.

ROUND HILL

Commercial Site Has New Buyer

A year after a developer group pitched a proposal for a mixeduse development on the 12-acre

AROUND TOWNS

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Vice Mayor Christopher Bertaut and commissioner Brian Green listen to county representatives at a Jan. 5 Planning Commission meeting.

Hamilton Prepares for Temporary Sewer Shut Down

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Town of Hamilton is preparing to reline approximately 5,200 feet of sewer line, which will require service to be shut off for residents during periods of the work.

The project is expected to take place in March or April and will be accomplished in two nine-day phases. The greatest impact on residents will occur during the second phase, when the contractor, Visu Sewer, will shut down segments of the town’s sewer line. Hamilton Project Planner Earl Dubin said residents can expect eight-hour blocks without sewer function.

Under the plan, each residence will only be impacted by one of the eight-hour shutdowns during the nine-day phase.

“We will be going from manhole to manhole, that’s how the lining process works and those homes in that stretch will be affected for that day, that eighthour period or less,” Dubin said. “And

Purcellville planning

continued from page 20

by residents would be too great.

The county has warned the town that the funding associated with the projects would not survive another delay as $13.2 million of the funding is from a

AROUND towns

continued from page 20

commercial tract on the eastern edge of Round Hill, the land is under contract to a new potential purchaser.

Town Administrator Melissa Hynes informed the Town Council of the sale during its Jan. 18 meeting. She provided few details other than it appeared the buyer envisions a commercial development.

The land at the northeast quadrant of the intersection at Loudoun Street and Evening Star Drive was zoned for commercial use as part of the Villages of Round Hill rezoning in the early 1990s. It remains undeveloped.

Town leaders have met with other potential buyers over the ensuing years but have resisted calls to allow some level of residential development on the tract.

Last February, the council met with an investor group led by Ted Britt, a co-founder of Tri-Tek Engineering, that

then when we’re done, we’re done. The process is done, and we’ll move on to the next section.”

The sewer shutdown will result in a loss of functions such as flushing toilets and running washing machines or dishwashers. Dubin said 90 to 100 residences are expected to be affected by this shutdown.

He also said residents can expect lane and road closures throughout the town including on East Colonial Highway, adding that the contractor had been specifically instructed to do that work on a weekend to not affect commuter traffic.

The first phase will have a limited impact on residents and will not affect their sewer function. Contractors will clean the pipes and perform other preparatory work on the lines. Dubin said the only expected impact on residents during this phase is traffic congestion and road closures.

Dubin said the town will be sending letters to each of the homes that will be affected by the closures as well as going door to door just prior to the project to ensure

competitive grant administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation. If the county fails to use the funding in a timely manner, county staff members have warned, it will have a harder time receiving grants from the state in the future. Because of this, the county plans to return the funding to the state if it cannot come to an agreement with the town soon.

had had the property under contract for several years and had been examining potential uses. That pitch involved a mixed-use concept for the property after finding that there was not demand for a 150,000-square-foot commercial center. They proposed a smaller retail and office component along with residential uses they said would both support the commercial uses and provide a buffer to nearby homes.

The new purchase is subject to a study period, Hynes said.

PURCELLVILLE

Adopt a Tree at the Chapman DeMary Trail

Come to the Chapman DeMary Trail at 1 p.m. on Sunday to start your own nature journal and adopt a tree.

The Purcellville Arts Council and the Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee are jointly hosting Jan. 29 event, the first nature walk of 2023, with

that each resident is aware of the shutdown and are able to ask any questions that they might have.

“We really have a duty and a responsibility to ensure that our residents are informed and that we can get this done with the least amount of impact on them,” he said adding, “We’ve made it real clear to the contractor how important our town residents are and to provide great customer service to them and so if there is any concern on the part of the residents, we’ll have people on site there that they can come and talk to.”

Dubin said residents with concerns or questions can contact him via the Hamilton Town Office at 540-338-2811.

“If there’s any concerns, any questions that residents would have, we’re really here for them. This is all about making our town better, and our treatment of waste and such like that much more efficient, certainly in regard to the permit we have with the state Department of Environmental Quality. We’re here for our residents,” he said. n

County staff members have said they will be looking for progress this month.

Part of the $13.2 million is allocated for the Rt. 7/Rt.690 and Rt. 7/Rt. 287 interchange projects, designed in part to help relieve congestion in town. Returning that money would likely delay the interchange projects indefinitely, county staff members have said n

the Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. In addition to supplying the notebooks and colored pencils, members of the Arts Council will share tips about how to start a nature journal and how to sketch some items found in nature.

Members of the Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee will lead an Adopt a Tree program.

Those who already received journaling supplies at the October 2022 nature walk or during the 2022 Hail to the Trail are encouraged to bring their journals and attend these monthly nature walks to get a sticker in their journals. Participants with six or more stickers from the monthly nature walks through November 2023 will get a prize.

The entrance and parking for the Chapman DeMary Trail are behind the building at 205 E Hirst Rd. in Purcellville.

Learn more and register online on the Monthly Nature Walks page in the Events and Activities section of the town’s website, purcellvilleva.gov. n

Obituaries

Richard Fishbein

Richard Fishbein, 95, passed away in the early morning hours of January 20, 2023, of natural causes, in Leesburg, VA. He was born to Louis and Gussie Fertel Fishbein (deceased) on June 11, 1927, in New York. Richard was pre-deceased by his sister Irene Kurzweil, his wife, of 30 years Helene, and his second wife Sophie. Richard was highly respected in the automotive industry where he started as a tire boy at the age 16, working for his uncle and eventually rose to be an independent Manufacturers Representative for many companies, with his partners at Good Reps on Long Island. As a youth he was active in the Zionist movement (AZA) which is where he met his late wife, Helene. He was immersed in the Reform Jewish movement throughout his adult life in Brooklyn working as a leader in Community Temple Beth Ohr Brotherhood, the Board of Trustees and serving six years as President of the congregation. Upon retiring from his term in office he was honored with a testimonial dinner. Richard is survived by his two daughters, Naomi (Nicholas) Munson (Mechanicsburg, MD) and Joan (Greg) Lehr (Purcellville VA). His grandchildren Erica (Aron) Kalberg, Miriam Sweet, Benjamin Sweet, Helene(James) Leigh, Michael Lehr and great grandson, Mishra Sweet. A graveside service will take place on January 28, 2023 at 2 PM at the Ketoctin Cemetery, 16595 Ketoctin Church Road, Purcellville, VA 20132

To place an obituary, contact Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or email sstyer@loudounnow.com

LoCo Living Building a Brotherhood

Loudoun’s Young Kings Movement Grows in 2023

BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com

In the heart of the pandemic, Harriet “Doode” Summers saw a need. She knew young men in her Leesburg community were struggling with isolation, motivation and other challenges and decided to take action.

In 2020, Summers set up the Young Kings Movement, a nonprofit created to serve as a “guiding light” for young men in Loudoun who need support, mentorship, and encouragement.

“These are the kids that get overlooked,” Summers said. “They’re not the athletes. They’re not the A-students. But they’re still human. They have talents that nobody knows about.”

Summers, a Leesburg native, works at an alternative high school in Fairfax County and saw what her students were going through in the early days of the pandemic. Meanwhile, she was hearing from parents and young people in Loudoun about the challenges of navigating the confusion and isolation of those difficult months.

“I knew the struggle that they were having,” she said.

Summers launched the program with six young men in 2020. The program, which serves teen boys from 13 to 18, currently has 15 participants from around the county. Summers looks to engage boys in the crucial middle school and early high school years, with older teens serving as role models and ambassadors.

For the past two years, YKM has provided mentoring, educational support, life skills coaching and community service. The program, which started out by word of mouth, continues to grow and now is getting referrals from Loudoun schools and the juvenile justice system.

With two years of mentorship and community service in the books, Summers has set her sights on expanding the program. Her top two needs are a permanent meeting space for the group and a van for pickups when parents are working and group travel to community service events.

Summers, a Loudoun County High School graduate, has a long history of community service in the county. She said a kidney donation from her sister inspired

THINGS to do

LOCO LIVE

Notaviva Bluegrass Jam

Friday, Jan. 27, 5 p.m.

Notaviva Craft Fermentations, 13274 Sagle Road, Hillsboro

Details: notavivavineyards.com Enjoy the best in local live bluegrass every fourth Friday. Admission is free.

Live Music: Chris Timbers Band Friday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m.

Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg Details: spankyspub.com Get the weekend rolling with the smooth grooves of the Chris Timbers band.

Live Music: Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown Friday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg  Details: tallyhotheater.com

After a series of national tours and successful rock records in the 2010s, Bryant continues to tour and recently released a fifth studio album. Tickets are $15 for general admission.

Live Music: Michael Perdew and Friends Friday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m.

Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville Details: monksq.com

Perdew serves up bluegrass covers of favorite songs from a range of genres.

her to give back in new ways.

“My sister saved my life. I couldn’t figure out how to repay her and she told me, ‘I want you to save someone’s life,’” Summers said.

“I love working with people that need help,” Summers said, adding that her experience working with at-risk students in Fairfax helped her develop her nonprofit’s mission. “[Students] were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and then they get a label. I don’t like labels. You’re still a human. Everybody makes mistakes. If you get that second chance, you can better yourself and try again.”

As she built the Young Kings Movement, her focus has been on getting to know each participant as an individual.

“I interview the young men to find out what they need,” Summers said. “Once they warm up to you, they start expressing what they’re struggling with in life, and those are the things they’re longing for.”

