n LOUDOUN
4 | n EDUCATION
VOL. 9, NO. 15
10 | n PUBLIC SAFETY
13 | n PUBLIC NOTICES
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FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Hemstreet Presents $5.2B County Budget; Proposes 87.5-cent Tax Rate BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
County Administrator Tim Hemstreet is proposing a fiscal year 2025 budget that totals $5.2 billion for county government and Hemstreet public schools operations and capital projects. Hemstreet’ s budget is based on holding the real estate tax rate at 87.5 cents per $100 of accessed value. That would result in a $275 increase in the annual residential tax bills on average, while fully funding all staffing and program increases requested by county departments. Holding the tax rate steady would leave the school division $10 million short in the local tax funding needed to balance the School Board’s $1.8 billion budget. Hemstreet said that gap may be closed by increases in state funding, but he advertised a maximum 88.5-cent tax rate to give supervisors options to add to his COUNTY BUDGET continues on page 35
Doug Graham/Loudoun Now
Members of Blue Ridge Fire Company in Clarke County salute as the procession escorting volunteer firefighter Trevor Brown on Rt. 7 passes under Riverside Parkway on Feb. 20, 2024.
‘Total Devastation’
Sterling Home Explosion Leaves 1 Dead, 13 Injured BY HANNA PAMPALONI
hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
A routine call to Loudoun County’s Combined Fire and Rescue System on Friday night took a tragic turn when a Sterling home exploded killing one firefighter and injuring 13 other people. Units from the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company responded to a call about the
smell of gas coming from a home on Silver Ridge Drive in the Seneca Ridge neighborhood just before 7:40 p.m. Firefighters arrived to find propane gas leaking from a 500-gallon underground tank and evacuated two occupants and their pets from the home. Thirty minutes later, units on the scene reported a “catastrophic explosion” with multiple mayday calls from firefighters
trapped in the home’s basement. Additional units were then brought in from other stations, including from Fairfax and the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority. LCFR Chief Keith Johnson on Tuesday told the Board of Supervisors that
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First Awake Brain Surgery Done at Inova Loudoun BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com
When Youngjo Lee was being prepped for brain surgery at Inova Loudoun Hospital on Jan. 8, his wife Elizabeth didn’t know he was about to have the procedure done while he was awake. She found out when nurses began asking him questions to establish a pre-surgery baseline. “They said they were going to be asking the questions during the surgery and I was like, ‘what?’” she said. He underwent what is known as an Awake Craniotomy procedure, the first of its kind at the Loudoun hospital campus performed by neurosurgeon, Dr. Sidhartha Chandela. Chandela, a fellowship-trained minimally invasive neurosurgeon with over 20 years of clinical experience, specializes in both brain and spinal neurosurgery. He has been doing the procedure at Inova Fairfax for the past several years. Chandela said the surgery is done while the patient is awake to preserve brain function. “In the brain, it’s all about real estate,” he said. In Youngjo Lee’s case, he had a cavernoma, or a lesion, in the part of his brain that controls speech. “Speech is very important. Speech equals language and understanding, reading, and writing and that is exactly the epicenter where this problem was. So, an amazing technique is, if you can mimic the function of that brain during surgery, meaning talking if you can make sure the patient is awake enough to talk, then as you are doing the surgery, you know you are preserving that function,”
Alexis Gusitn/Loudoun Now
Youngjo Lee with Dr. Sidhartha Chandela at Inova Loudoun Hospital Feb. 14. Lee was the first patient to undergo an Awake Craniotomy at the Loudoun hospital performed by neurosurgeon Dr. Chandela.
Chandela said. Lee had a seizure Nov. 27 and was rushed to the emergency room where CT scans and MRIs later revealed the cavernoma. Chandela met with the couple and told them because of the location of the cavernoma, surgery would be needed to prevent him from having more seizures that could lead to permanent loss of speech and body functions. Chandela told Lee via a Zoom meeting that because of his age and health, he was a great candidate for the Awake Craniotomy. He told Lee that was Plan A, where he would be awake enough to answer
questions. Plan B would be they would put him out completely and do the surgery and hope he woke up with the ability to speak. “You have to make sure the patient is OK with that plan because you present it and they are like, ‘what? You are doing surgery and I’m going to be awake?’ and that is a pretty scary thing,” Chandela said. Lee said he chose to do the surgery awake but didn’t tell his wife to avoid putting unnecessary stress on her. “I didn’t want to worry the boss,” he said. Elizabeth said at first upon learning the way the surgery would be done she
worried that he might not have understood that he agreed to be awake because he is bilingual, but after questioning him more he said he understood. “It made sense the way Dr. Chandela described it to preserve his functions,” she said. She sent him off to surgery with Chandela knowing he was “in good hands.” Elizabeth said the one worry she had, outside of the overall worry about surgery in general, was that he would revert to his native language—Korean— during the surgery and that he wouldn’t be able to understand the questions. She said after the surgery she was put at ease when nurses and other surgical staff members told her how well it went. Elizabeth talked about the anxiety and worry they had between the seizure and learning of the surgery. She said they were told it was likely not a tumor or cancerous, but they wouldn’t know for sure until they complete a biopsy. “That was terrifying for me,” she said of trying to process what that could mean. “Trying to wrap my head around that then also he has a small business, what are we going to do? He has students that count on him to teach a class every day so finding someone to teach, trying to organize that. Then you have family at home you have to take care of as well. So, it was all overwhelming.” Youngjo’s recovery has been “amazing” in the weeks since his surgery, according to Elizabeth, with him doing more than he probably should. As the owner of a martial arts studio in BRAIN SURGERY continues on page 34
Mental Health Team Outlines Substance Abuse Trends in Schools BY ALEXIS GUSTIN
agustin@loudounnow.com
Alcohol, E-cigarettes, vapes, THC edibles, dietary supplements, prescription pills, and fentanyl are just a few of the substance abuse trends seen in schools, according to Director of Student Mental Health Services Jennifer Evans. Evans last week presented the School Board with an update on the division’s efforts to fight substance abuse and talked about the various ways students hide drugs—in secret pockets in backpacks,
phones, and hats. Even the drawstrings of some hoodies are vaping devices. She talked about new support programs, including a newly announced alternative education program and the hoped-for Recovery Academy High School. “I want to point out, the majority of kids are not using drugs. The majority of kids are making healthy decisions, but we have a small population of students that don’t have those skills,” Evans said during the Feb. 13 briefing. “They don’t have refusal skills. They don’t have that sense of self and they are making poor
decisions,” she said, adding that adolescents are expected to make poor decisions but there are other factors including family stress or conflict, or financial difficulties that add a mental health element that escalates the impact of those poor decisions. She said students are experiencing increased stress around academics, relationships, and mental health. Evans said students today compare their grade point averages and Advance Placement courses, sports, and other performance-based activities with the high
performance of their peers they see on social media. She said mistakes students are making not only follow them onto social media but can be deadly. Fentanyl is the deadliest trend seen in schools right now. Evans said often you can’t tell the difference between a fake OxyContin pill laced with fentanyl and a real OxyContin pill. She said 2 milligrams of fenSUBSTANCE ABUSE TRENDS continues on page 35
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
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FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Supervisors Approve Wishing Star Substations
Loudoun
BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
County of Loudoun
A rendering of the proposed roundabout at Rt. 9 and Rt. 287.
Work to Start on Rt. 9/Rt. 287 Roundabout BY HANNA PAMPALONI
hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
Utility work is scheduled to begin in the next two weeks on the Rt. 9/Rt. 287 roundabout project. Residents and drivers can expect to see crews clearing trees and working to relocate power and telecommunications utilities near the intersection for the next few months. Although no traffic disruptions are expected, heavy equipment may periodically be on the roadway. Drivers are advised to take extra caution when travel-
ing through this area and follow all directions from posted signs and road crews. The Utilities Relocation phase is estimated to be completed in March 2025. The county plans to select a contractor for the $31 million project this fall. The project consists of a new hybrid roundabout at the intersection with widened roadway approaches. Improvements will also include new drainage and storm water facilities. When complete, the project is expected to reduce traffic congestion, improve safety, and provide a long-term, cost-ef-
fective solution for future roadway operation and maintenance. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the project should have no impact on threatened or endangered species. The project is expected to reach substantial completion in fall 2026. For more information about the Rt. 9 and 287 Roundabout project, go to loudoun.gov. n
County Board Explore Options to Add Streetlights BY HANNA PAMPALONI
hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
The Board of Supervisors’ finance committee is continuing to look at options to provide streetlighting in unlit parts of the county, particularly in areas in eastern Loudoun that are not part of a homeowners association. Most of the discussion by committee members during the Feb. 13 meeting focused on how to fund the program. Division of Accounting, Finance and Operations Manager Elaine Crawford told supervisors that the staff members were
providing two funding options. Because of the cost, they recommended a survey to determine interest in the program and tolerance of the cost. That outreach is estimated to cost $20,000 to $30,000. The first option is to create special tax districts for communities that sign onto the program, with the property owners in that area repaying the capital costs plus interest and administrative and maintenance costs. That approach would result in a projected 3.2% to 7.9% real estate tax increase, according to the report. “In this situation, the cost of lighting is paid by the residents who benefit most
from the lighting. It’s the installation, maintenance, and county costs, that are recovered,” Crawford said. The second option uses a subsidized model approach that was estimated to result in 1.5% to 2.4% tax increase. Under that plan, the county government would pay the administrative costs and local tax funding would cover the installation and maintenance costs. That model is estimated to require funding of $400,000 to $800,000 per district over 20 years. STREETLIGHTS continues on page 6
County supervisors on Feb. 14 approved commission permits for two new electric substations next to Dominion Energy’s Brambleton substation along Arcola Mills Drive near Willowsford. The action followed a public hearing where no residents spoke. The project includes two utility substations, one expanding Dominion Energy’s transmission network and one supporting NOVEC’s distribution system. Both projects are part of the Northern Virginia Reliability Plan. Applicant representative Sheri Akin said the stations are seen as critical to improving reliability in the region, specifically helping to alleviate energy constraints in eastern Loudoun. “It’s not just for a data center down the road, but in actuality, it’s an essential infrastructure for Loudoun County,” she said. Buffering for the neighboring residents includes six areas of preserved trees making up approximately 10 acres, newly planted trees, a 20foot road corridor buffer, 2.5 acres of newly planted native pollinators, and a cobblestone wall around both substations. Dominion will also construct a 4,000-foot trail throughout the treesave areas. Two pedestrian trails shown in the 2019 Countywide Transportation Plan run through the property, which was a key element in the review of the project by the Planning Commissioners and supervisors. County planner Marshall Brown said resubmitted plans provided alignments for both trails and that the application is consistent with the county’s General Plan and met location, character and extent requirements. Moving toward construction— expected to start next month—Dominion Energy plans a community meeting about the substation and related transmission line project Feb. 29 between 5 and 7 p.m. at Brambleton Middle School. n
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FEBRUARY 22, 2024
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FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Supervisors Approve South Riding Development
that’s adding modulars … whether it’s an attendance zone adjustment, whether it’s moving forward with an addition at the elementary level,” LCPS Director of Planning and GIS Services Beverly Tate said, adding that she would be monitoring the development and if relief needed to be provided to Mercer and John Champe, she could propose solutions to
the School Board. Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said he was also concerned about the capacity at the schools but that he thought with the planned opening of a new high school in the area, HS-14, there could be the possibility of sending some students there. “This new school will be much closer
to them, and so it would certainly make sense, and I think the discussions that I’ve had with some School Board members about this to at least look at that. No promises but I think will probably be on the table,” he said. Letourneau said the county was getting a lot out of the project. In addition to the designated affordable homes, he said the plan for smaller unit sizes could make the residences more naturally affordable. “This is a good application. It’s come a long way,” he said. Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) said she would not support the project because it converted land zoned for commercial to residential. “This is 383 additional units that will cost the taxpayers $4 million in annual operating costs for the schools, 17 million in capital costs. Hopefully, the schools will be able to overcome the predicted over-capacity issues at both Mercer and John Champe that are slated to occur in the 2029-2030 school year,” she said. County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said attainable housing is at a critical point and it cannot be solved without building homes. “We need homes,” she said. The motion to approve the application passed on an 8-1 vote, with Umstattd opposed. n
The proposed program would have the county government acting in that capacity, Hemstreet said. “I’m not quite certain how to do an apples-to-apples comparison when we don’t have an HOA entity to work with because that’s what the program is designed to address, is [areas outside of HOAs],” he said. “I can reach out to Dominion and say, ‘hey, I have this area, how much would it be if we go with your Watchlight Program?’ Then, staff can take that exact same area with what they’re proposing and give us the numbers for what they’re proposing and then that way we’ll have what Dominion is offering for their Watchlight Program and what staff is proposing with this program,” Saines said. Hemstreet said the staff would do their best. Committee Chair Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said he didn’t think smaller HOAs could afford to implement their own streetlights through Dominion. “The reality is if we’re going to start
subsidizing streetlamps for here or there, I think it’s probably a program that needs to be open for the entire county,” he said. “HOA money is not free. It’s essentially a tax that homeowners have to pay.” Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) said she agreed with Saines’ concern about forming a tax district. “By state code, we have to have 60% of the taxing district agree to be taxed and I honestly don’t think that we’re going to get 60% of our suburban area communities that don’t have an HOA, maybe any of them, agree to be taxed extra,” she said. Letourneau said the county could take more of a “spot” approach to lighting instead of focusing on bigger projects. “I realize this is sort of a different discussion than what we were having,” he said. The panel also heard the results of an analysis of the safety of neighborhoods without streetlights that showed Loudoun is already lower than its comparable
neighbors in crash and crime rates. Key findings from the report included that nighttime crashes on unlit roads represent 10% of all crashes in the county, in 2022 property crime was slightly less likely to occur at night than during the day and larcenies were more likely to occur during the day, violent crime robberies were more likely to occur at night, more than 60% of auto thefts occurred on unlit roadways, and residences and other crimes were not more likely to occur in unlit areas. “The data did not conclusively prove that streetlights improve overall traffic and public safety in roads and in neighborhoods,” Crawford told the committee. She said that crash and crime rates in the county are already lower than in other similar localities and that streetlights are not the only determining factor in the incidents that do occur on unlit roads. The committee delayed action on the issue until county staff returns with the cost comparison Saines requested. n
BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
The Board of Supervisors last week approved an application to permit construction of 383 dwelling units and expand the retail area of South Riding Market Square by over 220,000 square feet. The project includes plans for 211 single-family attached units, 120 multi-family stacked units and 52 multi-family attached units with approximately 13% of the homes designated as affordable dwelling units. The project, known as Cedar Terrace at South Riding, was originally proposed with 1,100 residential units and only 81,000 square feet of commercial space. Supervisors expressed concerns about the density and Toll Brothers submitted revised plans offering a more balanced commercial and residential project. During the Feb. 16 meeting, Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony (D-Little River) said she was concerned about the impact the homes would have on Mercer Middle School and John Champe High School. “We are closely watching that as staff. We can’t say that one application is worthy of approval or not. We’re here to serve all the students. We will advise the School Board who has the deciding vote as to what tools they may use, whether
Streetlights continued from page 4 Both options would require the creation of a special tax district. Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) said he was concerned about establishing tax districts and recommended looking into Dominion Energy’s Watchlight Program, which would allow a homeowners association to work directly with a utility provider to have streetlights installed. That requires an easement for Dominion to install equipment on the property. Saines said he would like to see a cost comparison of the two methods. County Administrator Tim Hemstreet said most streetlights in the county are managed by HOAs. “The main focus of this program was addressing non-HOA areas,” he said. “And so, in order to make a program work in a specific area, somebody would have to serve in the stead of the HOA.”
