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VOL. 6, NO. 11
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FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Supervisors Question School Leaders as Budget Work Begins BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
Members of the Board of supervisors got their first look at the $1.5 billion school division budget for Fiscal Year 2022 on Monday night and raised some of the same questions the School Board’s critics have been asking over the past year. The School Board adopted its budget Feb. 2. It envisions a return to normal operations next fall, along with a post-COVID enrollment bounce back and expanded distance learning opportunities. The $1,492,724,899 budget includes 12,735.8 full-time equivalent positions. The largest portion of the increase, $63.3 million, is earmarked for pay raises, including step increases, 3.5% across-the-board market adjustments and classification changes. During the initial round of questioning with Interim Superintendent Scott A. Zeigler and School Board members, supervisors asked for more details on how the current year’s $1.395 billion was spent and for details on savings generated because campuses were largely shut down during most of the year; how much federal pandemic aid was received, how was it used and how much is left to spend; for more information on how virtual learning options could continue for students who thrive in that environment; and whether the adopted package of staff raises and other compensation increases is out of step with the economic SCHOOL BUDGET continues on page 35
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Del. Suhas Subramanyam works from his home office, where he has been voting on landmark legislation during the House of Delegates’ first virtual session.
A Big, Strange General Assembly Session Local Delegation Votes on Landmark Laws, In and Out of Richmond BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
Under the chaotic national headlines of a deadly pandemic, fights in Congress over relief bills for people struggling in
that pandemic, and a second presidential impeachment, state legislators are busy passing laws that could change life in the commonwealth for everyone. The 2021 General Assembly session is unusual in almost every way: the pandemic has many members participating online
from home for the first time. The session’s calendar has been extended by Gov. Ralph Northam, giving legislators more time to work. And the General Assembly has already passed or is well on its way to passing GENERAL ASSEMBLY continues on page 34
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Loudoun Location Added to Vaccine Pharmacy Rollout BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
The new vaccination site at the former Nordstrom store at the Dulles Town Center mall is helping the Health Department to ramp up capacity as doses become available. As of this week, 40,825 doses have been allocated for distribution in Loudoun County.
This week, Loudoun County was approaching the milestone of having 10% of the population receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. That comes as state and federal leaders continue to ramp up supply and distribution. A new federal initiative to make vaccines available through pharmacies—in addition to ongoing supplies distributed to local health districts—is launching in Loudoun this week. Although daily case counts and COVID test positivity rates are falling in Virginia and in Loudoun, the arrival of more contagious variants have raised concerns among public health leaders that another spike it possible in the weeks ahead. The UK variant was found in Northern Virginia in late January and last week the first case with the South African variant was detected in Virginia, which is now the
third state, along with South Carolina and Maryland, to find cases of the more transmissible strain that may be more resistant to vaccines. Loudoun’s average daily case rate has been cut in half since a peak on Jan. 29, falling from 324 to 154. Likewise, the test positivity rate has declined from a peak of more than 19% in early January to 12% this week. The CVS store in Lansdowne is one of 36 in Virginia to share in an initial 26,000 doses through the federal government contract. Keeping with state protocols, the vaccines are available to residents age 65 and older. It is expected that up to 100 appointments per day will be offered. Signups and details about that program are available through the “Get COVID-19 Vaccination Info” button at cvs.com. The Lansdowne store, store #2278, is located at 19305 Ruby Dr. LOUDOUN VACCINES continues on page 35
White’s Ferry Battle Continues BY RENSS GREENE AND PATRICK SZABO
rgreene@loudounnow.com pszabo@loudounnow.com
Negotiations at White’s Ferry remain stalled and the ferry crossing over the Potomac River remains closed and in need of repair. Both the ferry operator and the landowners where the ferry lands in Virginia profess an interest in getting the ferry back open, but remain at an impasse on the price of doing so. The ferry, once a popular commuter connection to Maryland, has been closed since the cable that guides the ferry 300 yards to the Maryland shore broke before Christmas. The ferry never reopened; the ferry’s owners made a bombshell announcement in December that, after a decade-long legal battle over the price of using the landing, the ferry would close. The closure came more than 11 years after the Rockland Farm owners filed a lawsuit alleging the operators of the ferry trespassed, damaged Rockland property and breached a pre-existing agreement when they constructed a concrete retaining wall and expanded their Virginia-side landing in spring 2004. On
Nov. 23, Circuit Court Judge Stephen E. Sincavage found that there was no record documenting the creation of a public landing on the Virginia shore and awarded the owners of Rockland Farm $102,175 in damages for trespassing, property damage and breach of contract. The ferry was back in the news last week after the ferry’s owner, Herb Brown, contacted the Washington Post to tell them he had made a $400,000 offer to secure a permanent easement at Rockland Farm. But that offer was not a new one—according to a Rockland Farm representative, that is the same offer the White’s Ferry operators made during the trial. After the November ruling, Rockland Farm’s owners offered to let the ferry keep operating for 90 days for free while negotiating a resolution, but according to Rockland Farm owners, the ferry’s owner refused. Rockland has also offered to buy the ferry business for five times its earnings plus the appraised value of the landing on the Maryland side, which Rockland Farm owner Libby Devlin said was turned down without a counteroffer. She said Brown has not shared financial WHITE’S FERRY continues on page 35
Rockland Farm
The White’s Ferry cable has been broken since before Christmas 2020.
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Loudoun Rural Broadband Expansion Plans Moving Ahead BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
The effort to extend broadband internet access to under-served parts of the county is moving ahead in bits and pieces, according to the first quarterly update on the multi-pronged project. One part of that program, approved by county supervisors in November 2020, is already done—streamlining the approval process for building new telecommunications projects by no longer requiring pre-application meetings before applying to start projects that need a sign-off from the Board of Supervisors. Additionally, $191,000 has been moved in the county budget from a contingency fund to issue a request for proposals for connecting western county government properties, possibly laying down a backbone for later private connections. And the county administrator is expected to include in his capital budget proposal Feb. 10 that supervisors move funding up from fiscal years 2023 through 2025 to immediately help pay for that work once a vendor is found. And CARES Act money has already been used to set up wi-fi hot spots at various locations in around the county, including public libraries and the Loudoun Valley Community Center. Other initiatives are moving ahead, although county staff members provided few details during the Board of Supervisors’ Feb. 2 meeting, such as possible private sector partners to apply for Virginia Telecommunication Initiative grant funding for last-mile broadband projects. IT department Assistant Director Dave Friedrich said there are “no current partnerships that we’re in a position to discuss at this time.” “There’s one or two of them that have a potential opportunity, and we hope to hear something in the very near term,” Friedrich said. He said those organizations have already been through that grant process with other localities. Some broadband providers in Loudoun won Virginia Telecommunication Initiative grants last year in other areas, such as All Points Broadband which won funding RURAL BROADBAND continues on page 33
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Supervisors Sign Off on Rt. 15 Design BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
While some details are still being hammered out, county supervisors have agreed to the overall scope of Rt. 15 improvement plans north of Leesburg. While supervisors gave guidance on what should be done about the two-lane road in previous votes, with a unanimous vote Feb. 2, the years-long project to reduce congestion on Rt. 15 has some concrete plans for what the road will look like in the future. That includes widening Rt. 15 to a four-lane divided road between Battlefield Parkway and Montresor Road; installing a stoplight and “T” intersection at North King Street; and installing a new roundabout at the Limestone School Road and Montresor Road intersection. With Rt. 15 designated a National Scenic Byway, supervisors also have directed county staff members to incorporate the Journey Through Hallowed Ground’s design guidelines “where feasible,” although the road also falls under design standards as a rural principal arterial road according to the Virginia Department of Transportation, and is designated part of the National Highway System by the Federal Highway Administration. The project will also incorporate a pedestrian and bike path. Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure Design Program Manager Mark Hoffman said the design incorporates some adjustments after public feedback. But it is also boxed in by a narrow right-of-way. “We are trying to utilize the existing right-of-way and the existing roadway alignment as much as possible through this section of the corridor to minimize impacts to adjacent properties,” Hoffman said. “There really is not a whole lot of opportunity to reroute this without creating significant impacts, and frankly, significant costs.” While some people have called for a roundabout instead of an intersection at Whites Ferry Road, county staff members and some supervisors have warned that would set the project back both in schedule and budget.
Reness Greene/Loudoun Now
Traffic packs Rt. 15 near Leesburg.
“At this point of where we are in the project, if we were to make that big of a change in the design, that would set us back quite a bit schedule-wise,” Hoffman said. “As well as, the way the project is currently funded, we would fall short on funding, and so basically it would not make the project viable at this point in time.” “I think we’ve gone long enough, and I’m ready to move forward,” said Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling), recounting the many previous votes the Board of Supervisors has taken on the road. “And I know at the end of the day, just like most things, some people are going to be happy, there’s are going to be some people who are not happy.” But he and other supervisors agreed Rt. 15 is a dangerous today. “So, I actually think that this road may be one of the more dangerous roads in all of Loudoun, not just in the Catoctin District, because when you look at road accidents, this road doesn’t have fender benders, it has deaths or serious injuries,” said County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large). Work remains to be done; county staff members and contractors will now work on final design and construction documents, as well as continued studies such as on environmental impact and limestone geography. n
Greenway-backed Tolls Bill Passes House of Delegates BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
A Dulles Greenway-backed bill on tolls has passed the House of Delegates, even as most of Loudoun’s state delegation attempts to pass a different law designed to curb toll increases and close financing loopholes. On Jan. 11, most of Loudoun’s representatives in Richmond came together to push a bill that has many of the pieces tolls opponents have been trying to get through the state capitol for years, along with some new provisions to stop the Greenway owners from refinancing its debt at the cost of toll payers. But that moment of unity did not last. The next day, one of the legislators who took part in that meeting, Del. David A. Reid (D-32), joined by Del. Ibraheem S.
Samirah (D-86) and Richmond Del. Delores L. McQuinn (D-70), filed a different bill: House Bill 2104, which would cut a new deal with the Greenway entirely and put it in the hands of the Virginia Department of Transportation negotiate and execute. Both the Northam administration and the Dulles Greenway’s lobbyists have expressed support for the bill as it has advanced through committees. Samirah has since said he intended to vote against the bill on the House floor. That bill would abolish the current law governing the Greenway if the administration is able to strike a deal, putting it under a new framework. But Loudouners would have no say in that deal—and under the proposal, the Greenway, which is the county’s second-largest real estate taxpayer, would be exempt from paying taxes. In addition, according to County
Attorney Leo Rogers, there is no state money offered, leaving the county to pick up any costs of a new deal. Supervisors directed the county’s lobbyists in Richmond to oppose the bill. County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said she believes the people pushing the bill “have good intentions and believe they’re doing the right thing.” “It’s a Loudoun County road, and so for us to have no say whatsoever is not something that I think we should sign onto right now, and from what we know, it’s more of an agreement to agree versus actually giving us some facts of what’s going to happen,” Randall said. The Greenway’s support for the bill also raised red flags for Supervisor GREENWAY TOLLS continues on page 33
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FEBRUARY 11, 2021
ON THE Agenda
Loudoun County
A Loudoun County glass recycling bin.
Loudoun Glass Recycling Program Expanded Loudoun’s separate glass-recycling program has been expanded to three more sites across the county. After county leaders decided continuing to recycle glass commingled with other recyclables with a single-stream dropoff would be too expensive, the county launched a pilot glass recycling program in July 2020 at the county’s recycling drop-off centers in Hamilton, Leesburg and Sterling. Glass can be deposited in separate bins. The county has now expanded the program to three additional sites: Arcola, Middleburg and Philomont. Visitors to the recycling center will see large pink-purple bins labeled “Glass Recycling,” where clean glass bottles and jars can be dropped off without lids or caps. They should be put in the bin loosely, rather than in bags. The glass collected at the county’s recycling drop-off centers is delivered to Fairfax County to be used in construction projects, and may also be sent to other facilities that are able to recycle it into new glass bottles and other products. Glass drop-offs are now at: • Arcola Recycling Center, 24244 Stone Springs Boulevard, Arcola • Central Western Loudoun Recycling Center, 38159 Colonial Highway, Hamilton • Landfill Recycling Center, 21101 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg • Mickie Gordon Park Recycling Center, 23229 Carters Farm Lane, Middleburg • Philomont Recycling Center, 36560 Jeb Stuart Road, Philomont • Sterling Park Recycling Center, 400 W Laurel Avenue, Sterling More information about recycling in Loudoun County is online at loudoun.gov/ recycling.
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Business Tax Filings Due March 1 Business tax filings and payments for tax year 2021 are due March 1. Loudoun County Commissioner of the Revenue Robert S. Wertz Jr. recently issued notices of the filing requirements, proving the necessary account number. That will let taxpayers report their calendar year 2020 gross receipts at loudoun.gov/efile. The license tax or fee can then be paid at loudoun.gov/paytaxes. Both are due by midnight March 1. Owners of business equipment that was located in Loudoun County on Jan. 1, 2021 must declare it for taxation to the Commissioner of the Revenue at loudoun.gov/efile, including original cost, year of purchase and item description. Semi-annual bills for that equipment will be issued by the Loudoun County Treasurer and will be due May 5 and October 5. The reporting of business equipment is made to the Commissioner of the Revenue for all businesses in the county, whether within or outside an incorporated town. Businesses owners within incorporated towns should contact the respective town regarding local license renewal. For more information or filing assistance, go to loudoun.gov/cor or contact the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue by email at btcor@loudoun.gov or by phone at 703-777-0260.
Virtual Meeting on Waterford Traffic Calming Feb. 18 Loudoun County government will host an online meeting for the Village of Waterford Traffic Calming and Byway Assessment Study on Thursday, Feb. 18, seeking feedback from the public. The meeting will be from 6-7 p.m., with members of the public invited to to learn, ask questions and provide input about the study. Login information and meeting materials are available at loudoun.gov/waterfordtrafficcalming and loudoun.gov/ remoteparticipation. Meeting materials include diagrams and speaker sign-up and comment forms. Members of the public must sign up in advance to ask questions during the event by noon Wednesday, Feb. 17. Online participants may also send questions to the study team as chat messages, which will be answered during the meeting as time allows. For more information about the village of Waterford traffic calming study go to the study page at loudoun.gov/5505/Village-of-Waterford-Traffic-Calming-Stu.
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PAGE 6
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Leesburg
AROUND town
Dentler Proposes Level Tax Rate, Few Additions in Leesburg Budget
Tolbert Award Nomination Deadline Extended
BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ
krodriguez@loudounnow.com
Leesburg residents should only expect slight tax bill increases if the Town Council approves Town Manager Kaj Dentler’s proposed fiscal year 2022 budget. Dentler presented his proposed budget to the council Tuesday night. He is recommending the council maintain its current real estate tax rate of 18.4 cents per $100 of assessed value. With an average 8.1% increase in residential assessments, that would mean single-family homeowners could expect a tax bill increase of $62 annually, or $5.17 per month; townhouse owners would see a $55 monthly increase, or $4.58 a month; and condominium owners would see a $48 increase, or $4 per month. For the council to achieve an equalized tax rate of 17.8 cents—that would keep tax bills flat on average—$530,000 would need to be cut from the budget. Cutting the tax rate by a penny would require spending cuts of $881,000. In the $65.3 million General Fund, Dentler has proposed only three new additions, and no new staffing. He is proposing an additional $300,000 targeted for snow removal or emergency response. He pointed out that, while Leesburg has traditionally budgeted only $300,000 annually for this, $600,000 moves the town closer to what it averages each winter. Snow removal for just one, 24-hour snow event runs the town $175,000 to $200,000, and he is estimating this winter that Leesburg’s snow removal
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Town Manager Kaj Dentler speaks to the Leesburg Town Council in a file photo.
expenses could meet or exceed $650,000. Dentler has also proposed $177,000 to maintain the outdoor dining program on King Street year-round, except for the months of January and February. The funds would address the expenses incurred with closing the block of King Street between Market and Loudoun streets on Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as Sunday afternoons. Dentler has also put aside $60,000 in the General Fund for office space to be used by the mayor and Town Council. Mayor Kelly
Burk has been a particularly vocal supporter of this, citing her displeasure that with Leesburg’s standing as the commonwealth’s largest town, there is no office space available for council members to meet privately with constituents. Dentler said the staff is gathering offers from owners of buildings with leasable space. He emphasized that council members would need to provide him direction if they want to secure one of those spaces, or narrow their search to only town government-owned properties, BUDGET continues on page 7
Council to Move Forward with Airport Study Committee BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ
krodriguez@loudounnow.com
The future of the Leesburg Airport Commission looks to be a continued point of discussion throughout the year. The Town Council on Tuesday night was expected to vote on a resolution to form an ad hoc committee that will be charged with studying the commission’s vision, mission, roles, responsibilities and membership. Mayor Kelly Burk proposed a series of changes to the commission last month, citing a need
to increase involvement of the business community, particularly the airport’s fixed-base operators, and have more of an economic development focus. In response to Burk’s proposal, members of the Airport Commission recently proposed the idea of forming an ad hoc study committee before pursuing major changes to the commission’s membership makeup or oversight. That approach appears to be one supported by the majority of the council. The council Monday night discussed providing members of the town’s Economic
Development Department, Planning Commission, Town Council, business community, residents and, of course, Airport Commission with seats on the ad hoc committee. Final decision on committee make-up was expected Tuesday, after this paper’s deadline. The committee is likely to begin work after the council has an initial look at the commission’s charter, along with a comprehensive look at all of Leesburg’s AIRPORT COMMITTEE continues on page 7
The Environmental Advisory Commission is extending the nomination deadline for the 2020 Tolbert Environmental Achievement Award. Nominations will now be accepted through Sunday, Feb. 21. The award program recognizes students, community groups and individuals who conduct or participate in activities that benefit the town’s environment. To make a nomination, go to leesburgva.gov/eac and click the link to fill out the nomination form. The form requests a brief narrative describing the person or group being nominated, why they deserve to be recognized, and contact information for the person making the nomination. Be specific about their efforts and achievements and include quantifiable measures of success, if possible. Photos and other supplemental information may also be submitted. The 2020 Tolbert Environmental Achievement Award will be presented at a future Town Council meeting.
‘Black Family’ Display at Balch Library A new exhibit from the Black History Committee is on display at the Thomas Balch Library. “The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity” reflects the diversity of African American families through images of Loudoun African American families past and present. Artwork by local artist, Gertrude Evans, and related Loudoun publications about life and families across the county, are also a part of the exhibit. Learn more about history, literature, sociology, anthropology, and social policy by viewing this exhibit in-person. Appointments are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to noon, or 1-3 p.m. Call 703-737-7195, email balchlib@ leesburgva.gov, or fill out an Appointment Request form via leesburgva.gov/departments/thomas-balch-library.