She adds that the push involved needs to come from the young men themselves, not the adults in their lives: “I want them to want to be here.”

As the organization grows, Summers continues to focus on leadership. Earlier this month, several members earned their jackets as YKM ambassadors during a ceremony with local leaders.

“These young men have come a very long way. They started out struggling. … Now they’ve gotten to the point where they want to be leaders in the program.”

Summer said. “Our goal is to get them out in the community wearing these jackets and to step up their game.”

Two of those ambassadors, both juniors at Loudoun County High School who joined YKM in 2020, said the organization has changed their lives and helped them stay on a path to success when they might have otherwise been headed for trouble.

Seventeen-year-old Brandon Lee of Leesburg said YKM has helped bring him out of his shell and kept him on a positive path.

“I was kind of shy at first, but I grew into it. … I volunteer a lot more,” Lee said. “We have a lot of people here who show love and we’re all like another big family.”

Lee’s classmate Kevin Jennings said his mom encouraged him to try the program in 2020, and the mentorship and connections he’s gotten help him in the wider world. Jennings said he takes the skills he has acquired in YKM and brings them to school, reaching out to other kids who need connections.

“It’s definitely helped me as far as making friends easier. I learned to look for people who might not have as many friends,” Jennings said.

Both Lee and Jennings said the community service opportunities are among

YOUNG KINGS continues on page 24

Live Music: Bruce Ewan Saturday, Jan. 28, 1 p.m.

Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville Details: creeksedgewinery.com

Wind down with bluesy tunes from Bruce Ewan.

Live Music: Cary Wimbish Saturday, Jan. 28, 1 p.m.

Bear Chase Brewing Company, 18294 Blue Ridge Mountain Road, Bluemont Details: bearchasebrew.com Richmond-based Wimbish performs traditional country, bluegrass, classic rock, and blues songs along with crowd-pleasing originals.

Live Music: Just South of 7 Saturday, Jan. 28, 1 p.m.

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts Details: vanishbeer.com

Just South of 7 returns to Vanish with five decades of rock.

Live Music: Jason Masi

Saturday, Jan. 28, 2 p.m.

Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro

Details: doukeniewinery.com

Masi is back with a mellow afternoon of acoustic soul and R&B.

Live Music: Dominica Knapp

Saturday, Jan. 28, 2 p.m.

Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church Road, Hillsboro Details: old690.com

Knapp is a solo banjoist and singer with a modern take on old-time and folk music.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Connor Harvey, Elijah Crosby and Davon Smith set down for a chess match during a recent Young Kings Movement meeting at the Douglass Community Center in Leesburg.

Friday, Jan. 27, 7 p.m. (doors)

Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

THINGS to do

continued from page 22

Live Music: Britton James

Saturday, Jan. 28, 2 p.m.

Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville

Details: twotwistedposts.com

James brings a fun repertoire of high-energy covers and originals to Hillsboro.

Live Music: Rowdy Ace Trio Saturday, Jan. 28, 3 p.m.

BEST BETS

Friday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m.

Spanky’s Shenanigans spankyspub.com

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg

Details: lostbarrel.com

Kick back with a fun mix of country and rock tunes from Rowdy Ace.

Live Music: Jim Steele

Saturday, Jan. 28, 3 p.m.

Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville

Details: flyingacefarm.com

Join local favorite Jim Steele for an afternoon of fun covers and originals.

THE HILLBILLY BISCUITS

Saturday, Jan. 28, 7 p.m.

Lucketts Community Center luckettsbluegrass.org

TYLER BRYANT & THE SHAKEDOWN

CHRIS TIMBERS BAND

Young Kings

the most valuable aspects of the program.

The group meets every Thursday— twice a month in person and twice a month virtually. YKM also recently kicked off a series of monthly dinners, inviting members of the community to learn more about the nonprofit.

Cabin Fever Festival Returns with 20 Films

STAFF REPORT

This weekend’s Cabin Fever Film Festival will premiere 20 films, highlighting local tales and talent and emphasizing films made in or by residents of Purcellville or Loudoun.

In its sixth year, the annual festival features live-action shorts, stop-motion films, and documentaries, and will conclude with an awards ceremony for Best Student film and Audience Favorite.

The two-day event is intended to showcase new and emerging filmmakers and is co-hosted by the Purcellville Arts Council and the Franklin Park Performing and Visual Arts Center. This year, 14

and schedule is online at bit.ly/CabinFeverFilm2023. The films are not rated, and descriptions have been provided for each film to help viewers understand the content and make decisions about their appropriateness for younger viewers.

The film festival will be held at the Franklin Park Performing and Visual Arts Center on Friday, Jan. 27 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Service projects are an important focus for the group, with one or two projects required each month, from serving meals to seniors at area churches to supporting Mobile Hope, to park clean-up and environmental projects.

Another key element of the program is members supporting each other with older members serving as role models.

THINGS to do

continued from page 23

Live Music: Melissa Quinn Fox

Saturday, Jan. 28, 6 p.m.

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro

Details: harvestgap.com

Country/Americana songstress Melissa Quinn Fox is known for her story-driven songs, unique vocal tone and captivating live performances.

Flying Ivories Dueling Pianos

Saturday, Jan. 28, 7-9 p.m.

Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn Details: www.oldoxbrewery.com

The Flying Ivories are flying into Old Ox for a show that is part music, part comedy and all fun. The evening starts with an all-request rock ‘n’ roll singalong. Tickets are $25.

Live Music: Berlin Calling

Saturday, Jan. 28, 7-11 p.m.

MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com

Shake off the winter blues with an 80s dance party. With Berlin Calling.

Lucketts Bluegrass: The Hillbilly Biscuits

Saturday, Jan. 28, 7 p.m.

Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Lucketts

Details: luckettsbluegrass.org

“Once they came through our doors, they became instant brothers. I’m building a brotherhood,” Summers said. “They come to the program and we set goals for them—and we set the bar high. They know that it’s easier to reach together.”

This year, Summers is turning to another brotherhood for additional mentorship opportunities. YKM has launched a new partnership with the Loudoun Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. The Omega brothers will be offering mentorship and academic support to YKM

The Hillbilly Biscuits are a West Virginia string band known for their homegrown Appalachian old-time music mixed with a hard driving bluegrass sound. Tickets are $22 for adults, $5 for youth 5 to 17 and free for children 4 and under.

Live Music: Young Relics Saturday, Jan. 28, 8 p.m.

Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg Details: spankyspub.com

Young Relics serves up hits and deep cuts from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Live Music: Bryan Fox and Friends Saturday, Jan. 28, 8 p.m.

The Branch, 49 Catoctin Circle SE, Leesburg Details: bowlthebranch.com Fox brings his signature soul, rock, country and Motown repertoire to The Branch.

Live Music: Nightrain Guns N’ Roses Experience Saturday, Jan. 28, 8 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg  Details: tallyhotheater.com

Nightrain captures Axl’s vocals and stage presence and Slash’s classic riffs and showmanship for a blast from the past. Tickets are $15.

Live Music: Hananiah Hails Saturday, Jan. 28, 8-11 p.m.

Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville Details: monksq.com

Hananiah Hails brings the sounds of St. Lucia to Loudoun with a sweet soulful texture and mellow vibe.

filmmakers ranging in age from 10 or older than 70 submitted 20 films.

More information on this year’s films

participants. The initiative, led by James Banks, basileus of the Loudoun Chapter and vice-basileus Trevor Browne, has at least 16 Omega brothers on board to volunteer.

“Mentorship and our fatherhood initiative are cornerstone programs within the fraternity…It really works out well. There’s a group of young men who are vulnerable. We are a group of men who are ready to provide those services,” Banks said.

Summers said the new partnership is

Live Music: Miguel Aubertin Sunday, Jan. 29, 2 p.m.

Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville

Details: flyingacefarm.com

Relax with Aubertin’s repertoire of joyful songs with a reggae flair.

Live Music: Andrew O’Day Sunday, Jan. 29, 2 p.m.

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro

Details: harvestgap.com

O’Day brings soulful tunes with influences from R&B to country for a mellow afternoon.

Live Music: Jason Teach Sunday, Jan 29, 2 p.m.

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro

Details: breauxvineyards.com

Longtime singer/songwriter Jason Teach returns to Breaux with his honest, heartfelt songwriting.

LOCO CULTURE

Cabin Fever Film Fest

Friday, Jan. 27, 7 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 28, 10 a.m.

Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville

Details: franklinparkartscenter.org

Now in its sixth year, the festival celebrates films created by Loudouners in a range of genres. This year, a special category highlights the theme

Tickets are $5 per person per day, in-person or live-streamed, at bit.ly/CFF23Tickets.

The Franklin Park Center is at 36441 Blueridge View Lane near Purcellville. n

one exciting element of YKM’s plan for growth in the community in 2023.

“I needed some positive men that would be committed. … Their support is going to be huge,” Summers said.

“Our new hashtag is going to be brothers helping brothers.” n

For more information on the Young Kings Movement, go to ykm-loudoun.org and follow on Facebook at Young Kings Loudoun.

“Exploring the Natural World.” Tickets are $5.

Lunar New Year Lion Dance Saturday, Jan. 28, 11 a.m.

Purcellville Library, 220 E. Main St., Purcellville Details: library.loudoun.gov

Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with dancers from the Jow Ga Shaolin Institute who will be performing in the traditional lion costume accompanied by the music of a beating drum, clashing cymbal and resounding gong.

Village at Leesburg Ice Festival

Saturday, Jan. 28, noon-4 p.m.