County of Loudoun
A site plan shows the proposed locations for commercial and residential development as part of the Cedar Terrace at South Riding project.
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 7
‘Dedicated to the Cause’ BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
Community members lined the streets Tuesday as the body of firefighter Trevor Brown was transported from the Medical Examiner’s Office in Prince William County to a funeral home Brown in Leesburg under escort by dozens of fire-rescue and law enforcement units. Brown was killed in a home explosion after responding to a call for an odor of gas at a Sterling home. He was an eightyear volunteer at the Sterling Volunteer Fire Department. “We were anxious to get Trevor back into Loudoun County and back into his home and surrounded by his friends and his loved ones and so we are happy to have him back in the county and start the funeral planning,” Sterling Volunteer Fire Company Chief David Short said Tuesday. He said he knew Brown personally and that they served on the same shift for years. He said Brown was a “capital” volunteer and a stay-at-home dad. Brown also served in the United States Marines.
Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
The Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System Honor Guard removes the coffin carrying the body of volunteer firefighter Trevor Brown Feb. 20, 2024.
“This was his calling, to provide service to the community,” Short said. “… Trevor was a very lowkey individual. He didn’t like getting attention and the limelight. But I think what we would like people to know about Trevor was that he was dedi-
Sterling Explosion continued from page 1 Trevor Brown, 45, who was standing outside the home, was killed immediately. Crews worked to locate and rescue the trapped firefighters from the home and by 9:15 p.m. all crew members had been rescued or accounted for. Ten firefighters were transported to area hospitals and the Burn Center at Medstar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC—one by AirCare helicopter. Two civilians and one Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office deputy also were taken to hospitals. Two firefighters were released from the hospital on Monday and Tuesday this week, while two more are still receiving care in the Intensive Care and Step-Down units. The home was leveled in the explosion, which also caused damage to neighboring houses. At least two were deemed uninhabitable.
Contributed
The scene of a Feb. 16, 2024, home explosion on Silver Ridge Drive in Sterling.
Assistant Fire Chief James Williams who was on the scene directly following the incident called it “total devastation” with debris being blown into the street. Over 100 first responder units responded to the incident, according to Johnson. Brown was a volunteer firefighter and had been affiliated with LCFR since 2016.
cated to the cause, dedicated to the community and to serving others.” The Sterling Volunteer Fire Company operates out of two locations and has approximately 80 operational volunteers and 40 support staff.
Brown is survived by his wife and three children. A funeral service is scheduled for Monday, March 4 at 11 a.m. at Cornerstone Chapel located at 650 Battlefield Parkway SE in Leesburg. n
Johnson said on Tuesday that the explosion was caused by the 500-gallon propane tank on site that had leaked, allowing propane to fill the house and cause a flammable atmosphere. During the evacuation, something still unknown caused it to ignite resulting in the explosion. He is also encouraging the community to call 911 if they smell gas and recommends homeowners have their systems serviced. The Fire Marshall’s office is investigating the incident in coordination with the Sheriff ’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. A Significant Incident Review will be conducted beginning this week, led by Frederick County, MD, Fire Chief Tom Coe. The investigation will receive assistance from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The Significant Incident Review is used to reconstruct the major incident to determine if the system had appropriate plans, policies, and procedures and if those were followed. Every component of the inci-
dent will be analyzed to determine what went well, to suggest needed improvements, and to explain why those improvements are needed, according to the LCFR website. Sterling Volunteer Fire Company Chief David Short said during a press briefing Tuesday afternoon that the toll of the incident on the department and himself is “tough.” “Every day I thought I saw the hardest day I could see, and then there’s tomorrow,” he said, adding that he was encouraging his volunteers to “focus on the mission” and take it 24 hours at a time. Short said with an operational crew usually of about 80 volunteer firefighters, the Sterling company is now operating eight firefighters short. “That’s an entire shift down. So, that’s a major impact on our operations, so we’re feeling that operationally,” he said. “… the work of the fire system still goes on despite these activities.” n
PAGE 8
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
Community Support ‘Overwhelming’ Following Home Explosion BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
Community members, firefighter communities across the country, and state and federal officials—including President Joe Biden and Gov. Glenn Youngkin—have rallied to support Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue following a fatal home explosion Feb. 16. The incident left volunteer firefighter Trevor Brown dead and 13 others injured. The Sterling Volunteer Fire Company announced only one day after the incident that they were “overwhelmed” with food donations. Children drew messages of support on the sidewalk in front of the station. “It brings grown men to tears,” Sterling Volunteer Fire Company Chief David Short said at a press conference Tuesday. “That means a lot to the fire department, that the community understands our grief, and understands our sacrifice.” LCFR Chief Keith Johnson and Short said they were thankful for the support shown by both Biden and Youngkin who called Brown’s widow this week. Biden also offered a visit to the White House to Brown’s family and Youngkin is planning on visiting the two injured firefighters still hospitalized, according to Johnson. “That means a lot to the family, but it also means a lot to the organization to know that there’s someone else out there that understands what’s going on and offers their condolences,” Short said. Johnson said it was an “unbelievable display of support.” Members of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator Tim Hemstreet also voiced their support and condolences to the Brown family, the injured firefighters and their families during a meeting Tuesday night. Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian), whose district includes the Seneca Ridge neighborhood where the explosion occurred, said Sterling Volunteer Fire Company was an integral part of the community. Sen. Suhas Subramanyam (D-32) also honored the Brown family during legislative session Feb. 19, requesting the Senate adjourn in honor of Brown. “We hope that all the others who are impacted in that incident, have a speedy recovery, but most all of our prayers are with firefighter Brown and his family and our community will never forget his courage,” he said.
“That means a lot to the fire department, that the community understands our grief, and understands our sacrifice.” — Chief David Short, Sterling Volunteer Fire Company LCFR is requesting that community members wanting to make donations supporting Brown’s family or the other firefighters injured in the explosion do so through the official Loudoun First Responders Foundation website at lfrf.org. The LFRF serves Loudoun County by providing immediate financial support to active first responder personnel in their time of need. To donate directly to the Brown family add “Brown Family” in the memo line. If it is not specified, donations will benefit injured firefighters. The organization has repeatedly cautioned residents against donating to the firefighters through GoFundMe accounts and said they have not organized any. Community members who wish to donate goods and services, may email LCCFRSdonate@loudoun.gov. Those interested in offering condolences to the Brown family and the injured firefighters can email LCCFRScondolences@loudoun.gov to have those messages shared. Johnson said that the organization had chosen LFRF because it is able to equally provide for both career firefighters and volunteer firefighters. While career firefighters injured in the line of duty will receive paid leave, volunteer firefighters must request time off from their full-time jobs. “[Brown] gave his life for his community for free,” Johnson said. GoFundMe accounts have been organized for the two residents whose home was destroyed in the explosion – Kelley Woods and Maria Pia Apolonio. “I remember getting into my car. Before I could close my door, the house exploded.” Apolonio stated according to the account. Donate at gofund.me/35ba6f2d and to gofund.me/f1a8d435. n
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Silver Ridge: A Timeline When crews from the Sterling Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to investigate an odor of gas outside a home on Silver Ridge Drive in Sterling’s Seneca Ridge neighborhood, it was a routine call—similar to others happening that Friday night. Around the same time across the county, there were calls for a heart attack, an outside fire, and to help the Sheriff ’s Office with an emotionally disturbed person. But in an instant, the assignment turned into one of the largest tragedies in the history of Loudoun’s fire service. By the time the operation ended, one firefighter was dead and 11 more were injured, as were two civilians. Here’s a timeline based on radio communications among the fire crews: 7:38 p.m. — Two crews, Engine 618 and Truck 611, from the Sterling Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to investigate the “smell of natural gas outside the home” at 347 Silver Ridge Drive.
7:41 — They were on the road within three minutes. 7:54 — Arriving units report a leaking in-ground propane tank outside the home. 8:15 — A county dispatcher requests a status report. Engine 618 responds: “We’ve located a 500-gallon exterior propane tank that is leaking. Still Investigating.”
8:17 — Engine 618 escalates the incident requesting a Hazardous Materials response and second engine crew. Reports the leaking tank has 100 gallons of propane. 8:18 — Engine 618 establishes a command status in preparation for a prolonged response. A battalion chief is called to lead the operations.
8:24 — Battalion Chief 601 is enroute to the scene and requests information about the propane tank.
8:24 — Seconds later the home explodes. “We’ve just had a catastrophic explosion,” a unit reports from the scene. That is followed by mayday calls from two firefighters trapped in the basement of the home. “I’m in the basement trapped by debris,” one reports.
8:26 – Work begins to account for crew members. Engine 611 arrives on the scene and reports, “We’ve had a house explosion. Significant damage. … The house is pretty much leveled.” Another mayday call is heard: “I’m trapped in the basement. Can someone get me out?”
8:28 — Battalion Chief 601 arrives on the scene. He quickly calls for the Rapid Intervention task force and a second alarm for more manpower. “Confirming people trapped in the basement and a large debris pile everywhere. We’re going to work on getting the firefighters out of the basement.”
8:29 — The death of one firefighter is confirmed. He was later identified as Trevor Brown, a 45-year-old volunteer. An EMS task force is requested to bring ambulances and medics to the scene.
8:31 — Another call is heard from a firefighter trapped in the basement. “I’m trapped in the basement under heavy debris. I’m in a blind space, however I’ve got fire going on down here and it is slowly making its way toward me. I am unable to make my way out. I need you guys to get down here and put this fire out ASAP.”
8:34 — With the fire under control units begin digging through debris in the basement to rescue the trapped firefighters.
8:38 — Contact is made with first trapped firefighter. Outside, one of the fire hydrants failed, forcing crew to hook up to one farther away. Preparations are made for the treatment of trauma patients, including alerting AirCare that a helicopter transport may be needed.
8:42 – The first trapped firefighter is rescued from the basement. Another firefighter reports he is trapped with about one-third of the air remaining in his breathing tank and he is under quite a bit of debris. Although he says, he can’t hear their communications, he tells the rescuers he is going to relax and control his breathing to conserve oxygen.
8:45 – A second firefighter is pulled from the basement. 9:02 – A third firefighter is rescued from the basement. 9:14 – Rescue operations wrap up with all personnel accounted for.
Eleven responders and two civilians were treated for injuries. Four firefighters remained hospitalized Saturday, including one flown to the burn center at Medstar Health. More than 100 fire-rescue units were called to the scene to assist in the incident. n
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Next Steps: Significant Incident Review BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
As members of the Fire Marshal’s Office and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives this week continue to sift through the remains of the Silver Ridge Drive home that was destroyed in a Feb. 16 propane explosion, their work is only the beginning of the investigation. Already, the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System has secured the commitment of Frederick County, MD, Fire Chief Tom Coe to conduct a Significant Incident Review with assistance from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The detailed third-party review will reconstruct every aspect of the incident to determine whether the system had appropriate plans, policies, and procedures and whether crews on the ground followed them. The final report—to be completed months from now—will determine which elements of the response went well, which didn’t, and suggest policy and procedural improvements, if needed. The findings of that report will be monitored by fire-rescue leaders across the country. The detailed study of previous tragedies resulted in changes to improve emergency response and public safety. The most recent Significant Incident
Review involved the June 4, 2020, drowning of a Lansdowne teen who was swimming with friends in Goose Creek near the Potomac River. In that case, changes to dispatching procedures were implemented after the investigation found that 911 calls from the scene were being transferred to authorities in Maryland, delaying the response of rescuers. Prior to the Feb. 16 explosion, the incident most impactful to the county’s fire service was a 2008 house fire near Leesburg when the home collapsed with crews inside. Seven firefighters were injured. That Significant Incident Review resulted in new policies for when firefighters can enter—or must evacuate—burning homes, and calls for changes to the statewide building code to require homebuilders to use materials that would better hold up in fire conditions. Unfortunately, Loudoun also has experience with a prior fatal home explosion from a gas leak. On July 7, 1998, a South Riding family of four was spending the first night in their newly built home when it exploded, killing the mother and seriously injuring the father. That gas leak, investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board, was determined to have occurred in part because in exterior natural gas pipeline may have been damaged by crews installing electrical lines too closely in a trench. n
Two Firefighters Return Home from Hospital BY HANNA PAMPALONI
hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
Two of the firefighters injured in last week’s home explosion that killed one volunteer firefighter and injured 13 other people were discharged from care on Monday and Tuesday. Nancy Cortez, who returned home Monday, was one of four firefighters hospitalized following the incident. A second firefighter was released from Inova Loudoun Hospital Tuesday afternoon. Several firefighters became trapped under debris following the explosion last week after responding to a call about a gas leak. Sterling Volunteer Fire Company Chief David Short said Tuesday that two other firefighters are still receiving hospital care in Intensive Care and Step-Down units.
“They’ve got a positive but long road ahead of them,” Short said. “We’re continuing to monitor and support them and their families.” One of the volunteers still recovering from second and third-degree burns is Loudoun County Public Schools teacher Brian Diamond. He teaches eighth grade English and Social Science at J. Michael Lunsford Middle School. Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue Chief Keith Johnson told the Board of Supervisors during a meeting Tuesday night that 10 firefighters, one Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Deputy and two residents received care following the explosion. Johnson said he had followed up with each injured firefighter personally on Tuesday and he is “positive all are doing better.” n
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Final Piece of Annexation Deal in Place BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
The Leesburg Town Council on Tuesday is expected to formally ratify a settlement agreement with the county government to advance the annexation of 402 acres in the Compass Creek development. The action follows the confirmation on Feb. 20 that Microsoft has agreed to have its 323-acre data center campus included in the town boundary line expansion. That notification was the final piece in deal. “I can confirm we have received written consent from all property owners, including Microsoft, to be brought into the Town of Leesburg. There will be a presentation on the approval of both the settlement agreement and the Microsoft amended service agreement at the Town Council’s February 27 legislative session,” Town Attorney Chris Spera stated in an email Tuesday. The Board of Supervisors approved the terms of the annexation earlier this month. After the town council vote, the deal will be subject to review by the Commission on Local Government, which plans a March 21 hearing to present its final report. Mayor Kelly Burk said the settlement will close a long effort to complete the annexation and will benefit both town residents and out-of-town residents served by the town’s utility system. Annexation of the data center complex is expected to generate millions of dollars more in tax revenue for the town starting next year. The settlement also requires the county government to provide a $2 million per year economic development grant to the town. Town leaders plan to use that money to offset the 40% utility rate surcharge paid by out-of-town water
and sewer customers. “I didn’t think it would take five years to get this done,” Burk said. Talks between the town and county to incorporate the Compass Creek area by a voluntary boundary line adjustment halted in September 2022 when the town filed a petition with the Commission on Local Government to launch an adverse annexation suit. After months of submitting competing filings with the state commission, they agreed to enter mediation talks. The proposed settlement arose from a Jan. 10 mediation session. Under the proposed agreement, the county would permit annexation only in cases where the property owner has approved coming under the town’s jurisdiction. Those expansions would be accomplished through a Circuit Court-approved boundary line adjustment without objection by the county government. However, property owners who do not give consent could not be forced to enter the town. The agreement also calls for the county to provide the town with $2 million annually to support economic development and makes clear that the town’s utility system will provide service to the Compass Creek area, although Microsoft would have the authority to hook into Loudoun Water’s system if necessary. The county characterized the agreement as requiring that the town eliminate its the differential paid by out-of-town utility customers. However, Burk said the town plans to retain that rate structure but use the economic development grants to offset the surcharge in those bills. Also, the town would surrender its ability to seek an adverse annexation for the next 25 years. It also would pledge to forgo any effort to seek city status for at least the next 33 years. n
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FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Education
SCHOOL notebook
School Board Members Propose Community Talks on Transgender Student Policy BY ALEXIS GUSTIN
agustin@loudounnow.com
The School Board’s Student Services Committee is recommending that an “objective” outside organization be retained to lead community focus groups on proposed changes to the division’s transgender student policy. The panel is reviewing proposed revisions to the policy that would incorporate changes sought by the Youngkin administration. The current policy allows students to use the bathroom or locker room of their gender identity and to participate in sports or other activities according to their gender identity. It also allows students on a case-by-case basis to change their name and pronouns without consulting parents. The 2023 model polices, which went into effect July 19, state students are to use bathrooms and locker rooms according to their sex and not their gender identity. That rule also applies to sports and other activities. Melinda Mansfield’s (Dulles) suggestion to hold focus groups was endorsed on a 2-1 vote on Feb. 15.