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Budget continued from page 6 which may mean only one office space without a conference room is available. The General Fund’s proposed budget also includes a $770,000 increase in debt service payments; a $31,000 increase in the town’s trash and recycling contract; computer replacements totaling $100,000; and pay-for-performance raises for town staff estimated at $550,000. Staff is also estimating a $321,000 increase in the town’s workers compensation and unemployment insurance payments, based on the pool of local governments the town finds itself in. Of the 30-plus staff positions currently frozen in the General Fund, Dentler said he expects half of those to remain frozen next fiscal year. He said he has begun authorizing managers to fill some of the frozen positions, including two in public works, and two in planning. The Utilities Fund, a self-supporting enterprise fund, is budgeted at $43.6 million. Of particular note is planned capital projects to study eventual expansions to both the Water Treatment Plant and Water Pollution Control Facility. Those expansion studies are budgeted at $2 million and $1.2 million, respectively. With the town’s continued negotiations over a boundary line adjustment with Loudoun County, in an area that includes planned Microsoft data centers, both studies look to consider what impact data centers, which use large amounts of water for cooling systems, would have on both plants’ capacity and usage, not to mention the impact of the town’s growing population. The Utilities Fund budget also includes four new positions, and includes the third year of a five-year plan adopted by the council with 4.5% increases to water and
Airport committee continued from page 6 boards and commissioners. Several council members have advocated that the timing of the Town Plan re-write is appropriate to do a review of the charters of all the town’s advisory bodies, not exclusive to the Airport Commission. Tying changes proposed in the new Town Plan to changes in direction for boards and commissions also was appropriate, council members said. It has been a subject fraught with emotion since Burk first introduced her changes in early January. Members of the Airport Commission said they were caught off guard by the mayor’s proposal,
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
sewer rates. The Capital Fund, out of which the Capital Improvements Program is funded, includes a five-year CIP totaling $152.4 million, and 13 new projects. Among them is a new inflatable structure that will go over Ida Lee Park’s existing three outdoor tennis courts, giving the tennis program seven courts for year-round use. The revenue generated by the additional indoor courts is expected to pay for the air structure very quickly. If approved, the new covdering expected to be constructed within a few months of the fiscal year starting July 1. The expansion of the Leesburg Police Department’s Plaza Street headquarters, and an additional $4 million budgeted for that project, expects to be a hot topic during budget deliberations. Another capital budget increase comes from the proposed expansion to the Town Shop, with land acquisition now adding $5.7 million to that project’s budget. Among the capital projects expected to kick off in fiscal year 2022 is the design of Veterans Park, a project funded almost entirely by Loudoun County; new sidewalks on Morven Park and Edwards Ferry roads; widening on Evergreen Mill Road; and new hangars on the north side of Leesburg Executive Airport. Dentler also is advocating that the council take a different approach to how it pays for its capital management costs, by paying cash for some indirect costs like vacation and training, and staff time of those outside the department, and using financing for other expenditures. The fiscal year 2022 proposed budget departs from recent history in that it is only a one-year budget. Dentler’s town manager predecessor John Wells introduced the concept of a two-year budget, with the second year being a budget by exception only. Dentler said this year’s economic volatility with no advance notice provided. Burk, even Monday, maintained that her proposal was not intended to be a criticism of the work done by the commission in years past, but only an opportunity to further involve the business community and others in the airport’s future. She in particular has pointed to a desire voiced by both airport FBOs to have more of a voice in the commission. Commission Chairman Dennis Boykin noted Monday that the commission, even prior to Burk’s proposal, had discussed ways to further involve airport-based businesses, and was looking to form a subcommittee of businesses that would report to the Airport Commission. That was expected to be discussed at the commission’s Wednesday night meeting. n
PAGE 7
“Because of a lot of the things we’ve done and prepared for we’re able to weather the storm better than some others. That’s to our benefit.” — Kaj Dentler Leesburg Town Manager because of the COVID-19 pandemic made it sensible to revert back to a one-year budget. He is also proposing the establishment of a revenue stabilization fund. The town is operating with a $5.2 million deficit in current fiscal year 2021, which Dentler again stated he is confident they will be able to balance by fiscal year’s end on June 30. Management reductions, deferred maintenance, and freezing vacant positions are some of the tools the staff is using to close that gap. Among the hits Leesburg took during the onset of the pandemic were declines in consumer taxes,
which are now starting to rebound, along with a $570,000 decline in Ida Lee Park Recreation Center revenues, and an almost $600,000 reduction in investment income. Looking forward, Dentler expressed confidence in how Leesburg has been able to weather the storm financially. He also cited promising signs of a recovering economy, including increases in meals and sales tax revenue, and some consumer confidence potentially returning with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. “The town is in strong financial shape,” he said. “[The rating agencies] reaffirmed our AAA-credit rating in December. Because of a lot of the things we’ve done and prepared for we’re able to weather the storm better than some others. That’s to our benefit. But we can’t sustain it so if the economy doesn’t recover there will be other challenges that will come with that. If the economy does recover a little faster, we’ll be OK.” The budget is expected to be adopted at the council’s March 23 meeting. The council was expected Tuesday, after this paper’s deadline, to vote on a schedule for review the budget, including work sessions and public hearings on both the budget and tax rate. A public hearing on the personal property tax rate, proposed to remain level, was scheduled for Tuesday. n
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PAGE 8
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Education
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Failing grades are up during the pandemic. That’s not a surprise and not limited to Loudoun County’s public middle and high school students who have been learning online for the past 11 months. However, a report prepared for the School Board on Tuesday night provides an update on those trends with a look at the results of the year’s second grading period. According to the report, middle school students in grades 6-8 landed fewer As and Bs and more Ds and Fs as compared to the past two years. This year, 63.7% of grades were As, a 2% decline from last year. B grades saw a larger decline, down 2.7% to 20.3%. Meanwhile, 4.2% of grades were Fs, up 3% compared to last year. D grades were up 1.1% to 3.3%. At the high school level, students saw
more A grades—up 4.7% to 57.5%— the highest level in the past three years. B grades dropped by 4.6% to 22.1% last marking period. There also were fewer C and D grades compared to previous years. However, F grades increased to 6.9%, compared to 3.8% in 2018-19 and 3.9% last year. Loudoun’s middle and high school students have been limited to remote learning since school campuses closed last March at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. While many special needs and elementary school students were able to participate in the hybrid program that provides at least two days of in-person learning per week, that option has not been available to secondary school students. Hybrid learning was suspended for all students just before the winter break in December. The School Board last week voted to restart the hybrid learning program Feb. 16 and to expand it to middle and high school students by March 3. n
SCHOOL notebook Search Team Opens Superintendent Survey
Banneker, Aldie Schools to Get Geothermal Upgrade
The executive search team hired to recruit the next superintendent for Loudoun County Public Schools has launched an online survey for members of the public to provide input. The confidential survey opened Tuesday night and will remain open through Sunday, Feb. 12. Representatives of Hazard Young Attea Associates will use the survey results, along with the results of focus groups comprised of students, parents, community members, teachers, classified staff and administrators, to develop a candidate profile the School Board will use to evaluate candidates. The survey questions, available in English and Spanish, seek an assessment of current school operation and suggestions for qualifications of the next division leader. Find a link to the survey at loudounnow.com/superintendentsurvey.
When the HVAC systems at Banneker and Aldie elementary schools are renovated this year, the work will be going underground. This week the School Board approved the installation of geothermal systems in furtherance of the school division’s sustainability initiatives. The schools also will get improved insulation and sealing and LED lighting. Four other schools—Broad Run and Loudoun Valley high schools, Catoctin Elementary and the Middleburg Community Charter School—will be getting partial HVAC upgrades to increase outside air ventilation to meet current code requirements. Those will not be geothermal systems.
SCHOOL NOTEBOOK continues on page 9
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
SCHOOL notebook continued from page 8
2 More Electric Buses Planned for Fleet The school division is adding two more electric buses to its fleet, bringing the total to five this year. The buses are being acquired through a Dominion Energy program designed to help localities replace conventional diesel buses with electric vehicles. The average cost for fuel and maintenance of a diesel school bus in Loudoun is $12,192 per year as compared to $4,877 for an EV bus, according to a staff report. Under the agreement with Dominion Energy, the utility will pay the cost differential between a $130,880 electric bus and a conventional diesel bus.
Dominion’s Caudill Lauded for DECA Leadership During the 2020-21 school year Dominion High School’s Allyson Caudill has served as the president of Virginia DECA. As a leader for the state association during the difficult pandemic year, her ef-
forts are being lauded. “I couldn’t be prouder of all the things Ally has accomplished as the first ever Virginia DECA president from Loudoun County. I have seen Caudill her grow from a shy and reserved freshman to a confident leader her last two years as a state officer,” said Briana Owens, Caudill’s marketing teacher and DECA advisor. Caudill is credited with helping implement Virginia DECA’s Community Service Initiative, Virginia Cares, which focused on the mental well-being of Virginia DECA’s members, advisors and those in the community. She placed first in the state along with her partner, when they created a program to teach elementary students the importance of personal finance and saving early with the help of a character named Ollie the Oinker. The 2020-21 VA DECA State Officers will be honored for their achievements at a virtual recognition during the State Leadership Conference on March 3.
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Vetock 60th Wedding Anniversary February 11, 1961
Richard and Lydia (Limbach) Vetock were married at Ft. Myer, VA on February 11, 1961. The couple met while working part-time at Toys ‘R Us (childrens supermarket) in Falls Church, VA. Richard (from Johnstown, PA) and Lydia (from Mainz-Kastel, Germany), settled in Leesburg, VA in 1977 when Richard retired from the U.S. Air Force. As an Air Force family, overseas tours of duty included Germany and Turkey. They are the parents of three children; Edward, married to Elizabeth (Fairfax, VA), Stanley, married to Lorena (New Freedom, PA) and Doris, married to Dean (Stephenson, VA). There are six grandchildren; Adam, Nicole, Lauren, Brian, Jessica and Isaac. Also six great grandchildren; Jacob, Madison, Jada, Isabela, Silas and Nicolas. After retirement from the U.S. Air Force, Richard continued Government Civil Service until 2005. Lydia, a homemaker loves spending time with children. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a family celebration will take place at a later date.
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FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Public Safety
COVID Concern Delays Double Murder Trial
Landscaping
Spring Mulch & Clean Up
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A juror’s possible COVID-19 infection delayed proceedings in the double murder trial of Brian Kuang-Ming Welsh this week. After 12 days of testimony, the jury Tuesday morning was set to hear closing arguments from Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Shara Krogh and Acting Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Barry Zweig, and Welsh’s defense counsel Thomas Walsh and Mark Petrovich. However, Circuit Court Judge James P. Fisher notified prosecutors and Welsh’s defense counsel that a family member of one of the 14 jurors had exhibited symptoms of COVID-19. That juror was expected to obtain a test for the virus as soon as possible and the trial was expected to remain in
recess until 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Fisher also informed prosecutors and the defense that he had observed a separate juror often nodding off during the trial. Although that same juror emailed Fisher Monday night with concern of their inattentiveness, prosecutors and Welsh’s defense both agreed that the instance did not warrant any action on behalf of the court. Another juror informed Fisher the day after the voir dire jury-selection process on Jan. 21 that she felt she could not remain fair and impartial in the trial. She was excused from service. This is the first jury trial since before the pandemic took hold last March. The trial is being heard in the county’s largest courtroom with rearranged furnishings that see jurors sitting six feet apart from each other in the area where the gallery TRIAL continues on page 11
SAFETY notes Former Youth Sports League President Charged with Embezzlement The Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office reported today that the former president of the Ashburn Youth Football League has been charged with two counts of felony embezzlement. Louis E. Turpin III, 46, surrendered to authorities Friday and was released on a personal recognizance bond. According to the report, irregularities were discovered in the AYFL financial records by league officials earlier this year. After an investigation conducted by the Sheriff ’s Office Financial Crimes Unit, it was determined Turpin wrote checks for personal expenditures from the AYFL’s accounts in 2019 totaling approximately $7,500. The arrest follows a lawsuit brought by parents against four former board members objecting to the board’s efforts to disallow the results of December 2019 and January 2020 elections and to obtain financial transparency. The plaintiffs won the case in September and the new board was installed.
Turpin is scheduled for arraignment in Loudoun County Circuit Court on Feb. 26.
DC Man Charged in Sterling Bank Robbery A man from Washington, DC, has been arrested and charged in the robbery of a bank in Sterling in January. The Washington Metropolitan Police Department charged Amobi C. Agu, 36, with armed robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was held in Washington, DC on unrelated charges pending extradition. On Saturday, Jan. 2 at about 10:30 a.m. a masked man approached a teller at the Bank of America on Dulles Crossing Plaza, displayed a firearm, and demanded cash. The robber left the bank with an undisclosed amount of money. There were no injuries during the robbery. The Sheriff ’s Office is working with other law enforcement agencies to determine if the suspect is connected to similar cases in the region, including the FBI, the Montgomery County (MD) Police Department and the Washington Metropolitan Police Department.
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Trial
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Discounts Available For Patients Prosecutors have also relied on testiWelcoming allallnew patients! Welcoming new patients! Without Insurance! mony that has portrayed Welsh as being Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at continued from page 10 unstable before the shootings and emoWelcoming allallnew patients! Welcoming new patients! Conveniently located Cochran Family Dental are in tional afterward. The Village of Leesburg 2020 Welcoming new patients! committed to providing a comprehensive dental Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at office What weall offer FAVORITE typically is located, attorneys sitting where Cheri Hostetler, the human resources 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 FAVORITE Conveniently located in with aCochran caring andFamily gentle style that will serve most all of Dental are • Cheerful, serene, state of the art offi ce the jury box typically is located, and wit- director for Learning Tree InternationLeesburg, VA 20175 Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at Leesburg your family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance The Village of • Digital x-rays (reduces radiation by 90%) to providing a comprehensive dental office committed nesses giving testimony in the center of al, where Welsh had been working since 703-771-9034 Cochran Family Dental are friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Dr. 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 • We file all dental benefi t claims the room. The general public has been 2016, testified the company fired Welsh withhasa provided caring and gentle style that serve most all of Cochran trusted dental care to thewill citizens committed providing aand comprehensive dental office Leesburg, 20175 Dr. Dentistry Brianto Cochran hisVA staff at • Cosmetic (veneers, whitefamily’s fifor llings, Zoom Whitening) watching the proceeding on closed-circuit six days before the shootings occurred of Loudoun 13 and years. your dental needs under one roof. Insurance HOURS: WHITENING SPECIAL withand a caring gentle style that will serve most all of WHITENING 703-771-9034 • Crowns Bridges, Family alland phases of & Implants, Rootoffering Dentures television from the old courthouse build- for “attendance and performance” issues. Conveniently located inCanals FREE Teeth Whitening Kit options. Dr. Cochran Dental friendly office wise payment Mon. Wed.: 8am -are 6pm and budget SPECIAL with every scheduled The Village Leesburg facing your family’stherapy dental needs under one roof. Insurance ing. • We offer periodontal to restore your oral health asUse well as oral cancer screening. Tues. - at Thurs.: - 4pm Hostetler said that Welsh frequently was your benefits before the end to the citizens Cochran has7am provided trusted dental care cleaning or procedure. 7providing between Wegmans andcomprehensive 1503committed Dodona Terrace Route to a dental office FREE of the year and receive a Fri.: 8am 1pm Welsh, 41, is charged with the Jan. 29, not at work and often fell asleep at his Offer Expires 8/31/16. LA Fitness friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Teeth Whitening Kit with everyDr. Suite 210 Conveniently located in(once/month) the Village of Leesburg of 8am Loudoun for 13 years. Please present coupon to Sat.: 1pm Mon & -Wed: 8-6pm HOURS: scheduled cleaning or procedure. WHITENING SPECIAL 2018 first-degree murders of Mala Man- desk, and that the Learning Tree manwith a20175 caring and style that will Leesburg, receive the offer. Not to bemost all of Cochran hasTerrace provided trusted dental care the citizens TuesEmergency & Thurs: 7-4pm Service 1503VA Dodona #210 •gentle Leesburg, VA 20175 • to 703-771-9034 WHITENING Expires January 1,serve 2016. 24hr Conveniently located inOffer FREE Teeth Whitening Kit Please present coupon to w/any receive the offer. Mon. & Wed.: 8am 6pm combined other Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) wani, who was found dead on the first agement team found knives in his desk a Mon. & Wed.: 8am - 6pm • Tues. - Thurs.: 7am - 4pm • Fri.: 8am • 24hrwith Emergency Service Not -to1pm be combined any other offer. SPECIAL 703-771-9034 with every scheduled The Village Leesburg Emergency ofyour Loudoun for 1324hr years. family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance Tues.Service - at Thurs.: 7amfacing - 4pm floor of her Aldie home with four gunshot month before he was fired. Use your benefits or before the end cleaning procedure. Route 7 between Wegmans and WHITENING 1503 Dodona Terrace Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com of the year and receive8/31/16. a FREE Visit our website: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Fri.:Fitness 8am - 1pmwise payment Conveniently located in LA wounds in her head, and her adult son, Offer Expires Hostetler said when she called Welsh friendly office offering budget options. Teeth Whitening Kit with everyDr. 210 at Leesburg SPECIAL TheSuite Village Please present coupon to Sat.:facing 8am 1pm (once/month) Mon & -Wed: 8-6pm Rishi Manwani, who was found dead with to inform him of his termination, Welsh scheduled cleaning or procedure. Use your dental benefits before the endthe Leesburg, 20175 receive offer. Not to be Cochran has provided trusted care to the Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm Route 7VA between Wegmans and Offer Expires January 1,citizens 2016. 24hr Emergency Service 1503 Dodona Terrace seven gunshot wounds in his head in the became emotional and told her, “you of(Once/month) the year and receive a combined FREE Please present coupon to w/any receive the offer. other Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm LA Fitness Teeth Whitening Kit every with any other offer. Not towith be combined Suite 210 703-771-9034 basement where he lived. 24hr Emergency Service should be worried about me.” of Loudoun for 13 years. Mon & Wed: 8-6pm scheduled cleaning or procedure. Leesburg, VA 20175 During the past three weeks, the jury Welsh’s acquaintance, Caitlin McCarTues & Thurs: 7-4pm at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Expires January 1, 2016. Visit our website Conveniently located inPleaseOffer present coupon to receive the offer. located in 8-1pm (Once/month) Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: has seen hundreds of pieces of evidence thy, testified that when WelshConveniently picked her Not to be combined with any other offer. 