Loudoun Now for Feb. 22, 2023

Amid Surging Hunger, SNAP Shrinks

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

At a time when the number of people needing help to put food on the table is only growing, one of the main government programs to help them is shrinking drastically.

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic descended on the country, governments began ramping up programs to help people at a scale not seen since the New Deal, the country’s response to the Great Depression in 1933. But while some of the New Deal’s programs—such as the Social Security Administration—became permanent parts of American society the government’s response to the pandemic disruptions was only temporary.

And next month, one of those programs, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, once known as food stamps, will shrink back down to pre-pandemic size, while the crisis for people struggling to afford food does not.

The federal Consolidated Appropriations Act signed on Dec. 29 ended the government’s SNAP emergency allotments, previously authorized in the Families First

Coronavirus Response Act of March 2020.

Loudoun’s Department of Family services administers SNAP benefits locally. Between the enhanced allotment and the

July 2021 implementation of broad-based categorical eligibility, which simplified the requirements to qualify and raised the income cap to twice the federal poverty level, that department saw SNAP benefits climb throughout the pandemic.

For a household of four, that means an income cap of $60,000.

In February 2020, the Loudoun County staff issued just under a million dollars in SNAP benefits. In December 2022, they issued $3.42 million—more than triple the pre-pandemic amount. Similarly, before the pandemic, 4,052 households and 8,142 individuals received SNAP benefits. In December 2022, 6,136 households, 12,841 people, did. In famously wealthy Loudoun, roughly one out of every 32 people was buying food with SNAP.

And even today, more people are applying for SNAP benefits for the first time. The county saw 250 new applications in

SNAP SHRINKS continues on page 37

Data Center Dip, Recession Risk Cited as County Budget Challenges

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

A possible drop in the total value of Loudoun’s commercial real estate—driven not by the market but attributed to the General Assembly and Dominion Energy—along with the risk of an economic recession, have put constraints on the next county budget that are only expected to

tighten in years to come.

County Administrator Tim Hemstreet’s budget proposal totals $4.2 billion across the county government and Loudoun County Public Schools. It is based on a two-cent cut to the real estate tax rate, although residential values grew enough that the average homeowner would still be expected to see a higher tax bill.

In 2022, Hemstreet reported, the aver-

age home value of $641,600 led to a $5,710 real estate tax bill. With a 2023 average value of $691,000, Hemstreet’s proposed tax rate would mean a $6,012 tax bill, a $302 increase. To reach the equalized tax rate, where the average tax bill would stay level, the Board of Supervisors would have to cut another 6.5 cents from the tax rate—requiring more than $84 million in cuts.

The budget does come with some breaks for taxpayers—this year the county will drop its personal property tax rate by five cents to $4.15 per $100 of assessed value. And car tax bills could get another cut beyond that. Hemstreet has prepared the budget anticipating that supervisors

BUDGET CHALLENGES continues on page 37

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Volunteers at Loudoun Hunger Relief sort through fresh produce. The nonprofit is already seeing more people coming for help with food with enhanced SNAP benefits ending in March.

Roldan Confession Unveils the Fatal Attack on Long-Missing Ashburn Woman

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

A 12-year-old missing person case formally closed Monday morning when Ronald Roldan was sentenced to serve 12 years and six months in prison for the Jan. 29, 2011, murder of Bethany Anne Decker.

Roldan, 42, had pleaded guilty to second degree murder in the case in November, but until Monday’s hearing the actual fate of his 21-year-old girlfriend, who was five months pregnant, had not been publicly disclosed.

As part of a plea agreement setting a 12-year sentence, Roldan agreed to meet with county prosecutors and investigators to tell them what happened.

During that interview at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on Jan. 9 Roldan said the two got into an argument about her going back to work for another shift. He pushed her in the back and her head struck a windowsill. She fell to the floor unconscious. He said that he found she was not breathing.

An Infusion of Camaraderie: How Uniforms Connect Two Local Soccer Teams

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounow.com

The Park View High School girls’ soccer team will be showing off new uniforms this season thanks to an anonymous contribution as well as donations raised by Grace Taylor, a junior at Heritage High School.

Taylor, a member of the Heritage High School girls’ soccer team, noticed during a match against Park View last April that the team had mismatched jerseys. She also noticed that because they were mismatched there were two of the same number. She said they used tape to change the number to fix that problem.

She said it didn’t seem fair that they didn’t have new jerseys when her own

Rather than call 911 or attempting to resuscitate her, Roldan instead wrapped her body in a large plastic bag—one provided by their Ashburn apartment complex for the disposal of Christmas trees—

taped it shut, and dumped her in the neighborhood’s trash compactor.

That revelation ended the search for Decker that started Feb. 19, 2011, when her family reported her missing follow-

ing days of confusing Facebook and text messages that Roldan had sent from her accounts to make it appear she was alive.

In testimony before Circuit Court Judge Alfred D. Swersky on Feb. 21, Decker’s family members and close friends testified about the impact her death—and the more than a decade of uncertainty and holding out hope for her safe return—has had.

Her brother and sister both said they’d been diagnosed with PTSD following the loss of their older sister who played an important role in raising them while their mother, a cardiac nurse, worked long hours. Her college roommate, her cousin and her grandmother told the judge about her uplifting spirit and efforts to help community members in need and to protect the environment.

Her mother, Kimberly Nelson, recalled her first phone conversation with the deputy who began the investigation. She said he asked: “Do you think your daughter’s in danger?”

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Taylor said.

She said her goal was to raise $600, but after each person donated $22, she tripled that goal within two months.

That is when Allie reached out to Gazes.

“She felt like the girls would benefit from new uniforms and it struck a chord in her heart,” Gazes said. “I think it’s such a beautiful story. It’s connecting two schools, two opponents and bringing them together.”

Testerman said most schools in the county are on a three- or four-year uniform cycle, but Park View is on a fiveyear cycle because it has to stretch its budget as far as possible.

team had just gotten new ones the year before. She decided to raise money for the team.

She organized a fundraiser called 22 Cares, after her jersey number, and with the help of her mom, Allie, was able to

spread the word and reach out to Park View’s PTA President Amy Gazes and the school’s Athletic Director Jason Testerman.

“All my friends and family and teammates and their families donated to it,”

Loudoun County Public Schools takes money generated through gate sales at games throughout the county and combines the money and distributes it to each school according to a formula. Assistant Director of Athletics and Extracurriculars Derek Farrey said the gate sharing revenue system is based on

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Kimberly Nelson, the mother of Bethany Decker, speaks to reporters following a court hearing in which her daughter’s killer was sentenced to serve 12 years in prison.