LCPS
Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk with Tolbert Elementary School fifth grader Tal Oyewunmi. Oyewunmi was randomly selected from fourth and fifth-grade students at Leesburg elementary schools to be mayor for the day on Feb. 9
Fifth Grader Selected as Mayor for the Day Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now
A parent says her children will no longer attend division schools with the transgender student rights policy in place. Opponents of the policy want the division to update its policy with model policies set forth by the Youngkin administration.
Committee Chair Anne Donohue (At-large) voted against the proposal saying she wanted more time to consider it. “I don’t feel I have sufficient time to think through if I think that is the best
way to move forward. I may come to that conclusion, but I’m not prepared to do TRANSGENDER POLICY continues on page 14
Final Charge Against Ziegler Officially Dropped BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com
A Loudoun County Circuit Court judge has agreed to drop the final charge against fired superintendent Scott Ziegler. In a Feb. 14 order, Judge Douglas L. Fleming Jr. ordered the charge be dismissed and removed the previously scheduled Feb. 20-22 trial dates from the docket. The motion to dismiss the final charge of false publication was filed in December by Special Counsel to the Attorney General Brandon Wrobleski. It stated the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office would not prosecute the false publication charge against Ziegler, saying it was “satisfied that justice has been done” after securing a guilty verdict on a charge of retaliation against an employee in September. Ziegler faces up to 12 months in jail and up to a $2,500 fine on that charge. In that case, Fleming has yet to rule
on a motion by Ziegler’s attorney, Erin Harrigan, to have the verdict set aside. She asserted the General Assembly didn’t intend for there to be a crime associated with Ziegler’s alleged offense. She argued prosecutors should have been required to prove that it was a knowing violation, an element of the charge that was not included in the instructions for the jury’s deliberations. Wrobleski said the defense’s claim that the commonwealth failed to prove an element of the crime came too late—after the jury issued a verdict and after the defendant agreed to the jury instruction. Fleming postponed sentencing following a Jan. 18 hearing, saying he wanted to take more time to read each of the attorney’s motions. As of Tuesday, no ruling had been made and not court hearings are scheduled in that case. As part of a special grand jury investigation into the school division’s 2021 sexual assault scandal, Ziegler was charged with false publication, prohibited conduct,
and penalizing an employee for a court appearance. All are misdemeanors. The latter two charges are related to the firing of special education teacher Erin Brooks who, after reporting she was repeatedly groped by one of her students, filed two Title IX complaints, testified before the special grand jury, and spoke out at the School Board meeting on the night her termination was approved by the School Board. Ziegler was found guilty of retaliation against Brooks on Sept. 29, 2023, after a week-long jury trial. He was found not guilty of penalizing her for making a court appearance. Ziegler was fired on a unanimous vote by the School Board after a two-hour closed session Dec. 6, 2022, one day after the grand jury issued the findings of its eight-month investigation. Public Information Officer Wayde Byard was indicted with a count of felony perjury in the same grand jury report. He was acquitted of that charge in June. n
Tal Oyewunmi, a fifth grade Tolbert Elementary School student , on Feb. 9 was chosen to be Leesburg’s Mayor for the Day. Oyewunmi was randomly selected from all fourth and fifth grade nominees from Leesburg schools within the town’s corporate limits. His day on the job started with a meeting and guided tour of the Leesburg Town Hall by Mayor Kelly Burk. He was then given tours of the Leesburg Police Department, Leesburg Executive Airport and the Leesburg Water Treatment Plant. Oyewunmi said his favorite part of the day was meeting a police K-9 and flying a flight simulator at the airport. Asked why he wanted to be mayor for the day he said, “I thought I would get to see the town’s facilities and learn some pretty cool stuff.” Oyewunmi also was asked to lead the pledge of allegiance at the Feb. 13 School Board meeting.
Four Leesburg Schools to Receive Inclusive Playgrounds The School Board on Feb. 13 voted 8-1 to approve a $2 million allocation of Town of Leesburg proffer SCHOOL NOTEBOOK continues on page 13
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LCPS
The McDonald’s Elite intramural volleyball team from Smart’s Mill Middle School claimed victory in the division’s first-ever intramural volleyball tournament Feb. 3.
Pilot Intramural Program Features Volleyball Tournament
Smart’s Mill Middle School’s intramural volleyball team, known as the McDonald’s Elite, claimed victory in the division’s first-ever intramural volleyball tournament Feb. 3. Fifty-one teams, with more than 400 players from Harper Park, River Bend, Seneca Ridge and Smart’s Mill Middle Schools, participated in the tournament. The pilot intramural sports program,
which started earlier this year, is intended to reinforce leadership qualities, teamwork, and respect within the structure of fun competitions, according to a release. The program is open to girls and boys at all skill levels. The sports included in the pilot program are flag football, volleyball, basketball, which started Feb. 5. Soccer will kick off in April. n
SCHOOL notebook
Loudoun County and Tuscarora high schools for $1.6 million, and the inclusive playground enhancements for $1.2 million. The majority of members supported using the current $2 million proffer fund balance for the inclusive playgrounds. Deana Griffiths (Ashburn) opposed the motion. To date $6.3 million in Town of Leesburg proffer funding has gone toward improvements at Leesburg schools. n
continued from page 12
funds to build inclusive playgrounds at Balls Bluff, Evergreen Mill, John W. Tolbert and Leesburg elementary schools. The board was briefed Jan. 30 on projects that were eligible to use the funding, including practice and field turf lighting for Heritage, Loudoun County and Tuscarora high schools which would have cost $9 million, tennis court lighting at
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Transgender policy continued from page 12 that right now,” she said. Donohue said she felt like the committee needed more time to discuss the policy and possible changes to get it right for all students. She proposed holding more committee work sessions rather than voting on staff proposed revisions that night but asked other members for input. “I feel very strongly that we need to take our time thinking about it and make sure we get it right,” she said. Mansfield said she felt it was important to get guidance and to hear from the community. She proposed bringing in an outside organization to conduct focus groups. Kari LaBell (Catoctin) said she felt the idea of having community discussions was a good opportunity for the board to get the policy right. She pushed for a vote on Mansfield’s motion, saying they needed to be thoughtful about the policy and not hasty. “We need to look at what the children and students have to say. They are at the center. We’ve heard from the adults, we need to hear from the children being impacted by this,” she said.
Several students and parents spoke against current policy 8040 and asked for changes to protect female students. Sophomore Madalyn Platt asked the board to give girls back their privacy and to protect girls’ sports. One father, who said he was representing the Muslim community in the county, said that half of the 80,000 students in the county are girls and that thousands of those girls are Muslim. “They need the privacy in the restrooms to be able to be comfortable and do what they need to do in the restroom especially adjusting their hijab and I think this policy affects their ability to do what they need to do in the restroom,” he said, adding it hurts their conservative values and faith and asked the committee to consider making adjustments. Other parents argued the policy had unintended consequences and said girls have the right to feel safe in bathrooms. Kris Consaul said she agreed with parents who wanted to keep their children safe, but said she wanted to keep her transgender son safe, as well. Consaul said she believed the policy could be improved to make all students feel safe and have the privacy they needed. “My two concerns about the policy are first, you’ve completely erased my son
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from a protective policy, second there are many students in the county who are afraid to come out to their own families. Outing them without their permission could have them banished from their houses,” she said asking for more work to be done on the policy. Other parents argued the rights of LGBTQ students were not negotiable and the policy was there to protect a vulnerable population. After the committee’s decision to continue discussions on the policy, there were mixed feelings. Consaul said she was pleased with the way the committee was planning to handle it. “I think that by sending this issue to an outside consultant to be able to have some non-confrontational conversation about how we are feeling about this issue, I think that is going to give us a really good chance to provide both the physical and psychological safety for my son, or for their daughters or sons,” she said. “There is research out there and studies that are showing that policies like 8040 reduce sexual violence against trans people and it does not increase sexual violence against cis people.” Ken Lokulutu, a father of five, said he was disappointed in the committee’s
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
decision. “This is a safety issue, we’ve already had cases of sexual assault and there is an urgency to the matter,” he said. “In addition to this being a safety issue, it’s a commonsense issue that doesn’t require a lot of debating to resolve.” Lokulutu said it is “deplorable” for girls to be the victims in the situation. “We are a society that prides itself on the advancement of girls and women’s rights, now this?” he asked. Shane Gillman, a father of two said he was upset a date wasn’t selected for when an amended policy would be passed. “It was not productive at all. They are passing the buck and you’ve got children as young as five years old and children in middle school and high school forced to share bathrooms with people of the opposite sex and that is just not fair,” he said. State law requires school boards to adopt policies that are consistent with the new policies and school divisions are expected to either move forward with incorporating the new policies or to combine them with current policies on the matter. However, there do not seem to be repercussions for divisions that do not. The committee will meet again in March. n
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Public Safety
Veterans Court Celebrates First Graduate BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
On Oct. 6, 2022, a 30-year-old Navy veteran was arrested for stealing a cell phone from the countertop of a Sterling convenience store and later threatening its owner with a knife. On Tuesday afternoon, he was celebrated as the first graduate of Loudoun County District Court’s Veterans Treatment Docket. It is the third special court program offered in Loudoun Courts, along with the Circuit Court’s Drug Court and the District Court’s Mental Health Docket. All three offer personalized treatment and more intense supervision of criminal defendants with the goal of reducing the likelihood of future offenses.
He was unemployed and facing a sixmonth jail sentence when he was accepted as the first of four veterans to enter the program during its inaugural year. He completed 12 months of intense supervision and therapy provided by the county’s court services and probation staff, Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff ’s Office, the Office of the Public Defender, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Virginia Department of Veterans Services. The county’s District Court judges oversee the program, holding special court sessions every Tuesday afternoon to monitor the participants’ progress. “You are to be celebrated. You have done a wonderful job,” Judge Lorie Sinclair Taylor said during the Feb. 20 cere-
mony. “You put in the work.” “We’ve been on a journey together for 12 months,” Judge Cindy Welsh, who worked to establish the Mental Health Docket and the Veterans Docket, said. “We’re so very proud of you.” A special part of the Veterans Docket is the requirement that each participant be partnered with a mentor who also is a veteran. Dennis Boykin volunteered to be the mentor coordinator. As part of that effort, he committed to playing that role with the first participant. Boykin said he had not been a fan of court diversion programs previously. “What has been impressive about it is watching these people make big changes in their lives,” he said. “This kid has turned his life around and that’s really cool.” n
NTSB Issues Preliminary Report on Loudoun County Parkway Plane Landing BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
The National Transportation Safety Board has published its preliminary report on the Jan. 19 incident when a commuter plane landed on Loudoun County Parkway after experiencing engine trouble shortly after taking off from Dulles Airport. The pilot reported experiencing “sudden, shattering noise and vibrations coming from the engine area” after climbing to 600 feet at the western edge of the airport property. The preliminary report provides the baseline facts about the case. The NTSB is conducting a Class 3 investigation, one that focuses on identifying the underlying
causes of the incident and developing recommendations to resolve safety concerns found. Southern Airways Express Flight 246 departed from Dulles Airport on Runway 30 at 12:27 p.m. Jan. 19 enroute to Lancaster (PA) Airport. The Cessna 208B carried a crew of two and five passengers. According to the report, shortly after takeoff, the flight crew noticed that the standby power light had illuminated. “Shortly thereafter, there was a sudden, shattering noise and vibrations coming from the engine area.” The pilot instructed the copilot to declare an emergency and initiate procedures to return to Dulles. However, during the turnback they realized the engine was unresponsive and they were rapidly losing altitude. The pilot made the decision to
land the airplane on Rt. 606. The plane landed on Loudoun County Parkway at the terminus of Rt. 606. The plane touched down on the paved surface and then hit a steel guardrail before coming to a stop. No one was injured. The weather conditions included a broken ceiling at 900 feet and one mile of visibility in light snow and mist. Representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the site and conducted an examination. They noted damage to the guardrail, propeller, right main landing gear, cargo pod, and fairing. The plane was towed to a nearby parking lot, where the wings were disassembled and transported with the plane to the Southern Airways Express maintenance facility in Lancaster, PA. n
Lollobrigido
Trials Set for Man Charged with Wife’s Murder Two trials have been set in the case of a Sterling man charged with fatally beating his wife with a hammer in 2021. Peter J. Lollobrigido will face a four-day jury trial beginning Nov. 12 on a charge of first-degree murder, aggravated malicious wounding and violation of a protective order. A second trial is set to begin Jan. 6, 2025, on charges of abduction and assault. The abduction and assault charges stem from an incident July 21, 2021, when Lollobrigido allegedly assaulted his wife, Regina Redman-Lollobrigido, leaving her covered in bruises, according to prior court testimony. While awaiting trial, he was released on bond and subject to a domestic abuse protective order. On Sept. 19, 2021, he allegedly went to his wife’s apartment and beat her to death with a hammer. Redman-Lollobrigido died from her injuries a few days later. n
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BUSINESS notes
Business
Visit Loudoun Seeks New Board Members
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
TTM Technologies plans a $13.4 million renovation of its Sterling circuit board manufacturing plant.