703-771-9034 Emergency The24hr Village at Service Leesburg facing and heard testimony from dozens of in- up to go to Starbucks onThe Jan. 30, 2018, he at Leesburg Village facing Use your benefits before the end Route 7 between Wegmans andbenefits dividuals who were either involved with seemed “panicked” and “anxious. ” Use your thereceive end a FREE 1503 Dodona Terrace of thebefore year and Route 7 between Wegmans LA andFitness the investigation or knew the Manwanis Walsh has emphasized throughout the 1503 Dodona Terrace Pursuant to Section 58.1-3321 ofof thethe Codeyear of Virginia, the LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF andTeeth receive a FREE Whitening Kit with every Suite 210 or Welsh. LA Fitness trial that Welsh was calm and collected Wed: 8-6pm SUPERVISORSMon will & hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, Loudoun scheduled cleaning or procedure. Teeth Whitening Kit with every Suite 210 Leesburg, VA 20175 Leesburg, at 5:00 P.M. County Government 1 Harrison Welsh was initially arrested and in the hour after the Manwanis TuesCenter, & Thurs: 7-4pm Street, S.E., 1st Floor, wereMon shot Offer Expires Virginia January 20175 1, 2016. & Wed: 8-6pm16, 2021, scheduled cleaning or procedure. on March in order to consider a proposed increase to real property tax levies. Please present coupon to receive the offer. charged with the murders in March 2018, Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) dead. VA 20175 Leesburg, Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm Offer Expires January 1, 2016. Not to be combined with any other offer. The County of Loudoun proposes to increase real property tax levies as follows: 24hr Emergency Service but was released from jail when a ballisWelsh’s mother testified that she spoke Please present coupon to receive the offer. Fri:the 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) 1. Assessment Increase: Total assessed value of real property, excluding additional assesstics report showed that bullets found at with her son at 10:58 a.m. morning Not to beorcombined with any other offer.last year’s total asments due to new construction improvements to property, exceeds 24hrand Emergency Service the crime scene did not match the barrel of Jan. 29, 2018 for about 10 minutes sessed value of real property by 3.57 percent. of the .22-caliber Browning Buck Mark that he did not sound rushed, confused, 2. Lowered Rate Necessary to Offset Increased Assessment: The tax rate which would handgun found at Welsh’s parents’ house scared or panicked during their call. A job levy the same amount of real estate tax as last year, when multiplied by the new total asin Locust Grove. Upon further analysis, recruiter also recalled the phone conversessed value of real estate with the exclusions mentioned above, would be $1.000 per $100 investigators found that the marks on the sation she had with Welsh that day beof assessed value. This rate will be known as the “lowered tax rate.” shell casings matched the firing pin of that cause, she said, the interview went well 3. Effective Rate Increase: The County of Loudoun proposes to adopt a 1, tax 2016. rate not to exOffer Expires January ceed $1.010 per $100 of assessed value. The difference between the lowered tax rate and gun. Welsh was re-arrested in October and Welsh was memorable. present coupon to receive the offer. the maximum proposed rate Please would be $0.010 per $100, or 1.0 percent. This difference will 2019 and has been held at the county jail Walsh also pointed out through testibe known as the “effective taxNot rate increase.” to be combined with any other offer. ever since. mony from various witnesses that invesIndividual property taxes may, however, increase at a percentage greater than or less than The case Krogh and Zweig have been tigators found no urine or feces from Rithe above percentage. making against Welsh has relied predom- shi’s dog in the house, two days after he 4. Proposed Total Budget Increase: Based on the maximum proposed real property tax rate inantly on that new analysis. A ballistics and his mother were killed—raising the and changes in other revenues, the total budget of the County of Loudoun will exceed last specialist testified that the barrel on the possibility that someone may have been in year’s by 9.9 percent. Buck Mark, which Welsh handed off to his the house, and committed the shootings, Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic this public hearing may be conducted as an electronic meeting. brother the day the Manwanis were shot, during that time. Members of the public are encouraged to view the public hearing electronically; however, the Board Room will be open for any members of the public who wish to attend in person with appropriate had been changed out. Both Dep. Gregory Thomas and Det. physical distancing. Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television Walsh asserted that “the common- Alonzo Perry testified they did not see any on Comcast Government Channel 23, Open Band Channel 40 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are wealth relies on a ballistics match” in its such urine or feces in the home when inlivestreamed at loudoun.gov/webcast. All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard charges against Welsh. He said that bal- vestigating the scene Jan. 31, 2018. Thomas to their views pertinent to these matters. Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. Instructions for remote participation will be forwarded to all individuals listics evidence alone was not enough to as additionally testified that he noticed the who sign-up in advance and who would like to provide their comments remotely. For this public hearinstruct the jury on charges of first-degree television in the basement, where Rishi ing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on March 12, 2021, and no later than 12:00 p.m. murder. lived, was turned on when investigators on March 16, 2021. 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 at the public hearing. All speakers will Evidence has also shown that Welsh arrived. be limited to two minutes and 30 seconds so that all in attendance may have the opportunity to speak. was at the Manwani’s home the morning Another witness bolstered the idea Written comments are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Board of Supervisors, 1 Harrison of the shootings. that someone else could have committed Street, SE, Leesburg, Virginia 20177 or by e-mail to loudounbudget@loudoun.gov. If submitting writAccording to testimony and case doc- the shootings by testifying that she saw a ten comments, information or materials at the hearing, 10 copies should be provided for distribution to the Board members and for the Clerk’s records. uments, Welsh and Rishi had traveled to taller man with broad shoulders outside Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. If you rethe bank together that morning and then with Rishi’s dog in the days after Rishi and quire any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to had gone back to Rishi’s house, where Ri- his mother were killed. Walsh emphasized participate in this meeting, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200. At shi paid Welsh back a $600 loan and sold that Welsh is a person of smaller stature. least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than him 20 prescription pills. Prosecutors preRishi’s longtime friend, Adam Masone day of notice. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings. sented evidence that the last unread text ters, also testified that Rishi had scrapes BY ORDER OF: PHYLLIS J. RANDALL, CHAIR message on Rishi’s phone came in at 10:23 and bruises on his face and was “seeming LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS a.m. and the last time Mala’s co-workers more nervous about things” in the days 02/11 & 02/18/21 heard from her was at 10:31 a.m. leading up to his death. n
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FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Nonprofit
Raise the Roof Reframed Loudoun Habitat for Humanity
Loudoun Habitat for Humanity’s Raise the Roof gala last year was one of the last big social events before the COVID-19 pandemic began.
LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
Last year, one of the final big public events of the year was Loudoun Habitat for Humanity’s ‘Raise the Roof ’ gala, when more than 500 people gathered in one banquet hall on March 7. A week later, the COVID-19 pandemic had shut-
tered businesses, schools, and activities in Loudoun and across the country. Even during the pandemic, Loudoun Habitat has kept up the work on its programs of homeownership and home repairs in Loudoun. And the charitable nonprofit will continue that work into this year’s fundraiser, Raise the Roof Re-
framed. This year, the nonprofit will take a different approach to its big annual fundraiser, putting on a 10-week event kicking off Friday, March 5 with a virtual auction. Over the weekend, Habitat supporters may place virtual bids on more than 50 items, including golf for four at River
Creek, Creighton Farms, Westfields and others; a Brew with the Brewer Experience at Black Hoof Brewery; or a Cucinamore Italian Cooking Party at home for six people. There will also be a raffle for a Peloton indoor exercise bike. After registering for the virtual auction at bit.ly/2021VirtualAuction, participants will be sent further instructions for online bidding. Through a donation from Moss Building & Design, the first 50 auction registrants will have the $10 entrance fee waived using discount code “MOSS.” The auction will be followed by a series of small, private COVID-safe events hosted by Habitat supporters, as well as a public event on May 1 at Bear Chase Brewing Company in Bluemont. “2020 was nothing short of unprecedented and difficult for many, especially those working on the front lines, living in communal housing environments, and of course for those who lost their jobs or suffered severe health setbacks and family tragedy because of the pandemic,” stated Executive Director Therese Cashen. “The hard work, ingenuity, and sheer determination of our community has left us nothing short of humbled and incredibly thankful.” Details on the Virtual Auction weekend, Raise the Roof Reframed sponsorships, and the upcoming May 1, 2021, event can be found at loudounhabitat.org/ rtrreframed. “There is much more work to do,” Cashen stated. “Currently we have 10 future homebuyers in the Loudoun Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program. As we continue to navigate these uncertain times, this year’s annual Raise the Roof event will look different, but with the support of this reframed event, Loudoun Habitat can continue to increase the number of families served right here in Loudoun County.” n
Wegmans Raises $46K for Loudoun Hunger Relief LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
Wegmans’ 2020 Check Out Hunger register campaign has raised almost $46,000 from shoppers to support Loudoun Hunger Relief. The Check Out Hunger program was launched by Wegmans in 1993, and has raised over $44 million in hunger relief funds in the regions served by the grocery store since its inception. In Loudoun, Wegmans stores in Dulles and Leesburg have been collecting donations from customers for Loudoun Hunger
Relief since 2005, raising about $650,000. “The 2020 Wegmans Check Out Hunger campaign results are amazing. This year of hardship for so many has brought out the very best in our community,” stated Loudoun Hunger Relief Executive Director Jennifer Montgomery. “These funds, collected by a caring corporate partner from our wonderful community, will provide nourishing food for our neighbors in need. We are truly grateful to Wegmans for its corporate citizenship and true community partnership. We
also particularly want to recognize the work of Wegmans associates, who continue to serve on the front lines throughout this pandemic.” In 2020, Loudoun Hunger Relief distributed 2.6 million pounds of food, and around 70% of the people they served had never needed assistance before. Wegmans in 2020 also donated food the equivalent of 213,000 meals to Loudoun Hunger Relief. For more information, go to loudounhunger.org or call 703-777-5911. n
Loudoun Hunger Relief
Loudoun Hunger Relief and Wegmans employees celebrate a $46,000 donation.
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
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GIVING back 100WomenStrong Seeks to Donate $100K to LAWS 100WomenStrong has issued a new challenge grant to support the Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter’s Legal Services program. The philanthropy group is seeking public contributions to match or exceed its recent $50,000 seed donation. LAWS is the only domestic violence and sexual assault crisis center in Virginia with a legal department. LAWS’ Legal Services offers free legal consultation or representation to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking who need assistance obtaining a protective order or with other family law issues. “According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, the conditions of the pandemic may have created violence in families where it didn’t exist before and worsened situations in homes where mistreatment and violence already was a problem,” Hanley said. “Supporting these victims with free legal advice or representation is more imperative now than ever, particularly since the pandemic will continue to affect our community for at least another several months. We at LAWS are so thankful to 100WomenStrong for their caring and support.” To contribute by mail, send a check with “100WS - LAWS Legal Services” in the memo line to LAWS, 105 E. Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176. To donate online go to lcsj.org/donateto-laws/ and click the “Donate Now” button. On the donation page you will see: “If you have a special purpose for your donation, please let us know.” In the “I want my donation to be dedicated” type: 100WS Legal Services To reach a LAWS legal services advocate, call 703-771-3397.
Community Foundation Opens Scholarship Applications The Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties is accepting scholarship applications. The foundation serves as stewards for multiple scholarships funds, each with different requirements that range from choice of study, to specific high-school attendance, to those seeking vocational career training. The deadline to apply is March 26. The Foundation’s universal application form is available at communityfoundationlf. org/students. Interested applicants may download the application form as well as a listing of all available scholarships and the requirements of each.
For more information email scholarships@communityfoundationlf.org or call 703-779-3505 x1. Founded in 1999 by local volunteers, the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designed to grow community giving. Since its inception, the Foundation has granted more than $9.4 million back into the community including through its Community Emergency Relief Fund in response to COVID-19.
Holiday Music Special Raises $20K for Nonprofits A little creativity, the power of music and the commitment to help others is making a difference for seven Loudoun County nonprofit organizations. Bands Empowering Nonprofits with Engagement and Fundraising Improving Tomorrow (BENEFIT) is a coalition of musicians and community leaders uniting people with music to raise funds and awareness for nonprofits serving children. Since its establishment in 2017, BENEFIT has hosted several live music events and festivals to assist Loudoun County nonprofits that serve children. The organization wanted to create something that would still allow them to continue to support these nonprofit organizations even though they were not able to hold live music events this past year. “We had to change our thinking this past year due to the pandemic,” said Amy Bobchek, co-founder of BENEFIT. “Two items were of the highest concern for us: helping these nonprofit organizations and safety. What could we do to continue our mission, and in carrying out our mission, what could we do to ensure the safety of our community? We could create an online holiday music special just like the holiday specials we watched on television, and viewers could tune in from the com3 injectors with over fort of their homes.” 25 years of experience Presented Dec. 19, 2020, the “Hope for combined. New state of the art services: the Holidays” online music special was a Coolsculpting, Vivace, prp hair Botox by success, raising over $20,000. The grant funding was available to seven nonprofgrowth, facials, lasers Amy, Meredith and Ashley it organizations that serve children in Loudoun County. BENEFIT funding recipients include: INMED Partnerships for 44095 Pipeline Plaza, Suite 270, Children, $3,600; Women Giving Back, Ashburn, VA 20147 $3,600; Loudoun Cares, $3,000; Loudoun 571-266-1776 Literacy Council, $3,000; Project Horse Empowerment Center, $3,000; Loudoun botoxbyamy Citizens for Social Justice/Loudoun botoxbymere Abused Women’s Shelter (LAWS), $2,000; Schedule online at: and the Ryan Bartel Foundation, $2,000. www.mountcastleplasticsurgery.com For more information about BENEFIT, 44095 Pipeline Plaza, Suite 270 Ashburn, VA 20147 We offer: go to BENEFIT.live.
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FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Business
Community Banks Team Up to Boost Minority-owned Business Lending BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
A group of four normally competing community banks on Tuesday launched an unprecedented program aimed at funneling more money into minority-owned businesses. Together, BCT-Bank of Charles Town, the Bank of Clarke County, The Fauquier Bank and First Bank have put in $1 million to provide interest-free loans as part of the new Banking On Diversity initiative. The funding is intended to aid both startup and existing minority-owned small businesses. The program also will include educational seminars to support the evolution of the business. BCT President and CEO Alice Frazier said the idea began to come together during last summer’s protests and national conversation about social injustice following the death of George Floyd while in police custody. In searching for ways local bankers could make a difference, the minority business outreach program was developed. While there was no template for the the unusual step of partnering with other banks, she said the program is taking down the competition level a little bit to benefit the community. “As community banks, we’re only as strong as the commu-
nities we serve,” added Bank of Clarke County President and CEO Brandon Lorey. Frazier said many of the targeted businesses have launched on a bootstrap and rely on funding from family and friends. A boost in capital could help them get their businesses to the next level with the purchase of needed equipment or the ability to hire an employee. Both bankers said the education piece of the program is important. Not only will the bank staffers help business owners through the loan process, but they will also offer training on developing business plans and proformas and other expertise. The program is open to businesses in the banks’ service areas with Minority Business Enterprise certifications and annual revenues under $1 million for businesses or under $500,000 for farms. Loans of up to $50,000 are available for businesses that have been up and running for more than two years and up to $10,000 for startups with at least three months of operations. The application process opened Tuesday. Those interested may apply on the website of a participating bank in their community or by stopping in at a local branch office. In Loudoun, the interested businesses should go to mybct.bank or bankofclarke.bank. n
Sears to Close Dulles Town Center Store BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com
The last Sears department store in Virginia is closing its space at the Dulles Town Center Mall in Sterling. Sears announced last week that 13 more stores nationwide would close by midApril—including the Loudoun store—as part of a years-long, post-bankruptcy restructuring and liquidation. According to Feb. 2 job postings on Sears.com, the store is looking to hire a temporary cashier and a temporary backroom employee. Those job postings include “Store Closing” in their titles. The Sears website shows seven Sears locations left in the commonwealth: four appliance outlet stores, one auto center, one Hometown store and one department store. Already, two of Dulles own Center’s five anchor department stores, Nordstrom and Lord & Taylor, have closed. When Sears is gone, Macy’s and JCPenny will be left. n
BUSINESS Announcements Visit Loudoun to Offer $30K in Marketing Funds Visit Loudoun is accepting applications through Feb. 25 for its Tourism Marketing Leverage Program, with $30,000 available in total. The Tourism Marketing Leverage Program is a matching funds program meant to extend the reach of the industry and support tourism businesses that create innovative campaigns to attract visitors to Loudoun. It is a competitive application process, and Visit Loudoun will provide funding to projects and programs that have the greatest return on investment in terms of visitor spending. Visit Loudoun will accept matching fund applications up to $10,000. Applications are reviewed by a volunteer committee in early March, and the Visit Loudoun Board of Directors votes on the committee’s recommendations to determine funding. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Feb. 25. Details about the program and the application are available on Visit Loudoun’s industry page at visitloudoun.org/tourism-industry/programs/visit-loudoun-grantopportunities/market-leverageprogram.
Telos Lands $13.5M FBI Contract Ashburn-based Telos Corporation this week announced that it was awarded a contract valued at approximately $13.5 million, including options, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to deploy its Xacta solution and establish an interactive, real-time risk assessment capability across its risk management framework workloads. The base contract is valued at over $4M and runs for a one-year period, with four option years. As part of the contract, Telos will provide governance, risk management and Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
The Sears department store at the Dulles Town Center Mall in Sterling will soon close for good.
BUSINESS ANNOUNCEMENTS continues on page 15
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FEBRUARY 11, 2021
BUSINESS Announcements continued from page 14
compliance support to the FBI’s Enterprise Information Security Section while optimizing technology, people and processes. Additionally, Telos will install, integrate and support Xacta within the Commercial Cloud Services, Secret Commercial Cloud Services and GovCloud architectures. “The FBI experienced persistent challenges with their GRC requirements implementation,” said Telos Chairman and CEO John B. Wood. “With its seamless deployment and automation, Xacta was the logical answer to mitigate the challenges. Xacta has been successfully deployed across the federal government including the Intelligence Community, civilian agencies and the Department of Defense, and we are excited to extend this work to the FBI.” For more information about Xacta, go to telos.com/xacta.
Loudoun, Virginia Chambers Partner in Small Biz Alliance The Loudoun Chamber of Commerce has joined the Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Alliance, bringing together more than 27,000 small businesses to keep informed and involved in Richmond. The Small Business Alliance is a partnership of 88 local and regional working together to make sure that small businesses have a seat at the table when decisions are made at the state level.