ROLDAN CONFESSION

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now Karla Cardoza, 15, Dania Gonzales,15, Lilyani Lopez, 15, Ignacia Vera, 15 and Alexia Garcia-Gamez, 16 model the new Park View soccer uniforms.

SOCCER UNIFORMS

continues on page 36

Young Farmers Seek Incentives for Land Access

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) heard some of the challenges facing Loudoun’s farmers—particularly its young farmers—during a Feb. 16 roundtable discussion.

The Loudoun Farm Bureau helped organize the session on the future of farming Loudoun, as development continues to swallow up agricultural land. Farmers filled the county boardroom to share their stories from farms of every type and size.

Stacey Carlberg, with her husband Casey Gusowarow, runs Fireside Farm, growing vegetables on leased land. She said they’ve been full-time farmers for 15 years and came back to Loudoun in 2021 when they had the chance to lease land from some retiring farmers.

“There is a group of young farmers here that support each other. That also allows for farm services to be here, and we just felt like this would be a great place to launch our farm business. It also has great proximity to customers, a lot of people that live in Loudoun County, and we knew that there were great soils here,” she said.

But the prices to buy land—and a place to live—have made their future uncertain.

“We’re currently in a pretty precarious rental with no long-term guarantee

there, but it’s been working out so far,” she said. “… And if it’s hard for us, with our connections, it’s even harder for our employees. Last year we had six people working on our farm, and five of them came from Brunswick. It was the only place that they’ve been able to find housing that’s somewhat affordable, in group housing in Brunswick.”

She said they need some sort of incentive for landowners to work with the farmers—such as the long talked-about Purchase of Development Rights program, which would allow the county government to buy and retire development rights on open land, letting those property owners make some money from their land’s development potential without actually seeing it built.

“We would really like to stay here. We believe that there’s still a critical mass of farms here and farm services, and farmers that support each other,” she said. “And we want to be a part of that. We want to help grow the farm community here in Loudoun County and support other food and farm businesses as well.”

Lovettsville native Chris Lutman said his family grows hay, corn, soybeans and wheat on 1,300 acres near the town. He said a farming business needs acres to produce crops—but said the math doesn’t always work in Loudoun.

Citing Visit Loudoun’s information that the county is home to more than 15,000 horses, Lutman said it takes about 100 bales of hay a year to feed a horse— meaning Loudoun alone needs 1.5 million bales of hay, which would take around 15,000 acres to produce. But despite the huge need, starting a hay farm in Loudoun today would be infeasible.

“Our average income per acre in 2022 was $200. The average asking price for conserved land in Lovettsville is roughly $15,000 per acre,” he said. “… So the answer is far from sustainable.”

Some farmers said some transactions celebrated as conservation wins—such as nutrient credits, or wealthy landowners buying large tracts to put under conservation easement—present real challenges. Lutman said selling nutrient credits allows landowners to make money from prime agricultural land but preventing it from being farmed. And HogTree founder Eliza Greenman, who designs farms that integrate livestock and orchards, said one such “wealthy land baron” pulled the rug out from her plans to start her own farm.

She said a major landowner offered to sell 50 acres at below market value, “because they believed in the work that I did.”

LAND ACCESS continues on page 7

Loudoun County Carrie Nokes, a member of the prominent Black family for which the Nokes area was named, and who died in 2008 at the age of 95.

County Presents Stories of Prominent Black Families

The history of some of Loudoun County’s prominent Black families is being told in an online presentation created by the Loudoun County Office of Mapping and Geographic Information.

The Edds, Ewing and Nokes families, who owned farms in eastern Loudoun in the early 20th century, are featured in a web-based application that combines historic maps, text, photos and audio in an online “story map.”

The story map is based on a presentation at the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum that includes research from the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Historic Records Division and information gathered by the Black History Committee of the Thomas Balch Library. Also included are excerpts from a Thomas Balch Library oral history recorded in 2002 with Nokes descendant Carrie Nokes, who died in 2008 at the age of 95.

To see the “Loudoun County History: The Edds, Ewing, and Nokes Families” presentation and other interactive maps, go to  loudoun.gov/historymaps.

Real Estate, Car Tax Relief Seminars Planned

Loudoun County Commissioner of the Revenue Robert S. Wertz Jr. has scheduled free seminars on eligibility for the county’s real estate and car tax relief programs.

The programs are available to Loudoun homeowners 65 or older or with disabilities who are below established income and wealth limits. For real estate relief, applicants must have a gross combined income less than

ON THE AGENDA

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Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) meets with Loudoun farmers during a Feb. 16 roundtable discussion on the future of farming in Loudoun.

If you’re suffering from Fibromyalgia you understand this sentiment all too well Local resident Elyse K found herself at a turning point when she noticed her diagnosis had started to take a toll on her marriage.

“I was angry all the time because of all the things I couldn’t do anymore because of my Fibromyalgia. That anger cycled through to depression and affected everyone around me, my husband more than anyone. It made our lives miserable.”

Fibromyalgia affects the entire body. To make things complicated it affects everyone’s body a little differently To make things even more complicated, those effects can change on a daily basis. Some times you’re plagued with wide-spread muscle pain and fatigue, and other days it’s a headache and heightened sensitivity to touch

“I could barely stand to have the light weight of bedsheets touching me, much less a hug from my husband.” explains Elyse.

This is what it’s like to suffer from Fibromyalgia Symptoms make everyday life incredibly difficult Mundane, daily tasks are nearly impossible.

I WAS TIRED OF LIVING WITH MY FIBROMYALGIA PAIN

Fibromyalgia has been difficult to treat and even more difficult to understand, UNTIL NOW! Rachal Lohr, L.Ac. provides patients with much needed relief from Fibro symptoms!

And too often, these symptoms are only made worse because practitioners find it difficult to understand and even more troublesome to treat It’s characterized by widespread pain in muscles, and tissues rather than inflammation of the joints, muscles and tissues

Then your primary care doctors suggest dietary changes, pain liniments and, pharmaceuticals to the point where your life is no longer ruled by Fibromyalgia It’s now ruled by a difficult routine and pill regimen in order to avoid flare ups.

Elyse put it this way, “My life was no longer my own.”

Eventually Elyse did her own research and discovered that acupuncture can improve the quality of life in Fibro patients. Determined to find the best in the business, she discovered FIREFLY Acupuncture & Wellness lead by Rachal Lohr, L.Ac.

Rachal has been successfully treating difficult to manage, chronic pain cases for over fifteen years She uses the time tested science of acupuncture integrated with modern medical advancements in healing and recovery.

Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that is commonly used to reduce various forms of pain It works by reducing inflammation, stimulating the release of endorphins and offers much needed, effective symptom relief for Fibromyalgia. Then Rachal skillfully layers other non invasive therapies like ATP Resonance BioTherapy™ and other natural therapies for amplified, long lasting results.

“I feel like a new person. My husband comes with me to my appointments. He spends most of it thanking Rachal for giving him back the woman he married. For the first time since we moved here, one of my neighbors told me I looked good! It’s a miracle she treated my Fibro, I don’t know how else to explain it.”

If you’re looking for a practitioner and a clinic who understands your diagnosis and has a proven solution for chronic pain, look no further than FIREFLY. Elyse describes FIREFLY almost as enthusiastically as she does their treatments “I love it here!”

Rachal Lohr, L.Ac. is now accepting new patients and offering $40 consultations, but only for a limited time.

So call (703)263-2142 now to schedule a consultation.

Cochran Family Dental

ON THE Agenda

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$77,000 and net worth less than $920,000. Up to $10,000 in income of a spouse or relative residing in the home is excluded from the income calculation.

Program participants saved more than $8.4 million in real estate and vehicle property taxes in 2022.

Applications will be online by Feb. 27 at loudoun.gov/taxrelief. Residents can also request a mailed form by calling 703737-8557, or pick one up at the offices of the Commissioner of the Revenue in the Loudoun County Government Center in Leesburg. n

Loudoun Considers 3 New Sister Cities

County supervisors are set to add three new jurisdictions to its sister city partnerships, bringing in Greater Noida, India; Canelones, Uruguay; and Tema, Ghana.

Greater Noida is a planned suburban area outside the city of Noida, created in 1976 and administered by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, an agency of the state government of Uttar Pradesh. Noida itself is a satellite city of

the Indian capital city Delhi, which is 19 miles northwest of Greater Noida. According to a county staff report, it is a fast-growing suburban area with metro rail connections to Delhi, an estimated population of 139,000, and features data center and manufacturing business, including $2.7 billion of data center investment.

Canelones is the seat of the Municipality of Canelones and capital of the department of Canelones, similar to a U.S. state. It has an estimated population above 520,000, with a large information and communication technology industry, growing tech sector, and data center and undersea cable opportunities.

Tema is Ghana’s largest seaport city, handling about 80% of Ghana’s import and export cargo, and the country’s largest industrial hub, with ongoing investments in fiber optic connectivity and plans for a new data center. Major employes include Volta Aluminum, Tema Oil Refinery, Nestle Ghana, Sentuo Steel and Tema Shipyard.

The cities, if approved, will join Holmes County, MI; Main-Taunus-Kreis, Germany; Goyang City, South Korea; Gangneung City, South Korea; and New Taipei, Taiwan as Loudoun’s sister cities. n

Land access

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Long-term access to land is crucial for an orchard—she said once she plants a tree, it’s five years before it produces fruit, and another five before she’s in the black.

“So that’s at least a 10-year, safe, bombproof lease that I would need just to start,” she said.

But the purchase got complicated. She had to submit her business plan to the landowner for approval. Meanwhile, she applied for grants to help start the farm, and said she was awarded $16,000.

“Virginia Tech and other institutes believe my farming style to be a huge part of the future, and they’re investing in it becoming a demonstration farm for government employees to come see, as well as agritourism,” she said.

But two weeks ago, on the heels of a purchase agreement, she got word the price would go up 45%, and the landowner would get right of first refusal for selling her product, at price plus the cost put into the farm. She said that meant she would have no chance to build equity in her farm.

“If I was an artist, and I couldn’t afford a canvas, this person comes along

and says, here’s 10% off the canvas. Oh, but I get that artwork for the cost of your markers and your paint brushes that you put into it, plus the interest I’m charging you,” she said. “So, that’s where I am right now. I’m coming to you as somebody who has spent $20,000 of my own money, preparing to plant this land within a couple weeks, and it is now an unsound business move because this wealthy land baron has decided to basically charge the price of development for this piece of property.”

On top of that, Greenman said, she has been held out as an example of helping farmers have access to land.

Potomac Vegetable Farms Manager Hana Newcomb said, “it’s just crazy to think that Loudoun County can’t be a source of food for this region.”

“I think that part of what we need to do in Loudoun County is create a momentum that believe that agriculture is very, very important to our region, and that Loudoun County has the food producing capacity that other counties don’t have,” she said. “And we’re so close to the eaters. We’re so close to people who need it. We’re so close to the money.”

And Far Bungalow Farm founder Sage Devlin, who farms on their family’s land at Rockland Farm, said they’re one of the few young farmers with access to land,

and they just want help opening up that land to help other farmers.

“It’s hard to be friends with all these people that just want land access, and you’re like ‘well, here I am, and I’m sitting on land.’ We would love to help incubate farms, or section off smaller portions of our 600-acre property. We would need help with infrastructure,” they said.

Randall said the county’s ability to help the farmers is limited. She pointed out she put forward a Purchase of Development Rights program last term, which did not pass. She said this term, with the political party majority reversed, it still would not.

“If I would put a PDR program forward tomorrow, it would not pass, because what a PDR program means is a purchase of development rights program, and so everyone in the county is purchasing development rights for farmers. And I have colleagues who … don’t believe that their constituents should pay for other people’s land for farming,” she said.

And, she said, the government has a limited role in private land deals.

“I don’t believe county government or government belongs in everything at every time, and I believe, especially when it’s private business to private business, we probably shouldn’t be in there. And I believe the market does what the market

does sometimes,” she said.

The meeting continued after Randall had to leave for a budget meeting that afternoon between the Board of Supervisors and the School Board. Save Rural Loudoun Chair John Ellis, who said he would be running for a seat on the Board of Supervisors, argued making changes would come down to political will.

“It is not just a matter of individuals deciding to do this. The reason we have zoning ordinances is because the public has an interest in what people do with their land. That’s the only reason for having zoning. That’s why you can’t have a landfill or whatever else you want,” he said. “So, the public does have a role in deciding what’s appropriate, and it’s just a matter of choice, and what does the county prefer. I think there are several things like that where we need to be pointing out, it’s matter of priorities.”

He pointed out the county is set to spend hundreds of millions on infrastructure on Rt. 15 north of Leesburg to accommodate the residential development in that area.

“And yet we can’t come up with $5 million for something like a PDR program because it’s too expensive from eastern taxpayers? That doesn’t really make a lot of sense,” he said. n

Politics

School Board Chair Won’t Seek Re-election

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounow.com

Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) won’t run for re-election to the School Board before his term ends this year.