TTM Plans $13M Investment in Sterling Plant BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
Circuit board manufacturer TTM Technologies is upgrading its Loudoun County operations with a $13.4 million investment expected to create 43 new jobs. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a $150,000 Commercial Business Incentive Fund grant as part of the Department of Economic Development’s effort to secure the re-investment in the manufacturing plant located along Rt. 28 in Sterling. Also, the state government has offered the company $36,750 through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program grant. According to information provided to the county board, the investment is expected to generate $250,000 in new tax revenue during the next three years. Founded in 1998, TTM—which stands for time to market—manufactures mission systems, radio-frequency components/RF microwave/microelectronic
assemblies, and quick-turn and technologically advanced printed circuit boards. The California-based company has more than 200 employees at its Loudoun location. The new project involves the purchase of $13.4 million in equipment and a $1.3 million renovation of its plant on Severn Way. Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued a statement touting the strength of the state’s tech and manufacturing sectors. “Reshoring the production of complex printed circuit boards in Virginia is another boost for our manufacturing sector, and we are proud that TTM has found the right location, business climate, and workforce to grow its capacity and capabilities here in the commonwealth,” he stated. According to Loudoun’s Department of Economic Development, the company was considering making the expansion at its facilities in California, Colorado, Connecticut, North Carolina, Ohio, or Oregon. The publicly traded compa-
ny is consolidating and modernizing its plants across the country, including an announcement in November that it will build a new $130 million manufacturing plant next to its operations near Syracuse, NY. In an announcement of the deal, county supervisors hailed the investment as an important part of Loudoun’s business landscape. “This investment not only diversifies our economy but also demonstrates the confidence that companies have in our community as a premier destination for business growth,” County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) stated. “TTM Technologies’ decision to go all in with Loudoun is a testament to the strength of our local economy and the quality of our workforce,” stated Supervisor Koran Saines (D-Sterling). “This expansion will provide valuable job opportunities for Loudoun’s skilled workers and further solidify the County’s position as a leader in advanced manufacturing.” n
Visit Loudoun is seeking individuals to serve on its board of directors for board terms from July 1 through June 30, 2027, with a transition period beginning in May 2024. The deadline for applications is March 8. The nonprofit is the destination management organization for Loudoun County and its incorporated towns. As the county’s programmatic arm for tourism, Visit Loudoun promotes the county to stimulate the sustainability and enhancement of Loudoun’s economy and quality of life by advocating smart destination development and marketing an exceptional experience to travel consumers worldwide. The board is comprised of up to 24 elected members whose terms are staggered. Interested candidates should submit a résumé outlining their business/professional career, including any tourism-related experience. This may range from owning a tourism-related business, to having experience in hospitality and/or tourism marketing to volunteering with a tourism-related organization. Special business skills such as communications, community involvement, should be included. The application also requires three business references and a written response to the statement: “My service on the Visit Loudoun Board of Directors will help Visit Loudoun and tourism in Loudoun County because….” Following review of applications, considered candidates will be scheduled for an interview with the board’s executive committee April 9. For more details, go to visitloudoun.org
HR Exec Herbert Joins JK Moving Linda Herbert has joined JK Moving Services as vice president of talent development. She will head up training and talent development for JK Moving and its sister company, CapRelo. BUSINESS NOTES continues on page 17
Land Management E
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FEBRUARY 22, 2024
BUSINESS notes continued from page 16
“Linda brings profound expertise in organizational and people development. Having an engaged and well-trained workforce is critical to our success. Linda’s background will be invaluable as we scale our talent management efforts to meet
Herbert
our growth goals,” stated Andrea Bunch, senior vice president, Human Resources. Prior to JK, Herbert spent more than 30 years in a variety of human resource-related roles at Airbus, most recently as vice president, develop, North America. Herbert’s career encompasses leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion, organization culture, employee development, organization design and development, talent management, operational HR, and ethics and compliance. Her experience spans across the UK, France, North America, Germany, and Spain. Learn more at jkmoving.com. n
PAGE 17
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PAGE 18
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Towns
AROUND towns
Lovettsville Hears Capital Budget Plans BY HANNA PAMPALONI
ROUND HILL
Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
Lovettsville Town Manager Jason Cournoyer presents the fiscal year 2025 budget to the Town Council during a meeting Feb. 8.
Water Plant Rehabilitation. “[The safety initiative] is really addressing some direct access the public has to working stations and to allow for just being equipped for any pandemic
conditions [that] should occur in the in the future,” Town Manager Jason LOVETTSVILLE BUDGET continues on page 19
Brown Appointed to Purcellville Planning Commission BY HANNA PAMPALONI
hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
The Purcellville Town Council last week appointed Troy Brown to the town’s Planning Commission for a term that expires Sept. 30, 2026, following the resignation of Jason Dengler. Brown serves on the Economic Development and Advisory Board and recently interviewed as a candidate for the Town Council vacancy that was filled by the appointment of Kevin Wright. During January interviews for the council seat, Brown said he and his family moved from Falls Church to the town three years ago and that he is retiring after a 27-year Naval career. The motion to appoint Brown passed 5-1-1, with council member Christo-
Council Holds Personal Property Tax Rates The Purcellville Town Council voted unanimously last week to hold the personal property tax rate of $1.05 per $100 of assessed value for 2024. The council also affirmed a rate of 55 cents per $100 of assessed value for non-vehicle business property, a 1-cent rate for actively serving volunteer fire and rescue members, and a $25 vehicle fee. Elderly and disabled persons also receive a rate cut of 50% from the original $1.05. The town has adopted the same personal property tax rates since 2001 when the business property rate was reduced from $1.05 to $0.55.
hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
The Lovettsville Town Council held its second budget work session last week focusing on the 26 projects included in the town’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan. Ten of those projects are for the town’s utility system and the other 16 include streetscape improvements, sidewalks and shared use paths, path lighting, intersection improvements, a clock tower rehabilitation and improvements to the Town Green and Town Square. Ten of the General Fund Projects are planned to begin or continue during fiscal year 2025 and total $1.5 million. The largest portion of those funds is going to the South Locust and Loudoun Street improvements, with 36.2% of the proposed allocated funds. The second most expensive project is the South Church Street and East Pennsylvania Avenue improvements at 14.4% of the proposed allocated funds. Of that $1.5 million, 88% is reliant on grant funding with only $173,000 allocated from the town’s General Fund. Three new items are included in the CIP: workplace safety and security initiatives both in the town office and at the town’s utility facilities, and the Park Place
PURCELLVILLE
Brown
pher Bertaut opposed and Carol Luke abstaining. Bertaut said that Dengler wanted to remain on the Planning Commission, despite a verbal resignation tendered to
Mayor Stanley. J Milan. “What Town Council policy, what town and state law were you following when you deferred to town staff ’s decision that a member of our community was no longer eligible to serve on a [town committee]?” he asked, adding that Dengler was “eager to participate” in town government. “I want reassurance for the public that this Town Council has not gone rogue and is not ignoring its citizens and the law,” Bertaut said. Vice Mayor Erin Rayner said that she had text messages confirming that Dengler had resigned and did not want to serve on the commission. Rayner said the message from Dengler stated “never mind, I don’t want it. I gave into peer pressure; I don’t want to be on planning anymore.” n
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
Round Hill has entered the design phase of the long-planned Southern Gateway, which will build a new trail along New Cut Road to link the town’s southern neighborhoods.
Round Hill Launches Southern Gateway Design Round Hill is advancing plans to build a trail that would link the downtown with the Lakeridge Estates neighborhood on the town’s southern boundary. The Southern Gateway project, depicted in the Town Plan since 2017, would create a trail along New Cut Road. The plans call for extending the paved path from Lakeridge along the east side of the road to Loudoun Street. The Town Council this month approved a $230,000 contract to complete the first phase of the designs. That will include working with VDOT, as well as homeowners who will be impacted by the project. n
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
PUBLISHER’S NOTICE We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-9753.
fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov • www.fairhousing.vipnet.org
Lovettsville budget continued from page 18 Cournoyer said. The town office initiative is expected to cost $27,000 in FY 2025 with an expected completion date of spring 2027 and the utilities initiative is expected to cost $125,000 with an expected completion date of summer 2025. They would include enhancements to the Town Hall, including a separated entrance vestibule with a buzzer-operated entry, a front door replacement for handicapped entry, window enhancements and security camera upgrades. Utility projects would include an automated motorized gate entry at the wastewater plant, new locks and security camera upgrades. Seven of the 10 utility projects will be conducted in FY 2025 with 100% of the estimated $945,000 cost funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. The largest portion of that allocation is proposed to go toward the Quarter Branch Road Watermain Replacement, at a cost of $500,000 in FY 2025. Mayor Christopher Hornbaker expressed concern about the allocation of $20,000 to replace the town’s current util-
ity task vehicle with a small utility vehicle to be used by public works and utility staff as well as during town events. He said the UTV is primarily used for Oktoberfest, which the town is considering partially outsourcing this year, potentially making the vehicle unnecessary. Cournoyer said the vehicle was also beneficial for staff to access town facilities throughout the year. “I wanted to have a dedicated vehicle that [town staff ] could have access to that would remain in town limits. There are times where using the truck onto the Town Green and Town Square can cause damage depending on the conditions,” he said adding that staff members often used their own vehicles for town business. He said he could look at splitting the funding for the vehicle between the Utility Fund and the General Fund since it was expected to be used for both purposes. “If you allow me to come back with kind of further analysis and maybe the ability to use ARPA, I’m open to do that,” Cournoyer said. Hornbaker said he would like to hear an update on the possibility during the next meeting. The council will hold a public hearing on the FY 2025 budget Feb. 22. n
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PAGE 19
Obituaries
Mark Alan Cole Mark Alan Cole, 67, of Ashburn, VA, passed away on February 11, 2024. He was born February 2, 1957, in Royal Oak, Michigan and moved to Virginia in 1976 where he spent the duration of his life. Mark is survived by his daughter, Stacy Lynn Cole Davolt, his son, Steven Patrick Cole, daughter’s husband, Scott Davolt, and three grandchildren: Chase Patrick Cole, Brixton Cole Davolt, and Easton James Davolt. His mother, Grace Cole, his brothers and their wives, Chris and Christine Cole, and Eric and Veronica Cole. He is preceded in death by his father, John Cole and his niece, Jaclyn Cole. To view the full obituary visit Loudoun Funeral Chapel Website.
Lives are like rivers: Eventually they go where they must, not where we want them to.
To place an obituary, contact Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or email sstyer@loudounnow.com
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 20
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Best Bets
GET OUT LIVE MUSIC TEJAS SINGH 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com RICH RIDGELL 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com TOMMY BOUCHE 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com HOLLY MONTGOMERY 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 Plaza Azteca Mexican Restaurant, 1608 Village Market Blvd. Leesburg. plazaazteca.com/leesburg CREED FISHER 8 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $25. tallyhotheater.com JUST SOUTH OF 7 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, Feb. 23 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com LIBERTY STREET 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com NATHANIEL DAVIS 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 Quattro Goombas Winery, 22860 Little River Turnpike, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com GARY SMALLWOOD 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com
JED DUVALL AS JOHNNY CASH Saturday, Feb. 24, 2 p.m. Two Twisted Posts Winery twotwistedposts.com
PAT MCGEE & FRIENDS Saturday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com
DuVall returns to Two Twisted Posts to present the sounds and sights of the legendary Man In Black.
Two decades after the release of his first CD, the DMV favorite performs the songs from “From The Wood” as well as other Pat McGee Band favorites.
JP JONES AT LOST BARREL BREWING 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com JASON MASI 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com THE EMPTY POCKETS BAND 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 Solace Brewing Company, 42615 Trade W. Drive, Sterling. solacebrewing.com BRIAN JOHNSON 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseashburn.com TEJAS SINGH 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, South Riding. socialhousesouthriding.com THAT 70’S PARTY WITH SUPERFLYDISCO 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $20. tallyhotheater.com THE JUNIOR BRYCE BAND 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com STEVE BOYD AND FRIENDS BAND 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com HUGH AND THE LOST CORNER VAGABONDS 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com
FORK IN THE ROAD 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebew.com MATT BURRIDGE 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville. sunsethillvineyard.com LENNY BURRIDGE 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Bleu Frog Vineyards,16413 Little River Turnpike, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com SHANE GAMBLE 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford. 8chainsnorth.com STEVE GEORGE 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation.com AIRMONT ROAD 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Lost Rhino Brewing Co, 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com JIM STEELE 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 Little River Turnpike, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com PETTY THEIVES 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church Road, Hillsboro. old690.com JET CAPRIEST 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton. fireflycellars.com DEAN KERN & ERIC SELBY 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com
JASON MASI 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com JED DUVALL AS JOHNNY CASH 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville. twotwistedposts.com DAVID ANDREW SMITH 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Twin Oaks Tavern Winery, 18035 Raven Rocks Road, Bluemont. twinoakstavernwinery.com JOEY HAFNER 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com DEREK KRETZER & FRIENDS 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com THE WALKAWAYS 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com TODD BROOKS DUO 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com BETHANY GATES 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com DANIEL MENSH 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseashburn.com SCORPION ROSE 8 to midnight Saturday, Feb. 24 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com
PAT MCGEE & FRIENDS 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St. SW., Leesburg. $30 to $55. tallyhoteater.com WAYNE LEE RAY 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com 2MB THE BAND 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com MELISSA QUINN FOX 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com STANLEY WHITAKER 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413 Little River Turnpike Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com DAN CRONIN 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation.com ANDREW ODAY 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com JASON MASI 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com LILLIAN HACKETT 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com
LIVE MUSIC continues on page 21
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
GET OUT LIVE MUSIC
continued from page 20 MEISHA HERRON 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com JOSEPH R. MONASTERIAL 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. lostfoxhideaway.com KEVIN HENNESSEY 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28 Lost Rhino Brewing Co, 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com JASON MASI 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28 The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. lostfoxhideaway.com HUDSON RIVER LINE 8 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $15. tallyhotheater.com MATT BURRIDGE 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29 Matchbox, 44720 Thorndike St., Ashburn. matchboxrestaurants.com/ one-loudoun