“We are proud to join the Virginia’s Chamber’s ‘Small Business Alliance,’ and to offer our small business members access to the most influential pro-business advocate in the Commonwealth,” stated Loudoun Chamber President Tony Howard. “Every day, decisions are made in Richmond that impact the economy and quality of life in Loudoun County. Loudoun’s small businesses should have a say in how those decisions are made.” “Small businesses are the driving force behind Virginia’s economic growth and job creation. They also form the core of the Virginia Chamber’s grassroots efforts to shape pro-business public policies in the Commonwealth,” stated Virginia Chamber President & CEO Barry Duval. “We are proud to add the Loudoun Chamber to this formidable Alliance of 88 local and Regional Chambers and more than 27,000 small businesses across Virginia.” Joining the Small Business Alliance gives the Loudoun Chamber access to the Virginia Chamber’s array of business advocacy resources and information, which are available to Loudoun Chamber members with 10 employees or fewer. Those include insights from the Virginia Chamber’s Public Policy and Government Affairs team; invitations to participate in policy events, meetings, and other opportunities to provide stakeholder feedback; access to other statewide coalitions and initiatives; representation at the General Assembly; group rate pricing for Chamber Day at the Capitol; and access to The Election Center, including where candidates stand on business issues. For more information on the Loudoun Chamber, go to LoudounChamber.org.
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FEBRUARY 11, 2021
TOWN notes
Our Towns
HAMILTON BZA Seeks Applicants; Appoints Chair, Vice Chair The Town of Hamilton is accepting applications from residents interested in serving an unexpired term on the Board of Zoning Appeals, which expires November 2025. Those interested in applying may submit a résumé or letter of intent to the town by sending it through the mail to P.O. Box 130, Hamilton, VA 20159-0130, or by emailing it to treasurer@hamiltonva.gov. The board on Jan. 29 also voted to appoint Robert McCann as chairman and James Moon as vice chairman. Both members were appointed to their respective positions 3-0, with members James Bourne and Rob Bocek absent for the votes. Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
Crews from the Crisak general contracting firm on Feb. 1 began working on the new Lovettsville Community Center project, following 13 months of delays.
Construction Work Resumes on New Lovettsville Community Center BY PATRICK SZABO
pszabo@loudounnow.com
In 2019, Lovettsville residents saw crews demolish the baseball field at their community center then leave the area an unfinished work zone through 2020. Last week, crews from a different company resumed work on the premises.
Crews from the Purcellville-based Crisak general contracting firm on Feb. 1 began working on the new Lovettsville Community Center project, which involves razing the existing 10,0000-squarefoot building and constructing a new one totaling more than 15,000-square-feet. The new center will feature a full-court gymnasium, five classrooms, a multi-
purpose room, a kitchen, administrative offices, meeting space and storage areas. Crews also will expand the existing 1,200-square-foot pool house by 600 square feet. Over the next several weeks, crews will work to install a construction safety fence, COMMUNITY CENTER continues on page 18
Mayors Oppose Moving Town Elections to November BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com
Municipal elections in the towns of Hamilton, Lovettsville, Middleburg, Purcellville and Round Hill could switch to November depending on an upcoming vote in the Virginia legislature. Senate Bill 1157 proposes to shift all municipal elections in the commonwealth to November. While Leesburg and Hillsboro have already chosen to hold their elections then, the county’s
five other towns continue to hold theirs the first Tuesday of May in even-numbered years. Lovettsville Mayor Nate Fontaine pointed out last month that 44% of cities and 57% of towns in Virginia hold their local elections in May. The legislation to mandate November elections in all Virginian municipalities passed the Senate on Jan. 21. On Monday, the House Committee on Privileges and Elections continued discussions on the bill to the 2021 special session. If the House passes the bill and
Gov. Ralph Northam signs it into law, the five Loudoun towns with elections in May would be forced to hold their local elections the same day residents elect state and federal officials. The Coalition of Loudoun Towns—a non-legislative group comprised of Loudoun’s seven mayors that meets to share suggestions and collaborate on challenges their towns face—sent a letter to Virginia delegates Feb. 2 urging them NOVEMBER ELECTIONS continues on page 18
LOVETTSVILLE Town Staff to Spend $15K to Furnish New Office The Town Council last Thursday voted to authorize the town staff to spend close to $15,000 to fully furnish the new town office building, which should be in-use by March. The staff will pay for items including a new town seal to be installed behind the new council chamber dais, new exterior signs, chairs, doors, picture of “old Lovettsville,” and plantings for the new office’s façade. Mayor Nate Fontaine wrote in his Feb. 5 email newsletter that the staff “has been doing an amazing job” finding furnishings at discounted rates, like a conference table for 12 cents.
Volkert to Design Site Plan for Drainage Improvements Interim Town Manager Sam Finz has authorized the Volkert engineering firm to develop a site plan for the drainage improvements project along South Church Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. The site plan will address drainage issues that have come up at the intersection of South Church and TOWN NOTES continues on page 19
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FEBRUARY 11, 2021
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FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Former Purcellville Mayor Marsh Dies BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com
Former four-term Purcellville Mayor John D. Marsh died Feb. 1 at the age of 89. Marsh was elected mayor in 1994 at the age of 62, succeeding Eric Zimmerman. He was re-elected to serve three more two-year terms, serving a total of eight years in the role. Before becoming mayor, Marsh also served on the Town Council for two terms from 1986-1994. He also volunteered with the Purcellville Business & Professional Association and the Loudoun Historical Society, and served as the director of the Purcellville Preservation Association. After serving as mayor, Marsh remained involved with Virginia Regional Transit and helped to create transit connections between western Loudoun and the Washington metropolitan area. Mayor Kwasi Fraser posted on Facebook that Marsh “led our community during a significant economic
November elections continued from page 16 to vote against the bill. The mayors clarify in their letter that Hamilton, Lovettsville, Middleburg, Purcellville and Round Hill opt to hold elections in May for five reasons. The mayors feel that local issues “diverge significantly” from state and federal issues, which is why, they wrote, it’s important for towns to have the ability to choose to keep their municipal elections six months away from state and national elections. They feel that residents, and candidates running for local office, should remain focused on local issues , such as utilities and sidewalks, not immigration and social security. “[P]olitical parties make little difference when it comes to community projects like town tax rates, water/sewer rates, stormwater, community services, street
growth period in Loudoun County and at a time when AOL CDs were in every mailbox.” “We are thankful for Mayor Marsh’s dedication and selfless service to our community in laying the foundations on which we currently stand,” Fraser wrote. “May the peace which surpasses all understanding be with the Marsh family at this time.” Marsh was born just two years into the Great Depression, on Oct. 6, 1931, and grew up in Brooklyn, NY. He and his family vacationed to Purcellville each summer until they moved to Loudoun County in 1950. Marsh attended Kent School in Connecticut before attending Washington and Lee University in Virginia. He left college to join the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict and later returned to graduate in the class of 1957. Marsh went on to become a financial consultant with Wheat First Securities and eventually got involved in town politics, following in the footsteps of his mother, Helen Hirst Marsh, who served on the Town Council in the 1950s and ’60s. Marsh’s family members plan to hold a celebration of life later in the year. n
maintenance/upgrades, sidewalks, water towers, events, and keeping the streetlights on,” Fontaine wrote in his Jan. 22 email newsletter. The mayors argue in their letter that combining local elections with state and federal elections would add a level of partisanship to the elections. “If the political party structures take over the local process, we will lose a vital dynamic of people willing to serve,” they wrote. The mayors are also concerned that a state-mandated switch to November elections would take away the rights of their towns’ residents and that switching to November would not necessarily increase voter turnout. They pointed out that Middleburg had a greater percentage of voter turnout among town residents in the 2018 May municipal election than in the 2019 November election. “What we have seen in local elections is that issues matter,” they wrote. “The com-
Contributed
Former four-term Purcellville Mayor John D. Marsh died Feb. 1 at the age of 89.
munity will turn out when there are items of concern.” Fontaine on Jan. 22 wrote that the towns need to find ways to emphasize that local elections “have a more direct impact on our day to day than higher level elections and the importance of making sure every voice is heard.” Lastly, the mayors assert that moving municipal elections to November could confuse town voters and create “voting irregularity,” since most town polling places would feature two separate ballots—one for in-town residents, which would include selections for not only state and federal candidates but also Town Council and mayoral candidates, and one for outof-town residents. “The decisions at the local level—and the choice of who to lead the local governing body—should remain separate and distinct from the major issues of state and federal policy,” they wrote. n
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Community center continued from page 16 re-establish erosion and sediment control measures and begin demolition. County staff members anticipate construction to wrap up in mid-2022, weather permitting. All non-construction traffic should enter the community center via the gravel access road to the left of the asphalt driveway and park in the gravel lot. Only construction traffic will be allowed to utilize the community center’s existing asphalt driveway. Work on the community center project began in July 2019 under a $10.8 million county contract with Meridian Construction Co. That work stalled in January 2020 when the county terminated the contract following a series of delays that set the project back four months. The county had already paid Meridian more than $750,000. The existing community center building was constructed in the 1920s and added onto through the next five decades. It operated as a school from 1927 to 1974. Crisak, Inc. has worked on various corporate, retail, agricultural and aviation projects, including the Egypt Farm hangar and a maintenance building in Purcellville and the Middleburg Training Academy stable. To keep up to date on the community center project, go to loudoun.gov/5227/ Lovettsville-Community-Center. n
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FEBRUARY 11, 2021
TOWN notes continued from page 16
Pennsylvania, as well as the intersection of South Church and East Broad Way. In the past month, the problems worsened when the pump installed at the construction site of the new town office building failed. That water drainage freezes in the winter months and creates unsafe conditions. The Infrastructure Committee will discuss Volkert’s recommended improvements before presenting those to the Town Council for approval.
MIDDLEBURG Byrne Gallery Prepares for Valentine’s Day Jewelry Show The Byrne Gallery will host a Valentine’s Day Trunk Show showcasing jewelry from artist Debra Fabian throughout February, and an artist reception from 1-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13. The show will feature Fabian’s elegant and distinctive jewelry, which, according to the gallery, has the feel of modern vintage via the use of semi-precious stones, cultured freshwater pearls and sterling silver. Fabian describes her jewelry, which has been featured on ABC’s “The Bachelor: Paris,” designs as “classic with a twist.” This weekend’s show will also include works from Olga Chan and Kathryn Stanko. The Byrne Gallery is located at 7 W. Washington St. and is open Monday and Tuesday by appointment only, Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12-5 p.m. For more information, call the gallery at 540-687-6986 or go to byrnegallery.com.
ROUND HILL Council Specifies Capital Project Funding Policies The Round Hill Town Council last Wednesday amended the town’s fiscal policy to establish that utility fund capital improvement projects should be funded with least 25% non-debt resources. The town staff has identified $8.3 million worth of utility capital projects to be performed between FY22 and FY27, and has already secured $3 million to pay for the planned Southern Water Tank. The amendment also establishes the
town should pay for general fund capital improvements entirely with non-debt resources. The town’s fiscal policy already specifies that the town should keep debt servicing costs for utility fund projects below 30% of the utility fund’s total operating and capital expenditures, and debt servicing costs for general fund projects below 10% of the general fund’s total operating and capital expenditures—below about $1.2 million and $410,000 for FY21, respectively.
PURCELLVILLE Art Nonprofits Encouraged to Apply for State Funding The Purcellville Arts Council is accepting requests for funding from nonprofit arts organizations by or before 5 p.m. March 1. Requests will be considered for inclusion in the town’s proposal for the Virginia Commission for the Arts Creative Communities Partnership Grant Pro-
gram. The state will match up to $4,500 of what an independent town, city, or county government provides stand-alone arts organizations. The town stands to receive up to $9,000 to distribute to independent arts organizations, which they’ll use to help pay for activities in Purcellville between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. Funding cannot be used to pay performers or to pay for specific performances or for school arts budgets or arts programming by local governments. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)3 organizations that focus primarily on the arts, are incorporated in Virginia and have their headquarters and home seasons, or activities equivalent to a home season, in the commonwealth. The Purcellville Arts Council will review the funding requests and then share their recommendations with the Town Council. To apply, go to purcellvilleva.gov/669/ Purcellville-Arts-Council. For more information on the Virginia Commission for the Arts’ Creative Communities Partnership Grant Program, go to arts.virginia.gov/grants_local.html.
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Town Seeks Volunteers for Community Cleanup The Town of Purcellville is seeking volunteers to help with this year’s town-wide cleanup March 20 and 21. The town has again partnered with Keep Loudoun Beautiful for the annual event. Groups may volunteer to pick up trash from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1-4 p.m. on either day. Registration is requested by March 15. The project is intended to further Keep Loudoun Beautiful’s mission to maintain the county’s natural beauty and visual quality, encourage and educate residents to keep Loudoun beautiful, promote public awareness of environmental challenges and suggested solutions, improve county trash disposal and eliminate illegal dumping. For more information, email Keep Loudoun Beautiful Purcellville Area Leader Clay Grisius at Purcellville. klb@gmail.com or Parks and Recreation Division Manager Amie Ware at aware@purcellvilleva.gov.
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FEBRUARY 11, 2021
THINGS to do
Loco Living
LOCO LIVE Live Music: Jessica Paulin
Friday, Feb. 12, 5 p.m. Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro Details: harvestgap.com Enjoy covers from the ’60s through today as Paulin covers favorites from Joplin to Gaga and adds new favorites each week.
Live Music: Chris Hanks
Friday, Feb. 12, 6-9 p.m. Social House South Riding, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, Chantilly Details: socialhousesouthriding.com Hanks returns to Social House for an evening of country favorites.
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Graffiti Soundstage used the pandemic to rework their group, which pays homage to their classic rock heroes.
Graffiti Soundstage Finds Opening Doors BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com
The hard-rocking Loudoun-based trio Graffiti Soundstage was just hitting its stride when COVID shook the worldwide music scene. But while the young musicians have shifted gears, they haven’t stopped. They’ve spent the past year building their own sound that pays homage to their classic rock heroes. And while the pandemic has slowed things down, it also has opened a few doors. Graffiti Soundstage was in the spotlight at a community showcase last month at Leesburg’s Tally Ho Theater. That venue, known for hosting big-name touring acts, has changed things up since reopening last summer after Virginia’s Phase 1 shutdown. With national acts rescheduling for later this year and beyond, there’s more room for up-and-coming local talent at smaller, socially distanced shows. For these three Ashburn and Sterling guys, who grew up with Rush and Led Zeppelin on their parents’ CD players and “Guitar Hero” on the Xbox, 2020 has been a year to create and record. The band released a four-track EP last summer and a new single “Black Leather Country” in December. With confident vocals from founder
and lead singer Aidan Bashore and tight musicianship from guitarist Evan DeNicola and drummer Tommy Kowalski, the trio knows what it takes to craft a solid hard rock/heavy pop song. “What we want to do is just put as much stuff out there as we can, build a portfolio,” Bashore said. Since Virginia relaxed rules for gatherings last summer, regional shows have slowly started to pick up. The band has plans for a solid performance schedule in 2021, even if that looks dramatically different from the pre-pandemic scene. The band members, who graduated from three different eastern Loudoun high schools, are now working and attending community college, while putting their work with the band front and center. Bashore said their goal is to make it to Nashville within the next two years. Bashore initially started Graffiti Soundstage with a classmate at Briar Woods High School. When the band’s original guitarist and drummer moved on, he found DeNicola, a Broad Run High School grad, through social media. Impressed by DeNicola’s take on a cover by the British rock band Cream, Bashore reached out to DeNicola about getting together to do some writing. “The weekend passed and he just texted me out of nowhere and said, “Do you
just want to start a band instead?” Bashore said. The new bandmates brought on Kowalksi, a Potomac Falls High School grad, on drums, initially performing as a fourpiece. But when they lost their bass player to college in New York, the current members didn’t want to mess with their musical chemistry by trying to replace him. So Bashore stepped up and took on the role of bassist in addition to that of lead singer. “The dynamic between us three is so good, we wouldn’t want to bring anybody else into the mix,” Bashore said. The trio connected musically over a shared love of the sound that came from childhoods steeped in classic rock and contemporary influences like the Black Keys. DeNicola’s dad played in a band, so rock was part of the family vibe growing up. Like many young Loudoun rockers, Kowalski got his start at one of the county’s performance-oriented music schools—Studio Rock in Sterling. And for Bashore, it was a classic GenZ video game that really got things going. “The thing that spearheaded it, if I’m being completely honest, was “Guitar Hero.” I played that religiously,” Bashore said. For the past two years, the band has GRAFFITI continues on page 24
Courtesy Milissa Quinn Fox
Live Music: Melissa Quinn Fox Band
Saturday, Feb. 13, 1 p.m. Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts Details: vanishbeer.com Fox brings her signature high-energy rock and country to Vanish.
Live Music: Chris Timbers Duo
Saturday, Feb. 13, 2-5 p.m. Lost Rhino Brewing Company 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn Details: lostrhino.com Check out smooth, alternative-soul tunes from Chris Timbers.
Live Music: Trailin’ Smoke Duo
Saturday, Feb. 13, 5-8 p.m. Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg Details: spankyspub.com It’s time for Saturday evening fun with acoustic country-fried classic rock from Trailin’ Smoke.
Live Music: Moxie
Saturday, Feb. 13, 7 p.m. Saigon Outcast, 44921 George Washington Blvd., Ashburn Details: saigonoutcastva.com Moxie is the latest local favorite to hit one of Loudoun’s newest live music venues with acoustic favorites that make your heart happy.
Live Music: Patty Reese
Sunday, Feb. 14, 1 p.m. Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts Details: vanishbeer.com Known for her soulful, bluesy voice combined with personality and plenty of feeling, Reese is a DMV blues circuit favorite.