Serotkin, who was elected in 2019, said he decided not to run so he could be with his family more.

“Running for office and serving in this position on the School Board has consumed much of the last five years of my life. It means I am not around in the evenings to help with my kids, and I haven’t been present with my wife,” he said. “I’ve missed all sorts of things.”

He said that was coupled with a lot of unexpected challenges the School Board has faced, like navigating a global pandemic and the national politicization of school boards, with a focus on Loudoun in particular, have been stressful.

“I’m glad I did it and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished and what the School Board has accomplished, but I’m definitely ready to take a break,” he said.

That included reducing class sizes and raising teacher and staff pay, two issues he said he ran on.

“I’m proud that we implemented an International Baccalaureate program and that we are bringing world languages back to elementary school through the dual language immersion program,” he said. “I’ve been passionate about getting rid of fees [AP test fees, athletic and student parking] … and I’m proud to have protected the rights of transgender and LGBTQ students and to be the first district in Northern Virginia to provide paid parental leave to staff.”

Serotkin said when the pandemic started the board was two and a half months into its term with seven new members.

“We were still trying to figure out how to do our jobs and what being on the board meant, and then all of a sudden we had to make fundamental life-and-death decisions about how to protect and educate kids,” he said.

He said he never expected to have to be an epidemiologist to make school education decisions.

He said another unexpected challenge has been the unprecedented attacks on public education and the politicization of school boards nationwide.

Serotkin said he and other board members got death threats every time the Loudoun County School Board was talked about in the national news.

“It’s not what I signed up for and it’s been unbelievably stressful. It’s not what any local official should have to endure no matter how strenuously you might disagree with the decisions being made,” he said.

As the chair of the School Board, he said his focus for the rest of the term will be on doing his best to lead the board. He said he wants to get a budget in place and to leave the board and the school division in the best possible place for the students by the time he leaves office.

“We’ll be focusing on finalizing the budget and trying to work with the Board of Supervisors to fully fund our adopted budget, we’ll be working over the next four months to search for our new permanent superintendent, and we will also be implementing the recommendations from the special grand jury,” he said.

Many of the policies that have revisions based on recommendations made by the special grand jury, which investigated the school division’s sexual assault scandal, will be coming before the full board in the next few months, according to Serotkin.

He also said the board will be working to rebuild trust with the community.

“There are things that are still under attorney-client privilege that the board has chosen not to release, but we are trying to be as transparent as possible about the changes we are making,” he said.

Serotkin voted with the board majority last week not to release an independent report into the school district’s handling of repeated sexual assaults of students in

Letourneau to Seek Fourth Board Term STAFF REPORT

Citing “unfinished business,” Dulles District Supervisor Matt Letourneau (R) announced Feb. 7 that he will seek reelection to the Board of Supervisors.

Now in his third term, Letourneau is the longest-tenured current county supervisor. In his announcements he cited accomplishments over the last 12 years such as widening Rt. 606, completing Loudoun County and Tall Cedars Parkways, the Braddock/Pleasant Valley and Poland/Edgewater roundabouts, construction of the Dulles South Recreation and Community Center and Hansen Park, opening the Gum Spring Library, and completion of Metro’s Silver Line extension into Loudoun.

Loudoun high schools despite pressure from the public, some School Board members and the Board of Supervisors.

Other recent changes include adding student support advisors at each high school to help students who are in the discipline process, an expanded partnership with Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter for a violence prevention program, a full time Title IX department to investigate complaints and personnel changes as well as others he said have been made over the last 18 months.

“I’m trying to be as transparent as I can about the changes and I’m listening to advice and recommendations on how to continue to do that,” he said.

Serotkin said he hopes there will be good candidates who are willing to step up and perform a public service with the goal of improving schools regardless of their political beliefs.

As far as what is in store for him, he said he doesn’t have a desire to run for any other position and said he ran for the School Board because that is what he is passionate about.

“I’m very much looking forward to making it to my kid’s games, spending time with my wife and my family and being a dad and a husband,” he said.

All nine School Board seats are up for election this year, after which the Broad Run, Algonkian, Dulles, Leesburg and Sterling District seats will be up again in 2025 as the School Board starts serving staggered four-year terms. n

“Over the last 12 years, I think we’ve made a real difference in Dulles South, and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved,” Letourneau stated. “But there are still major initiatives that I started and want to see progress, like building an interchange at Loudoun County Parkway and Rt. 50, and the Rt. 50 North Collector Road.”

He also said after navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, and in his case a serious injury during the last term, the board now faces new political and fiscal challenges, and “can benefit from my experience and fiscal discipline.”

“Local government is closest to the people and should be free from the partisan rancor and dysfunction we see not far from here in Washington,” Letourneau stated. “My focus is on solving problems and improving the quality of life for our residents. We must make smart land use decisions and invest in infrastructure, while recognizing the financial pressures that families are feeling due to inflation, tolls and taxes.”

One of Letourneau’s first major votes on the Board of Supervisors in 2012 was to join the Metro Silver Line project, and he currently represents Virginia on the Metro Board of Directors, where he chairs the board’s Finance and Capital Committee. He previously chaired the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

He faces a challenge from Democrat Puja Khanna.

Letourneau lives with his wife Margaret and their four children in the Little River Commons neighborhood in Chantilly. n

Letourneau

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) has said he won’t seek re-election when his term ends later this year.

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PROPOSED REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

The Town of Leesburg proposes to increase property tax levies.

1. Assessment Increase: Total assessed value of real property, excluding additional assessments due to new construction or improvements to property, exceeds last year’s total assessed value of real property by 7.34 percent.

2. Lowered Rate Necessary to Offset Increased Assessment: The tax rate which would levy the same amount of real estate tax as last year, when multiplied by the new total assessed value of real estate with the exclusions mentioned above, would be $0.1653 per $100 of assessed value. This rate will be known as the “lowered tax rate” or “equalized tax rate.”

3. Effective Rate Increase: The Town of Leesburg proposes to adopt a tax rate of $0.1874 per $100 of assessed value. The difference between the equalized tax rate and the proposed rate would be $0.0221 per $100, or 13.37 percent. This difference will be known as the “effective tax rate increase.”

Individual property taxes may, however, increase at a percentage greater than or less than the above percentage, depending upon the type of dwelling and individual property assessments.

4. Proposed Total Budget Increase: Based on the proposed real property tax rate and changes in other revenues, the total General Fund budget of the Town of Leesburg will exceed last year’s by 7.19 percent. The proposed total budget (all funds) of the Town of Leesburg will exceed last year’s by 2.77 percent.