Village At Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg

Details: villageatleesburg.com

Check out live professional ice carvers as they compete to create the best sculpture, practice your moves on the ice skating rink and enjoy interactive ice games.

Last Ham Standing Saturday, Jan. 28, 8-9:30 p.m.

Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville

Details: franklinparkartscenter.org

This hilarious show is full of laughs for the whole family as performers take suggestions from the audience to create wacky scenes and improv games. Tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for children.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Harriet “Doode” Summers stands with members of the Young Kings Movement ambassadors group during a recent meeting at the Douglass Community Center in Leesburg.

Assistant

Assistant

Utilities $86,040-$156,137 DOQ Open until filled

Billing and Collections Coordinator (Accounting Associate III) Finance & Administrative Services Department $52,446-$95,178 DOQ Open until filled

Communications Technician (Police Dispatcher) Police $50,000-$88,774 DOQ Open until filled

Deputy Director of Public Works and Capital Projects Public Works & Capital Projects $93,438-$169,567 DOQ Open until filled

Groundskeeper Parks & Recreation $50,000-$81,495 DOQ Open until filled

Head Lifeguard (Full Time) Parks & Recreation $50,000-$63,626 DOQ Open until filled

Maintenance Worker I Public Works & Capital Projects $50,000-$75,040 DOQ Open until filled

Payroll Administrator

Finance & Administrative Services Department $61,857-$112,250 DOQ Open until filled

Police Accreditation Coordinator Police $56,956 - $103,363 DOQ January 26th, 2023

Police Detective Police $68,356-$109,934 DOQ Open until filled

Police Officer Police $62,000-$109,934 DOQ Open until filled

Police School Resource Officer Police $68,356-$109,934 DOQ Open until filled

Police Traffic Officer Police $68,356-$109,934 DOQ Open until filled

Sports and Recreation Supervisor

Sustainability Manager

Utilities Project Manager

Wastewater Plant Supervisor

Water Meter Operations Supervisor

Construction Project Manager/Project Engineer

Parks & Recreation $52,446-$95,178 DOQ Open until filled

Planning and Zoning $72,952-$132,387 DOQ Open until filled

Utilities $76,426-$138,530 DOQ Open until filled

Utilities $61,857-$112,250 DOQ Open until filled

Utilities $61,857-$112,250 DOQ Open until filled

Meridien Group, LLC is seeking a motivated, qualified individual to handle all aspects of construction project management. Duties include Preparing, scheduling, coordinating and monitoring the assigned projects. Monitoring compliance to applicable codes, practices, QA/QC policies, performance standards and specifications.

Interacting daily with the clients to interpret their needs and requirements and representing them in the field.

We are looking for an accountable project engineer/project manager to be responsible for all engineering and technical disciplines that projects involve. You will schedule, plan, forecast, resource and manage all the technical activities aiming at assuring project accuracy and quality from conception to completion.

Qualifications

• BS degree in Engineering/Construction Management or relevant field

• Prior federal government project experience is preferred, but not required

• Entry-level/mid-level Position

Contact Info: Katherine Hicks 208 South King Street Suite 303 Leesburg, VA 20175 Send Resume to: khicks@meridiengroupllc.com (703) 777-8285

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, February 15, 2023, in order to consider:

AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 612 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY

Prohibition of private ownership

certain wild, exotic and venomous species of animals

Pursuant to Virginia Code Section 15.2-1427, the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intent to amend Chapter 612 Dogs and Other Animals of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County. The proposed amendments would add a definition of “Wild or Exotic Animals.” It would also prohibit private ownership and breeding of certain wild and exotic species of animals, including but not limited to: hybrid canines, venomous snakes, venomous reptiles, non-human primates, marsupials, and venomous arachnids. The proposed language is specific to private owners, but exempts state or federally permitted entities such as zoos, exhibitors, and rehabilitators. Individuals residing in Loudoun County who presently own any of the species listed in the new definition of wild or exotic animals may retain ownership of the specific animal for the duration of the animal’s natural life but must register ownership of the animal with the Loudoun County Department of Animal Services within 60 days of adoption of the amended Ordinance.

Full and complete copies of the full text of the above-referenced proposed amendments are available and may be examined at the Office of the County Administrator, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

ZMAP-2022-0009, ZMOD-2022-0038 ZMOD-2022-0039 & ZMOD-2022-0040 GUILFORD STATION SOUTH (Zoning Map Amendment & Zoning Modifications)

Guilford Station LLC, of Bethesda, Maryland, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 1.5 acres from the C-1 (Commercial – 1) zoning district under the 1972 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP (Planned Development – Commercial Center (Small Regional Center)) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop a stand-alone car wash. The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s):

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§4-202(C), PD-CC Planned Development –Commercial Center, Purpose, Size and Location of Individual Districts, Small Regional Center (SC).

§4-205(C), PD-CC Planned Development –Commercial Center, Lot Requirements, Yards.

§4-205(C)(1)(c), PD-CC Planned Development – Commercial Center, Lot Requirements, Yards, Adjacent to Roads, Small Regional Center (SC).

Reduce the minimum size of the PD-CC(SC) zoning district from 20 acres to 1.5 acres.

Reduce the required setbacks from 35 feet to 10 feet.

Reduce the required setbacks from 35 feet to 15 feet along adjacent roadways.

The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District and within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contours. The subject property is located north of West Church Road (Route 625) west of Atlantic Boulevard (Route 1902), at 22060 Rail Car Drive, Sterling, Virginia, in the Sterling Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN 044-40-8919. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type) which supports Retail and Service Commercial uses at a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0 within a pedestrian-oriented environment.

ZMAP-2022-0007 & SPEX-2022-0023

891), west of Glenn Drive (Route 864), and on the east side of Shaw Road (Route 636) in the Sterling Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PINs: 032-15-5119 and 044-106869. The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, the Route 28 CB (Corridor Business) Optional Overlay, and the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 airport noise contour. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area) in the Suburban Mixed Use Place Type which designate this area for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural and Recreational uses at a recommended FAR of 1.0.

ZRTD-2022-0002

T-4

VENTURES

(Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District)

CWC Gas LC, of Fairfax, Virginia, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 15.58 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district under the 1972 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to permit certain principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance at a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.6 (up to 1.0 by Special Exception). The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, partially within the QN (Quarry Notification) Overlay District (part of parcel 034-47-9040) and fully within the Route 28 Optional Overlay district and the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contour. The subject property is approximately 15.58 acres in size and is located south of Glenn Drive (Route 864), west of Davis Drive (Route 868), east of Terminal Drive, and north of Platform Plaza in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PINs: 033-19-0248 and 034-47-9040. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment Place Type)), which designate this area for Office, Production, Research and Development, Flex Space, and Contractor without outdoor storage uses at a FAR of up to 1.0.

ZRTD-2021-0010 & SPMI-2021-0008

NIVO SUBSTATION EXPANSION (Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District, and Minor Special Exception)

Virginia Electric and Power Company (Dominion Energy Virginia) of Glen Allen, Virginia, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 3.85 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district under the 1972 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to permit the development of all principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance at a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.6 (up to 1.0 by Special Exception). The application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The applicant also seeks a modification of the buffer yard requirements for a Utility Substation, Distribution use under Section 5-616(D) of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance which is authorized by Minor Special Exception under Section 5-600. The applicant requests the following modification(s):

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION PROPOSED MODIFICATION §5-616(D), Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, Utility Substations.

Reduce the minimum percentage of plant units assigned to evergreen trees from 40% to 30% for the northern perimeter of the Utility Substation use, AND

Eliminate the 40% minimum percentage requirement for plant units assigned to evergreen trees for the southern perimeter of the Utility Substation use.

CENTER (Zoning Map Amendment & Special Exception)

VANTAGE DATA

Vantage Data Centers VA2, LLC, of Sterling, Virginia has submitted an application to rezone approximately 18.59 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district under the 1972 Zoning Ordinance and Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the R-4 (Single Family Residential) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop a data center campus. The applicant is also requesting a Special Exception in order to permit an increase in the maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) from 0.6 to 1.0 for the development of all principal and accessory uses in the PD-IP zoning district. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed increase in maximum FAR is permitted by Special Exception under Section 4-506(C).

The subject property is approximately 18.59 acres in size and is located south of Belfort Park Drive (Route

The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District and within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District between the Ldn 60-65 noise contours. The subject property is approximately 10.26 acres in size and is located on the east side of Smith Switch Road (Route 1950), south of Gloucester Parkway (Route 2150), and north of Waxpool Road (Route 625), at 21380 Smith Switch Road, Ashburn, Virginia, in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 060-280333. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment Place Type)) which designate this area for a broad array of Employment uses at a recommended FAR of up to 1.0.

Unless otherwise noted in the above notices, copies of the above-referenced amendments, applications, ordinances, and/or plans and related documents may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-777-0246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies, or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. This link also provides an additional opportunity for public input on active applications. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing

of

Legal Notices

documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). In addition, for detailed instructions on how to access documents using LOLA, to request that documents be emailed to you, to receive physical copies of documents, or to arrange a time to view the file at the Loudoun County Government Center, please email DPZ@loudoun.gov or call 703-777-0246 (option 5).

Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings. All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Public input may be provided by electronic means at Board public hearings. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, will be accommodated without advanced sign-up during the hearing, however, members of the public are strongly encouraged to sign-up in advance. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on February 3, 2023, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on February 15, 2023. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up during the public hearing. Citizens may also

VIRGINIA:

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LOUDOUN COUNTY THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN Plaintiff, v.