THINGS TO DO continues on page 22
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FEBRUARY 11, 2021
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Obituaries Betty True Greene
August 22, 1948 - January 26, 2021 Betty True Greene, 72, a 5th generation, lifelong resident of Leesburg, Virginia passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on January 26, 2021. She peacefully passed away at home with both her daughters by
her side. Born August 22, 1948, she was the daughter of the late Marvin and Betty Greene. Betty True was a 1966 graduate of Loudoun County High School. She was Homecoming Queen and remained a loyal Raider her entire life. She began a long career in medical administration and worked many years at Leesburg Orthopedics. Betty True was a hard worker and a
“Butch” Ralph G. Fletcher “Butch” Ralph G. Fletcher, 75 of Leesburg, VA, passed away suddenly following complications of heart surgery on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. Butch was a son of the late Howard & Genevieve Fletcher, of Hamilton, VA. He was born on October 7, 1945 in, Leesburg, Virginia; and was a lifelong Loudoun County boy. He was a graduate of Loudoun Valley High school; and was a star athlete. His first love was baseball; where his pitching skills were well known. He was devoted to youth sports in Loudoun County, by coaching many teams, including baseball and basketball. During his years of coaching, he was happiest heading off to be with his boys for practices and games. His love for his players was legendary. Butch was an avid fundraiser for all youth sports’ and for the handicapped; raising funds for equipment or even home adjustments needed. As owner of Leesburg Village Lanes, he and Pat organized many bowling events, bake sales and other activities to assist with purchasing new equipment and uniforms. Butch was a Jack of all trades; as co-owner of Johnson’s House of Beef in the 1980’s, the Leesburg Antique Center, and the Village Restaurant. In his later years, he enjoyed many successful years in the car business; working for Jerrys Chevrolet, and Star Buick, GMC. One of Butch’s sweetest qualities was how he loved people and his ability to listen to and share with them. He was a devoted friend and cherished neighbor where ever he lived. Those who knew him well, nicknamed him the Mayor of Leesburg. There are No words to express the profound love for his family and closest friends. His wife, children, and grandchildren, were
his heart and soul. As a devoted husband, Dad, and Papa. His grandbabies affectionately called him Chewbacca because of his fuzzy chest. He was so proud of his grandchildren and blessed to welcome all 12 of them. The love that he and Pat shared was apparent to all who knew them. They were sweethearts, soulmates and the dearest of friends. He leaves his family to cherish their happiest memories of him, including his devoted wife Pat Fletcher; 5 children and 12 grandchildren. They are Ralph G. Fletcher of Leesburg VA, Heather Campbell and her children Ashleigh and Ella Wager of Arlington VA, Erin Hornbeck and her husband Brian Hornbeck and their children Ben, Will and Bronwyn of Ashburn VA, Holly Jackson and her husband Mike Jackson and their children Katie and Andrew of Tampa Fl and Ryan Campbell and his wife Lucy Campbell and their children James, Lydia, Jack, George and Sam, of Leesburg VA. Butch also leaves a brother, Gerald Fletcher of Berryville, and a sister, Cheryl Fletcher Marshall of Fredericksburg, VA. He was predeceased by a sister, Bonnie Reed of Hamilton, Janet Baker and one brother, Buck Fletcher of Hamilton. The many years his family shared with him have been a special gift to them all. Especially times spent at the Outer Banks, will help keep them strong in the months ahead. They take great comfort in knowing he is at peace with his Lord and is watching over them all. “Until we meet again; We love you to the moon and back Papa!!” A celebration of Butch’s life will be delayed until the spring when all can gather without COVID restrictions. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the charity of your choice or to: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, the Wounded Warrior Project, or the Loudoun youth Sports Leagues. Please share condolences with the family www.LoudounFuneralChapel.com.
dedicated employee for many years. She ended her career upon her retirement from The Urology Group. She was beloved by her many co-workers and patients. Betty True enjoyed gardening, sports and watching FOX news. She loved music too, especially the songs by Elvis Presley, her favorite. Most importantly, her real life’s passion was her fierce devotion and unconditional love for her family. She is survived by her daughters Kelly
Greene Ciaburri and Jessica Inez Malick, grandchildren Jack, Olivia, Jillian, and Evan Ciaburri, Georgia Malick, brothers Monty Greene, Stilson (Tammy) Greene, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. A graveside service is scheduled for Wednesday, February 10, 2021at 11:00 am at Union Cemetery in Leesburg. Memorial contributions made be made to Loudoun Abused Women Shelter (https://www.lcsj. org).
Kennetta Elorane Peters Russ KENNETTA ELORANE PETERS RUSS, age 89, died peacefully asleep on December 30 at Pine Hills Assisted Living in Laurel, Maryland. A new resident there, she enjoyed a Zoom with her family on Christmas Day. Born on July 4, 1931 in St. Petersburg, Florida, Kennetta was the first child of Ethel Evelyn Oatman Peters and Kenneth Orval Peters, both from Kansas. Her brother, Merz, who survives her, was born in 1934. Based on her father’s genealogical work, she was a member of the Mayflower Society, from her mother’s lineage. Music was an important part of her early life, starting at age eight when she selected the vibraphone to play. By age 13 she was so proficient on that unusual instrument, sometimes with two or three mallets in each hand, that she was featured with a group of older girls on their accordions entertaining soldiers in the Washington, DC area. Starting in World War II, the family moved six times in seven years. In order to enter state competitions in Pennsylvania and Ohio Kennetta learned to play the marimba, attaining first place in both. In the summer of 1947, she attended the selective Interlochen Music Camp in Michigan. She graduated from Troy High School, Troy, Ohio in 1949 and followed her high school sweetheart, John Lawrence Russ, who predeceased her, from Bethel High School, Bethel, Pennsylvania to Pennsylvania State University. An accomplished player of bells in marching bands, as well as the vibraphone and marimba, Kennetta may have been the first woman in the Penn State College orchestra. Graduating in 1953 with a B.S. degree in home economics and a minor in journalism, she followed John to New York City where she wrote recipes for General Foods. After they married in 1954 at National City Christian Church, Washington, DC, both went to Germany where
he served in the U.S. Army. Living with the family of a German baker, she served as a typist at the Nuremberg Trials. Afterward, both Kennetta and John earned masters degrees at Penn State. At home in Alexandria, Virginia; Clinton, Maryland; and Springfield, Missouri; Kennetta focused on family as a devoted mother, conveying her love and faith to the three children she and John reared, Karen, John, and Andrew, all of whom survive her. She is also survived by grandchildren Jessica Russ Ward, Shannon Russ, Stephanie Russ, Scott Russ, and greatgrandchildren Corinne Russ Ward and Dillon Ward. While Kennetta was a full time homemaker when her children were young, she was a sponsor of 4-H and volunteer in other community and church organizations working with children. In 1973, she earned a M.S. degree in library science from the University of Maryland, College Park, followed by work as a school librarian in Maryland, Missouri and Kansas and at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. From her home in Leesburg, Virginia, Kennetta was librarian at nearby Loudon County High School for 20 years to 2010, where she guided the adoption of modern library methods. In 2006 she may have become the oldest person to achieve National Board Certification, the highest certificate available to educators, and one of only 12 teachers and librarians in Loudoun County and 1,600 librarians in the nation to qualify. Kennetta was confirmed in St. James’ Episcopal Church, Leesburg, where she was active in reading during services, in the library and in other activities. In recent years, as she continued to give her love and support to her family, she also remained active with elder friends, engaging in yoga and a book group. The family celebrated her life in a Zoom video January 30. Following cremation and the openings after the pandemic, her ashes will be interred in the St. James’ columbarium, beside her husband’s during a celebration of her life. Donations in her memory may be sent to St. James’ Episcopal Church, 14 Cornwall St. NW, Leesburg, VA 20176.
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THINGS to do
ZOSO: TLED U O THE ULTIMATE D SOLZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE THE WAILERS
UFO
FAREWELL TOUR
FEB 13
FEB 21
02/12 & 02/13/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
SOUL ASYLUM WITH LOCAL H
FEB 22
UNCLE KRACKER
FEB 28
19 W Market St., Leesburg, VA For a full schedule please visit
www.TallyHoTheater.com
DC Improv: Love and Laughter
Sunday, Feb. 14, 7 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com It’s a fun and romantic evening of comedy from Tommy Taylor Jr., Umar Khan, Blaire Postman and Lafayette Wright. Tickets are $22-$32 for this seated show.
Live Music: Andrew O’Day
2 NIGHTS OF ZOSO!
FEB 1
LOCO CULTURE
continued from page 20
TICKETS ON (703) 777-1665 SALE NOW! wwww.TallyHoTheater.com
COWBOY MOUTH
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
CARBON LEAF BROTHERS IN ARMS TOUR
FEB 29
ND 2/7 COBS BA CHRIS JA 2/8 RE FI TRIAL BY 5 ts 2/14-1 Two Nigh IA AN 6 EAGLEM YEARS 3/ AN AG RE THE
DC IMPROV PRESENTS:
LOVE AND LAUGHTER AT THE TALLY HO! 02/14/21 DOORS: 7PM | SHOW: 8PM
2 NIGHTS OF AMISH OUTLAWS!
AMISH OUTLAWS 02/19 & 02/20/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
Sunday, Feb. 14, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Walsh Family Wine, 16031 Hillsboro Road, Purcellville Details: walshfamilywine.com Walsh Family Wine kicks off its monthly Sunday music series O’Day’s soulful tunes with influences from R&B to country.
Live Music: Ken Wenzel
Courtesy StageCoach Theatre Company
Sunday, Feb. 14, 2-5 p.m. Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Details: breauxvineyards.com Wenzel brings his roots-rock, country-jazz take on love, learning and life in America back to Breaux for Valentine’s Day.
LIBATIONS Cupcakes and Wine at 868
Friday, Feb. 12-Sunday, Feb. 14 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro Details: 868estatevineyards.com Celebrate a romantic long weekend with cupcake and wine pairings. Cost is $24 per person for four pairings. Advance purchase is available, and reservations are required for groups of six or more.
Sparkling Wine and Chocolate at Doukenie
Saturday, Feb. 13 and Sunday, Feb. 14 Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro Details: doukeniewinery.com Preorder a stunning chocolate box full of treats from local chocolatiers paired with Doukenie’s sparkling wine. Each box is designed for two guests, and the
THE ELO TRIBUTE SHOW! 02/26/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
DC IMPROV
PRESENTS COMEDY NIGHT IN LEESBURG 02/27/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
2 NIGHTS OF CROWDED STREETS! THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND EXPERIENCE:
CROWDED STREETS 03/05 & 03/06/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
JOHN KADLECIK SOLO ACOUSTI’LECTRIC 03/12/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
The Harlem Renaissance Online Celebration
Loudoun Now File photo
cost is $90. Prepaid reservations are required.
Samedi Gras at Breaux Vineyards
Saturday, Feb. 13, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Details: breauxvineyards.com Reserve a spot to celebrate Samedi Gras (the Saturday before Mardi Gras) with Breaux. The event features live music from Billy Thompson. Advance reservations are required as seating is limited.
Sly’s Magic Show
Friday, Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m. StageCoach Theatre Company, 20937 Ashburn Road, Suites 115 and 120, Ashburn Details: stagecoachtc.com Ashburn-based performer Alec Negri (AKA Sly) blends magic tricks and comedy for an evening of fun geared toward adults. The show will also be livestreamed in real time. Tickets are $15 for in-person or livestream performance. Advance reservations are required.
COMING UP The Amish Outlaws
Friday, Feb. 19 and Saturday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com The exuberant Amish Outlaws return to the Tally Ho for two nights of socially distanced fun—and tunes ranging from Snoop Dogg to Johnny Cash. Tickets are $20-$30 for this seated show.
Obituaries Gwendolyn Marvelle Richardson Gwendolyn Marvelle Richardson was born to George Edward Richardson, Sr. and Shelby Jean Richardson on July 20, 1960 in Winchester, Virginia and departed this life on January 23, 2021 at Bridgepoint Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, Washington, DC. She attended Banneker Elementary School, went on to Blue Ridge Middle School and graduated from Loudoun Valley High School in 1978. She lovingly took care of her Grandmother, Dorothy Virginia Moorehead until her passing in 1998. She is survived by her two (2) sons Michael Andre Richardson of Leesburg, VA and Wallace Jarvien Richardson of Ashburn, VA. Two (2) grandchildren Rylan McKenzie and Benjamin Richardson. Her mother Shelby Jean Richardson of Leesburg, VA, Four (4) Sisters, Joyce
Bluemont Valentine’s Day Chef’s Table
Saturday, Feb. 13 and Sunday, Feb. 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Bluemont Vineyard, 18755 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont Details: bluemontvineyard.com Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a romantic fourcourse dinner and wine pairings with live music in a gorgeous setting. Tickets are $135 per person. Advance reservations are required.
Wednesday, Feb.17, 7-7:30 p.m. Details: library.loudoun.gov Loudoun County Public Library presents an online celebration of the arts, music and literature of the Harlem Renaissance Black arts movement.
LoudounNow To place an obituary, contact Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or email: sstyer@loudounnow.com
Richardson of Alexandria, VA Gloria Richardson of Washington, DC, Theresa Precia of Washington, DC and Tina Newman of Reston, VA. Two (2) Aunts, Shirley Richardson of Middleburg, VA and Charlotte Basil of Washington, DC. A host of nieces and nephews who loved her dearly and a host of family and friends. From the family: It broke our hearts to lose you the night God called you home. A part of us went with you, you did not go alone. 100 times we needed you, a 1000 times we cried, if love could have saved you, you never would have died. Acknowledgements: The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation for all acts of kindness and support for their genuine loving care during our time of need. Peace & Love Interment will be Private. Arrangements by Lyles Funeral Service, serving Northern Virginia and surrounding areas, Eric S. Lyles, Director, Lic. VA,MD,DC 800-388-1913
Lives are like rivers: Eventually they go where they must, not where we want them to.
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FEBRUARY 11, 2021
PAGE 23
HELP WANTED AT FAMILY PRACTICE Experienced Lab Tech Or MA – Busy Family Practice office in Lansdowne, VA looking for an experienced lab tech or MA to collect and process Covid 19, Flu & Strep samples. Must be familiar with manual and automated methods. EMR experience preferred. We offer health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401k and many other benefits.
Town of Leesburg Employment Opportunities Please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs for more information and to apply online. Resumes may be submitted as supplemental only. EOE/ADA.
Please send your resume to lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-726-0804
Regular Full-Time Positions Position
Department
Accounting Associate II
Finance
Salary Range
Closing Date
$44,905-$76,882 DOQ
Open until filled
Assistant Town Attorney Capital Projects Manager
Town Attorney’s Office
$75,000-$95,000 DOQ
Open until filled
Public Works & Capital Projects
$82,999-$141,929 DOQ
Open until filled
Communications Technician (Police Dispatcher)
Police
$45,136-$75,961 DOQ
2/26/2021
Controller
Finance
$79,227-$135,636 DOQ
Open until filled
Customer Service Supervisor
Utilities
$61,857-$105,896 DOQ
Open until filled
Deputy Director of Utilities, Fiscal Administration and Customer Relations
Utilities
$86,040-$147,299 DOQ
Open until filled
Police Officer
Police
$53,233-$89,590 DOQ
Open until filled
Senior Engineer (Capital Projects)
Public Works & Capital Projects
$70,374-$120,339 DOQ
Open until filled
Senior Systems Analyst
Information Technology
$70,374-$120,339 DOQ
Open until filled
Utilities Project Manager
Utilities
$76,941-$131,689 DOQ
Open until filled
Utility Plant Operator: Trainee, I, II or Senior
Utilities
$41,353-$89,790 DOQ
Open until filled
Utility Plant Supervisor
Utilities
$61,857-$105,896 DOQ
Open until filled
Flexible Part-Time Position Position
Department
Parking Enforcement Officer
Finance
Hourly Rate $16.86-$28.85 DOQ
Closing Date Open until filled
To review Ida Lee (Parks & Recreation) flexible part-time positions, please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs. Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications. All Town vacancies may be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 67 and Verizon FiOS Channel 35.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
NOW HIRING FLAGGERS Full time, to provide traffic control & safety around construction sites. A valid driver license & clean driving record a must. Star ting $13/hr & scheduled raises & bonuses. Company-paid medical & dental premiums. Please fill out an application at trafficplan.com or come to our office on Tuesdays or Thursdays (8am-10am) 7855 Progress Ct. Suite 103, Gainesville, VA
Tractor & Light Construction Equipment Technician Assembly Technician Parts Counter Salesperson At Western Loudoun’s largest equipment service organization. Experience required. Full benefits package with 401k.
BROWNING EQUIPMENT, INC. Purcellville, VA 540-338-7123 sales@browningequipment.com
See the full job listings at NowHiringLoudoun.com
HELP WANTED AT FAMILY PRACTICE Large family practice in Loudoun County with 6 locations and 28 providers looking for FT LPN’s or MA’s with a dedication to excellence. New LPN graduates welcome to apply. Pediatric and or family practice experience preferred. EHR experience highly recommended. We offer competitive pay rates, health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401K and many other benefits. Please send your resume to: lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-726-0804 attention Lisa
HELP WANTED AT FAMILY PRACTICE Family Practice in Loudoun is seeking a full-time Family Nurse Practitioner to provide Primary Care Services to all age groups at our Lovettsville location close to the Maryland and West Virginia borders. The ideal candidate will be a self starting motivated NP that is or can be licensed in Virginia. The NP will report and collaborate with the Primary Care Physician on site. Please inquire by sending your resume to: bwilkes@lmgdoctors.com
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PAGE 24
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
MLK Day Event Organizers Launch March Challenge Graffiti LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
continued from page 20
Because of COVID safety measures, the 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March and Celebration was held virtually. However, the I Have a Dream Committee is inviting the public to participate in a symbolic march from the Old Loudoun Courthouse to Douglass School on their own during February. It is the route typically followed by hundreds of people each MLK Day following a rally in the courthouse square and before a day of activities at the Douglass School. Those participating in the march are asked to register at loudounnow.com/ mlkmarch. Participants are asked to be sure to stay on the sidewalk at all times unless crossing the street using a cross walk and following traffic signals, wear a mask and practice social distancing. Marchers also are encouraged to take time to look out for and read the seven symbolic plaques along the route, engraved historic information about the March, quotes from Dr. King’s speeches and writings, and recognition for the founding organizations. There are also 10 bricks engraved with “MLK Dream” in be-
been using classic rock inspiration to create original work. Bashore and DeNicola share most of the songwriting credits but underscore that it’s a collaborative effort that usually happens organically. “Usually, if we’re all into the song, it just kind of comes naturally, and we all know what to do,” Bashore said. In recent months, the group has had limited but meaningful opportunities to play live, including two Tally Ho showcases. And spring is looking up for live shows. In April, the band is slated to play The Renegade in Arlington, a restaurant and performance space that opened in 2019 with a focus on spotlighting young and up-and-coming musicians. But instead of packed rooms, the young musicians are getting used to assigned seating and socially distanced shows. “It’s just something that we’re going to have to get used to for a while,” DeNicola said. “Seeing Tally Ho with seats everywhere isn’t something you usually see. But obviously we’re just happy to be able to play shows at all.” To check out the latest tunes from Graffiti Soundstage, go to graffitisoundstage.com or facebook.com/ graffitisoundstage. n
Misc.
Loudoun Now file photo
Special bricks mark the East Market Street path followed each year by participants in the in the annual Martin Luther King Jr. march through Leesburg.
tween the plaques. Another option is for individuals or families to walk the symbolic 0.7-mile distance of the march in their own neighborhood or to drive the route. Everyone who signs up to participate will receive an email with a link to
a google drive site with a photo to share on social media along with the #MLKMarchChallenge2021 tag when the march is completed. For more information, email themarch@mlkleesburg.org or contact Lily Dunning at 540-539-5651. n
Legal Notices 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.