The Town Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2024 budget is based on a real property tax rate of $0.1774 per $100 assessed value.

A public hearing on the proposed real property effective tax rate increase will be held by the Leesburg Town Council on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chamber, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA, at which time any resident of the town shall have the right to provide written and oral comments on the proposed real property effective tax rate. If the public hearing is canceled for any unforeseen reason, the public hearing will be held during the next Town Council regular business meeting. Persons requiring reasonable 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.

2/23/23

Taking Up Arms

First Shots Fired by Black Man in the Civil War Commemorated at Ball’s Bluff

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

NOVA Parks and the Loudoun Branch of the NAACP on Saturday celebrated Lewis A. Bell, believed to be the first Black American to fire a gun in support of the Union Army.

During the ceremony to unveil the new historical marker on the 1861 Ball’s Buff battlefield, speakers highlighted Bell’s story as both an inspirational step toward freedom for enslaved Africans and the unearthing of important history that too often goes untold.

It’s a story Connor Smith, a volunteer park guide at Balls Bluff, has been telling visitors during his tours.

Bell was a free Black man who lived in Washington, DC. On Oct. 21, 1861, he was serving as an aide de camp to a Union colonel. During the chaotic battle, Bell picked up a rifle and joined in the fight—a stunning and illegal action by a Black man at the time. The Union Army lost nearly half its troops during the battle, including many, like Bell, who were captured and taken to a prisoner camp in Richmond.

NOVA Parks board Chair Cate Magennis Wyatt asked those gathered at the battlefield to step into Bell’s shoes.

“In his shoes on this territory, he’s considered chattel. And if captured, he would certainly be in chains or worse, of course,

made an example for those who might consider taking up arms against their slavers but also in issues described by law. He cannot join the Union Army and fight for his own freedom, ironically, because of his race,” Magennis Wyatt said.

“There’s smoke, there’s haze, and he has kind of choice to make. At his feet, there are rifles, which if he picks up, he could be imprisoned in the North for using. And if he’s caught and tries to run, he could be lynched. So what do you do in his shoes at that moment?” she asked. “He stood his ground. He picked up that rifle and he shot. He defended the Union troops, and he was captured.”

“He did the right thing. And today, we do not only commemorate him as the first African American to take up arms to defend the Union in the Civil War, but we also honor him for inspiring us to always stand our ground and do the right thing,” Magennis Wyatt said.

Loudoun County NAACP President Pastor Michelle Thomas hailed the new historical marker as an important effort to highlight Black history.

“Today is really important, because nationally we face an anti-Black history movement all across this nation. African American history has been under attack,”

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Connor Smith, a volunteer park guide at Balls Bluff, talks about the actions of Lewis A. Bell, believed to be the first Black American to fire a gun in support of the Union Army during fighting at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff during a Feb. 18, 2023, ceremony.

BALLS BLUFF continues on page 35

Leesburg HUBZone is Shrinking

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

In 2018, the boundaries of the Small Business Administration’s HUBZone in Leesburg doubled in size following a determination that a second census tract met the qualifications to be included in the business incentive program. Now, it is shrinking again.

Historically Underutilized Business districts are created in low-income areas to provide small businesses with a leg up in competing for federal contracts while

Leesburg Instructor Earns National Recognition for Flight Training

STAFF REPORT

Captain Christopher Freeze, a member of the Civil Air Patrol’s Leesburg Composite Squadron, has been recognized for his high standard of flight instruction by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the world’s largest aviation association.

Freeze was awarded a spot in the Flight Training Experience Awards as a Distinguished Flight Instructor, a title given to high-scoring flight instructors from You Can Fly’s 2023 Flight Training Experience Survey.

“Successful flight training is about more than just learning to fly. Building a sense of community to support the people who are learning takes the experience to a much higher level where they can excel. This year’s instructors and schools have clearly brought their customers into the pilot community,” AOPA Foundation Senior Director, Flight Training Education Chris Moser stated.

The 2023 awards were drawn from flight students and pilots who voluntarily reviewed their flight training experience this past fall through an AOPA online customer satisfaction survey. The survey yielded evaluations of 608 different flight schools and 1,153 individual flight instructors.

Learn more about the award at aopa.org/ftawards. n

requiring them to provide jobs to HUBZone residents. The stated goal of the program is to award at least 3% of federal contract dollars to HUBZone-certified companies each year.

Leesburg’s HUBZone was initially created in a census tract that stretches east from the eastern side of King Street downtown to the Leesburg Bypass in the Market Street and Edwards Ferry Road corridors.

Five years later, a second census tract was added, stretching south to include all the properties east of South King Street

inside the bypass—adding nearly 3,000 residents to the HUBZone job pool.

With updated census information, that tract no longer meets the program’s qualifications and will be dropped out effective July 1.

Town Economic Development Director Russel Seymour and his staff have reached out to program participants to alert them to the coming change. He noted that even if some businesses are zoned out, they may continue to participate through a three-year transition, ending in June 30, 2026.

The HUBZone designations are reviewed every five years to ensure the program serves the communities that are most in need of assistance. The map will be updated again in July 2028. n

SBA

An updated map of Leesburg’s HUBZone shows the area being removed in hatched lines. The shaded area continues to qualify for the program. The change takes effect July 1.

School Board Members Defend—or Don’t Answer—on Sexual Assault Investigation Vote

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Some School Board members expressed disappointment after the 6-3 vote Tuesday night to not release the independent review conducted by law firm Blankingship and Keith on how the division handled two sexual assaults by the same student in 2021.

The assaults led to a special grand jury investigation and resulted in criminal charges against the school superintendent and public information officer. The superintendent was fired in December after the special grand jury’s report was released.

John Beatty (Catoctin), Tiffany Polifko (Broad Run) and Denise Corbo (At-large) were the only School Board members to vote in favor of releasing the report Tuesday night.

Loudoun Now reached out to all nine School Board members for comment. Polifko, Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge), Brenda Sheridan (Sterling), Jeff Morse (Dulles), Vice Chair Harris Mahedavi (Ashburn) and Erika Ogedegbe (Leesburg) did not respond.

Beatty was on the board when the sexual assaults took place, and when the report was first completed. He and Polifko, who is new to the board, asked in January for a date the board could vote to decide whether to waive attorney client privilege.

In an emailed statement Wednesday, Corbo said she was under the impression when the former superintendent announced the investigation that the report would be made public.

“I was hopeful the results would provide constructive information to help LCPS staff improve current procedures and offer more effective support to students and staff,” she said.