HEIRS AT LAW & SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF DOUGLAS PETERSON, SR. a/k/a FRED DOUGLAS PETERSON,) SR. and JOSEPHINE PETERSON, et al. Defendants.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

CIVIL ACTION NO. CL22-5153

IT APPEARING TO THE COURT, that the object of the above-styled suit is to achieve the judicial sale of real estate located in Loudoun County, Virginia, for the purpose of collecting delinquent real estate taxes assessed against the subject real estate, consisting of two parcels (the “Properties”).

a. The first parcel contains 0.25 acres, more or less, vacant land with miscellaneous improvements, no situs address, located near Bluemont, Virginia and identified by Loudoun County PIN 653-37-8564-000 and Tax Map Number 153////////38/ and is further described among the land records of Loudoun County, Virginia as:

All the following described tract and parcel of land, with all the improvements thereon and appurtenances thereunto appertaining, situated, lying and being in the County of Loudoun and State of Virginia, and near the place called the Trapp, and bounded as follows: Lot No. 3 beginning at post and running S 68 1/2 E. 8.24 poles to a cross fence, thence with said fence N 14 3/4 E 10 poles to an iron pin thence N 72 W 7.28 poles to an iron pin, thence S 20 W 9.60 poles to the place of beginning. Containing 10,662 square feet, more or less. b. The second parcel contains 0.41 acres, more or less, with improvements, located at 33670 Austin Grove Road, Bluemont, Virginia 20135 and identified by Loudoun County PIN 653-378651-000 and Tax Map Number /53////////36/ and is further described among the land records of Loudoun County, Virginia as:

All the following described tract and parcel of land, with all the improvements thereon and appurtenances thereunto appertaining, situated, lying and being in Loudoun County and near the Trapp (a town in said County), Virginia, adjoining the lands of Dr. Wiley and others and bounded as follows by a survey made on the 28th day of November 1928, by A. C. Bell. Beginning in the center of a road and running N 13 1/4 E 12.20 poles to Fig. 2, a stake, thence N 68 3A W 4.72 poles to Fig. 3, a stake in a line of fence, thence in the center of the said road S 79 3/4 E 5.48 poles to Fig. 1 the place of beginning, containing sixty-five and seven tenths (65.7) poles, more or less, also known as:

33670 Austin Grove Road Bluemont, Virginia 20135

AND BEING a portion of the same property, conveyed to Robert L. Peterson and Estus Peterson by deed dated May 10, 1930, recorded at Deed Book 10-F-320, 4-D-441 WB, among the land records of Loudoun County, Virginia.

IT FURTHER APPEARING to the Court, by affidavit, that the record owners of the Properties are the heirs at law and successors in interest of Douglas Peterson, Sr. and Josephine Peterson.

IT FURTHER APPEARING to the Court, by affidavit, that there are certain individuals who may have a potential ownership interest in the Properties, and are therefore named as Defendants in this suit, whose location and whereabouts are unknown, and that diligence has been used without effect to ascertain their location;

IT FURTHER APPEARING to the Court, by affidavit, that there are certain individuals who may have a potential ownership interest in the Properties, and are therefore named as Defendants in this suit, who, based upon their last known address, are nonresident individuals; it is therefore

ORDERED, that pursuant to Virginia Code §§8.01-316 and 58.1-3967, the following Defendants appear before this Court on February 17, 2023 at 10:00 a.m., and do what is necessary to protect their interests herein:

DEBORAH PETERSON YVONNE PETERSON

JANELLE N. DIXON

TERRENCE

A. DIXON

submit written comments by email sent to bos@loudoun.gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members and made part of the minutes for the public hearing.

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200. At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings.

BY ORDER OF: PHYLLIS RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

1/26 & 2/2/23

COUNTY OF LOUDOUN SUPPLEMENTAL REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX DEADLINE

H. Roger Zurn, Jr., Treasurer

February 6, 2023

The deadline for payment of the Supplemental Real Estate and Personal Property taxes are on February 6, 2023.

Please note: Payments received or postmarked after February 6, 2023, will incur a 10 percent penalty and interest. Any such penalty, when assessed, shall become part of the tax with interest accruing on both the tax and penalty at a rate of 10% annually. Personal Property taxes remaining unpaid after 60 calendar day from the original due date will incur an additional 15% penalty. The due date will not be extended for bills where assessment questions have been filed with the Board of Equalization. Taxpayers who are having financial difficulties should contact our Collections Team at 703-771-5656 who stand ready to assist.

For Your Safety and Convenience, please consider making payments online, by phone or mail.

CONVENIENT

PAYMENT OPTIONS AND LOCATIONS

Online: www.loudounportal.com/taxes Pay using electronic check, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover

By Telephone: 24-hour line 1-800-269-5971 703-777-0280 during regular business hours. Pay using electronic check, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover

Please note: There is a convenience fee added to a Credit Card transaction. There is no fee for electronic checks (e-check).

By Mail: County of Loudoun P.O. Box 1000 Leesburg, Virginia 20177-1000

TREASURER’S OFFICE LOCATIONS

Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

1 Harrison Street, S.E. 46000 Center Oak Plaza 1st Floor 1st Floor

Leesburg, Virginia 20175 Sterling, Virginia 20166

*A 24 hour drop box is located outside the Sterling and Leesburg locations.

Please contact the Loudoun County Treasurer's Office at 703-777-0280 or email us at taxes@loudoun.gov with questions or if you have not received your bill.

Stay up to date on tax information by subscribing to the Tax Notices category of Alert Loudoun at www.louduon.gov/alert. You can also text the word “TAXES” to 888777 to receive text messages about tax-related information, including upcoming deadlines. Additional message and data rates may apply.

For information regarding Real Property or Personal Property Tax Exemptions or Deferrals, please contact the Exemptions Divisions of the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office at taxrelief@loudoun.gov, by phone at 703-737-8557 or visit www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief

Legal Notices

TOWN OF MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA INVITATION TO BID For CUSTODIAL SERVICES

TOWN

HALL & POLICE DEPARTMENT, LIBERTY STREET RESTROOMS

The Town of Middleburg is accepting bids for the provision of custodial services for the new Town Hall/Police Department, currently under construction, and the Liberty Street Restrooms. The Town Hall facility will consist of approximately 11,725 square feet of floor space and the Liberty Street Restrooms consist of 126 square feet of floor area. To review the complete Invitation to Bid, visit https://www.middleburgva.gov/bids.aspx. Bid responses are due by 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 22, 2023.

William Moore, Deputy Town Manager

Town of Middleburg, Virginia

1/26/23

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

PROPOSED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY PERMIT ENVIROSOLUTIONS DULLES MATERIAL RECOVERY INC., MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITY

The Loudoun County Department of Planning and Zoning, in accordance with Chapter 1080 of the Loudoun County Codified Ordinances, hereby proposes to issue a solid waste management facility (SWMF) permit to Envirosolutions Dulles Material Recovery Inc., to operate an existing Materials Recovery Facility to receive, process, and transfer a maximum of 1,800 tons per 24-hour workday of construction waste, demolition waste, and recyclable material. The subject property is 6.07 acres in size, comprises 2 adjacent parcels, and is located on the south side of Woodland Road (Route 679), on the east side of Cedar Lane (Route 889), and west of Ashgrove Court, at 45713 and 45747 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia, in the Sterling Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PINs: 030-17-8729 and 030-18-1909.

Pursuant to Chapter 1080, no permit shall be issued prior to completion of a 30-day public participation process. The public is hereby invited to submit written comment on the proposed permit regarding any aspect of alleged non-conformance contained in the proposed permit. Written comments must be submitted to the Loudoun County Department of Planning and Zoning, 1 Harrison Street S. E., 3rd Floor, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, Virginia 20177-7000, Attention: Jeb Parker, by regular mail or fax to 703-777-0441. Written comments from the public will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on February 25, 2023.

A draft of the proposed permit will be kept at the Loudoun County Department of Planning and Zoning, 1 Harrison Street, 3rd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, for review by the public during regular business hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-777-0649.

1/26 & 2/2/23

LOUDOUN

COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE BIDS FOR:

JOC FOR ROOFING REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS, IFB No. 575784 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, February 23, 2023.

PURCHASE OF WETLAND MITIGATION CREDITS FOR ALDIE FIRE & RESCUE STATION, IFB No. 577785 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, February 16, 2023.

Solicitation forms may be obtained 24 hours a day by visiting our web site at www.loudoun.gov/procurement. If you do not have access to the Internet, call (703) 777-0403, M - F, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

WHEN CALLING, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCUREMENT. 1/26/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046599-02-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Briston Love

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Shakita Love, Mother

The object of this suit is to hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1-281 for Briston Love

It is ORDERED that the defendant Shakita Love, Mother appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before March 7, 2023 at 2:00pm

1/26, 2/2, 2/9 & 2/16

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TO CONSIDER WITHDRAWAL OF RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING ZONE ON CORNWALL STREET NW BETWEEN WIRT STREET AND LIBERTY STREET AND ON WIRT STREET BETWEEN W. MARKET STREET AND CORNWALL STREET NW

The LEESBURG TOWN MANAGER will hold a public hearing in Lower-Level Conference Room 1 at Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. on withdrawal of Residential Permit Parking Zone designation on Cornwall Street between Wirt Street and Liberty Street and on Wirt Street between Market Street and Cornwall Street NW. This Public Hearing is in accordance with Section 32-250 of the Town Code.