Description
Case Number
Recovery Date
Recovery Location
Schwinn Knowles black and green mountain bike
SO210001363
01/25/2021
Locklear Terrace/Crossfield Dr. Chantilly, VA
Phone Number
703-777-0610 02/04 & 02/11/21
COUNTY OF LOUDOUN, VIRGINIA AVAILABILITY OF CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT FOR FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2019 The Loudoun County Office of Housing has prepared a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for Federal Fiscal Year 2019 on the performance of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program for the period from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020, to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Copies of the draft CAPER for Federal Fiscal Year 2019 will be available beginning February 11, 2021 until February 26, 2021, 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) 777-0200. The document will also be available online at https://www.loudoun.gov/cdbg. Written comments on this document may be submitted to the attention of the CDBG Program Manager at P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, Virginia 20177. For questions, please call 703-737- 8323 (V/TTY). 02/11/21
LoudounNow.com
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FEBRUARY 11, 2021
PAGE 25
Legal Notices
Leg PUBLIC HEARING
The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Monday, February 22, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following: WITHDRAWAL (EARLY) REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL OF LAND BELONGING TO MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT FROM THE NEW HILLSBORO AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-4314 and the New Hillsboro Agricultural and Forestal District Ordinance, Madeleine K. Albright, of Washington, D.C., has submitted an application to withdraw a 125.1-acre parcel from the New Hillsboro Agricultural and Forestal District. The subject property is located east of Harper’s Ferry Road (Route 671) and north-northeast of Charles Town Pike (Route 9) and south of and on the south side of White Rock Road, in the Blue Ridge and Catoctin Election Districts. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 478-27-1579. The New Hillsboro Agricultural and Forestal District currently has a 10-year period that will expire on April 10, 2022, and is subject to a subdivision minimum lot size of 20 acres. In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the application 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 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-777-0246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (1-11-2021 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/pc (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for Public Hearings Packet).
SIDP-2020-0002 EXXON-COMMUNITY CORNER SIGN DEVELOPMENT PLAN (Sign Development Plan)
Fairfax Petroleum Realty, LLC of Springfield, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Sign Development Plan to request alternative sign regulations for permitted signs in order to modify Table 5-1204(D), Sign Requirements Matrix, to increase the permitted total aggregate sign area, maximum number of signs, and maximum height for ground mounted signs. The subject property is being developed pursuant to ZMAP-2013-0005, Community Corner, and SPEX-2016-0058, Community Corner, located in the PD-CC-CC (Planned Development – Commercial Center – Community Center) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and pursuant to Section 5-1202(E) alternative sign regulations for permitted signs may be requested with the submission of a Sign Development Plan. The subject property is located in the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 1.55 acres in size and is located south of John Mosby Highway (Route 50) in the southeast quadrant of Gum Spring Road (Route 659) and Tall Cedars Parkway (Route 2200) in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 205-40-2142. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Neighborhood Place Type)), which designate this area for predominantly Residential uses with supporting retail and service uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) up to 1.0.
SIDP-2020-0003 EXXON-JOHN MOSBY HIGHWAY SIGN DEVELOPMENT PLAN (Sign Development Plan)
Fairfax Petroleum Realty, LLC of Springfield, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Sign Development Plan to request alternative sign regulations for permitted signs in order to modify Table 5-1204(D), Sign Requirements Matrix, to increase the permitted total aggregate sign area, maximum number of signs, and maximum height for a ground mounted sign. The subject property is located in the CLI (Commercial Light Industry) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and pursuant to Section 5-1202(E) alternative sign regulations for permitted signs may be requested with the submission of a Sign Development Plan. The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, between the Ldn 60-65, aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 2.58 acres in size and is located in northeast corner of the intersection of John Mosby Highway (Route 50) and Gum Spring Road (Route 659) at 42382 John Mosby Highway, Chantilly, Virginia in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 163-35-3746. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)), which designates this area for a mix of residential, commercial, entertainment, cultural, and recreational amenities at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) up to 1.0, with options to develop up to an FAR of 1.5.
SIDP-2020-0001 EXXON-WHITMAN SOUTH SIGN DEVELOPMENT PLAN (Sign Development Plan)
Fairfax Petroleum Realty, LLC of Springfield, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Sign Development Plan to request alternative sign regulations for permitted signs in order to modify Table
5-1204(D), Sign Requirements Matrix, to increase the permitted total aggregate sign area, maximum number of signs, maximum area of any one sign, and maximum height for ground mounted signs. The subject property is being developed pursuant to ZMAP-2016-0023, ZCPA-2016-001, SPEX-2016-0067, and ZMOD-2019-0035, Whitman Property South in the PD-CC-CC (Planned Development – Commercial Center – Community Center) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and pursuant to Section 5-1202(E) alternative sign regulations for permitted signs may be requested with the submission of a Sign Development Plan. The subject property is approximately 1.46 acres in size and is located south of Braddock Road (Route 620) on the east side of Gum Spring Road (Route 659), in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as 207-48-9892. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Transition Policy Area (Transition Community Center Place Type)), which designates this area for pedestrian-scale commercial development that provides retail sales, entertainment, and civic functions at a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) up to 0.3.
ZMAP-2019-0015, ZMOD-2019-0002, ZMOD-2020-0035 SPEX-2019-0031 & SPEX-2019-0032 JK TECHNOLOGY PARK #2
(Zoning Map Amendment Petition, Zoning Modification & Special Exception) JK Land Holdings of Sterling, Virginia, has submitted applications for the following: 1) To rezone approximately 19.95 acres from CR-1 (Countryside Residential–1) and RC (Rural Commercial) zoning districts under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) 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 0.60 (up to 1.0 by Special Exception); 2) A Special Exception to permit an increase to the maximum FAR from 0.60 to 1.0; and 3) A Special Exception to permit an increase to the maximum lot coverage from 0.45 to 0.60. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed uses are listed as Special Exception uses under Section 4-506(A) and (C). The Applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modifications: ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION
PROPOSED MODIFICATION
§4-502, PD-IP Planned Development – Industrial Park, Size and Location.
To allow a PD-IP district of 19.94 acres in size rather than 20 acres.
§4-507(G)(2), PD-IP Planned Development – Industrial Park, Use Limitations, Development Setback and Access from Major Roads.
To allow for access to the property via Hiddenwood Lane, a privately maintained residential neighborhood street.
The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, within the Ldn 65 or higher and between the Ldn 60-65, aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 19.95 acres in size and is located east of Racefield Lane (Route 877) and north of Stone Springs Boulevard (Route 2625) in the Blue Ridge election district. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN#: 203-39-0320. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment)), which supports primarily Office, Production, Flex space, and Warehousing uses as well as startups and established businesses with limited Retail uses at a floor area ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0.
ZCPA-2020-0002 DULLES 2000 REDEVELOPMENT (Zoning Concept Plan Amendment)
BCG JV Sterling LLC, of New York, New York has submitted an application to amend the existing proffers and concept development plan (“CDP”) approved with ZMAP-1987-0031, Dulles 2000, in order to eliminate the requirement for a portion of the uses on the property to be Research and Development Related uses and to amend the layout of approved building footprints, parking, and landscaping with a decrease in density from 0.64 Floor to Area Ratio (FAR) to 0.44 FAR. The subject property is located in the PD-RDP (Planned Development – Research and Development Park) zoning district, subject to the 1972 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District and is also located outside of but within one mile of the Airport Overlay Impact District (AOID). The subject property is approximately 23.67 acre portion of a larger parcel is located on the east side of Sully Road (Route 28), west of Shaw Road (Route 836) and south of Old Ox Road (Route 606) in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 035-45-7494 and PIN: 034-16-0552. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Urban Policy Area (Urban Transit Center Place Type)) which designate this area for a range of Residential, Retail, Office, Entertainment, and Community Activity uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 2.0.
CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE
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To rezone cial) zoning – Industrial elopment of 993 Zoning 2) A Special xception to ubject to the nder Section :
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he existing 00, in order evelopment ping with a s located in bject to the e 28 Taxing ict (AOID). east side of 606) in the 45-7494 and Plan (Urban Residential, Ratio (FAR)
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FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Legal Notices ZMAP-2020-0002, SPEX-2020-0007, ZMOD-2020-0002, ZMOD-2020-0003 ZMOD-2020-0004 & ZMOD-2021-0001 BELMONT EXECUTIVE PLAZA (Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception & Zoning Modifications)
RP Belmont Land, LLC, of Arlington, Virginia, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 16.24 acres from the PD-OP (Planned Development – Office Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the R-16 ADU (Townhouse/Multifamily Residential-16, ADU Development Regulations) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop 202 Residential units, consisting of a maximum 142 multifamily units and a maximum of 60 single family attached units, at a density of approximately 12.43 dwelling units per acre. The applicant is also requesting a Special Exception to permit the modification of the minimum yard requirements for ADU developments in the R-16 ADU zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the proposed modification of the minimum yard requirements for ADU developments in the R-16 ADU zoning district is listed as Special Exception under Section 7-903(C)(3). The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s): ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION
PROPOSED MODIFICATION
§3-607(B) (2) R-16 Townhouse/Multifamily Residential, Building Requirements, Building Height, Multifamily.
Increase maximum permitted building height for multifamily buildings from 45 feet to 55 feet.
§5-200(A)(6), Permitted Structures in Required Yards and Setbacks, In all yards or setbacks, including a front yard.
Allow for porches, enclosed, or unenclosed, to project a maximum of nine (9) feet, provided that such projection does not extend closer than nine (9) feet to a lot line.
§5-1303(B)(4), Tree Planting and Replacement, Canopy Requirements, For development requiring a plan of subdivision, but not a site plan, property not zoned A-3, A-10, AR-1, AR-2, i.e. single family and duplex dwellings.
Allow for the applicant to plant required street trees in alternative locations and not require the planting of trees in areas dedicated for vehicular access.
§5-1403(B) Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Road Corridor Buffers and Setbacks, Road Corridor Buffers and Setbacks Matrix, Table Section 5-1403 (B).
Reduce the required building setback from 75 feet to 35 feet along Russell Branch Parkway.
The subject property is approximately 16.24 acres in size and is located on the westside of Russell Branch Parkway (Route 1061), east of Belmont Ridge Road (Route 659) and south of Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7) in the Ashburn Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 083-26-4935. 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 recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 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. To arrange a time to view the file at the Loudoun County Government Center, please email dpz@loudoun.gov or call 703-777-0246, or you may view the file electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. 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). Additionally, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically the week before the hearing at www.loudoun.gov/pc. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, members of the public are encouraged to view the public hearing electronically; however, the Board Room will be open for any members of the public who wish to attend in person with appropriate physical distancing. Planning Commission public hearings are available for viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23, Open Band Channel 40, and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/webcast. All members of the public will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. If you wish to sign up in advance of the hearing, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing. Speakers may also sign up at the hearing. Written comments are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 3rd Floor, MSC #62, Leesburg, Virginia 20175, or by e-mail to loudounpc@loudoun.gov. Any individual representing and/or proposing to be the sole speaker on behalf of a citizen’s organization or civic association is encouraged to contact the Department of Planning and Zoning prior to the date of the public hearing if special arrangements for additional speaking time and/or audiovisual equipment will be requested. Such an organization representative will be allotted 6 minutes to speak, and the Chairman may grant additional time if the request is made prior to the date of the hearing and the need for additional time is reasonably justified. Citizens are encouraged to call the Department of Planning and Zoning on the day of the public hearing to confirm that an item is on the agenda, or, the most current agenda may be viewed on the Planning Commission’s website at www.loudoun.gov/pc. In the event that the second Thursday is a holiday or the meeting may not be held due to inclement weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend, the meeting will be moved to the third Tuesday of the month. In the event that Tuesday is a holiday or the Tuesday meeting may not be held due to inclement weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend, the meeting will be held on the following Thursday. The meeting will be held at a place determined by the Chairman. Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings at all other locations. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246. Please provide three days’ notice. BY ORDER OF:
FOREST HAYES, CHAIRMAN LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
02/04 & 02/11/21
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
PUBLIC NOTICE The LOUDOUN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT has accepted application for preliminary/record plat of subdivision for the following project.
SBPR-2021-0001 Willowsford Greens Section 18 Mr. Mark Trostle, of SEM Land Associates, LLC, of Ashburn, Virginia is requesting preliminary/record plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately fifty-three (53) acres into fifteen (15) single family detached residential lots and four (4) open space parcels. The property is located east of Peach Orchard Lane, south of Braddock Road, and west of Dahlia Manor Place. The property is zoned TR3UBF (Transitional Residential-3 Upper Branch Foley) under the provisions of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is more particularly described as PINs 327-30-7220, 327-29-7094, and 327-20-9240 located in the Blue Ridge Election District. Additional information regarding this application may be found on the Loudoun Online Land Applications System www.loudoun.gov/LOLA by searching for SBPR-2021-0001. Complete copies of the above referenced application(s) are also available for public review at the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, Land Development File Room, 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Dustin Canterbury at dustin.canterbury@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to The Department of Building and Development 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by March 19, 2021. The Department of Building and Development will take action on the above application(s) in accordance with the requirements for preliminary subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.08 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO). 02/11/21
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316
ABC LICENSE
Brazza Steaks on Stakes Woodfire Grill Carne en Vara LLC, trading as Brazza Steaks on Stakes, 46950 Community Plz Ste 111, Sterling, Loudoun, Virginia 20164 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Winery license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Carlos Alcazar, LLC member Gabriela Arias Rotondo, member Mariela Oviedo, member 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. 02/04 & 02/11/21
Case No.:
J044816-01-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Alexander Beers Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v. Cathryn Beers, mother and John Beers, putative father The object of this suit is to hold a status hearing in child in need of services’ matter pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-228 and 16.1-241 for Alexander Beers. It is ORDERED that the defendants Cathryn Beers, mother and John Beers, putative father appear at the above-named Court to protect their interests on or before March 2, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. 02/04, 02/11, 02/18 & 02/25/21
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
PAGE 27
Legal Notices RESOLUTION NO. 2021-001
PRESENTED January 21, 2021 ADOPTED January 21, 2021
A RESOLUTION: TO ALLOW THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO CONTINUE MEETINGS IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2-195 of the Leesburg Town Code and Section 1.2 of the Planning Commission Bylaws and Rules of Procedures, the Planning Commission holds regular meetings on the first and third Thursdays of each month; and WHEREAS, Virginia Code§ 15.2-2214, authorizes local planning commissions to adopt at a regular meeting a resolution that "fix(es) the day or days to which any meeting shall be continued if the chainnan, or vice-chairman if the chairman is unable to act, finds and declares that weather or other conditions are such that it is hazardous for members to attend the meeting"; and WHEREAS, § 15.2-2214 further states that when such finding occurs, it shall be communicated to the members and press as promptly as possible, and all hearings and other matters previously advertised for such meeting shall be conducted at the continued meeting with no further advertisement required; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission wishes to adopt a resolution that will allow it to continue Commission meetings in the event of inclement weather in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of its members and the public. THEREFORE, RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the Town of Leesburg, Virginia, as follows: 1. Any Planning Commission meeting may be continued upon a declaration by the chairman, or vice-chairman if the chairman is unable to act, that weather or other conditions are such that it is hazardous for members to attend the meeting; and 2. In such event, such declaration shall be communicated to the Commission members and the press as promptly as possible, the affected meeting shall be continued to the next regularlyscheduled meeting date, and all hearings and other matters advertised for the date of the affected meeting shall be conducted at the continued meeting without further advertisement; and 3. A copy of this Resolution shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation within the Town of Leesburg as soon as practicable, and no Planning Commission meeting shall be continued pursuant to this Resolution until at least seven (7) days after the date of?Jh publication. PASSED this 21st day of January, 2021.
02/11/21
TOWN OF LEESBURG IS SEEKING LETTERS OF INTEREST FOR AVAILABLE OFFICE SPACE TO LEASE The Town of Leesburg is seeking letters of interest to evaluate leasing office space. The preferred office space to lease would need to be ADA accessible and include a minimum of one conference room, two offices, restroom access, 4 parking spaces, and be within close proximity to Town Hall. The minimum size for each space should be as follows: Office 1: 200 square feet; Office 2: 130 square feet; Conference Room: 240 square feet. When submitting your letter of interest, please include an address and description of the available space, the monthly fee, the proposed lease term, and a breakdown of what is included such as utilities, internet, etc… If you have office space available for lease please submit a letter stating your interest by email, mail, or hand delivery to the Town Manager’s Office, c/o Tara Belote, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, tbelote@leesburgva.gov. All letters of interest must be received by Wednesday, February 17, 2021.
Pursuant to June 30, 20 published fo to appropria
The estimat
PUBLIC NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)
Three publi p.m.; and o speak at onl
The Town of Leesburg will accept sealed proposals electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva. virginia.gov), until 3:00 p.m. on March 10, 2021 for the following:
RFP No. 100124-FY21-27 Electronic Marketing Strategy and Website Consultant
The Board o Loudoun Co online at ww
Due to the C for any mem 23, Open Ba izens are en comments r Citizens wil welcomed a materials at
The followi
The Town is soliciting sealed proposals from qualified firms to assist in the development of an electronic marketing strategy and the creation of a new standalone website for the Town’s Economic Development Department.
OPERAT
For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard
School G
02/04 & 02/11/21
2/11/21
County G
School O
School Le
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2021 TAX EXEMPTION INFORMATION Pursuant to §58.1-3604 of the Code of Virginia, the Loudoun County Commissioner of the Revenue has determined that the 2020 aggregate assessed value of all real property exempted from taxation under §§58.1-3607 and 58.1-3608, and Articles 3, 4 and 5 of Chapter 36 of Title 58.1 of the Code of Virginia is $7,571,397,150. This aggregate assessed value represents 7.4 percent of all real property assessed in the County.
LoudounNow.com
EMS Tran
TOWN OF LEESBURG
Housing F
Legal Res
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AMENDING TOWN CODE CHAPTER 24 (OFFENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS), ARTICLE V (OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC PEACE AND ORDER), SECTION 24-182 (NOISE ORDINANCE) REGARDING NOISE GENERATED BY GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES ON PUBLIC PROPERTY In accordance with the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, §§ 15.2-1102, 15.2-980 and 15.2-1427, the Leesburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on:
Tuesday, February 23, 2021, at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA. at which time the public shall have the right to present oral and written testimony on the following proposed amendment to the Town Code:
Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue Loudoun County
(4) Exceptions. Subsections (3)a.—j. above shall have no application to any sound generated by any of the following:
Loudoun Tech Center Office 21641 Ridgetop Circle, Ste 100, Sterling MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 8000, Leesburg, VA 20177-9804 Phone: 703-777-0260 E-mail: realestate@loudoun.gov Website: www.loudoun.gov/cor 02/11 & 02/18/21
Other Spe
Rental As
Restricted
Self-Insur State and
Operatin
The total reduction in tax revenues resulting from such exemptions is $76,471,111 based on the maximum proposed tax rate of $1.010 per $100 of assessed value.