HAPPENINGS FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE PRESENTS: TUCK EVERLASTING 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 Freedom High School, 25450 Riding Center Drive, Chantilly. $10. freedomtheatreboosters.org WILDFLOWERS: PLANTING A WOODLAND EDGE 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 Loudoun County. loudounwildlife.org ENVIRONMENTAL FILM NIGHT 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 The Hill School, 130 Madison St., Middleburg. Free. goosecreek.org BIRDING SWEET RUN 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Sweet Run State Park, 11661 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. loudounwildlife.org BECOME A HAM RADIO OPERATOR 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, Sheriff’s Office Eastern Loudoun Station, 46620 E. Frederick Drive, Sterling. qsl.net/sterling NATURE PLAYTIME 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24
Morven Park Gate House, 17339 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg. loudounwildlife.org WHITE PAGES, BLACK STORIES: RECLAIMING THE HISTORIES OF OUR ANCESTORS 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Oatlands, Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg. oatlands.org BELOVED CHAMBERS MUSIC CONCERT 7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 605 W. Market St., Leesburg. holytrinityleesburg.org STORIES ROCKS TELL US 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 Chapman DeMary Trail, 355 N. Hatcher Ave., Purcellville. purcellvilleva.gov FOBB REMEMBRANCE DINNER 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 Temple Hall Farm Regional Park, 15855 Limestone School Road, Leesburg. novaparks.org DULLES DIRECT TOWN HALL MEETING 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26 Mercer Middle School, 42149 Greenstone Drive, Aldie. loudoun.gov NATIVE PLANT BOOK CLUB MEETING 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27 Birch Tree Bookstore, 11 W. Market St., Leesburg. birchtreebookstore.com n
PAGE 21
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 22
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Legal Notices NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING COUNTY OF LOUDOUN, VIRGINIA Proposed Budget for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025 Proposed Tax Rates for Tax Year 2024 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, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025 (the FY 2025 Proposed Budget); and the proposed tax rates on real and personal property for Tax Year 2024, beginning January 1, 2024, and ending December 31, 2024. 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 contribution for the school budget is $1,287,127,376. This is the local tax revenue proposed for the Loudoun County Public Schools to fund its Fiscal Year 2025 budget for public schools, as compared to the estimated minimum contribution required by state law in the amount of $453,787,086. 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 Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.; and Saturday, March 2, 2024, 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 2025 Proposed Budget may be examined 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 2025 Proposed Budget is also available online at www.loudoun.gov/budget. Board of Supervisors’ public hearings are televised on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40. Public hearings also are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings. Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views regarding the FY 2025 Proposed Budget. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance; however, speakers may sign-up during the public hearing. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will begin at 8:30 a.m. on February 15, 2024. Advanced sign-ups will close at 12:00 p.m. on February 28, 2024, for the two sessions held on February 28, 2024; advanced sign-ups will close at 5:00 p.m. on March 1, 2024, for the session held on March 2, 2024. Written comments are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Board of Supervisors, P.O. Box 7000, 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 2025 Proposed Expenditures
FY 2025 Proposed Revenue
FY 2025 Proposed Local Tax Funding
FY 2024 Adopted Local Tax Funding
Local Tax Funding Variance
OPERATING County General Fund
$988,855,048.93
$275,603,707.45
$713,251,341.48
$587,643,894.00
$125,607,447.48
School Operating Fund
1,824,777,892
537,650,516.00
1,287,127,376
1,139,827,376.00
147,300,000.00
School Grant Fund
35,071,745.00
35,071,745.00
0
0
0
School Lease Purchase Fund
10,002,000.00
10,002,000.00
0
0
0
School Nutrition Fund
42,637,655.00
42,637,655.00
0
0
0
Children’s Services Act Fund
10,331,436.00
6,641,369.00
3,690,067.00
3,690,067.00
0
500,000.00
500,000.00
0
0
0
Disposable Plastic Bag Tax Fund Dulles Town Center CDA Fund
3,500,000.00
3,500,000.00
0
0
0
EMS Transport Program Fund
7,300,000.00
7,300,000.00
0
0
0
Housing Fund
12,410,000.00
5,000,000.00
7,410,000.00
6,469,000.00
941,000.00
163,004.00
44,980.00
118,024.00
83,448.00
34,576.00
3,594,262.71
3,594,262.71
0
0
0
180,867.00
180,867.00
0
0
0
Legal Resource Center Fund Metro Garages Fund Opioid Abatement Settlement Fund Other Special Revenue Funds Rental Assistance Program Fund
91,000.00
91,000.00
0
0
0
12,801,320.00
12,528,930.00
272,390.00
272,390.00
0 0
Restricted Use Transient Occupancy Tax
4,790,000.00
4,790,000.00
0
0
Self-Insurance Fund
5,455,700.00
0.00
5,455,700.00
5,455,700.00
0
State and Federal Grant Fund
4,323,125.00
4,323,125.00
0
0
0
$2,966,785,055.64
$949,460,157.16
$2,017,324,898.48
$1,743,441,875.00
$273,883,023.48
County Government
$116,838,623.29
$31,628,066.67
$85,210,556.62
$76,503,015.00
$8,707,541.62
School System
154,469,583.05
5,865,010.17
148,604,572.88
138,705,544.00
9,899,028.88
Operating Subtotal DEBT SERVICE
Greenlea Tax District Fund Route 28 Special Improvements Fund Tall Oaks Water and Sewer Special Revenue Fund Debt Service Subtotal
44,038.00
44,038.00
0
0
0
25,740,000.00
25,740,000.00
0
0
0
60,572.00
60,572.00
0
0
0
$297,152,816.34
$63,337,686.84
$233,815,129.50
$215,208,559.00
$18,606,570.50
Continued on next page
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
PAGE 23
Legal Notices CAPITAL County Government Capital Projects Fund
$439,408,759.41
$340,057,397.41
$99,351,62.00
92,604,356.00
County Asset Preservation Program Fund
20,000,000.00
100,000.00
19,900,000.00
19,767,825.00
$6,747,006.00 132,175.00
School System Capital Projects Fund
513,860,000.00
509,857,000.00
4,003,000.00
2,864,923.00
1,138,077.00 4,574,000.00
School System Asset Preservation Fund
47,790,000.00
0
47,790,000.00
43,216,000.00
Capital Projects Financing Fund
718,618,195.70
718,618,195.70
0
0
0
Major Equipment Replacement Fund
1,520,160.00
0
1,520,160.00
1,520,160.00
0
Public Facilities Fund
14,933,645.71
14,933,645.71
0
0
0
Transportation District Fund Capital Subtotal
154,603,079.09
124,603,079.09
30,000,000.00
25,900,000.00
4,100,000.00
$1,910,733,839.91
$1,708,169,317.91
$202,564,522.00
$185,873,264.00
$16,691,258.00
$0
$0
$0
$150,702
($150,702)
$5,174,671,711.89
$2,720,967,161.91
$2,453,704,549.98
$2,144,674,400.00
$309,030,149.98
Unallocated Balance 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 2024 as indicated below: Adopted Tax Year 2023
Maximum Proposed Tax Year 2024
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)
$0.875
$0.885
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)
$0.160
$0.160
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))
$4.15
$4.150
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))
$0.000
$0.000
Tangible Personal Property – Aircraft and Flight Simulators (Va. Code § 58.1-3506 (A) (5)), including aircraft of Public Service Corporations (Va. Code § 58.1-2606 (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 § 58.1-3506 (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 § 58.13506 (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))
$4.150
$4.150
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/TTY-711. 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
2/15 & 2/22/24
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 24
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Legal Notices 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 26, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:
PIN
PROPERTY ADDRESS
203-38-1952-000
N/A
TAX MAP NUMBER 100/B/1////16/
203-38-3156-000
42140 HIDDENWOOD LN., ALDIE, VA
100/B/1////15/
203-38-4261-000
N/A
100/B/1////14/
203-38-5465-000
42160 HIDDENWOOD LN., ALDIE, VA
100/B/1////13/ 100/B/1////12/
203-38-6670-000
42172 HIDDENWOOD LN., ALDIE, VA
203-38-7775-000
42186 HIDDENWOOD LN., ALDIE, VA
100/B/1////11/
203-38-8980-000
42206 HIDDENWOOD LN., ALDIE, VA
100/B/1////10/
203-39-0184-000
N/A
100/B/1/////9/
203-39-1290-000
42224 HIDDENWOOD LN., ALDIE, VA
100/B/1/////8/
The Loudoun County School Board has submitted an application for a Commission Permit to permit construction of a 350,000 square foot high school and 120,000 square foot elementary school on approximately 172.91 acres located on the south side of Red Hill Road (Route 617) and the west side of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621) in the Little River Election District and more particularly described as: 41480 Steeplechase Loop Dr, Leesburg, Virginia, PIN# 242-18-1260-000, Tax Map No. /91/////////8/. The subject property is zoned Agricultural Residential -3 (A-3) and Transitional Residential – 3 (TR-3) under the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance.
203-39-2395-000
42234 HIDDENWOOD LN., ALDIE, VA
100/B/1/////7/
203-39-3598-000
42240 HIDDENWOOD LN., ALDIE, VA
100/B/1/////6/
203-49-4606-000
42258 HIDDENWOOD LN., ALDIE, VA
100/B/1/////5/
203-49-5711-000
42268 HIDDENWOOD LN., ALDIE, VA
100/B/1/////4/
203-49-6816-000
42274 HIDDENWOOD LN., ALDIE, VA
100/B/1/////3/
203-49-8021-000
42292 HIDDENWOOD LN., ALDIE, VA
100/B/1/////2/
LEGI-2023-0012, FLEETWOOD NORTH: ZMAP-2020-0008, ZMOD-2023-0009, ZMOD-2023-0010, ZMOD-2023-0048, ZMOD-2023-0049, and ZMOD-2023-0050
203-49-9224-000
42298 HIDDENWOOD LN., ALDIE, VA
100/B/1/////1/
LEGI-2023-0078, DULLES NORTH HS & ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: CMPT-2023-0006 (Commission Permit)
(Zoning Map Amendment and Zoning Modifications)
Toll Mid-Atlantic LP Company, Inc., submitted applications for: a zoning map amendment and zoning ordinance modifications for approximately 70.92 acres of land located south of Sleeping Woods Court (Route 616), east of Fleetwood Road (Route 616), and west of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621) in the Little River Election District (the “Subject Property”) and more particularly described as: PIN
PROPERTY ADDRESS
TAX MAP NUMBER
243-10-7274-000
N/A
/91////////33/
244-40-6257-000
23547 EVERGREEN MILLS RD., ALDIE, VA
/91////////29/
244-30-4062-000
N/A
/91////////30/
201-45-1579-000
23541 EVERGREEN MILLS RD., ALDIE, VA
/91////////26A
243-10-7419-000
23160 SLEEPING WOODS CT., ALDIE, VA
/91////////28/
244-40-0641-000
23184 SLEEPING WOODS CT., ALDIE, VA
/91///1/////1/
For ZMAP-2020-0008, the applicant seeks to rezone the Subject Property from the Transitional Residential – 3 Upper Broad Run Upper Foley (TR3-UBF) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance to the Single Family Residential – 4 (R-4) zoning district utilizing Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) regulations in order to develop 244 single family detached residential units at a proposed maximum density of 3.44 dwelling units per acre. For ZMOD-2023-0009, ZMOD-2023-0010, ZMOD-2023-0048, ZMOD-2023-0049, and ZMOD-2023-0050, the applicant seeks zoning ordinance modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property including but not limited to: to permit single family detached units to front on a private road rather than a public road; to reduce the front yard for single family detached units from 25 feet to 20 feet; to reduce the side yard for single family detached units from nine feet to five feet; to reduce the rear yard for single family detached units from 25 feet to 20 feet; to permit a 50 percent reduction of the parking requirement for public assembly (community/ recreation center) use; reduce the required lot width for single family detached, suburban, from 50 feet to 36 feet minimum; increase maximum lot coverage for single-family detached units from 35 percent to 46 percent maximum; and to permit single family detached units to front on a private road rather than a public road. The application is being processed under the land use and development regulations of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance Grandfathering Resolution dated December 13, 2023.
LEGI-2023-0070, HIDDENWOOD ASSEMBLAGE: ZMAP-2023-0004 (Zoning Map Amendment)
Edward Y. Papazian and Judith C. Papazian; Thomas Devine Harmon and Pornpit Mrigalakshana, Trustees of the Harmon Living Trust; Frank W. Hardesty and Angela Cannady Hardesty; Venugopal Ravva and Vara Laxmi Ravva; Lisa Sweeney Bell and Scott Bell; John A. Ward and Nancy L. Ward; Keith E. Calhoun and Kristin E. Calhoun; Jay Baltzer and Stephanie McGrady; Gary G. Hosaflook and Joyce E. Hosaflook; Brent Bumgardner; Paul C. Farmer and Holly A. Farmer; Abdus S. Azad; Sharmeen Khan and Asim Khan; Kashif Iqbal and Ayesha Iqbal; Michael E. Duncan; and Patricia Catherine Cave and Jonathan Earley, submitted an application for a zoning map amendment for approximately 29.01 acres of land located east of Racefield Lane (Route 877), south of Cameron Parish Drive (Route 3444) and north of Stone Springs Boulevard (Route 659) in the Dulles Election District (the “Subject Property”) and more particularly described as: PIN
PROPERTY ADDRESS
TAX MAP NUMBER
203-37-7428-000
N/A
100/B/1////20/
203-37-8437-000
N/A
100/B/1////19/
203-37-9642-000
42112 HIDDENWOOD LN., ALDIE, VA
100/B/1////18/
203-38-0747-000
42120 HIDDENWOOD LN., ALDIE, VA
100/B/1////17/
For ZMAP-2023-0004, the applicants seek to rezone the Subject Property from Countryside Residential – 1 (CR-1) zoning district to the Planned Development – Industrial Park (PD-IP) zoning district. The application is being processed under the land use and development regulations of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance Grandfathering Resolution dated December 13, 2023. Copies of the proposed plans, ordinances, or amendments for each item listed above may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Office of County Administrator, Information Desk, First Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday or call 703-777-0246 (option 5), to request hard copies or electronic copies. Additional project files related to land use applications and land use ordinances may be reviewed electronically at loudoun.gov/landmarc. Additionally, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically the week before the hearing at www. loudoun.gov/pc. For further information, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 (option 5). Planning Commission work sessions and public hearings are held in the Board Room of the Government Center. Public hearings and work sessions are televised on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are also are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings. Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views during the public hearing. Public comment will be received only for those items listed for public hearing. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance; however, speakers may sign-up during the hearing. If you wish to sign-up in advance, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 (option 5) prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing; however, speakers may also sign-up at the public hearing. Written comments concerning any item before the Commission are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, P.O. Box 7000 Leesburg, VA 20177-7000, or by e-mail to loudounpc@loudoun.gov. If written comments are presented at the hearing, please provide ten (10) copies for distribution to the Commission and for the Clerk’s records. Members of the public may also submit comments on land use items electronically at loudoun. gov/landapplications. 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 to request additional time to speak on behalf of such organization. Regularly scheduled Planning Commission public hearings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. In the event the public hearing cannot be conducted on that date due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the hearing, the public hearing will be continued to the next day (Wednesday). In the event the public hearing may not be held on that Wednesday due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the hearing, the public hearing may be continued to the first Thursday of the next month. Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings. 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 (option 5). Three business days advance notice is requested. BY ORDER OF:
MICHELLE FRANK, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
2/15 & 2/22
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Legal Notices
OFFICIAL VOTING INFORMATION
TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING LVRZ 2024-0001, 32 SOUTH LOUDOUN LLC (Revised) REQUEST TO REZONE 32 SOUTH LOUDOUN STREET FROM THE C-1, COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL, TO THE R-1, RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT SECOND PUBLIC HEARING Pursuant to Sections 15.2-2204 and 15.2-2286 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, and Section 42-34 of the Lovettsville Zoning Ordinance, the LOVETTSVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing at 7:00PM on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, or as soon thereafter as it may be heard, in the Lovettsville Town Council Chambers, 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia. Written comments regarding this item can be submitted to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00PM on the day of the meeting. Members of the public may access and participate in this meeting electronically.
The Constitution of Virginia requires that you be registered in the precinct in which you live to be qualified to vote. For the convenience of the citizens of Loudoun County, the Voter Registration Office at 750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite 150, Leesburg, is open each week Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. To be eligible to vote in the Presidential Primary Election to be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, you had to register no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 12. Voters may register through Election Day, and vote using a provisional ballot. Additional information regarding voter registration, registration status, absentee voting, what is on the ballot can be found by visiting www.elections.virginia.gov.
EARLY VOTING Effective July 1, 2020, all registered voters in Virginia are eligible to vote early in-person, no excuse required. Office of Elections - 750 Miller Drive SE, Suite C, Leesburg, 20175
• •
Early voting hours - Monday to Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 p.m. Extended hourso Tuesday- February 27 – office remains open until 7:00 p.m.