Additional information concerning this withdrawal of Residential Permit Parking Zones is available by contacting Niraja R. Chandrapu, Transportation Engineer at 703-771-2791 or email at nchandrapu@leesburgva.gov

At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views regarding these matters will be heard. Person requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at 703-771-2733 or eboeing@leesburgva.gov, three days in advance (TTD 703-771-4560).

1/26 and 2/2

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ044816-03-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Alexander Beers

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

John Beers, putative father and Cathryn Beers, mother

The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Alexander Beers.

It is ORDERED that the defendants John Beers, putative father and Cathryn Beers, mother appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before March 7, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.

1/26, 2/2, 2/9 & 2/16

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046598-02-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Chloe Love

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Shakita Love, Mother; Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1-281 for Chloe Love.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Shakita Love, Mother; Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before March 7, 2023 at 2:00pm

1/26, 2/2, 2/9 & 2/16

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 2024-2029 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM

Pursuant to Va. Code § 15.2-2239, the Leesburg Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, February 2, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, to solicit public comment on the proposed Fiscal Year 2024-2029 Capital Improvements Program (CIP).

The following table reflects potential Fiscal Year 2024 requested funding totaling $50,071,334. The final requested funding amount will be included in the Town Manager’s Fiscal Year 2024 Proposed Budget scheduled to be presented to Town Council during their regular meeting the evening of February 14, 2022 at 7:00 P.M.

CATEGORY FY 2024

AMOUNT MAJOR PROJECTS

ADMINISTRATION $2,235,964 § Management costs associated with administering the Capital Improvements Program

GENERAL GOVERNMENT $10,425,000

PARKS & RECREATION $754,000

STREETS AND HIGHWAYS $17,590,000

Downtown Streetlights Phase II

Police Station Expansion

Town Shop Expansion and Refurbishment

Pickleball / Junior Tennis Courts

Miscellaneous Playground Surface and Equipment

Battlefield Parkway/ Route 15 Bypass Interchange

East Market Street & Battlefield Parkway Interchange

Edwards Ferry Road NE Sidewalk Improvements

Evergreen Mill Road Widening

Market St. / King Street Intersection Improvements

Miscellaneous Roadway, Pedestrian, and ADA Projects

Morven Park Road Sidewalk

Plaza Street Sidewalk

Royal Street Improvements – Church Street to Wirt Street

Rt. 15 Bypass / Edwards Ferry Rd. Interchange

Traffic Signal Fiber Connections

STORM DRAINAGE $1,202,300 § Lawson Road Pedestrian Crossing of Tuscarora Creek § Town Branch Stream Channel Improvements at Mosby Drive – Catoctin Circle to Morven Park Road

AIRPORT $6,741,000 § Airport North Apron Paving – Hangars C & D Rehabilitation

Airport Apron Paving § Airport North Hangars

UTILITIES $11,123,070 § Excavated Materials Holding and Drying Facility § Town-wide Waterline Improvements and Repairs § Utility System Storage Facility § Water Pollution Control Facility Solids Processing Improvements § Water Pollution Control Facility Storage Tanks Recoating & Rehabilitation § Water Supply and Wastewater SCADA Systems Replacement § Water Treatment Plant Sludge Disposal Improvements

Copies of the proposed CIP Summary with a complete list of projects are available in the Department of Finance & Administrative Services, Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, between the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. by calling 703-771-2763. Questions should be directed to Clark Case, Director of Finance and Administrative Services at 703-771-2720.

At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning this matter will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of the Commission at 703-7712434, three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 1/19 & 1/26/23

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN IN RE: ESTATE OF SANFORD H. GULICK, DECEASED

Probate File No. 19079

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AGAINST DISTRIBUTION

It appearing that a report of the account of Deborah A. Lloyd, Administrator for the Estate of Sanford H. Gulick, and a repolit of the debts and demands against the Estate have been filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Loudoun County, and that more than 6 months have elapsed since the qualification of the Administrator before this Court,

It is ORDERED that the creditors of, and all others interested in, the Estate of Sanford H. Gulick, deceased, do show cause, if any they can, on Friday, February 17, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., before this Court at its courtroom in Leesburg, Virginia, against payment and delivery of said Estate to its beneficiaries, after payment of remaining administrative expenses and debts, in accordance with Va. Code §64.2-528 as set out in the Administrator’s Petition.

1/26 & 2/2/23

ATTENTION

LOUDOUN COUNTY VEHICLE OWNERS FILING DUE FEBRUARY 1

Notification of 2023 personal property filing requirements has recently been mailed to all automobile, truck, motorcycle, camper, trailer, boat, motorhome, aircraft, or mobile homeowners on the county’s tax rolls. In order to assist us in establishing accurate assessment information for the 2023 tax year Changes should be reported online at: www.loudoun.gov/efile

A filing notification with instructions about online filing has been mailed to each household of record. The notification will indicate whether a filing is required or is optional for any vehicle owned in Loudoun County based on the vehicle type, the date the vehicle was located in Loudoun, and whether a filing was previously made on the vehicle.

Unless otherwise instructed, please report corrections, unusually high mileage, unrepaired body damage, serious mechanical defect, address changes or the sale, move or disposal of any vehicle by February 1, 2023, online at: www.loudoun.gov/efile

Beginning this year, motorcycles may be eligible for an assessment reduction for high mileage. Filing forms are being mailed to motorcycle owners currently on Loudoun County’s tax rolls so that they may report the motorcycle’s mileage as of January 1, 2023. A high mileage chart is available online at www.loudoun.gov/vehicle-mileage

Newly acquired vehicles or vehicles recently entering Loudoun County must be reported to my office within 60 days of purchase or move to Loudoun County or one of its incorporated towns to avoid a 10% late filing penalty. Owners of vehicles in the County are subject to taxes beginning on the date the vehicle came to Loudoun regardless of when it is registered with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or displays out of state license plates.

Owners of vehicles displaying out-of-state license plates not otherwise exempt from obtaining Virginia license plates will be charged an additional annual license fee of $100. A $250 penalty may also be imposed on owners of vehicles that are not registered with DMV within 60 days of the owner’s having established residency in Virginia.

Military service members residing in Loudoun County who have separated from military service and were receiving a tax exemption due to claiming a domicile outside of Virginia should contact the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office to report their change in active-duty status so their exemption can be removed.

Loudoun County now bills for and collects personal property taxes and vehicle license fees for vehicle owners in most of Loudoun’s incorporated towns, including Hamilton, Leesburg, Lovettsville, Middleburg, Purcellville, and Round Hill. Owners of vehicles within an incorporated town will receive a consolidated tax bill that includes both County and town taxes.

We encourage you to connect with us virtually since most transactions with our office can be completed online. For more information or filing assistance, please visit www.loudoun.gov/cor or contact the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue at cartax@loudoun.gov or 703-777-0260.

Regular office hours are weekdays from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Leesburg Office

1 Harrison St. SE, First Floor

Sterling Office 46000 Center Oak Plaza

Mailing Address PO Box 8000

Leesburg, VA 20177-9804

Phone: 703-777-0260

Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue Loudoun County

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES

This notice is to inform the owner and any person having a security interest in their right to reclaim the motor vehicle herein described within 15 days after the date of storage charges resulting from placing the vehicle in custody, and the failure of the owner or persons having security interests to exercise their right to reclaim the vehicle within the time provided shall be deemed a waiver by the owner, and all persons having security interests of all right, title and interest in the vehicle, and consent to the sale of the abandoned motor vehicle at a public auction. This notice shall also advise the owner of record of his or her right to contest the determination by the Sheriff that the motor vehicle was “abandoned,” as provided in Chapter 630.08 of the Loudoun County Ordinance, by requesting a hearing before the County Administrator in writing. Such written request for a hearing must be made within 15 days of the notice.

YR. MAKE MODEL VIN STORAGE PHONE#

2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE 4F2YZ94123KM47292 BATTLEFIELD 703-378-0059

2013 FORD EC2 1FTNE2EW8DDA78136 AL’S TOWING 703-435-8888

2017 JEEP GCH 1C4RJEBG0HC828930 AL’S TOWING 703-435-8888

2008 KIA RIO KNADE123286323195 LCSO IMPOUND LOT 571-367-8400

2005 CHEVY COBALT 1G1AL12F757559040 LCSO IMPOUND LOT 571-367-8400 1/19 & 1/26/23

PUBLIC NOTICE

The VA Dept of Historic Resources will conduct a public information hearing of the Philomont Historic District on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. The meeting begins at 7:30 pm and will be held at Roszell Chapel 37141 Snickersville Turnpike, Purcellville, VA 20132. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will take place Thursday, February 9th at 7 pm. Public comment regarding the proposal will be taken at the time of the hearing or can be sent to Director Julie Langan, Dept of Historic Resources, 2801 Kensington Ave, Richmond, VA 23221. This proposal has been recommended eligible for the Virginia Landmarks and National Registers. This proposal will be presented to the State Review Board and the Board of Historic Resources on March 16, 2023, at Maymont, Garden Hall. For a copy of the proposal and/or boundary map contact Madeline Skinner at marc.wagner@dhr.virginia.gov or 540.387.5443.

1/26 & 2/2/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046179-02-00

ABC LICENSE

Fountain Grill LLC trading as Fountain Grill, 44927 George Washington Blvd, Suite #125, Asbhurn, VA 20147.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Mix beerage / beer, wine, mix drinks license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Ahmed Wali Ghause, Owner

Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices.

Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

1/26 & 2/2/23

ABC LICENSE

J Morris Flowers LLC trading as J Morris Flowers, 120 E Market St, Ste B, Leesburg, VA 20176-3120.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine and Beer off Premises - Gift Shop license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Jennifer Morris, Owner

Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200. 01/19 & 01/26/23

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Starh Rahimi

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Mohamad Wali, putative father

The object of this suit is to hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1-281 for Starh Rahimi.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Mohamad Wali, putative father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before February 22, 2023 at 3:00 pm

1/19, 1/26, 2/2 & 2/9/23

Loudoun County Public Schools Abbreviated School Attendance Zone Change Process

The Loudoun County School Board has initiated an abbreviated attendance zone change process to consider three recommendations proposed to take effect in fall 2023, with the start of the 2023-2024 school year.

• Elementary school students living in Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Planning Zones EL36.1 and EL36.2 (including the Kincora community), currently within the Sterling Elementary School attendance zone, are being recommended to attend Steuart W. Weller Elementary School.

• Elementary school students living in LCPS Planning Zone CL24 (including the Church and Market, Crescent Place, King Street Station and Monroe Manor communities), currently within the Catoctin Elementary School attendance zone, are being recommended to attend Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School.

• Future students who will reside in Cattail Run are being recommended to attend Ball's Bluff Elementary School, Smart's Mill Middle School and Tuscarora High School.

All information and data prepared for the School Board in association with the abbreviated attendance zone change process will be posted on the LCPS website (https://www.LCPS.org/Page/248359).

Date School Board Attendance Zone Meeting

Tuesday, January 24, 2023* School Board Attendance Zone Overview

Tuesday, February 14, 2023,* School Board Public Hearing & Action on Proposed Attendance Zone Changes

* Regular School Board Meeting

School Board meetings are broadcast live on Comcast channel 18 and Verizon FIOS channel 43. Broadcasts may also be viewed live on the LCPS website (https://www.LCPS.org/Page/140009).

Detail on how to sign up to speak at the February 14 public hearing is provided at https://www.LCPS.org/Page/223425. In-person sign up will also be accepted on the afternoon of February 14 at the LCPS Administration Building (21000 Education Court, Ashburn) until 30 minutes before the start of the meeting.

Those who need translation/interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate meaningfully in the School Board meetings or public hearing should contact the Superintendent's Office at 571-252-1020 at least three (3) days prior to the meeting.

Beverly I. Tate, Director

Loudoun County Public Schools Division of Planning & GIS Services 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, Virginia 20148

Telephone: 571-252-1050 Email: LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG Webpage: https://www.LCPS.org/Page/248359

1/19/2023, 1/26/2023, 2/2/2023, 2/9/2023

V I R G I N I A :

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN IN RE: ESTATE OF RAYMOND CASE, JR., DECEASED

Probate File No. 16228

SHOW CAUSE ORDER

It appearing that a report of the accounts of Matthew L. Clark, Administrator d.b.n. of the Estate of Raymond Case, Jr., deceased, and of the debts and demands against the Decedent’s Estate have been filed in the Clerk’s Office, and that six months have elapsed since the qualification, of Matthew L. Clark, Administrator d.b.n. of the Estate of Raymond Case, Jr.;

IT IS ORDERED that the creditors of, and all others interested in, the Estate do show cause, if any they can, at 9:00 a.m. on the 3rd day of February, before this Court at its courtroom at 18 E. Market Street, 3rd floor, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, against the payment and delivery of the Estate of Raymond Case, Jr., deceased, to the distributees with or without refunding bonds as the Court prescribes.

1/26 & 2/2/23

NOTICE OF ABANDONED BICYCLES

Notice is hereby given that the bicycles described below were found and delivered to the Office of the Sheriff of Loudoun County; if the owners of the listed bicycles are not identified within sixty (60) days following the final publication of this notice, the individuals who found said bicycles shall be entitled to them if he/she desires. All unclaimed bicycles will be handled according to Chapter 228.04 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.

Opinion

Getting It Right

This week the Loudoun County Planning Commission launched its review of the draft zoning ordinance. It comes after years of debate to develop a new countywide general plan and then after a couple more years of work by the county staff and a panel of advisors.

A few weeks ago, that effort resulted in the release to the public of the development regulations that form the core of the ordinance. It was a 376-page data dump.

Already the proposal has spurred concerns that it does too little to achieve some long-touted goals, including promoting affordable housing, preserving land for agriculture, and supporting business growth—all pretty fundamental elements of the ongoing debate over the county’s future.

Once adopted, these rules will be expected to

Thumb on the Scale

Editor:

Readers’ Poll

dictate community development standards for the next two decades. At this stage, there is nothing more important that getting them right.

Already commissioners are feeling political pressure to quickly pass the package up to the Board of Supervisors before the local elections move into high gear. That’s a misplaced priority.

More than any other initiative, the new zoning ordinance will represent the legacy of this board. Every neighborhood and business will feel its impact. The review of the draft ordinance must be thorough and thoughtful, not rushed to meet an artificial and politically motived deadline.

That is the only way to assure the fall campaigns celebrate the culmination of the years of work to establish a new vision for Loudoun’s future. Without a dedication to that outcome, voters may instead be deciding who to elect to the next board to fix the missteps. n

LETTERS to the Editor

government. It is about their individual feelings of horrific treatment of people in the past. Taxpayers do not pay for feelings.

I attended to Board of Supervisors meetings where it addressed and adopted a resolution to establish a new, and newly funded, position of director of equity. This hired, not elected person will peruse all the county business, and put their thumb on scale for hiring, promoting, and letting of contracts. There is a monetary price beyond this new salaried individual and whatever support staff they will request at some point. We taxpayers are going to pay a premium because we often will not be promoting the best person, nor hiring the best person, nor will be awarding contracts to the best bidder.

I would ask that County Attorney Leo Rogers give a written opinion on this lack of fiduciary responsibility. The supervisors are supposed to be guardians of the taxpayers’ money by keeping the physical plant of the county running and funding public safety. I cannot believe it is in their charter to be financing pop culture and social speak ideas that have not proven to have fiscal merit. It is not a mandate from the state or federal

Supervisor Glass was so desperate for an example, she harkened back to when her sister integrated a high school in Prince Williams County. I was a teacher in 1967 and we integrated all black Bates High School in Annapolis, MD, with white kids and called it Bates Middle School. That was life in the ’60s. It was rough. We all survived, and our country and state are better for the difficulties we all moved through at the time.

This resolution allows and directs contemporary employees of the county and present contractors to be discriminated against because of past actions from people they never knew, never met, and with whom they probably have no relationship. You cannot not promote a deserving individual or not hire the best person for a job because of a retched past with which they did not participate. Past the fairness argument, however, is that this action does not appear to be a legal use of taxpayers’ money.

— Mackie Christenson, Leesburg

Norman K. Styer, Publisher and Editor -

EDITORIAL

Renss Greene, Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com

Jan Mercker, Reporter jmercker@loudounnow.com

Alexis Gustin, Reporter agustin@loudounnow.com

Hanna Pampaloni, Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

nstyer@loudounnow.com

ADVERTISING

Susan Styer, Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.com

Tonya Harding, Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.com

Vicky Mashaw, Account Executive vmashaw@loudounnow.com

Loudoun Now is mailed weekly to homes in Leesburg, western Loudoun and Ashburn, and distributed for pickup throughout the county. Online, Loudoun Now provides daily community news coverage to an audience of more than 100,000 unique monthly visitors.

LAST

Again on the sidelines for the playoffs, what is the top need of the Washington Commanders?

THIS

The Cost of Housing in Loudoun:

The Importance of Building for the Future

BY CARMEN ROMEROX

According to recent research gathered by the Brookings Institute, Loudoun County leads the region in household income needed to pay rent with its median monthly cost of $2,020. Loudoun’s steadfast population growth rate—the second highest in the metro area between 2009-2019—strains demand, affecting business development, commuter routes, and equity within the community.

Hopeful homeowners and renters feel the pinch. Local businesses and employers feel the stress. Loudoun County’s Unmet Housing Needs Strategic Plan 2015-2040, adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2021, recognizes these concerns.

Over the past 10-15 years, thousands of rental units were added across the county to accommodate families of all kinds. Despite this, the supply of new affordable housing lags the demand for new workers in Loudoun’s ever-growing business, service, and hospitality sectors.

Zoning concerns

you, this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

“I’m not asking for sympathy. I’m not asking for any special help. But I am asking for you not to put your finger on the scale that’s going to disadvantage me,” he said.

Foggy Mountain Pasta founder Gabriel Key said reading the ordinance “put a chill down my spine, down my spouse’s spine, and it has made us feel unwelcome in Loudoun.”

Key said he has already faced zoning problems moving his business into a new space, and, wearing one of Loudoun Economic Development’s branded “Loudoun Possible” shirts, said “what I just read has made me think Loudoun has now gone from ‘Loudoun possible’ to ‘Loudoun impossible.’”

One of the farmers who provides Key’s grain, Hanging Rock Hay and Grain owner Chris Van Vlack, said arbitrary rules in the ordinance discourage small farmers like him making do by working several smaller parcels.

Local residents know that commuter routes to Maryland via Rt. 15 north, West Virginia via Rt. 9, Winchester via Rt. 7, and Rt. 15 south to neighboring and more affordable counties nearby are clogged and environmentally taxing. And importantly, employees that must commute affect local businesses straining to keep a dedicated workforce.

As a regional nonprofit, we see this trend across the DMV. The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing’s mission is to build and preserve quality and affordable housing for a range of vulnerable populations and diverse incomes, including elderly populations. APAH has partnered with E&G Group to open its first property in Loudoun County— Loudoun View Senior Residences. Today, 98 seniors whose income ranges from 30% to 60% of the area median income are taking advantage of affordable 1- and 2-bedroom apartments with access to community amenities on and off-property.