Government Center Office 1 Harrison St. SE, 1st Floor, Leesburg
Metro Ga
Town Code Section 24-182 (Noise Ordinance):
(Intervening sections are unchanged) d. Activities on or in municipal, county, state, United States, or school athletic facilities, or on or in publicly owned property and facilities, conducted by the town or any other governmental entity or institution. Copies of the proposed ordinance are available for public examination prior to the public hearing in the office of the Clerk of Council at Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA, during normal business hours. For more information about the ordinance, please contact Eileen Boeing, Clerk of Council, at 703-771-2733. Persons requiring reasonable accommodations are requested to contact Eileen Boeing, Clerk of Council at 703-771-2733, three days in advance of the public hearing. For TTY/TTD services, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 02/11 & 02/18/21
DEBT SE
County G
School Sy Greenlea Route 28
Tall Oaks
Debt Ser
CAPITA
County G
County A
School Sy
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PAGE 28
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Legal Notices NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING COUNTY OF LOUDOUN, VIRGINIA
Proposed Budget for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022 Proposed Tax Rates for Tax Year 2021 Pursuant to Section 15.2-2506 and Section 58.1-3007 of the Code of Virginia, the County of Loudoun, Virginia (the “County”), gives notice of its proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2022 (the FY 2022 Proposed Budget); and the proposed tax rates on real and personal property for Tax Year 2021, beginning January 1, 2021, and ending December 31, 2021. The budget is prepared and published for informative and fiscal planning purposes only. The inclusion in the budget of any item or items does not constitute any obligation or commitment on the part of the Board of Supervisors of the County to appropriate any funds for that item or purpose. There is no allocation or designation of any funds of the County for any purpose until there has been an appropriation for that purpose by the Board of Supervisors. The estimated local match for the school budget is $1,042,696,771. This is the local tax revenue proposed for the Loudoun County Public Schools to fund its Fiscal Year 2022 budget for public schools. Three public hearings on the proposed budget and the proposed tax rates will be held by the Board of Supervisors in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.; and on Saturday, February 27, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. Any member of the public may address the Board of Supervisors on these matters; however, each member of the public wishing to address the Board may speak at only one of the sessions. The Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room is located in the Loudoun County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, SE, Leesburg, Virginia. Copies of the FY 2022 Proposed Budget 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. The FY 2022 Proposed Budget is also available online at www.loudoun.gov/budget. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic this public hearing may be conducted as an electronic meeting. Members of the public are encouraged to view the public hearing electronically; however, the Board Room will be open for any members of the public who wish to attend in person with appropriate physical distancing. Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23, Open Band Channel 40 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/webcast. All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. Instructions for remote participation will be forwarded to all individuals who sign-up in advance and who would like to provide their comments remotely. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on February 11, 2021. 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. All speakers will be limited to two minutes and 30 seconds so that all in attendance may have the opportunity to speak. Written comments are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Board of Supervisors, 1 Harrison Street, SE, Leesburg, Virginia 20177 or by e-mail to loudounbudget@loudoun.gov. If submitting written comments, information or materials at the hearing, 10 copies should be provided for distribution to the Board members and for the Clerk’s records. The following is a brief synopsis of the budget: Proposed Appropriations Category
FY 2022 Proposed Expenditures
FY 2022 Proposed Revenue
FY 2022 Proposed Local Tax Funding
FY 2021 Adopted Local Tax Funding
Local Tax Funding Variance
OPERATING County General Fund
$694,610,376.30
$214,718,334.00
$479,892,042.30
$423,300,488.63
$56,591,553.67
School Operating Fund
1,492,724,899.00
450,028,128.00
1,042,696,771.00
885,714,899.00
156,981,872.00
School Grant Fund
29,918,334.00
29,918,334.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
School Lease Purchase Fund
10,002,000.00
10,002,000.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
School Nutrition Fund
37,162,564.00
37,162,564.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Children’s Services Act Fund
9,554,193.00
5,869,193.00
3,685,000.00
3,185,000.00
500,000.00
Dulles Town Center CDA Fund
3,500,000.00
3,500,000.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
EMS Transport Program
5,225,000.00
5,225,000.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Housing Fund
5,000,000.00
5,000,000.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
120,847.00
44,980.00
75,867.00
71,645.00
4,222.00
1,995,578.00
1,995,578.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Legal Resource Center Fund Metro Garages Fund Other Special Revenue Funds
91,000.00
91,000.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Rental Assistance Fund
9,767,953.00
9,525,563.00
242,390.00
177,390.00
65,000.00
Restricted Use Transient Occupancy Tax
3,065,000.00
3,065,000.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Self-Insurance Fund
5,455,700.00
0.00
5,455,700.00
5,455,700.00
0.00
State and Federal Grant Fund
4,189,545.00
4,189,545.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
$2,312,382,989.30
$780,335,219.00
$1,532,047,770.30
$1,317,905,122.63
$214,142,647.67
County Government
$90,317,178.00
$28,706,176.00
$61,611,002.00
$57,708,419.54
$3,902,582.46
School System
143,034,799.00
5,974,969.00
137,059,830.00
141,137,778.96
(4,077,948.96)
Operating Subtotal DEBT SERVICE
Greenlea Tax District Route 28 Special Improvements Fund Tall Oaks Water and Sewer Special Revenue Fund Debt Service Subtotal
44,038.00
44,038.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
12,709,100
12,709,100
0.00
0.00
0.00
60,572.00
60,572.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
$246,165,687.00
$47,494,855.00
$198,670,832.00
$198,846,198.50
($175,366.50)
$257,951,671.64
$144,478,073.94
$113,473,597.70
$65,490,196.36
$47,983,401.34
11,720,000.00
100,000.00
11,620,000.00
11,395,000.00
225,000.00
163,990,000.00
149,626,000.00
14,364,000.00
24,420,000.00
(10,056,000.00)
CAPITAL County Government Capital Projects County Asset Preservation Program School System Capital Projects
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
PAGE 29
Legal Notices School System Asset Preservation Capital Projects Financing Fund Major Equipment Replacement Fund Public Facilities Fund
24,543,000.00
0.00
24,543,000.00
24,261,000.00
282,000.00
216,112,276.00
216,112,276.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
4,000,000.00
0.00
4,000,000.00
2,000,000.00
2,000,000.00
3,862,571.94
3,862,571.94
0.00
0.00
0.00
81,836,285.30
58,120,285.30
23,716,000.00
18,637,572.51
5,078,427.49
$764,015,804.88
$572,299,207.18
$191,716,597.70
$146,203,768.87
$45,512,828.83
Unallocated Balance
$0
$0
$0
$3,333,420.00
($3,333,420)
LCPS Reserve
$0
$0
$0
$60,000,000.00
($60,000,000.00)
$3,322,564,481.18
$1,400,129,281.18
$1,922,435,200.00
$1,726,288,510.00
$196,146,690.00
Transportation District Fund Capital Subtotal
TOTAL PROPOSED APPROPRIATIONS
SUMMARY OF PROPERTY TAX RATES
Pursuant to Va. Code § 58.1-3007, the Board of Supervisors gives notice of the proposed increase or other change in certain local property tax rates for Tax Year 2021 as indicated below: Adopted Tax Year 2020
Maximum Proposed Tax Year 2021
All Real Estate (including mobile homes used as residences); and Public Service Corporation Real Estate & Tangible Personal Property (except automobiles, trucks & aircraft) (Va. Code § 58.1-2606)
$1.035
$1.010
Commercial and Industrial Real Estate in Route 28 Highway Transportation Improvement District (Va. Code § 15.2-4607); and Public Service Corporation Real Estate &Tangible Personal Property in the district, except automobiles, trucks & aircraft, (in addition to the general rate applicable to all real estate in the County and the rate for any other service district where the property is located, if applicable)
$0.170
$0.180
Real Estate in the Hamilton Sewer Service District (in addition to the general rate applicable to all real estate in the County and the rate for any other tax district where the real estate is located, if applicable)
$0.000
$0.000
Real Estate in the Metrorail Service District; and Public Service Corporation Real Estate & Tangible Personal Property in the district, except automobiles, trucks & aircraft (in addition to the general rate applicable to all real estate in the County and the rate for any other service district where the property is located, if applicable)
$0.200
$0.200
Real Estate in the Loudoun Gateway-Airport Station Service District; and Public Service Corporation Real Estate & Tangible Personal Property in the district, except automobiles, trucks & aircraft (in addition to the general rate applicable to all real estate in the County and the rate for any other service district where the property is located, if applicable)
$0.000
$0.000
Real Estate in the Ashburn Station Service District; and Public Service Corporation Real Estate & Tangible Personal Property in the district, except automobiles, trucks & aircraft (in addition to the general rate applicable to all real estate in the County and the rate for any other service district where the property is located, if applicable)
$0.000
$0.000
Tangible Personal Property (to include all categories of tangible personal property unless the category and rate is set out separately in this notice), including automobiles and trucks of Public Service Corporations (Va. Code § 58.1-2606 (B))
$4.200
$4.200
Tangible Personal Property Used in a Research and Development Business (Va. Code § 58.1-3506 (A)(7)); and Machinery and Tools (Va. Code §§ 58.1-3507 et seq.)
$2.750
$2.750
Tangible Personal Property – Motor Vehicles of Eligible Elderly and Disabled (Va. Code § 58.1-3506.1; Chapter 873 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County)
$2.100
$2.100
Tangible Personal Property – Eligible Motor Vehicle of a Qualified Permanently Disabled Veteran (Va. Code § 58.1-3506(A)(19))
$0.010
$0.010
Tangible Personal Property – Aircraft and Flight Simulators (Va. Code § 58.1-3506 (A) (5)), including aircraft of Public Service Corporations (Va. Code § 58.12606 (B))
$0.010
$0.010
Tangible Personal Property – Heavy Construction Machinery (Va. Code § 58.1-3506 (A)(8))
$4.000
$4.000
Tangible Personal Property – Motor Vehicles specially equipped to provide transportation for physically handicapped individuals (Va. Code § 58.1-3506 (A) (14))
$0.010
$0.010
Tangible Personal Property – Eligible Motor Vehicles of Fire and Rescue Volunteers and Auxiliary Members and Auxiliary Deputy Sheriffs (Va. Code § 58.13506 (A)(15), (16) & (32))
$0.010
$0.010
Tangible Personal Property – Satellite Manufacturing, Testing and Operating Equipment within Route 28 Highway Transportation Improvement District (Va. Code § 58.1-3506 (A) (21))
$0.010
$0.010
Tangible Personal Property – Furniture, Office and Maintenance Equipment (except motor vehicles) owned and used by Homeowners Associations (Va. Code § 58.1-3506 (A)(24))
$0.010
$0.010
Tangible Personal Property – Motor Vehicles, Trailers and Semi-trailers of Interstate Motor Carriers (Va. Code § 58.1-3506 (A)(25))
$2.750
$2.750
Tangible Personal Property – Qualifying Wireless Broadband Equipment (Va. Code § 58.1-3506 (A)(37))
$2.100
$2.100
Tangible Personal Property – Four-wheeled, low-speed vehicles (Va. Code § 58.1-3506 (A)(38))
$0.010
$0.010
Tangible Personal Property – Motor Vehicles Powered Solely by Electricity (Va. Code § 58.1-3506 (A)(40))
$4.200
$4.200
Tangible Personal Property – Motor Vehicles of Uniformed Members of the Virginia Defense Force (Va. Code § 58.1-3506 (A)(44))
$0.010
$0.010
Wild or Exotic Animals kept for public exhibition and properly licensed by the federal government and/or the Commonwealth (Va. Code § 58.1-3506 (A)(23))
$0.010
$0.010
Type of Taxable Property
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
02/11 & 02/18/21
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PAGE 30
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Legal Notices TOWN OF LEESBURG ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID
LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR: SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT SERVICES, RFP No. 333788 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, March 17, 2021. 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. 02/11/21
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.
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ATTENTION LOUDOUN COUNTY BUSINESS OWNERS MARCH 1 DEADLINE Notification of 2021 business tax filing requirements has been mailed to each business and self-employed person on our tax rolls. The notification contains the account number and owner name necessary to report both business receipts and business equipment online.
BUSINESS LICENSE RENEWAL DUE MARCH 1 Business owners who possess a 2020 Loudoun County Business License must obtain a 2021 license by reporting their calendar year 2020 gross receipts and paying the applicable license tax or fee at www. loudoun.gov/efile. The annual FILING and PAYMENT DEADLINE is midnight, March 1. After reporting the business’ receipts online, filers will be provided with a link to pay online as well. Owners of new businesses must obtain a license within 30 days of beginning business. Owners of businesses located in one of Loudoun’s incorporated towns should contact the respective town regarding business licensing requirements.
BUSINESS EQUIPMENT REPORTING DUE MARCH 1 Owners of business equipment that was located in Loudoun County on January 1, 2021, must report it for taxation at www.loudoun.gov/efile. The reporting of original cost, year of purchase, location, and item description for all business equipment in the county is due by midnight, March 1. Resulting semi-annual tax bills for this equipment must be paid to the Treasurer by the May 5 and October 5 deadlines. The reporting of business equipment is made to the Commissioner of the Revenue for all businesses in the County whether within or outside of an incorporated town. Business owners subject to local business taxes must file annually, even if there is no tax due or property to declare. Address changes and notification of business closure should also be reported at www. loudoun.gov/efile. To protect the safety of taxpayers and staff and slow the spread of COVID-19, we encourage you to connect with us virtually. Most transactions with our office can be done online. For information or filing assistance, please visit www.loudoun.gov/cor or contact my office at btcor@loudoun. gov or 703-777-0260. You may also stop by my offices weekdays, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, however, we recommend you contact our office beforehand as our office hours may be adjusted due to the pandemic. Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue Loudoun County
IFB NO. 15301-FY21-08 SYCOLIN ROAD WIDENING PHASE IV LANDSCAPING (LEESBURG SOUTHERN CORPORATE LIMITS TO TOLBERT LANE SE) **NOTE: The Town of Leesburg has implemented revised procurement procedures during the COVID-19 State of Emergency. Effective January 1, 2021, and for the duration of the Emergency or until further notice, all bids and proposals in response to a formal solicitation issued by the Town will be securely received via eVA, the Commonwealth’s eProcurement website. Additionally, during this time the Town will not conduct in-person public bid openings. ** SEALED BIDS to construct the above project WILL BE RECEIVED by the Town of Leesburg, electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia.gov), UNTIL BUT NO LATER THAN 3:00 P.M. ON THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021. Bids shall be submitted electronically using the following naming convention: the IFB number and the name of the bidder (i.e. “IFB No. 15301FY21-08_Your Company’s Name”). A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. via Cisco Webex. Cisco Webex conferencing information, including instructions to join the meeting via computer and/or phone, will be available from the Town’s Bid Board. All questions regarding this bid must be submitted in writing via email to CapitalBidQuestions@ leesburgva.gov until but no later than 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday, February 23, 2021. Bids will be publicly opened via Cisco Webex using the eVA e-Procurement website at the due date and time listed above. The bid opening will be livestreamed via Cisco Webex and made available to the public. Cisco Webex conferencing information will be available, including instructions to join the meeting via computer and/or phone, from the Town’s Bid Board. Work includes tree plantings, spreading topsoil, maintenance including watering and all incidentals related thereto. The Town reserves the right to perform all, part, or none of the work. Bid Documents are available for download from the Town’s Bid Board at http://www.leesburgva.gov/ bidboard. Any addenda issued for this project will be posted on the Town’s Bid Board and eVA (https://eva.virginia.gov) with a courtesy email to those firms who have registered on the Town’s Bid Board. It is the bidders’ responsibility to provide a correct email address and to be aware of any addenda. Bud Siegel, P.E., Acting Manager Office of Capital Projects 02/11/21
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FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Opinion A Community Effort When students return to their classrooms next week they can expect to be greeted by familiar faces, but it may not be the same learning environment they remember from their last visit, whether that was last March or in December. They’ll be scanned at the door by thermal cameras looking to detect unreported fevers. Their desks will be adorned with new plastic partitions designed to contain expelled molecules. Staff members will be on the lookout to report, secretly if necessary, any violations of adopted safety protocols. That is the latest “new normal.” The key change is that the continuation of in-person learning won’t be closely linked to outside factors, but instead to the ability of those in the classroom to prevent spreading the virus to others. It took too long for national, state and local leaders to arrive at that more practical assessment, but it provides a clear path forward. So far, the school division has demonstrated the ability to avoid outbreaks, even during the limited experience with in-person classes before spiking community spread triggered a shutdown just before the winter break. Only a relative handful of students have contracted the virus through on-campus
LETTERS to the Editor
transmissions, and many of those occurred in athletic, not classroom, settings. At the low-density level of hybrid learning, safety has been well demonstrated. However, as several School Board members have pointed out, that continued success will depend on careful adherence to safety standards by students and educators off campus, as well. The ability of students and staff members to maintain that safety record will be the driving factor in the decision to provide additional expansion of in-person learning before the end of this school year. If the trends continue, administrators expect to be able to offer at least four days of in-person learning per week as early as April. Making that happen won’t be just a staff effort or a School Board effort, but a continuing community effort. n
Norman K. Styer, Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com
Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC 15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723
EDITORIAL Renss Greene, Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com Jan Mercker, Reporter jmercker@loudounnow.com Kara C. Rodriguez, Reporter krodriguez@loudounnow.com Patrick Szabo, Reporter pszabo@loudounnow.com
Loudoun Now is delivered by mail to more than 44,000 Loudoun homes and businesses, with a total weekly distribution of 47,000.
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Out of Touch Editor: Recently, I was asked to consider serving on LCPS’s equity committee. The committee’s representatives provided background information and reading materials to catch me up on the committee’s progress. However, it was clear there is little room here for diverse opinions and perspectives because the committee has already chosen an extreme, out of touch equity agenda that fails to embrace true diversity and encourage freedom of thought. I declined to join this committee. In the welcome letter, the committee said, “The diversity of the group allows us to focus on the common goals of ensuring equitable outcomes.” Not everyone thinks that equity and outcome constitute the wisest approach. Many parents believe equality and opportunity are the right, unifying principles that should be taught to our children to prepare and equip them to live in a world that does not guarantee any equitable outcomes.
Mike Gonzalez, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, says, “Equity means treating Americans unequally to ensure that outcomes are equalized—the old tried (and failed) Marxian standard.” I don’t just reflexively agree with the Heritage Foundation, but I believe Mr. Gonzalez is right. Much ink has been spilled warning local, state, and national government officials against adopting a Marxist approach toward public policy in education that seeks to force a biased outcome. It would have been wise to heed that advice. Instead, LCPS has chosen to adopt an extreme equity and outcomes agenda based on Marxist values and not Main Street values. Embracing diverse opinions from LCPS parents and citizens would have greatly informed LCPS’s policy goal to improve how administrators pursue improving equality and opportunity for students in Loudoun County. For example, LCPS has adopted dictating LETTERS TO THE EDITOR continues on page 33
Correction Last week’s article on the School Board decision to resume and expand hybrid learning incorrectly reported the vote. The motion was approved 8-1, with Denise Corbo (At Large) opposed. Loudoun Now regrets the error.