“I am disappointed in the outcome of [Tuesday] night’s vote. I believe my colleagues missed an opportunity to do the right thing. Releasing the report would have been a positive step towards healing in our community, as well as, an opportunity for the school board to regain the trust of the residents of Loudoun County.”

She said releasing the report even with much of it being redacted was still the right thing to do.

Corbo said she ran for the School Board under the promise that she would

provide transparency to residents.

“My colleagues have made that a daunting task. Passing a policy to restrict how board members communicate and reprimanding those who attempt to be transparent has created a toxic environment and all but eliminated our ability to work collaboratively. At times this lack of trust prevents board members from working cohesively in the best interest of the children and families we serve,” Corbo said.

She charged that her colleagues on the board don’t like her efforts to be transparent and to hold the board and division administrators accountable and that they have tried to discourage her by voting to not let her participate remotely in meetings. She has not been attending meetings in-person since the onset of the pandemic.

“I believe the lack of support from certain members of the School Board in response to my request for medical remote participation is a direct result of the desire to minimize my transparency and impact,” she said. “My disability has been used as a weapon to silence my voice and representation. The board denied my request for remote participation due to a medical disability and I was forced to use a limited personal exemption to ensure my vote and voice was not silenced in the decision to release the report.”

Corbo said she plans to work with

board members to “facilitate a more collaborative working environment.”

Atoosa Reaser (Algonkian), who voted against releasing the report, said during Tuesday night’s meeting she expected the vote would be one that put the best interest of the students and the schools before politics “regardless of how each of us votes.”

“My ask of my colleagues is that we continue a unified and collective effort to look at what has happened from top down and bottom up, share those facts publicly and continue to take actions necessary,” Reaser said.

Asked if her statements Tuesday night contradict her vote against releasing the report, she said no.

“My hope is that we can work collectively as a board, in the same bipartisan manner that we voted last night, to communicate findings and actions to the community,” she wrote by email Wednesday.

Attorney-Client Privilege Used to Shield Report

School Board Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) on Tuesday said the report was prepared for the board by a law firm in anticipation of litigation and that it is

Byard Asks for Change of Venue in Perjury Trial

Loudoun County Public Schools

Public Information Officer Wayde Byard has asked for a change of venue for his upcoming perjury trial set for June 20.

Byard’s attorney argued because Governor Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares called citizens of Loudoun County “victims of the alleged cover up by LCPS officials,” and Byard was indicted for allegedly furthering the coverup through his testimony before the special grand jury, that residents of Loudoun County are interested parties in the case, which disqualifies county residents from serving as jurors in his trial.

“Both the Governor and the Attorney General have routinely referred to the entire jury pool in Loudoun County as victims of the alleged cover-up by LCPS, and the defendant,” according to the filing.

The motion cited multiple statements made by Youngkin and Miyares and included 18 pages of evidence of statements from news stories and tweets by both the governor and attorney general.

A hearing on pretrial motions is scheduled for Feb. 23.

‘Let’s Talk!’ School Board Contact Forms to Launch

A new way to communicate with the Loudoun County School Board is set to launch March 1.

Let’s Talk! is a client management system meant to streamline communication between school board members and the community, according to a presentation on Feb. 14.

The program works by having a “contact me” link on each school board member’s home page that takes a person to a direct contact form. The person then fills out the form with their information and what they are contacting the school board member about.

Each home page will also have

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now Members of the School Board on Feb. 14. The board voted not to release the independent report on Tuesday 6-3.

Board Approves Attendance Zone Changes for Three Schools

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

The School Board voted unanimously last week to approve elementary school attendance zone changes for the Kincora and Kincora Village neighborhood, a small attendance zone in Leesburg and Cattail Run, a new development.

The action places students who live in Kincora and Kincora Village at Steuart

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resources and meeting information under the new system.

School Board members can use the link in their newsletters and other electronic publications to make reaching out easier, according to the presentation.

The Department of Digital instruction first presented email management options to the School Board in 2020. The board voted in 2022 to use Let’s Talk! Members have training on the new system this week. It goes live March 1.

Loudoun Students Make Mark in Scholastic Awards

More than 100 Loudoun County Public Schools students in grades 9-12 were recognized in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, with 28 students named National Scholastic Writing Program award winners.

The students received 37 awards including five Gold Key awards, 10 Silver Key awards and 21 Honorable Mention awards.

Additionally, 79 students earned 113 awards in the Region-at-Large East Scholastic Art awards, including 18 Gold Keys, 31 Silver Keys and 64 Honorable Mention awards.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program was founded in 1923 and is the longest-running recognition program for creative teens in the United States. The 2023 regional winners and guests, teachers and families are invited to the D.C. Metro Writing and Art Region 2023 Award Ceremonies in early March.

For a full list of winners, go to writopialab.org. n

Weller Elementary School and allows all students in these two zones to matriculate to Belmont Ridge Middle School and Riverside High School. Secondary school boundary changes were made to those zones in December.

Those changes also place elementary students who live in zone CL24, in Leesburg between King Street and Market Street, at Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School. That change will allow a majority of elementary students in this zone

to matriculate to Smart’s Mill Middle School and Tuscarora High School. Elementary students living in this attendance zone had been attending Catoctin Elementary School. That zone also had secondary school level changes made by the School Board in December.

The third change impacts no current students and involves the Cattail Run subdivision, which is under construction. The adopted change places future students at Ball’s Bluff Elementary

School, Smart’s Mill Middle School and Tuscarora High School.

The board also voted to allow students who will be entering fifth grade when school starts in the fall to stay at their current school if they chose to. No bus service will be provided for students who choose this option.

The changes go into effect fall 2023. School board members voted unanimously on Feb. 14. n

School Board Unanimously Votes to Postpone Renaming Two Schools

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

The School Board on Feb. 14 voted unanimously to postpone the debate over renaming of Mercer Middle School and Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School until September.

Vice Chair Harris Mahedavi (Ashburn) made the motion to postpone the discussion until the fall saying he felt that between now and the end of the school year the board was going to have several items of business, including finding a new superintendent and continuing to address the concerns made in the special grand jury report, and he wanted to keep the focus on things that were really “critical.”

“This is an important subject, I don’t want to sound like it’s not, but I think it can wait until we at least work on some of the priority items and come back and then hopefully have the discussion on it,” he said.

Mahedavi suggested bringing it back at the Sept. 26 meeting to give the community and the board more time to dive into it after returning to school.

Mahedavi brought up the delay after Jeff Morse (Dulles) made a motion to keep the name of Mercer Middle but to create an exhibit that would be “prominently and permanently displayed in Mercer’s

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“wholly covered by attorney client privilege.” He said waiving that privilege and releasing it in some form raises “complex questions beyond just the contents of the report itself.” He said it could set a precedent for other elected officials and impacts open communication between the School Board and its attorneys.