It is so important for a community to understand: Partnerships and leveraged resources across multiple public agencies are vital for projects like these, and Loudoun View Senior Residences is no different. The project cost more than $32 Million and benefited from Loudoun

“Every day I drive past a piece of land that last year was a cow pasture, and this year is being transformed into a multimillion-dollar houses,” another farmer said. “The soil on that land will never be the same. Soil creation is a geological process that takes millions of years, and watching that resource be destroyed all over this county is heartbreaking.”

Building and real estate industry representatives urged “flexibility” in the zoning ordinance.

“The current version of the zoning ordinances will make it difficult for businesses to continue to operate,” John Mossgrove, of commercial property real estate development company Merritt Properties, said.

Contrary to Hart’s concerns, NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association Northern Virginia representative Bill Junda said staff “have been just phenomenal working with us.”

“It’s obvious to us all, with this new release of chapters, there’s a different tone, there’s a different context, it’s moving in the right direction. However, in the last two weeks we have compiled nearly 200 comments,” he said.

But many agreed the ordinance will

County’s Housing Loan Program, Virginia Housing’s allocation of federal tax credits and loans, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s allocation of tax-exempt bonds and Virginia Housing Trust Funds, and funding from the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. Private sector banking partner Truist provided a construction loan and tax credit equity.

APAH looks forward to adding to Loudoun’s housing impact with a recently announced AvonLea project that will provide more than 270 units for multigenerational families to the County in the next several years—a project that benefited from $350,000 in seed funding from the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties and its donor advised fund, the Loudoun Community Cabinet.

Workforce housing is a sound and essential investment for this growing county to balance the quickly moving pendulum of housing cost. Loudoun’s formal goal of providing 16,000 homes or apartments to residents experiencing challenges with affordability by 2040 is critical to fuel the economic engine powering the future of one of the wealthiest counties in America. As demand for

need more time than the Board of Supervisors hopes.

“I’m told that that the rush to implement the rewrite is purely political. It’s being driven by the desire to conclude this process before the members of the Board of Supervisors are in the throes of the 2023 election season,” B.F. Saul Company Senior Vice President Mary Beth Avedesian said. She said rushing the process would have “unintended consequences.”

The Board of Supervisors had asked the Planning Commission to have the new zoning ordinance ready early this year.

“We have people in the farm side of things and land preservation that are saying we’re trying to screw them, at the same time we have folks in the development community saying we’re trying to screw them,” Commissioner Mark Miller (Catoctin) said. “Why did we get to the point where everyone’s upset with us?”

And he said the comments Tuesday night suggest there is a lot of work left to do.

“I really don’t think there’s any way we accomplish this by March. There’s just no way to do that. So if it takes us longer, it takes us longer, because I think it’s our responsibility to get it right here

housing increases here, APAH applauds and encourages the Loudoun community and its public officials to continue striving for and supporting these ambitious targets—because housing is foundational, and anyone who works in Loudoun should be able to grow up, work, and grow old in Loudoun. n

Carmen Romero became APAH President and CEO July 2021 after joining the team in 2011 to oversee its real-estate team that has created or preserved more than 1,000 new affordable housing units in the DMV region—many of which have delivered innovation and award-winning designs. APAH has developments currently underway in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Montgomery counties. APAH is a 501(c)(3) charity headquartered in Arlington.

Led by the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, “What is the Cost of Loudoun Housing” is part of the Workforce Housing Now community service effort amplifying Loudoun’s voice for workforce housing as the missing ingredient to our community’s prosperity.

before we go give it to the board, whenever that is, for whatever board that may be,” he said.

“I’m hopeful that some of the expertise in this room will be available to us as we go forward in the conversations and the work sessions that I think we’re going to have to have,” Commissioner Roger Vance (Blue Ridge) said.

And Chair Michelle Frank (Broad Run) thanked the many people who spoke Tuesday night.

“Your feedback… that tells us something, and helps us figure out where we may need to be looking that we weren’t already looking. So you’re very important part of this process,” she said.

Four other zoning ordinance changes happened outside the zoning ordinance rewrite. The Board of Supervisors has already passed Airport Impact Overlay District changes around Dulles International Airport as well as permitting a utility-scale solar array on airport property, and work continues on revisions to zoning around prime agricultural soils, cluster subdivisions and short-term residential rentals.

See the draft zoning ordinance at loudoun.gov/zoningordinancerewrite. n

Romerox

Schools budget

state initiatives for one-time recruitment and retention bonuses proposed in Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s budget. For that, Willoughby said the state is funding a little less than half of the cost, amounting to about $2.5 million with $2.9 million coming from the county. She said the state initiatives of step and pay increases and the state initiative of one-time recruitment bonuses represent two-thirds of the total school budget increase.

The budget also includes $2.5 million to increase sick leave from 10 days to 14 days and increase personal leave from three to five days for 10- and-11 month contracted employees, as well as increase the sick leave payout cap for higher level employees and more tenured teachers upon retirement from 25% to 50%.

A 2% rate increase in health insurance premiums is also adding to the budget and will mean added costs to the employee as well as the division, but Willoughby said the increase is modest enough that it won’t affect the salary increases.

Adding more full-time equivalents or FTEs, a budgetary measure of staffing, was another big ask over the three budget workshops, with 162.1 FTEs being requested to meet current and new staffing standards. Some of those staffing requests included adding 18.7 FTEs for English Language teachers to meet the Virginia Department of Education’s recommended ratio of one English Language teacher to

every 50 kindergarten students as well as increase English Language teachers for middle and high school students.

English Language teachers teach English to students who speak another language as their primary language. Smith’s estimate of needs showed a 12.2% enrollment increase for English learner students in his FY24 budget.

Another staff increase was a request for 25.2 FTEs for elementary school counselors to allow one counselor per school to address student mental health. Many counselors currently divide their time between two schools.

A new initiative this year is a position called student support advisors that are being requested to serve as the main point of contact for high school students who are in the discipline process for continuing their education. But Deputy Superintendent Ashely Ellis said the advisors will serve all students. The request is for one per high school in the county for a total of 17.

Ten FTEs for bus drivers are requested to help launch the International Baccalaureate program at Loudoun Valley and Heritage high schools, as well as three FTEs for drivers to help with field trips and after school activities and sports.

The Department of Student Services requested 29.2 FTEs for special education teachers, teacher assistants, occupational and physical therapists and speech language pathologists to help students with disabilities.

Two teachers and two teaching assistants are needed for the new Dual Lan-

guage Immersion program at Potowmack and Sanders Corner elementary schools. Ellis said more teachers and assistants will be required as the division works to fully implement the program by fiscal year 2029.

Ellis pointed out the division’s new IB program is not as expensive to roll out as the Dual Language Immersion program and will only require funding for curriculum, professional development and the annual fee once the division is approved to implement the program.

Another request in the fiscal year 2024 budget is to continue programs that had previously been supported by grants or COVID funds. Those include the summer math program, known as BEAM, and the Propel and Level Up STEM after-school programs developed to help close the opportunity gap and give economically vulnerable kids extra support.

Chief Operations Officer Kevin Lewis said inflation is playing a key role in the Department of Support Services budget increase, noting $11.4 million is attributable to rising costs.

Lewis said inflation has led to a $4.3 million increase in repairs, maintenance and supplies, and a $4.5 million increase in utilities, including a 30% increase in electrical costs. And he said they are estimating a $2.6 million increase for fuel services.

Willoughby also noted inflation is playing a part in the cost of food and supplies and said it was adding to the $5.8 million increase to the school nutrition fund that included both personnel and op-

erations and maintenance.

Other budget requests include $900,000 for nine full time School Board assistants, paralegals, and an increase in legal services and funding for part-time emergency management consultants for a total of $1.5 million. $1.1 million for Human Resources to cover two full time positions as well as manage the Title IX program that was not previously included in the department’s budget.

Among the programs not returning next year are Tutor.com, elementary virtual Loudoun and first grade teacher assistants—saving the division $6.7 million. However, Ellis mentioned a partnership between the Virginia Department of Education and the Library of Virginia to provide free tutoring services to students but didn’t have more details.

At Tuesday night’s School Board meeting several Virtual Loudoun Elementary teachers spoke during the public comment section asking the board to consider including the program in the 2024 budget citing a short sign-up window for the program last May and misinformation that the program wasn’t continuing despite no decision being made at that time, which lead to fewer students signing up.

Ellis said in her Jan. 17 presentation of the Department of Instruction’s budget that the division was shifting the funds from elementary distance learning to expand secondary Virtual Loudoun opportunities because enrollment had declined and said the division believes in person learning is best for elementary students. n

opposed, to move the bill ahead, referring it to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. Boysko and Sen. Barbara A. Favola (D-31) voted in favor.

As of Monday night, the bill’s House companion, patroned by Marshall Del. Michael J. Webert (R-18) and co-patroned by Del. David A. Reid (D-32), has been sent to a House Committee on Transportation subcommittee.

The bill’s opponents worry it could mean the state gets tangled in the Greenway’s troubled finances. Despite reporting just under $60 million in tolls in 2021—and $90 million in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic—the company’s limited financial disclosures show it operating at a loss every year, driven by even larger annual debt payments.

The company’s most recent public financial report, covering the Greenway’s

financial position as of the end of 2021, showed a company that year collecting $71 million in revenues, including the $60 million in tolls, and with only $17 million in operating expenses. But the Greenway reported a net loss of $17.5 million—driven by $71.6 million in debt costs that year.