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
Readers’ Poll
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
LAST WEEK'S QUESTION:
The General Assembly is on a path to legalize the use of recreational marijuana during this session. What is your view?
Will the latest General Assembly effort to address Dulles Greenway tolls affect your commute?
LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 32 enrollment outcomes as a strategic goal in its LCPS Gifted Program. Every year, LCPS seeks to increase enrollment in the EDGE, Propel, and Level-Up programs by 10% and expand access to schools with the highest enrollment of so-called “underrepresented groups” in the LCPS Gifted Program; LCPS seeks to increase enrollment in gifted programs that do not limit any student from joining based on race. Currently, in the Academies of Loudoun, LCPS reports 47% Asian, 35% White, 20% Hispanic, and 5% Black students. These students should be identified by their exceptional talent not their race. How far is LCPS willing to go to impact statistics based solely on students’ racial makeups? Is LCPS ready to lower the standards and undermine grading practices to achieve the “outcome” they seek? Discrimination exists everywhere humans do, in all forms. We cannot and should not lie to our children by telling them that we can reliably force equitable outcomes for them. We should instead combat prejudice in all its forms with our current laws while increasing our focus on the unifying principles of equality and opportunity for all students, regardless of their skin color. Leveling the playing field so children have equal opportunity is the wisest approach to ensuring our children enjoy security, liberty, and prosperity in Loudoun County, Virginia, and America. — Scott Goodspeed, Leesburg
Replace Them Editor: The recent letters to the editor from
PAGE 33
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Shelly Slebrch, Ann Muhall, and Geary Higgins speak loudly to current issues we the people of Loudoun County have with our elected representatives: The Board of Supervisors and the Loudoun County School Board. It appears that the way to get elected officials to listen is to threaten their power by our votes. Look at the real traction in California for a recall petition of Gov. Gavin Newsome. Seems as though he is starting to listen and somehow miraculously declared it might be time to re-open that economy. Not surprisingly many governors and mayors had changes of heart about shutdowns and school closings on Jan. 7. Elected officials believe that it is more important to tear down historical statues, rename streets, erase history, and promote racism against all things white instead of dealing with the economic and public health issues that we are facing today. We all need to get out and vote in every election that affects our lives, especially local elections. If our school board is failing us—then let’s replace them. If our Board of Supervisors are self-serving and playing politics—then let’s replace them. Our children are the big losers in all this, and we simply cannot let it continue. We do not need to sit by idly and be forced to deal with problems affecting our children, families, and communities with our hands tied behind our backs. It is time to take back our state and local governments and demand that they represent us, the residents of Loudoun County. — A. Troche, Leesburg
Rural broadband continued from page 4 alongside a coalition of four Northern Neck-area counties. And, Friedrich indicated, in general smaller providers like All Points are so far the best candidates for those kinds of projects, with large communications franchisees expressing little interest in expanding their networks further than they have to. Meanwhile, some parts of the county’s broadband plans are still getting off the ground. One plan, to establish a uniform fee for telecommunications land development applications, will require a zoning ordi-
Greenway tolls continued from page 4 Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), who has pushed the state to curb toll increases for years. “The argument that will be made is that they would only agree to something that’s beneficial to the county, and as the chair said, I believe that the individuals involved do believe that, but I also think that we’ve been dealing with the Greenway for a very long time,” Letourneau said. “The Greenway wants this bill, and there’s a reason they want this bill, and they’re looking for certain things that will make it easier for them down the road, which is not necessarily in our interests.” And, he pointed out, the bill is not necessary to hold similar negotiations. “We don’t shut down negotiations—all
nance amendment, a legislative process expected to begin in March. County staff members have met about establishing a “Telecommunications Application Ombudsman” program but have not yet decided who could take on that responsibility. And county staff members are still discussing among themselves an idea to coordinate with power companies to extend broadband service. County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) urged staff members to seek temporary, interim solutions while those longer-term fixes are in the works. “All the issues we’re having right now, we’re having right now,” Randall said. “Telehealth, telelearning—all of it is right now, and it does provide an unequal disadvantage for people who can’t get this.” n we do is shut down the ability to execute them without any say from the General Assembly or from anybody else,” Letourneau said. “So, I think let them go and have a discussion all summer long and see if there is a deal, and then bring that back to the General Assembly next year, and let it be transparent and public.” “We still have no power, and we lose four million dollars,” Randall said of the bill. “It’s one thing to have no power and some money, but now we’re going to have no power and no money. That makes just no sense at all to me.” Reid did not respond to a request for an interview. The House passed the bill 90-9, with one delegate abstaining. In the Senate, it was sent to review in the Committee on Transportation and was continued to the 2021 special session. n
PAGE 34
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
General Assembly continued from page 1 landmark bills legalizing recreational marijuana use, abolishing the death penalty and requiring schools to reopen in the fall. For Loudoun’s Richmond delegation, too, 2021 stands to be a big year. For one thing, after decades of trying and getting stopped short, bills to fight toll increases on the Dulles Greenway have cruised through both chambers with overwhelming support. “I think in the past, the Greenway and its operators have essentially divided the delegation, and confused people on some of the basic facts around this,” said Del. Suhas Subramanyam (D-87), who along with other Loudoun representatives this year introduced a bill designed to curb toll increases and close financing loopholes. “I think this year is different because the entire delegation is united, and because I think there’s been enough education and enough awareness of what needs to get done,” Subramanyam said. “[…] I think it was just a matter of in the past educating our general assembly colleagues, I think we did that with a lot of hard work and preparation this year.” That bill incorporates not only some of the main points pushed since it was first introduced years ago by then-Del. David I. Ramadan, Subramanyam’s predecessor in the seat, but also addresses some of the issues pointed to by a State Corporation Commission hearing examiner in an ongoing application to increase tolls for the next five years. “It wasn’t a Republican solution or a Democratic solution, and this is the first time it’s been a joint solution of the Richmond delegation and the local officials, so it’s the first time we’ve all been on the same page—that’s huge,” said Sen. John J. Bell (D-13). “Second, we just got an examiner’s report from the SCC on the rate case, and that really gave us all the specific recommendations we needed.” “We’ve tried to work with the representatives of the Greenway to try to get them to do something on their own, and we haven’t had that success,” said Sen. Jennifer B. Boysko (D-33). “I know that the Secretary of Transportation has been trying as well, and I think the thought behind it for us as legislators is, we’ve got to take action. No more waiting. We’ve tried in good faith to bring everybody to the table.” “I think a lot of it has to do with our wonderful Board of Supervisors, because they came together,” said Del. Wendy W. Gooditis (D-10). “It was hard for us to be together in Richmond when our localities weren’t getting together yet.” With hundreds of bills wending through
“Legislation on trying to put and keep Dominion in check, the Greenway bill—these are pocketbook issues, that people may not realize it, but what we’re doing this session is trying to put money back in their pockets with this legislation.”
— Del. Suhas Subramanyam (D-87) the state legislature in the space of several weeks, many passed without grabbing headlines but will have real impacts on dayto-day living. For example, Subramanyam has signed on to several bills to increase oversight of Dominion Energy Virginia’s prices and bookkeeping practices, intended to push power bills down. The Dominion and Greenway bills, which have passed the House and are in the Senate, represent victories over what once were seen as unassailable lobbying forces in Richmond. “I think you have to find friends, and then you have to talk to people who have been in the way before, and educate them on why this is so important,” Subramanyam said of that success. “People don’t realize that a lot of the reasons why big things have not gotten done Richmond is because of misconceptions that have been performed by the lobbyists representing those special interests, and so it was just a matter of educating my colleagues. You know, my colleagues in the General Assembly—we’re not beholden some money, you know, a couple thousand dollars isn’t going to buy anyone’s vote, no matter what people think, but what will get their vote is when you make a really strong case for why something needs to get done.” Another bill, the Consumer Data Protection Act, would stand up some privacy protections around the data companies like Facebook or Google collect on people living in Virginia, including granting Virginians rights to access, correct, delete, and obtain a copy of their personal data and to opt out of the processing of their personal data for targeted advertising. “My niche has been finding issues that other delegates aren’t working on as much, and maybe the public isn’t even aware of, and fighting for Virginians on that front,” Subramanyam said. “Because there are a lot
of issues where, especially, monopolies or special interests have just completely controlled the General Assembly.” Gooditis, on the other hand, called herself the “emoter delegate,” and tends to tie bills back to an experience from her own life to explain their importance. “I’m definitely sort of emotion-based. My sense of wanting to care for the world is pretty overwhelming,” Gooditis said. “So in terms of minimum wage, and benefits, and unions, the right to form unions—all of those things are, for me, a sense of caring for the people who, in many, many, many cases have not been as fortunate as I have.” That includes a bill this year that the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act would no longer exclude domestic service, after the experience of her own parents who died in May. “The reason they died peacefully, at home, with no COVID, in a beautifully clean house with the most carefully prepared meals a person could have was because of domestic workers,” Gooditis said. “We had wonderful home healthcare aids who took care of them as though they were their own parents.” But she recalled her father’s stubborn refusal to use a cane or wheelchair, which meant those aids supporting him while he walked and took the occasional fall. One of those aids was a 72-year-old woman, she said, who was her house’s only source of income. “The thought of, if she had wrenched her back when my father pulled her down, and of her not having the right to worker’s comp, it’s actually ludicrous,” Gooditis said. “Why on Earth would someone like that not deserve worker’s comp? It’s time.” And the sight of empty grocery store shelves early in the pandemic contributed to her support for bills to support smalland medium-sized agriculture businesses, such as a Local Food and Farming Infrastructure Grant Program with grants up to $25,000, and a Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Program for Virginia farmers and food producers to donate or sell their products to charitable food assistance organizations. “I think that if COVID taught us anything, hopefully it taught us that supply chains are not that reliable,” Gooditis said. “And if a lot of them are out of state or suppliers that aren’t local, then when you do have a crisis, not only are we not supporting our local producers, but we’re risking our own resources, our own supply chain.” Meanwhile in the Senate, Bell has proposed allowing localities to create tourism improvement districts, with fees charged to businesses and used to fund tourism promotions and capital improvements. The locality would be authorized to contract with a nonprofit—such as many visitor
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bureaus, and in Loudoun’s case likely Visit Loudoun—to administer that program. Another bill would allow restaurants and farm wineries to sell mixed drinks to go. All of that, he said, is meant to help small businesses and the economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic—with tourism and restaurants some of the hardest-hit. “The most important thing coming into this session was, what can we do to help our economy return?” Bell said. Boysko has introduced a bill revising how Commonwealth’s Attorney Office staffing and pay levels are determined, and signed on to criminal justice reforms such as eliminating some mandatory minimum sentences and the death penalty. Many of those are meant to create a more flexible criminal justice system, support “diversion dockets” such as drug courts or mental health dockets, or better handle people with developmental or intellectual disabilities who have been charged with a crime. “There are many examples, and I work closely with the ARC of Northern Virginia, and have sat down with families who have loved ones who got caught up in something that they really didn’t understand what they were doing and their lives were completely ruined because of it.” Boysko said. “So I think giving the judges—that’s their job, they are the experts here—the opportunity to be able to listen and deliberate is what the system was intended to do.” She, too, said she has prioritized legislation to usher a recovery from the pandemic, such as expanding the number of people who can qualify to administer a vaccine. Sometimes the less attention-grabbing bills, said some lawmakers, will have the biggest effect on day-to-day life for Virginians. “Legislation on trying to put and keep Dominion in check, the Greenway bill— these are pocketbook issues, that people may not realize it, but what we’re doing this session is trying to put money back in their pockets with this legislation,” Subramanyam said. “So while guns and abortion may make the front page or marijuana may be a big issue, I think what’s going to affect their everyday lives are those issues.” Gooditis pointed to raising the minimum wage, expanding workers’ ability to unionize, and criminal justice reform bills, and said they will change life for people affected by system inequalities. “I think it’s time to try to undo some of the systemic racism, and so for me some of the criminal reform stuff including repeal of the death penalty, that goes a little way towards repealing some of those huge decades, centuries-long injustices,” Gooditis said. Track bills and legislators’ votes on the General Assembly’s Legislative Information System at lis.virginia.gov. n
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School budget continued from page 1 conditions. While budget talks will continue over the next month, Supervisor Mike Turner (D-Ashburn) announced he plans to propose the Board of Supervisors withhold 10% of the school allocation until administrators commit to providing a full return to class next fall. School Board members warned against that strategy. They said all the planning so far is based on a return to normal in-person learning, but they can’t predict what the public health situation will when classes gear up in August. Currently, state and federal guidance to maintain physical distancing in classrooms serves as the greatest hurdle to bringing schools back to full capacity. That recommendation hasn’t changed as public health leaders in recent weeks stepped up the push for schools across the county to return to some level of in-person learning. School Board Chairwoman Brenda Sheridan (Sterling) and Vice Chairwoman Atoosa Reaser (Algonkian) warned that the threat of holding back money would create too much uncertainty, undermine recruiting and retention efforts and could result
White’s Ferry continued from page 3 information with Rockland to help the parties finalize a purchase. Rockland values the Virginia-side landing at more than $3 million. Brown said the ferry operation makes less than $700,000 annually. Devlin declined to share specific numbers on Rockland’s more recent offers, as “we hopefully are still negotiating, but at least I can say that we’ve made some substantial offers.” Devlin also said Brown offered a deal where Rockland would agree to buy the
Loudoun vaccines continued from page 3 The CVS program is in addition to the state-led distribution through the Health Department. During the past week, that program has been averaging more than 1,200 doses per day at two points of distribution sites—at the former Nordstrom store at the Dulles Town Center mall for the public and at Brambleton Middle
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in layoffs. Jeff Morse (Dulles), the board’s most vocal proponent of returning students to classrooms, said such an approach could undermine efforts to resume fulltime classes. The funding, he said, would be needed to provide student extra support with special summer offerings and to hire the educators needed for the fall. While school leaders are moving forward with plans to return full time, Morse noted that guidance from public health leaders has changed frequently over the past year. “We don’t know what it is going to look like in September,” he said. Another early friction point in the budget talks is the School Board’s adopted enrollment projections—numbers that drive the staffing requirements that make up the largest part of the budget. School Board members had similar questions after then-superintendent Eric Williams initially proposed a budget based on having 6,115 more students than were enrolled last September. This year, schools opened with 2,671 fewer students than the previous year, leaving the division with more than 4,000 fewer students than expected in the budget. Williams projected those students would return and enrollment would grow beyond last year’s projections by another 1,864, to a total enrollment of 85,755.
Although administrators have expressed confidence in those figures, the School Board last week voted to roll back enrollment projections by 2%. Planning for an enrollment of 85,867 students saved $6.4 million and reduced the number of new hires needed by 65.8 full-time equivalent positions. Some supervisors questioned whether that projection remains too high. Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) said a survey of his constituents this week showed a high level of dissatisfaction with the current school year and strong support for withholding funding until the
enrollment level is known. County Administrator Tim Hemstreet was scheduled to introduce his proposed county budget, which includes the school system’s allocation, on Wednesday, Feb. 10. Supervisors directed Hemstreet to build his proposed budget on a tax rate of $1.025, one cent lower than the current rate. At that rate, it is expected that $100.2 million would be available for increased school funding. The School Board is requesting a $97 million increase. In recent years, the projected school funding shortfalls at this point in the budget process have ranged from $28 million to $5 million. n
ferry at his asking price, only seeing the ferry’s financial records after signing that contract. After a 30-day due diligence period, if Rockland decided not to buy the ferry, they would be committed to buying the landing for $400,000. Rockland has also offered White’s Ferry a deal that would provide the property owners with a steady stream of revenue, but take a chunk of ferry revenue from the ferry operators each day. Brown said the Rockland owners requested he pay them $1 for every car ferried across the river. But he said that payment wouldn’t make sense for several reasons. White’s Ferry charged commuters $2.62 per trip in package deals, or for one-way
single trips charged cars $5 and $8 for roundtrips. For motorcycles, a one-way ticket cost $3, for bicyclists, $2, and for pedestrians $1. Brown said Rockland’s offer made no sense because his team incurs all the risk and does all the heavy lifting running the ferry—oftentimes working 18 hours, seven days a week, he said. “So I’m supposed to run the ferry at a loss to pay Rockland,” he said. “They want a perpetual annuity to support the farm.” As for the ferry passes commuters have already purchased, Brown said he has sent commuters all their money back. Additionally, the White’s Ferry operators would need to spend more than $1 million
if the ferry boat needs to be replaced, and another $7,000 to replace the cable. According to Rockland Farm owners, although the property owners offered to have a mediator decide an appropriate per-vehicle fee and Loudon County officials offered to mediate the issue, White’s Ferry refused to negotiate. Moving farther into 2021, with ferry service still stalled, Brown said he wants to open the ferry back up no matter what, even if that means he has to sell it. “The Browns want that ferry open, even if somebody else owns it,” he said. “We want it open for another 150 years. … But I’m not going to open it just close it again.” n
School for educators, according to data reported through the state Department of Health. As of Feb. 9, 40,621 Loudoun residents had received at least one dose and 8,489 were fully vaccinated, according to the report. The school division completed the first stage of its vaccinations on Friday, getting shots into the arms of 10,500 employees. Starting this week, those educators will rotate back through the vaccination clinic to receive their second shot.
The program is a cooperative effort between the school division, the Loudoun County Health Department and the County Office of Emergency Management. At full capacity, the school clinic vaccinated 960 employees a day. School Board members have praised the program and the scores of individuals who worked to quickly establish the vaccination site and the systems to move employees quickly through the process—often building systems in hours or days that typically
would take weeks or months to complete. The school division center administered both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Employees will receive the same vaccine for their first and second dose. Teacher participation in the vaccination program is voluntary and the school division has no plans to require staff or students to be vaccinated prior to participating in school activities. n
State Candidates Flock to Loudoun Loudoun’s School Board wound up in national headlines after video of parent Brandon Michon screaming at them during a meeting was picked up online and on television—bringing statewide Republican candidates rushing into Loudoun to campaign outside local government meetings. Michon has become a celebrity among Republicans and was among the featured attendees during a small rally outside the county government center during the Monday meeting. The
“#FigureItOut Rally,” named for one of the statements Michon shouted at the School Board, attracted a few dozen people including TV crews and statewide Republican primary candidates including gubernatorial candidates Pete Snyder, Kirk Cox, and Sergio de la Peña; Attorney General candidate Jason Miyares; and campaigners for other candidates. In Snyder’s case, it is the second time he has campaigned outside a Loudoun School Board meeting. n
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