The purpose of the hearing is to consider a revised application filed by 32 South Loudoun LLC of Lovettsville, Virginia, to rezone property from the C-1, Community Commercial Zoning District to the R-1, Residential Zoning District, to retain the existing home and permit residential development of the property. The 4.22-acre parcel identified as 32 South Loudoun Street, and as Loudoun County Parcel Identification (PIN) Number: 370-30-2180. All people wishing to speak will be given the opportunity to do so at this meeting. Written copies of statements are requested but not required. The rezoning application is available for review on the Town website at: www.lovettsvilleva.gov/ government/planning-commission/. You may also request a copy be sent to you via email by contacting John Merrithew, Planning Director at (540) 822-5788 between the hours of 8:30AM and 4:30PM weekdays, holidays excepted. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened at the next regularly scheduled meeting at the same time and place.
o o
THE ADOPTION OF A STREAMLINED PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY (PHA) ANNUAL PLAN AND REVISED ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN (EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2025) FOR THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM. Pursuant to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations at 24 CFR § 903.17, the Board of Supervisors hereby gives notice that it intends to conduct a public hearing for the purpose of considering and adopting the Streamlined PHA Annual Plan and Revised Administrative Plan (effective January 1, 2025) for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. The Streamlined PHA Annual Plan provides information on current programs and the resident population served. The Administrative Plan establishes policies for Loudoun County to implement the HCV Program in a manner consistent with HUD requirements, local goals, and objectives contained in the Administrative Plan.
o o o o o o o
PHYLLIS RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Monday, February 26, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 27, 12:00 – 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 28, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Thursday, February 29, 12:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 1, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Voters are encouraged to mark and return their ballots early to ensure they arrive in time to be counted. Voters can hand deliver their ballot up until 7 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots arriving by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day AND be received no later than noon on the Friday following the election (March 8) to be counted. Please feel free to give us a call at 703 777-0380 if you have any questions about absentee voting. Judith A. Brown, General Registrar 750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite C Leesburg, VA 20175-8916 703 777-0380 703 777-0622 FAX Email: vote@loudoun.gov Web: www.loudoun.gov/vote
Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40 and livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings.
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 accommodation may require more than one day of notice. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings.
Saturday, February 24, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 2, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Voters choosing to vote by mail are encouraged to apply immediately. Completed applications can be submitted by mail, fax, e-mail or online – www.elections.virginia.gov. The official deadline to request a ballot be mailed to you is Friday, February 23, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
Copies of the above-referenced plans may be examined at the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development, Front Desk, 1st Floor, 106 Catoctin Circle, S.E., Leesburg, VA 20175 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday excluding holidays or call (703) 737-8213 to request hard copies or electronic copies. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments.
Members of the public desiring to speak at the public hearing may appear and present their views regarding the matters listed in this notice for public hearing. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance; however, speakers may sign-up during the public hearing. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on March 29, 2024, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on April 10, 2024. Members of the public may also submit written comments by email sent to bos@loudoun.gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members and made part of the minutes for the public hearing.
Saturday- February 24 and March 2– office will be open from 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 pm.
Loudoun County Government Office at Ridgetop - 21641 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling, 20164 Dulles South Senior Center - 24950 Riding Center Drive, Chantilly, 20152 Carver Senior Center - 200 E Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville, 20132 o Early voting starts - February 24, 2024
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, April 10, 2024, in order to consider:
Thursday- February 29 – office remains open until 7:00 p.m.
EARLY VOTING SATELLITE LOCATIONS
2/22/24, 2/29/24
BY ORDER OF:
PAGE 25
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:
JJ045188-11-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Ashli Martinez-Bonilla Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.
2/22/24
Maynor Martinez Acosta, putative father and Unknown Father
2/22/24
The object of this suit is to hold a third permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1281 for Ashli Martinez-Bonilla. It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Maynor Martinez Acosta, putative father and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before March 12, 2024 at 3:00 p.m 2/1, 2/8, 2/15 & 2/22/24
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 26
Legal Notices
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
ATTENTION LOUDOUN COUNTY BUSINESS OWNERS
FIND OUT ABOUT THE COUNTY’S REAL ESTATE AND VEHICLE TAX RELIEF PROGRAMS FOR RESIDENTS AGED 65 YEARS OR OLDER OR WHO ARE DISABLED Commissioner of the Revenue, Robert S. Wertz, Jr., encourages eligible property owners who are aged 65 years or older, OR are totally and permanently disabled, to learn about Loudoun’s property relief programs. Applicants that meet qualifying criteria of the program, including income and net worth limits, may be relieved of up to 100% of real estate taxes on their primary dwelling and lot, up to 3 acres. In addition, eligible applicants may also have their vehicle taxes reduced. To learn more about this tax relief program, please plan on attending one of the free sessions that are being offered throughout the county. No appointment or RSVP is required. Location
City/Town
Date
Ashburn Library
Ashburn
Monday, February 26, 2024
10:30 AM
Time
Cascades Library
Potomac Falls
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
10:30 AM
Purcellville Library
Purcellville
Monday, March 4, 2024
10:30 AM
Rust Library
Leesburg
Monday, March 11, 2024
10:30 AM
2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22, 2/29 & 3/7/24
TOWN OF HAMILTON, VIRGINIA NOTICE OF PROPOSED PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATES AND MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE FEE FOR FY25
MARCH 1 DEADLINE Notification of 2024 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 2023 Loudoun County Business License must obtain a 2024 license by reporting their calendar year 2023 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, 2024, 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, 2024. Resulting semi-annual tax bills for this equipment must be paid to the Treasurer by the May and October 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. Mailing address changes and notification of business closure should also be reported at www.loudoun.gov/efile. Most transactions with our office can be done online. For more information or filing assistance, please visit www.loudoun.gov/ cor or contact my office at businesstax@loudoun.gov or 703-777-0260. You may also write or stop by my office weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office in Leesburg is undergoing renovations that may result in longer wait times. So that we may better serve you, taxpayers are encouraged to email or call prior to visiting the office.
Pursuant to Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended §§15.2-107,-1427, 46.2-752 and 58.1-3000, -3007, -3506.1 and -3524the Hamilton Town Council will hold a public hearing at the Hamilton Town Office, 53 East Colonial Highway, Hamilton, Virginia, on February 26, 2024, beginning at 7:00 p.m. via Livestream and Zoom Virtual Meetings for the purpose of receiving comment on the proposed personal property tax rates and motor vehicle license fee for Fiscal Year 2025.
Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue Loudoun County
FY 2024 personal property tax rate: ................................................... $1.10 per $100 of assessed value; 45% PPTRA discount for qualified vehicles
Loudoun Tech Center Office 46000 Center Oak Plaza, Sterling
FY2025 proposed personal property tax rate: ..................................... $1.10 per $100 of assessed value; no change in rate, 38% PPRTA For qualified vehicles
Government Center Office 1 Harrison St. SE, 1st Floor, Leesburg
FY2025 proposed personal property tax rate ....................................... $0.01 per $100 of assessed value For elderly/disabled
MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 8000, Leesburg, VA 20177-9804
FY2024 motor vehicle license fee ................................................................................................$ 25.00 FY2025 proposed motor vehicle license fee ....................................................$ 25.00 No change in rate
Phone: 703-777-0260 E-mail: businesstax@loudoun.gov Website: www.loudoun.gov/cor
The Town Council will hold a special meeting following the public hearing to consider the adoption of an ordinance setting forth the personal property tax rate and motor vehicle license fee. Copies of the proposed ordinance and related documents are available for review on the Town website and at the Town Office, by appointment, Monday through Friday, 8 am through 4 pm. All interested residents are invited to participate in the public hearing by following the instructions on the Town website: hamiltonva.gov or emailing comments to Sherri Jackson, Treasurer at treasurer@hamiltonva. gov. Kenneth C. Wine, Mayor Town of Hamilton
NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES
02/15 & 02/22/24
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:
2/1, 2/8, 2/1 2/15, 2/22 & 2/29/24 & 2/8/24
JJ047045-04-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Maria Jose Nunez Torres Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v. Mario Obel Nunez, putative father and Unknown Father
The object of this suit is to hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1-281 for Maria Jose Nunez Torres. It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Mario Obel Nunez, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before March 19, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. 2/15, 2/22, 2/29 & 3/7/24
This notice is to inform the owner and any person having a security interest in their right to reclaim the motor vehicle herein described within 15 days after the date of storage charges resulting from placing the vehicle in custody, and the failure of the owner or persons having security interests to exercise their right to reclaim the vehicle within the time provided shall be deemed a waiver by the owner, and all persons having security interests of all right, title and interest in the vehicle, and consent to the sale of the abandoned motor vehicle at a public auction. This notice shall also advise the owner of record of his or her right to contest the determination by the Sheriff that the motor vehicle was “abandoned,” as provided in Chapter 630.08 of the Loudoun County Ordinance, by requesting a hearing before the County Administrator in writing. Such written request for a hearing must be made within 15 days of the notice. YR.
MAKE
MODEL
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STORAGE
PHONE#
2012 2012 2005 2003
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703-661-8200 703-435-8888 703-378-0059 703-450-7555 2/15 & 2/22/24
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Legal Notices
PAGE 27
TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISISON PUBLIC HEARING
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE The Town Council of the Town of Purcellville will hold a public hearing in the Town Council Chambers located at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia on Tuesday, March 12th, 2024 at 6:00 PM for the purpose of receiving comments on, considering, and possibly voting on the following item: RZ-24-01: Zoning Map Amendment application submitted by property owner, Town of Purcellville. The rezoning request proposes to rezone two parcels, Parcel “A” and Parcel “B”, from “X, Transitional” to “IP, Institutional and Public Use”. The 2.0535 acre(“A”) and 3.0118 acre(“B”) parcels are identified on the plat entitled “Plat Showing Subdivision and the Creation of Various Easements on the Lands of The Board of Supervisors of Loudoun County, Virginia”. The Plat is further identified by Instrument Number 20231227-0051228, as recorded within the Loudoun County Clerk of the Circuit Court Land Records. SUP-24-01 & CP-24-01: Special Use and Commission Permit for “Public Utility, major” for the above referenced Parcel “A”. The stated purpose of the SUP is to permit the construction and operation of a Town of Purcellville Water Storage Tank on the 2.0535 acre lot(Parcel “A”). Additional information regarding this application is available for review at the Purcellville Town Hall at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia during regular business hours, holidays excepted. At this public hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Qualified individuals with a disability who require a reasonable accommodation to attend and/or participate in the public hearing, should contact Kimberly Bandy, Town Clerk at kbandy@purcellvilleva. gov to request the accommodation three days in advance of the meeting.
TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLE 11 FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVISING PARKING SPACE DIMENSIONS AND TRAVEL AISLE REQUIREMENTS, AND ARTICLE 12 INTERIOR PARKING LOT LANDSCAPING IN THE B-1 DISTRICT Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 to consider Zoning Ordinance Amendment TLZNOA2023-0007 to revise the following provision of the Zoning Ordinance: Article 11, Section 11.6.2 Dimensions of Parking Spaces and Aisles – amending this section to reduce the dimensions of required parking spaces and travel aisles in parking lots in the B-1, Community (Downtown) Business District. Article 12 Modified Parking Lot Screening and Landscaping Standards – amending this section to provide greater flexibility to meet the interior parking lot screening standards in the B-1, Community (Downtown) Business District. Copies and additional information regarding these proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments are available at the Department of Community Development located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by calling 703-771-2774 and asking for Brian Boucher, Deputy Director. Mr. Boucher can also be reached by email at bboucher@leesburgva.gov. This Zoning Ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLZNOA2023-0007. At this hearing all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of the Commission at (703) 771-2434 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.
2/22 & 2/29/24
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE MIDDLEBURG PLANNING COMMISSION
TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The Middleburg Planning Commission will hold public hearings beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 26, 2024 to hear comments on the following: Special Use 24-01 Request by Salamander Farms, LLC for a special use permit for a Short-Term Rental at 800 Old Saddle Drive zoned R-1 Single Family Residential District Special Use 24-02 Request by Alexander Perdikis for a special use permit for a Short-Term Rental at 606 Martingale Ridge Drive zoned R-3 Residential District Special Use 24-03 Request by Mary and Thomas Gillespie for a special use permit for a Short-Term Rental at 601 Martingale Ridge Drive zoned R-3 Residential District The hearings will take place at the Town Hall, 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia. The application materials may be reviewed online at www.middleburgva.gov/313/Public-Hearings or in the Town Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. Questions may be directed to Town Manager Danny Davis at (540) 687-5152 or by email at ddavis@ middleburgva.gov The Town of Middleburg strives to make its hearings accessible to all. Please advise of accommodations the Town can make to help you participate in the hearings.
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:
JJ048585-01-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Carlton Platt Loudoun County Department of Family Services
2/22 & 2/29/2024
2/22/24
The object of this suit is to hold an adjudicatory hearing pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-252 for Carlton Platt; and hold a dispositional hearing for review of initial Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-278.2 and 16.1-281 for Carlton Platt. It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Sabrina Whitney, mother and Brooks Platt, father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before February 21, 2024 at 3:00pm (Adjudicatory); and March 18, 2024 at 10:00am (Dispositional) 2/15, 2/22, 2/29 & 3/7/24
LVZA 2023-0005, AMEND ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLE 42-I, IN GENERAL, ARTICLE 42-V, ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICTS; ZONING MAP, TO ADD SECTION 42-151, TABLE 1. PERMITTED AND CONDITIONAL USES BY ZONING DISTRICT ARTICLE 42-VI, RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS, ARTICLE 42-VII, COMMERCIAL AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICTS ARTICLE 42-VIII, GENERAL REGULATIONS TO ADD SECTION 42311, TEMPORARY RETAIL SALES Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1117, 15.2-2253, 15.2-2204 and 15.2-2286 of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended, the LOVETTSVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing at its meeting on March 6, 2024, at 7:00PM, or as soon thereafter as it may be heard, in the Town Council Chambers, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia. Written comments regarding this item can be submitted to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00PM on the day of the meeting. Members of the public may access and participate in this meeting electronically. The purpose of the amendment is to consider changes to commercial uses and development standards including modifying, deleting, and adding uses and definitions, modifying the review criteria for conditional use permits, modifying standards for outdoor display, making building and lot standards modifiable by conditional use permit, allowing existing residences as a permitted use in the C-1, Community Commercial zoning district, allowing multiple uses on a lot in the C-1 district, setting maximum commercial building sizes in the Lovettsville Historic District, and adding Section 42311, which adds standards for temporary retail sales uses such as food trucks and seasonal sales. The proposed amendment adds Section 42-151, Table 1. Permitted And Conditional Uses By District, which consolidates permitted and conditional uses in a table showing uses by district, and removes the individual list of uses from each zoning district. All people desiring to speak will be given an opportunity to do so at this meeting. Written copies of statements are requested but not required. The proposed zoning amendment and meeting links are available for review on the Town website at: www.lovettsvilleva.gov. You may also request a copy be sent to you via email by contacting John Merrithew, Planning Director at (540) 822-5788 between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm weekdays, holidays excepted. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be readvertised and convened at the next regularly scheduled meeting at the same time and place. 2/22, 2/29/24
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 28
Legal Notices
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING SETTING TAX RATES ON PERSONAL PROPERTY (SECTION 20-22), VEHICLE LICENSE FEE (SECTION 32-84), MOTOR VEHICLE TAX REDUCTION (SECTION 2025), AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF (SECTION 20-30) FOR TAX YEAR 2024, AND AMENDING LEESBURG TOWN CODE APPENDIX B – FEE SCHEDULE
TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING LVCU 2024-0001, LOVETTSVILLE GAME PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION Pursuant to Sections 15.2-2204 and 15.2-2286 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, the LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing at their meeting at 6:30PM on Thursday, March 7, 2024, or as soon thereafter as it may be heard, in the Lovettsville Town Hall Council Chambers located at 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia at which time the Council is to consider an application for Conditional Use Permit filed by the Lovettsville Game Protective Association of Lovettsville Virginia, to expand the existing Association building by 1,600 square feet to add a mechanical storage space and updated bathrooms, and a drive-through portico to the front of the building. The improvements will not increase the occupancy capacity of the building. The 4.3acre parcel houses the existing building and a youth baseball diamond. The property sits on the west side of Berlin Pike approximately 240 feet south of the intersection with South Church Street and is further identified as Loudoun County Parcel Identification (PIN) Number: 370-49-7231. All persons wishing to speak will be given the opportunity to do so at this meeting. Written copies of statements are requested but not required. Written comments regarding this item can be submitted to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00PM on the day of the meeting. Members of the public may access and participate in this meeting electronically. The proposed zoning amendment is available for review on the Town website at: www.lovettsvilleva.gov/government/planning-commission/. You may also request a copy be sent to you via email by contacting John Merrithew, Planning Director at (540) 822-5788 between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm weekdays, holidays excepted. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened at the next regularly scheduled meeting at the same time and place. 2/22 & 2/29/24
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS BY THE TOWN OF LEESBURG, VIRGINIA FEBRUARY 27, 2024 AT 7:00 P.M. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg, Virginia (the “Town”) will hold a public hearing in accordance with Section 15.2-2606 of the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, on the proposed issuance of one or more series of general obligation bonds in an estimated maximum principal amount of $113,000,000 (the “Bonds”). The Town proposes to issue the Bonds and use the bond proceeds to finance the costs of various capital improvement projects in the Town’s Capital Improvements Program and other approved capital projects and the costs of issuing the Bonds. The Town expects that more than ten percent of the total bond proceeds will be used to finance Police Station Expansion ($25.7M) and Town Shop Expansion and Refurbishment ($12M). The public hearing, which may be continued or adjourned, will be held at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, before the Town Council of the Town (the “Town Council”) in the Council Chambers, Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, in Leesburg, Virginia. A resolution authorizing the issuance of the Bonds will be considered by the Town Council at its meeting on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, following the public hearing on the issuance of the Bonds. The resolution is expected to authorize the issuance of Bonds in one or more series that would finance certain costs on a long-term basis and others on a short-term basis and also authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds of the Town to refinance outstanding interim financing on a long-term basis. A copy of the proposed resolution is available from the Town Clerk, located in Town Hall. Additional information regarding the bond financing is available in the Department of Finance, located on the first floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.); or by calling Eileen Boeing, Clerk of Council, at 703771-2733. At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at 703-771-2733, three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 2/15/24 & 2/22/24
FIND LOCAL EVENTS
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In accordance with the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, §§ 15.2-1427, 46.2-752, 58.1-3000, 58.1-3007, 58.1-3503, 58.1-3506, 58.1-3506.1 through 58.1-3506.8, 58.1-3515 and 58.1-3524, the Leesburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on: Tuesday, February 27, 2024, 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 amendments to the Leesburg Town Code: • The Town Manager proposes tax rates for personal property (per $100.00 of assessed value) for tax year 2024 to remain unchanged, as follows: ο Aircraft = $0.001 ο Motor vehicles = $1.00 ο Motor vehicles of eligible elderly and disabled (Town Code Sec. 20-25) = $0.50 ο Tangible personal property (excluding public service corporations) = $1.00 ο Bank capital = $0.80 per $100.00 of the net capital of banks located in the Town. •
The Town Manager proposes personal property tax relief for tax year 2024 under the provisions of the Virginia Personal Property Tax Relief Act and Leesburg Town Code sec. 20-30, as follows: a personal property tax relief rate of 34% shall be applied solely to that portion of the value of each qualifying vehicle that is not in excess of $20,000.