“Under the best of circumstances waiving attorney client privilege is fraught with pitfalls which is why it is done exceedingly rarely,” he said Tuesday night. “Being open and transparent is incredibly important, but so is the rights of our students and staff to be able to communicate with legal counsel without it being made public. That is such an important principle, it’s one of the cornerstones of the American legal system.”

Beatty in an email Wednesday said that he believes attorney client privilege was important and necessary for society, “but that doesn’t mean that in certain situations, for the greater good, it

main hallway highlighting historical facts that underscore all facets and complexities of the school’s namesake.”

Morse said a meeting he held for the Mercer Middle School community in December was not well attended, and there was no support to change the name of the school. Rather, he said, there was greater interest in continuing the discussion and possibly holding a student-led debate.

“The folks at that townhall said they wanted to be able to dig into that and have students understand this discussion that we are having tonight, that we had the

cannot be waived.”

“I believe it needs to be waived so that everyone can begin to rebuild trust. I don’t see any way for trust with this current board to be restored after last night,” he said. “Releasing the report is the only way for the public to understand everything that occurred, what staff knew, and what the board knew. Despite what my colleagues think, this justifiable scrutiny is not going away.”

Supervisors Push for Transparency

Serotkin previously made a similar argument in a letter to county supervisors defending the choice not to release the report. A response letter signed by eight of the nine county supervisors dismissed that argument, as well as pointing to the grand jury report’s recommendation that the School Board “limit the degree to which legitimate matters and information of public concern are shielded from the public under the cloak of attorney-client privilege.”

“As we both know—or should

night of the town hall, because that was far more valuable for the students to understand than it was to completely wipe out and change the name and pretend like it never happened,” Morse said.

Morse also noted that while doing his own research he found that Mercer was the first person to push for public education in America “regardless of whether they could afford it or not,” noting he fought against Thomas Jefferson to get it funded in Virginia.

“That is a huge milestone for public education. So, I don’t think we can just erase

know—’attorney-client’ privilege belongs to the client and not the attorney,” supervisors’ letter reads. “Any client at any time can waive the privilege. It’s important to point that out before going any further. Any claim of or allusion to a failure to release this report on this basis should be accurately framed as a choice and not a requirement.”

And failing to release a report, they wrote, “will leave the public and—frankly the Board of Supervisors—with grave concerns.”

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) followed up on those concerns at a meeting of both boards Thursday, Feb. 16. She criticized the School Board’s response to repeated sexual assaults in high schools as “too slow” and not transparent.

“There is obviously an elephant in the room,” she said at a meeting scheduled to talk about the school districts’ budget request. “In fact, an entire zoo might be in this room today, and I don’t think we should ignore that.”

Randall praised the division for its successes such as on-time graduation rates and SOL scores.

the past. I don’t think we can say it didn’t happen and that he as a human is perfect and flawless,” Morse said.

The school renaming process started in June 2020 after the School Board started a discussion on an action plan to combat systemic racism. That plan included a review of all division facility names, with 10 schools originally being flagged for review.

The School Board has been working with the Black History Committee, Friends of the Thomas Balch Library and History Matters LLC.

In late October 2022, John Champe High School, named for a Revolutionary War cavalryman, was removed from the list to allow for additional research.

Charles Fenton Mercer was an Aldie businessman who served in the U.S. House of Representatives. His name was flagged because of his support for the colonization for free Black people in Liberia and for being a slave owner, according to History Matters. Reid was a 73-year employee of the Loudoun Times-Mirror, starting as a secretary and retiring as associate publisher. Her name was flagged because of her association with the Daughters of the Confederacy.

In postponing the two names, eight other school name reviews are also postponed. n

“However, even with all of the successes we have to respond to what are clearly issues within LCPS, with students not just feeling unsafe, but in some cases, students being unsafe,” she said. “…When incidents happen that harm students, the response needs to be swift, transparent, nonpolitical, student- and parent-focused and, most of all, we have to put policies in place that makes it less likely for another student to be harmed.”

“What LCPS does, you do very, very well,” she added. “However, when serious incidents happen, the response from LCPS and Chair Serotkin, with due respect, in my opinion the response from members of the School Board have been too slow and less transparent than what I believe is needed to regain public support.”

Randall said some have suggested defunding the school system as the solution but noted she did not agree with that suggestion. But she said as the funding source for the school division, the Board of Supervisors has every right to ask hard questions and expect answers. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now The School Board voting during a January meeting. The board voted unanimously on Feb. 14 to postpone the renaming of two schools.

Murder Suspect Enters Insanity Plea

NORMAN K. STYER AND HANNA PAMPALONI nstyer@loudounnow.com hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The 24-year-old man charged with murder in the brutal home-invasion stabbing of a Leesburg-area man pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

Melvin H. Wasike, of Fairfax, entered the plea Feb. 13 at the start of a bench trial before Circuit Court Judge James E. Plowman. After two days of testimony from investigators, psychologists, and family members, the trial is scheduled to conclude during a third day of hearings Feb. 23.

In the trial, it was undisputed that Wasike kicked in the door of Michael Fadely’s Barclay Woods home and stabbed Fadely and his fiancée in the hallway outside their bedroom before fleeing. The attack lasted less than three minutes. Fadely died at the scene.

The case began when a deputy was called to the home on Nov. 13, 2021, after a man, later identified as Wasike, had come to the victim’s house claiming to be looking for someone at the residence. Security

LCSO: Thieves Aided by Keys Left in Unlocked Cars

The Sheriff ’s Office reported four car thefts in Sterling on Feb. 8 and Feb. 9. In three cases, keys had been left inside unlocked vehicles.

According to the report, the vehicles—a Jeep Cherokee, Toyota Tacoma, a BMW and Nissan Maxima—were reported taken from Hopeland Lane, Fox Road, Hollow Mountain Place and Gunflint Way.

Also, a stolen vehicle was reported as being recovered on Hopeland Lane.

The cases remain under investigation.

The Sheriff ’s Office issued a public reminder for residents to lock their vehicles and remove keys and key fobs. n

video from Fadely’s home showed Wasike coming to the home three times that afternoon, twice to the front door and another in an apparent search to find an unlocked door around the back.

The deputy was still in the area when Wasike returned a fourth time. Wasike was questioned by the deputy and ordered to not trespass on the property again.

Driving a different car, Wasike returned at 4:32 a.m. the next day, kicking in the front door, running up the stairs and assaulting Fadely and his fiancée, Laura Munoz, in the hallway outside their bedroom. Fadely was stabbed multiple times with a large kitchen knife and died at the scene. Munoz, who jumped on Wasike to try to stop the attack, was stabbed in her side.