And rather than paying down the roughly $310 million in debt issued to build the road in 1993, the company has more than tripled its debt to $1.12 billion.

Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said the Greenway’s previously guaranteed toll increases allowed the company that owns it to borrow against that income.

Letourneau said lawmakers—and the people paying the tolls—should get some transparency into the Greenway’s finances before the state makes any new deals.

“There still has not been a public accounting available to all the people that have been paying all these tolls for all these years of exactly what happened to

all that money, and why the debt service is so high,” he said. “So before the General Assembly and the Commonwealth of Virginia get in the business of backing the Greenway and the future debt, which is something that I think would be on the table, the public really deserves that type of transparency.”

“We’ve passed legislation recently, let’s let it play out. Let’s give the new law time to work,” Subramanyam said. “And the SCC has already been empowered to take a closer look at requests for toll increases—so far I think it’s been doing its job.”

The Greenway originally cost about $350 million to build, financed with roughly $310 million in debt and built from 1993 to 1995. The owners began to default on their debt in 1996, and in 1999 restructured their debt, issuing $332 million in bonds that, at the time, were AAA-rated. In 2005, the same year Austrailian-based Atlas Arteria bought the road for $617.5 million, it issued more

bonds.

But since 1999, Greenway bond ratings have dropped steadily. S&P Global rates Greenway bonds BB, Fitch’s rates them BB-, and Moody’s rates them Ba1. That also means the three major bond ratings agencies do not consider the Greenway’s bonds investment-grade—they have dropped from AAA-rated investments to speculative, higher-risk bonds. A 2021 S&P report notes the Greenway is the only toll road in the U.S. or Canada with a speculative-grade rating.

“The lobbyists for the Greenway, who are very good at what they do, have painted a picture in which voting for this bill gets us to distance-based pricing and lower tolls, and if that’s your message, sure. But it’s way more complicated than that,” Letourneau said. “The reality of the situation long-term is likely not going to be that. Why would the commonwealth ultimately want to bail out this company after everything that they’ve done?” n

Evictions

in December.

Those evictions were also marked by a spike in November, when one law firm filed for 99 evictions on Nov. 30 at various apartment complexes. In 31 one of those cases, the court entered a default judgment, a ruling possible if the defendant misses the hearing, and entered judgments totaling more than $2.3 million plus court costs and attorney fees. In total there were 167 eviction filings in November and 14 evictions.

New Virginia Majority organizer Sofia Saiyed said for some people—including people who don’t speak English fluently—those courthouse filings can be particularly intimidating, and they may simply leave rather than fight for their rights through a complicated court proceeding. Meanwhile, she said, legal aid services are fully booked, and it can take a while to get a call back.

“The notices come in English, and there’s many steps in the process,” she said. “If someone gets that initial letter, it’s actually going to be a while before they actually have to leave their home, but people don’t know that, and a lot of people leave before the actual process is done, because they don’t know what’s going on and they don’t want the police showing up at their house.”

And courthouse evictions don’t tell the whole story. Many more people lose their homes to informal evictions—they’ll get a letter saying that their rent will go up by hundreds of dollars when their lease renews, giving them scant time to find somewhere else to live.

Eviction By Any Other Name

One person who lost her house, and who spoke anonymously through Saiyed acting as Spanish language interpreter, lived through that. When she first moved into her Loudoun apartment complex in 2010, the management office had three Spanish-speaking staff who she said helped a lot. They were responsive to issues and complaints and would explain if residents got notifications in English.

The original manager got sick and had to leave, and the staff started changing. The renter had two accidents, first a car accident, then a fall at work that hurt her foot, requiring surgery.

That made it impossible for her to work her dishwashing job. She went out looking for help, and did get some government assistance, which ended after three months. Meanwhile, her husband kept working to support them and their two children.

Then she started having trouble with the people in the management office. She’d never been late on rent before, she said, and one month asked for forbearance while she scraped together the money to pay rent but was hit with a $150 late fee. Complaints about bedbugs, cockroaches and faulty wiring in the building went unanswered or were blamed on her. And her rent, which had gone up steadily while she lived there, started climbing more quickly every six months. A relative moved in to help share the expenses, and after he moved out, she rented out one of her rooms to make ends meet.

That got her kicked out, and their money problems only snowballed. The apartment manager told her in November she wouldn’t be able to renew the lease and had to be out by the end of the year. A request for an extension on the December rent was denied. On Dec. 29, they were still short $400, with no idea how to put together a deposit for a new apartment. A person at the courthouse explained they couldn’t be kicked out that quickly, but she said a call for help to the Sheriff’s Office was never answered. They considered sleeping in the car.

Ultimately, they were able to find a new place. One of her husband’s coworkers lent them the $400. From her kids’ school they found out about a rent-controlled apartment complex, where they applied and were approved—although it is still more expensive than before, she said. She started working again and recently finished physical therapy, but she’s getting limited hours and only making about $300 a week.

She said there many other people who have problems affording their apartments, but who don’t speak up. Her case would never appear in the official eviction statistics—there was never a court proceeding. And she said if people don’t speak out together, nothing will change.

Government Slow to Act

“Pie in the sky, the big picture solution is that there needs to be community-owned housing,” Saiyed said. “There need to be community land trusts, community cooperatives—basically housing that is not the private market, because the market is not going to create housing for working class folks. And even when we try to use public-private partnerships to create affordable housing, it doesn’t create affordable housing that is affordable enough.”

But in the meantime, New Virginia Majority was among many organizations that threw their support behind a state bill attempting to curb high rent increases, introduced by Sen. Jennifer B. Biysk (D-33).

“Much of this dynamic is attributed to the large financial firms and hedge funds that have purchased residential properties

in the commonwealth and then immediately turn around and increase rental costs for those tenants. We’re not talking about the mom-and-pop apartment owner or the folks who are really working hard,” Boysko said at the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology, of which she is also a member. “Many of these people, who have lived in their communities for years, can’t afford these dramatic rent increases and they are facing eviction. These investment firms that are capitalizing on this are reaping significant profits, and they’re taking them back to other states … and our citizens are the ones who are at risk.”

The bill would have allowed localities to adopt ordinances limiting rent increases to growth in the regional Consumer Price Index, allowing for exemptions if the net operating income is not keeping up or other reasons established by the locality. And it would exempt buildings 15 years old or newer, owners of four or fewer units, and a range of other buildings such as religious facilities, residential programs licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, or licensed assisted living facilities.

A long line of citizen groups—New Virginia Majority, The Virginia Student Power Network, the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, the Legal Aid Justice Center, the Virginia Poverty Law Center, Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia—and the Loudoun County government lined up to support the bill.

The committee voted it down. Facing a likely vote to kill the bill, Hampton Sen. Mamie Locke (D-2) proposed tabling it for now and sending it to the Virginia Housing Commission for study. The committee voted 9-5 for that. Lined up to oppose it were industry groups including the Apartment and Office Building Association, the Northern Virginia Apartment Association, and the Virginia Realtors.

“I’m frustrated by the lack of their willingness to accept legislation, and I’m hoping that they will actually come to the table and work with me,” Boysko said in an interview. “I’ve been talking about this with them for months, and they expressed their opposition. I asked, ‘what would you do?’ They acknowledged that they don’t see a viable solution that they’re willing to get behind.”

While the bill languishes in a study for another year, the rent spikes and evictions—both formal and informal—will continue.

“We have come to what I believe is a crisis,” Boysko said. “I have constituents who are being kicked out of their homes, who are being evicted. I have constituents who have nowhere else to turn. The homeless shelters are full. In winter in Fairfax

County, we have people who are camping out in front of the Board of Supervisors sidewalk because they are saying, ‘somebody needs to pay attention to us.’”

Meanwhile, an idea from New Virginia Majority to tackle some of those informal evictions and invisible struggles sat in the county building without public action for months, then quietly died, replaced by a more conventional rental assistance, eviction legal aid, and a new software system.

Supervisors last April set aside $12 million in the county’s last tranche of ARPA funding for preserving affordable housing and offering displacement services, without directing a specific program. Saiyed said New Virginia Majority worked with the county Department of Housing & Community Development over six months to craft a rent buy-down program, sending that money to landlords to replace part of rent payments.

“There are many people in the county who are doing everything they can to make sure they don’t fall behind on payments, including getting roommates, working seven days a week … taking out loans, so they don’t appear on any statistics as getting help,” she said.

She said the people who are struggling to stay ahead on rent, paying more than half their income but not missing payments, make up “an invisible crisis.”

County Public Information Officer Glen Barbour said the county’s work to use that ARPA money was complicated when the Virginia Rent Relief Program ran out of money. That forced the county to reevaluate how to best use limited funding to serve the needs of the community.

That resulted in a Board of Supervisors vote on Jan. 10 to put that money into helping residents of the mobile home park in Lucketts, which is up for sale, relocate; extend the term of expiring rent-controlled homes; and provide $5.75 million toward rental assistance, $1.5 million for legal and financial assistance for people facing eviction filings, and $2 million to replace a Department of Housing software system that the vendor will retire next year.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall said from the dais that, after long discussions with county staff, it appeared that approach would let the county help more people.

“The number of residents that we can assist with that [rent buy-down] program is going to be a much smaller number than the number of residents that we can assist with rental assistance and displacement services,” she said. “Whatever crisis, or whatever they might have going on in their lives, it gives them breathing room to figure out what’s next.”

And, she said, “we wish we had more money.” n