•
The Town Manager proposes that the vehicle license fee for tax year 2024 remain unchanged at $25.00 per vehicle.
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 Clark G. Case, Director of Finance and Administrative Services at 703-771-2720. 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. 2/15/24; 2/22/24
Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Henrietta Lacks/Hovatter Elementary School Attendance Zone Proposed School Change for Grade Two Students for the 2024-2025 Academic Year Henrietta Lacks Elementary School, located at 41125 Collaboration Drive in Aldie, will open in the fall of 2024. The Loudoun County School Board is considering a proposed change for grade two students (2024-2025 academic year) assigned to the Henrietta Lacks/Hovatter Elementary School attendance zone. Henrietta Lacks Elementary School has been designed and designated to serve kindergarten through grade two students; Hovatter Elementary School will house students in grades three through five. In October 2023, the School Board voted to open Henrietta Lacks Elementary School without grade two students – only for the 2024-2025 academic year. For the school’s inaugural year (2024-2025), Henrietta Lacks Elementary School would serve only kindergarten and grade one students and any students in preschool programs. For the 2024-2025 academic year, Hovatter Elementary School would serve students in grades two through five. The proposed school of assignment change for next year’s grade two students residing in the Henrietta Lacks/Hovatter Elementary School attendance zone was presented to the School Board on January 30, 2024. The School Board is anticipated to act on the proposed change at their February 27, 2024 meeting. The School Board will also hold a public hearing on February 27 on the recommended school assignment change. The February 27 meeting will be held at the LCPS Administration Building (21000 Education Court, Ashburn) and broadcast live on Comcast channel 18 and Verizon Fios channel 43, as well as viewable via simultaneous webcast on the LCPS website (www.lcps.org/webcast). Details on how to sign up to speak at the February 27 public hearing are provided at www.lcps.org/Page/223425. Those who need translation/interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate meaningfully in the School Board meeting or public hearing should contact the Superintendent’s Office at 571252-1020 at least three (3) days prior to the meeting. Beverly I. Tate, Director Loudoun County Public Schools Division of Planning & GIS Services 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, Virginia 20148 Telephone: 571-252-1050 Email: LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG 2/15/2024, 2/22/2024
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FEBRUARY 22, 2024
PAGE 29
Legal Notices
PUBLIC NOTICE INVITATION FOR BID (IFB)
TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION TLZM-2022-0010 VILLAGE AT LEESBURG LAND BAYS D&E Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Rezoning application TLZM-2022-0010, Village at Leesburg Land Bays D&E. The Subject Property is located at 42830 Golf Club Road and 1749 Russell Branch Parkway SE and consists of 2 parcels totaling approximately 33.77 acres (Loudoun County Property Identification Numbers (PIN) 149-19-2542 and 150-49-0155 (Portion of)). The Subject Property is zoned I-1 (Industrial / Research Park District). Rezoning Application TLZM-2022-0010 is a request by Springfield East, LC to amend the Concept Plan and Proffers for the subject property to allow for data centers and additional uses permitted in the I-1 zoning district. The Subject Property is located in what the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan (LLTP) describes as an “Area to Transform or Evolve” on the Area Based Land Use Initiatives Map (LLTP pg. 72). The property is further designated within LLTP as “Business and Industrial” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (LLTP pg. 76). There is no Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) for commercial uses associated with a Business and Industrial community within LLTP. The Site is further designated as “Office/ Light Industrial” in the Eastern Gateway District Small Area Plan. No specific commercial F.A.R. is proposed. The application includes requested modifications to the landscape and buffer requirements of the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) regulations.
2024 TAX EXEMPTION INFORMATION Pursuant to §58.1-3604 of the Code of Virginia, the Loudoun County Commissioner of the Revenue has determined that the 2024 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 $12,604,474,170. This aggregate assessed value represents 8.04% of all real property assessed in the County. The total reduction in tax revenues resulting from such exemptions is $111,549,596 based on the maximum proposed tax rate of $0.885 per $100 of assessed value.
Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue Loudoun County Government Center Office 1 Harrison St. SE, 1st Floor, Leesburg Sterling Location 46000 Center Oak Plaza, Sterling
Additional information and copies of this application are available at the Department of Community Development located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Richard Klusek, at 703-771-2758 or rklusek@leesburgva.gov.
MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 8000, Leesburg, VA 20177-9804
At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of the Council at (703) 771-2733 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.
Phone: 703-777-0260 E-mail: realestate@loudoun.gov Website: www.loudoun.gov/cor
Run: 2/15 & 2/22
2/15 & 2/22/24
KENNETH B. ROLLINS WATER FILTRATION PLANT AHU 2 UPGRADE The Town of Leesburg will accept sealed bids electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia. gov), until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2024, for the following:
IFB NO. 500630-FY24-04 KENNETH B. ROLLINS WATER FILTRATION PLANT AHU 2 UPGRADE Work consists of upgrading the Air Handling Unit (AHU) 2 installed on the roof of the Chemical Maintenance Building at the Kenneth B. Rollins Water Filtration Plant (WFP). The Work includes, but is not limited to, the removal of existing equipment and installation of new mechanical and electrical systems. For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § §1-211.1; 8.01-3 16, -317, 20-104 Case No. CL24-252
LOUDOUN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 18 EAST MARKET ST., LEESBURG, VA 20176 Inglish v. Loudoun Farms, LTD, Interested Parties The object of this suit is to Quiet title to real estate in name of Loudoun Farms, LTD, which was administratively dissolved inthe 1980s. It is ORDERED that Loudoun Farms, LTD, or Any Interested Party appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before April 5, 2024 2PM. 2/15, 2/22, 2/29 & 3/7/24
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Terms: State and local orders will be strictly enforced at the sale, including social distancing and limits on the number of people permitted to gather in certain areas. All attendees must comply with such procedures or will be required to leave the premises. We strongly recommend that all attendees wear face coverings for the protection of themselves and our staff. Bidder agrees to register and pay a refundable $500 cash deposit plus a non-refundable $20 entry fee before the Sale starts. The balance of the purchase is due in full by 5:00pm on sale day. vehicles are AS-IS and are subject to a buy fee based on the sale price of the vehicle. Only cash or certified funds will be accepted. No vehicle will be released until Payment is made in full. Children under the age of 18 are not permitted.
20+Chase repossessions will be offered to the public sale (monthly) on Wednesdays (2/28/24, 3/27/24, 4/24/24, 5/22/24, 6/19/24, 7/17/24, 8/14/24, 9/11/24, 10/9/24, 11/6/24, 12/4/24). Auction doors open at 8:00 a.m. Sale starts at 9:50 a.m. ET. Registered persons may preview/ inspect vehicles on the day of the sale before bidding. Bids accepted only when a vehicle is presented for sale. The auctioneer will conclude the sale when bidding stops. All results will be final by 5:00 p.m. Terms: Cash or Certified Check.
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FEBRUARY 22, 2024
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PAGE 31
er m m u S Jobs!csjobs
Post your job listings at NowHiringLoudoun.com 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.
pr gov//p Loudoun.g 0343 703--7777-0
Regular Full-Time Positions Position
Department
Salary Range
Closing Date
Assistant Town Manager (Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology)
Executive
$116,815-$220,197 DOQ
Open until filled
Communications Technician (Police Dispatch)
Police
$53,000-$97,651 DOQ
Open until filled Open until filled
Deputy Controller
Finance
$83,981-$158,300 DOQ
Library Director
Executive
$99,044-$186,698 DOQ
Open until filled
Maintenance Worker I (Streets Division)
Public Works & Capital Projects
$51,000-$94,350 DOQ
Open until filled
Police Officer
Police
$65,000-$104,000 DOQ
Open until filled
Police Records Clerk or Senior Police Records Clerk
Police
$52,000-$104,900 DOQ
March 11 , 2024
Utility Instrumentation/SCADA System Technician
Utilities
$63,248-$119,223 DOQ
Open until filled
Utility Plant Technician or Senior Utility Plant Technician
Utilities
$53,000-$104,900 DOQ
Open until filled
th
Camp C amp S Supervisors upervis sors &L eaders, Leaders, In nstructors, Instructors, L if feguards, P ool & Lifeguards, Pool Park M anagers Park Managers LOUDOUN COUNTY PARKS, RECREATION & COMMUNITY SERVICES
Flexible Part-Time Positions Position
Department
Salary Range
Closing Date
Parking Enforcement Officer
Police
$16.86-$28.85 DOQ
March 8th, 2024
Receptionist I
Executive
$20.51-$33.42 DOQ
March 1st, 2024
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.
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FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Opinion No Routine Calls Emergency calls reporting an odor of gas in a building or in a neighborhood are among the Published by Loudoun Community Media 15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723
NORMAN K. STYER Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com EDITORIAL ALEXIS GUSTIN Reporter agustin@loudounnow.com
most common fire unit responses. They occur almost daily; many times there are several a day. On Friday, we were reminded that frequent calls are not routine calls. Each time a fire crew rolls into action they are heading into a potentially dangerous situation. Yet, we don’t expect it to be a deadly
VICKY MASHAW Account Executive vmashaw@loudounnow.com
Online always at LoudounNow.com
Loudoun Now is mailed weekly to homes in Leesburg, western Loudoun and Ashburn, and distributed for pickup throughout the county. Online, Loudoun Now provides daily community news coverage to an audience of more than 100,000 unique monthly visitors.
family for the loss of a husband and father, or those who suffered life-changing injuries and trauma while working to protect their neighbors. We can pause to appreciate the commitment and sacrifices made by our emergency responders each day they are on the job. And
extensive training required of every career and
we can renew our commitment to keeping them
volunteer as part of a combined system that
safe as they work to save us. n
LETTERS to the Editor
ADVERTISING
TONYA HARDING Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.com
The community can never repay the Brown
situation. That’s in large part due to the
HANNA PAMPALONI Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
SUSAN STYER Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.com
continues to serve as a national model.
Wrong Message Editor: Supervisor Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin) recently voted against an accelerated planning and zoning review process for data centers. According to Loudoun Now (Feb. 8), the process is aimed at imposing new restrictions on data center development and give the supervisors more control over the industry’s rapid expansion. Against the backdrop of a major power line—solely to serve data centers—being built through rural western Loudoun, Mr. Kershner “said the board was sending the wrong message to the data center industry—that they are no longer wanted in the community.” If that’s the “wrong” message, what does Mr. Kershner envision as the “right” one? Does Mr. Kershner support the major power line for data centers with its giant towers that’s proposed to run through the Catoctin District, harming tourism and agriculture, invading a historic district, and ruining the quality of life for his own constituents? Does Mr. Kershner support his
constituents being forced to pay for that power line through much, much higher electricity rates, even though his constituents would be harmed, not benefited, by the power line? Does Mr. Kershner support data centers running 24 hours per day right next to residential neighborhoods, as is currently under consideration in Leesburg, using far more power than the nearby neighborhoods and subjecting the residents to unbearable noise? I’m hopeful that Mr. Kershner wouldn’t support such negative impacts on his own constituents and other Loudoun residents. If that’s the case, exactly why should we send the message that data centers are wanted in our community? To his credit, Mr. Kershner has written to the company overseeing the proposed power line, urging it to minimize the line’s impact by, among other things, putting it along established rights-of-way rather than through agricultural and residential properties. But I note, however, that Mr. Kershner doesn’t suggest putting the line under-
ground. Why not? If you’d like to see what putting a major power line above ground along an established right-of-way looks like, take a drive down Dry Mill Road, where giant towers for a power line were constructed within yards of the houses that were already there. Are such towers what anyone would want in the right-of-way running in front of their house? I realize that data centers pay taxes. But is it worth it for Loudoun residents, especially when any tax benefit will be offset by much higher electricity rates that we’ll pay to build new power lines for the data centers? It’s as though we’re being asked to pay for the data center industry to ruin our quality of life. I’m hopeful that, in the future, Mr. Kershner will work more closely with the other supervisors on this issue, as well as with the community groups who oppose the new power line (Loudoun Now, Feb. 15). — Kurt Schroeder, Lovettsville LETTERS continue on page 33
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FEBRUARY 22, 2024
READERS’ poll
PAGE 33
CHIPshots — By Chip Beck
Should more public disclosure be required of travel by local government representatives?
• 82.3% Yes if tax money is used •• 10.3% Yes for foreign or out-ofstate travel •
• 6.0% This is not really a
•
concern
Only elected • 1.3% representatives
•
THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:
Are you worried about drugs in your child’s school?
Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls
LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 32
Not A Priority Editor: I am writing as the advocacy chair for the Friends of Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve. I recently participated in the Parks and Recreation’s Open Space Board meeting on Feb. 8 and the discussions regarding the possibility of introducing equestrian trails on Banshee Reeks grounds. During the open discussion, I was struck with a number of questions as were our FOBR members in attendance. These questions were generated based on the comments from the PROS board members. Why isn’t the PROS board, and in turn, the Board of Supervisors using the very information that the county commissioned and paid for with taxpayer dollars? The county requested and received comments directly from Loudoun County residents in the 2020 Parks and Recreation Community Services System Master Plan Needs Assessment Survey. Within this document there are a number of citizen surveys covering topics such as Facilities Most Important to Households and Top Priorities for Investing for Facilities. Of the 34 survey recreational response categories from
Loudoun County residents, equestrian trails or riding trails were not listed once. The county’s own data reflects that riding trials are not a priority where the residents of this county want the PROS board to spend their time or the county’s money. So, why are riding trails in Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve even on the PROS board agenda? These survey results are not FOBR’s information or our point of view—its Loudoun County’s and they paid for it, so why not use it? — Michael Kennedy Director, Friends of Banshee Reeks
Disappointed Editor: I was disappointed to learn that our illustrious Board of Supervisors has embarked on another experiment in social engineering (“Supervisors Briefed on DEIA Assessment Results,” Loudoun Now, Feb. 15), even to the point of conducting a survey of questionable authenticity to determine a “baseline evaluation” of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility, and develop an “equity plan” of action. In my view, the BOS should have funded a little honest due diligence beforehand instead of wasting taxpayer money on another preordained study and hiring an unelected bureaucrat who will decide how “guilty” Loudoun citizens are and what they must do to meet some
bureaucrat’s arbitrary definitions of behavior and belief. If the BOS had conducted honest due diligence, the chair and our supervisors would have learned that “diversity,” “equity” and “inclusion” are not what many people naively think these words mean. “Diversity,” in DEI philosophy, is more of a political advocacy effort designed to support certain groups and behaviors that are deemed historically “oppressed.” (Hint: pro-Palestinian demonstrations are welcome but wearing a Star of David pin would be “hate speech.”) And, despite Supervisor Turner’s shoot-from-the-hip Merriam-Webster’s definition of “equity,” the word “Equity” in DEI parlance is more about equality of outcome, not equality of opportunity for all. Under DEI methodology, discrimination, even racial or ethnic discrimination, is allowed—actually required—if it “corrects” unequal outcomes. The definition of “unequal” and actions to be taken, of course, are left to unelected bureaucrats to decide. I wish our chair and BOS were more aligned with basic American values instead of being duped into believing that philosophies like DEI offer a promise that millions of immigrants to this country have left behind. — Evan H. Parrott, Ashburn
We Can Do This Editor: Together, we are unstoppable! We are
the men, women, and children of Relay for Life of Loudoun County. We are raising funds to help fight cancer, and we invite you to join us. Relay for Life is an event to celebrate cancer survivors and their caregivers, honor those lost to cancer, and provides a way to fight back to someday eliminate cancer as we know it. We do this by coming together as one community from all parts of the county to help others—and have fun doing it. Relay for Life is an opportunity to demonstrate once again the true spirit of the people of Loudoun County who have consistently been near the top of the list of northern Virginia jurisdictions when it comes to supporting non-profit organizations. Cancer does not discriminate. No one is immune. You can save somebody’s life. You can be a hero. You can join or form a team representing your family, school, business, neighborhood, workplace, place of worship, or organization, and donate your money, time, and energy to the cause. There are hundreds of fun and creative ways to raise money that are limited only by your imagination. The American Cancer Society has tons of resources and ideas culled from Relay events around the country and the world. Money raised fights cancer through research, education, advocacy, and family services. ACS provides A 24/7 cancer LETTERS continue on page 34
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Legal Notices
Brain surgery
LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR: ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE CRISIS RECEIVING & STABLIZATION CENTER, IFB RFQ No. 646813 until prior to 4:00 p.m., March 25, 2024. A&E SERVICES FOR THE ADULT DETENTION CENTER EXPANSION - PHASE III, RFP No. 642820 until prior to 4:00 p.m., March 19, 2024. 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 2/22/24
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE The Town Council of the Town of Purcellville will hold a public hearing in the Town Council Chambers located at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia on Tuesday, March 12th, 2024 at 6:00 PM for the purpose of receiving comments on, considering, and possibly voting on the following item: Zoning Map Adoption: The adoption of an updated Official Zoning Map to reflect the modifications and updates approved since the last publication of the Official Zoning Map on March 30, 2018. This update is required by Virginia Code and precedes any proposals associated with the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite, which will be the subject of future Public Hearings. Additional information regarding this application is available for review at the Purcellville Town Hall at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia during regular business hours, holidays excepted. At this public hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Qualified individuals with a disability who require a reasonable accommodation to attend and/or participate in the public hearing, should contact Kimberly Bandy, Town Clerk at kbandy@purcellvilleva. gov to request the accommodation three days in advance of the meeting. 2/22 & 2/29/24
PUBLIC NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) ABC LICENSE
Dilbs LLC trading as bkd Bagels, 500 Fort Evans RD NE 001, Leesburg, Virginia 20175. The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for Retail Restaurant or Caterer Application Restaurant, Wine, Beer, Consumed On and Off premises. Dilbs LLC 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. 2/15 & 2/22/24
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
The Town of Leesburg will accept proposals electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia. gov), until 3:00 p.m. on March 19, 2024 for the following:
RFP No. 500640-FY24-43 UTILITIES GENERATOR SERVICES The Town of Leesburg is soliciting sealed proposals from qualified firms for a wide variety of scheduled preventative and on-call services for the generators and boiler located at the Water Pollution Control Facility, Water Treatment Plant and other remote facilities. For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard
continued from page 3 Bethesda, he has been able to go back to teaching, albeit traveling back and forth via Uber because the Department of Motor Vehicles Seizure/Blackout Policy requires a six-month waiting period before he can drive again after the seizure. Elizabeth said they were grateful that most of his pre-op and post-operation appointments were in Loudoun, within a 10-minute drive from their home. “It was so nice to come to Inova Loudoun and not have to drive to Falls Church or another hospital on a daily basis,” she said. Chandela said Inova Loudoun has been able to do the full-depth and breadth of brain surgery since 2021, which is a huge help to patients who live in the county. “The great thing for our community here is in the past Dr. Chandela would have to take [patients] out of Loudoun County; take them to Fairfax and recover there, the travel time, the stay. Now that Dr. Chandela is here, local,
LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 33
helpline, educational materials, places to stay during treatment, rides to treatment, and more. Call 1-800-227-2345 for more information. The Loudoun County Relay for Life will be held on Saturday, May 11, from 5 to10 p.m., at Independence High School in Ashburn. Event highlights include a catered luncheon for survivors and caregivers, a survivor/caregiver victory lap, team campsite activities, ongoing team presence on the track, musical entertainment, ceremonies to start and end the event,
Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now
Elizabeth Lee adjusts the hair around the scar on her husband’s head after he had Awake Craniotomy on Jan. 8. Youngjo Lee was the first patient to undergo this type of brain surgery at Inova Loudoun Hospital.
he has built the staffing around him and the capacity to keep those patients here,” Inova Loudoun Physician Relations Executive Kim Benham said. “That is the important thing, that we are doing it here in Loudoun County and that highlights how far the hospital has come with these high-level techniques especially in brain surgery,” Chandela said. The couple said they were looking forward to getting back to normal life with work, their son and their two German shepherds, “with more of an emphasis of spending time with family,” Elizabeth said. n
and a Luminaria ceremony and silent lap to honor those fighting cancer and remember those lost to cancer. Go to Relay for Life of Loudoun County VA to donate, join or form a team. For more information, contact Tunisia Hollingsworth: Tunisia.hollingsworth@ cancer.org or call 240-508-9295. Registered participants will meet March 13, April 10, April 24, and May 8, from 7 to 8 p.m. in the library at Independence High School to celebrate progress, discuss event updates and share fundraising ideas. All Relay participants are encouraged to attend. This is everyone’s Relay event. Your presence will make it better. Together we can do this. — John O’Connor, Purcellville
Add your voice to the conversation.
Send us letters to the editor to editor@loudounnow.com
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Substance abuse trends continued from page 3 tanyl—an amount small enough to fit on the tip of a pencil—is a deadly dose. She said seven of 10 pills seized by the Drug Enforcement Agency contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. She said in illegally manufactured drugs, it may be that only a small portion of the pill may have a deadly dose of fentanyl. That adds to the challenge of testing the pills for safety. Evans broke down some of the trends seen in the schools, including alcohol, vaping, and various forms of marijuana. She said 11 is the average age that students experience their first drink of alcohol. Also, she said there is a higher alcohol content in drinks today, which can lead to an increased risk for alcohol poisoning. She said there is also danger in drinks that mix caffeine and alcohol. She said E-cigarettes and vapes saw a rise in popularity because of a loophole in the Tobacco 21 law. She noted they have a higher nicotine content with students becoming intoxicated in 10 to 30 minutes. She said they are marketed to be a healthier alternative to cigarettes, but contain hundreds of dangerous chemicals. They are often disguised as pens, highlighters, and USB drives. She also talked about a new tobacco free nicotine pouch, called Zyn, that has
County budget continued from page 1 proposed budget. The equalized tax rate, which would keep tax bills level in the face of increasing property values, is 84 cents. Adopting that rate would require $21 million in spending cuts from his proposed budget and increase the school system shortfall to $41 million, he said. Hemstreet is proposing a 5-cent reduction in the personal property tax rate, to $4.10, starting in January. In addition to being the hated “car tax,” it also is the rate levied on data center equipment, which continues to be a significant and growing revenue stream. The prior board reduced the rate from $4.20 to $4.15. The general county government budget would require $708 million in local
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become popular because it is also falsely marketed as a healthier alternative to cigarettes. “Regardless of the method, the adolescent, when they use nicotine the brain actually receives a larger dopamine rush than the adult brain does. Which makes it more primed for addiction and rewires the brain and makes adolescents much more likely to continue down that path and use additional substances,” she said. She noted studies that show a link between vaping nicotine and worsening depression and anxiety and said students will use it to self-medicate but it only makes it worse. Vape carts contain a highly concentrated form of marijuana that is made into a wax or a goo and smoked. She said carts contain 80-90% THC content compared to the marijuana of the 1960’s and 1970’s which only contained 3% THC. She said some students can have an overdose experience on marijuana as a result which can cause psychotic symptoms and can look like a psychotic break. Students can become intoxicated on carts anywhere between 15 minutes and three hours. Edibles are another trend seen in the division. Edibles contian a highly concentrated form of marijuana that is infused in food, usually baked goods or candy. The ones infused with THC often look like the real candy, cereal or cookie but are packaged with subtle images of marijuana leaves or references to the drug. Evans
said they are very appealing to teens and have a high risk of overdose, with intoxication happening anywhere between 15 minutes and three hours. The sharing of legitimate prescription drugs like Ritalin, Adderall, OcyContin and Xanax is another trend they are seeing. As well as the use of dietary supplements like pre-workout supplements— pills or powder with high doses of caffeine taken to increase energy during a workout, Kratom, which have similar effects to opioids and stimulants and Phenibut. Phenibut is known as the “happy drug,” because it is a mood enhancer and is often taken with alcohol to “bump up the high.” Evans said some of the themes they are seeing for the reasons behind substance use include peer pressure, mental health issues like anxiety, depression and ADHD and the desire to not feel pain anymore, wanting to be the best so they stay up all night studying, natural curiosity and experimentation and wanting to be rebellious. She gave more information on the division’s newest efforts to combat substance use, the Alternative Education Program and the Recovery School program. With the passing of the division’s $1.8 billion fiscal year 2025 budget, money has been set aside for an alternative education program which will offer short- and longterm programming for middle and high school students with mental health needs that require intervention. The Recovery School program would take $1 million
this year and $1 million next to get a short and long-term voluntary program for high school students struggling with substance use and/or co-occurring disorders in active recovery. The program would offer individual and group counseling, parent support, and transition support. Other new efforts include increased student assistance specialists with the passing of the FY2025 budget, a new three-part educational series, continued community awareness events, Parent Guidance, a new online resource that offers coaching and resources for parents, Care Solace, which helps parents in finding mental health services and fentanyl awareness lessons offered in sixth, eighth and ninth grade. There have been nine division schools that have had suspected overdoses this school year, Park View, Dominion, Broad Run, Briar Woods, Loudoun County, Tuscarora and Freedom and two that have not been named. In Loudoun County in 2023 there were 22 nonfatal opioid related overdoses, half of which involved students at Park View High School, including nine that happened in a matter of weeks in October, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office. Sheriff ’s Office spokesperson Thomas Julia said in an email earlier this year that the Sheriff ’s Office hadn’t seen a lot of juvenile overdoses until 2022 when fentanyl became more prevalent in the county and across the country. n
tax funding, a 20.6% increase over the current year. Hemstreet is proposing employee pay increases totaling $41 million. The general workforce would be eligible for a 7% merit increase pool totaling $19 million. Uniformed Fire-Rescue and Sheriff ’s Office staff members would see 9.4% salary scale adjustment and a step increase for an average pay increase of 12.4%. The budget adds 263 new positions in 26 departments. “Most of the new positions we’ve added in recent years were frontline positions—those focused on providing direct services,” Hemstreet said. “This year, however, you’ll notice a shift in the types of positions that are recommended for funding. We often think of these internally focused positions as the backbone of the organization prioritizing the proposed budget or positions in administrative support, budget communications, Human Resources procurement
and data management.” The budget also includes additional staffing to manage collective bargaining and to ramp up a Purchase of Development Rights program. Overall, the county government’s personnel costs are projected to increase by 15.5%, to $668.3 million. The budget allocates $7.4 million to support affordable housing. It also adds $40 million to the revenue stabilization fund created last year to buffer the budget from fluctuations in data center tax revenues. Supervisors also are reviewing the $3.5 billion FY2025-FY2030 Capital Improvement Program, which was presented to the board’s finance committee Tuesday night. New projects added to the construction list include renovations to Cascades Library and the Eastern Loudoun Senior Center, design of an Eastern Loudoun Community Arts Center, an addition to the Purcellville
Fire and Rescue Station, a roundabout at the Rt. 15/Hogback Mountain Road intersection, and the widening of Rt. 7 between Rt. 9 and the Dulles Greenway. After reviewing Hemtreet’s plan, Supervisor Matt Letourneau (R-Dulles), who chairs the board’s finance committee, said Tuesday he was concerned that the rate of growth in government operations was not sustainable. He also said supervisors should work with the school system to review cost increases. School Board members are scheduled to meet with supervisors Feb. 22 to present their budget request, which seeks an 11.3%—$131 million—increase in local tax funding. The Board of Supervisors plans public hearings on the budget on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 3. p.m. and 6 p.m. and at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 2. The budget has been published online at loudoun.gov/budget. n
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FEBRUARY 22, 2024
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