A recording of the 911 call Munoz placed at the time of the attack was played during the opening day of the trial. In it was heard 90 seconds of terror and screaming as the two victims fought with their attacker.

Deputies arrested Wasike later that morning, as investigators used his cell phone information to find him parked near Reservoir Road a few miles away.

Wasike is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder,

aggravated malicious wounding, and breaking and entering while armed with intent to commit murder.

Investigators said there was no prior link between Wasike and the residents, and no motive for the attack.

Wasike’s attorneys said he has a history of schizophrenia and at the time of the attack was under delusions that he was God and needed to kill the devil to save the planet.

His parents, Moses Wasike and Rosemary Akwaro, testified that their son has been suffering from schizophrenia since 2017, and that symptoms began shortly after the family was displaced from their home for six months following a house fire. They said he began covering devices in their hotel room with towels and blankets claiming that they were spying on him and had planted a chip in his head.

Both parents said that the symptoms increased dramatically while Wasike was away at college, resulting in his first hospitalization for the illness. They said since then they have been searching for a way to help him but found facilities to be full and have long waiting lists, and that it was difficult to keep him taking his prescribed medications.

While three psychologists who analyzed Wasike found he was schizophrenic and that he reported hearing voices and experienced hallucinations at the time of the attack, county prosecutors said those claims were not made to investigators at the time of the attack and dismissed them as “self-serving” in the effort to avoid responsibility for his actions.

One of the evaluating psychologists, Dr. Alana Padilla, who testified Tuesday, said there is no reason to believe that Wasike is faking his claims, but had a years-long history of mental illness that grew more severe in the weeks before the murder.

“He did not understand that the person he had come into contact with was a human being,” she said.

As the trial is not being heard by a jury, it will be left to Plowman to determine whether Wasike was insane at the time of the attacks.

If found guilty, he faces a sentence of up to life in prison.

If he is found not guilty by reason of insanity, state law requires Wasike to be committed for inpatient hospitalization for an undetermined length of time and could be released if, after treatment, he is found to no longer be a danger to himself or others. n

National Association Names Chapman Sheriff of the Year

STAFF REPORT

Sheriff Mike Chapman has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 National Sheriffs’ Association’s Ferris E. Lucas Sheriff of the Year award.

Established in 1995, the award recognizes a sheriff for significant contributions to improving the office as well as community engagement above and beyond the responsibilities required. Lucas was a 50-year law enforcement veteran who served as president and executive director of the

association.

In selecting Chapman for the award, the association cited his approach to leadership, stewardship, and innovation, along with his successful efforts to protect his office from efforts to replace its law enforcement responsibilities with a police department and appointed chief.

“I am grateful to the National Sheriffs’ Association for this recognition,” Chapman stated. “Many distinguished sheriffs have received the Ferris E. Lucas award and I am honored to be included among these respected public servants.”

“Mike Chapman is a great Sheriff and an even better person,” NSA Executive Director Jonathan Thompson stated. “He embodies everything this award

was created to recognize, and the peers he serves with on the NSA board see him as a forward-looking leader who is determined to keep his community safe and equip the professionals in his office with the best tools and training to succeed.”

The award will be presented this summer at the NSA’s annual conference in Grand Rapids, MI.

Chapman is serving his third fouryear term as Loudoun’s sheriff and is seeking re-election in November.

His agency is the largest full-service sheriff ’s office in Virginia and oversees law enforcement, the jail, and the courts. The $115 million annual budget includes more than 600 sworn deputies and 200 civilian personnel. n

Chapman

Wasike

Loudoun Wildlife Announces 4th Annual Birdhouses and Barrels Auction

e Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy will again auction o a variety of rain barrels, half-barrel planters and bluebird houses to raise funds for the conservation nonpro t.

More than 30 local artists and nature lovers, with expertise ranging among quilting, mosaics, collage, sculpture, and painting, created the array of barrels and birdhouses, with barrels donated by Catoctin Creek Distillery.

e rain barrels, which can be used to collect rainwater from downspouts to help out during drier weather, come with instructions. ey can also be used indoors as a table base. e half-barrel planters come with a brochure of suggested native plants for di erent conditions, and when planted serve not only as decoration but food and shelter for native pollinators. And some birdhouses are

suitable for a decorative indoor display, while others are ready to go outdoors and provide nesting sites for birds.

The “Birdhouses and Barrels Art Auc-

Running for a Cause

Two upcoming running events are designed to give a boost to charities.

On March 25, in honor of International Data Center Day, the 7x24 Exchange DC Chapter invites residents to join the people who build and support the IT backbone of the cloud for a run around Data Center Alley.

Proceeds will benefit the Dulles South Soup Kitchen.

tion!” runs Feb. 24-March 3 online at auctria.events/2023LWCBirdhouses.

Registration opened Feb. 1. Learn more about the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy at loudounwildlife.org. n

The 2023 Cloud Run will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the former AOL campus on Broderick Dr. and includes a 1-mile Fun Run and 4.99999k run/walk. Also on site will be the Data Center Discovery Zone, providing handson activities and interactive opportunities to learn from experts about career opportunities in data centers, including scholarships,

RUNNING BENEFITS

continues on page 17

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy

A collection of birdhouses, half-barrel planters and rain barrels decorated by local artists are up for grabs in Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s online “Birdhouses and Barrels Art Auction!” Feb. 24 through March 3.

GIVING back

JK Community Farm Sets Record Goal for 2023 Food Distribution

JK Community Farm is gearing up for the 2023 growing season with a goal of donating 245,000 pounds of food and the addition of two new board members.

The 150-acre farm south of Round Hill uses volunteers to grow fresh organic produce that is distributed to food pantries around the region. In 2022, the farm donated 235,000 pounds of food, about 188,000 meals, and hosted more than 4,500 volunteers.

“We are growing more to serve our community—both in terms of healthy food and leadership. We’ve added two more strong business leaders to the JK Community Farm board, who will help us meet our goals of ensuring that more people have access to healthy foods as well as educating them about the importance of these foods to their health,” Executive Director Samantha Kuhn stated.

This year, the farm plans to put more emphasis on soil health to further enhance the nutrition of the produce; increase varieties of vegetables; and to create healthy recipes for its food pantry partners. Another goal will be the completion of a full food education curriculum to enhance its field trip program. The farm also will offer summer internships open for six high school/college students.

The two new board members are Evelyn Lee, executive vice president and regional president, Greater Washington Region, Truist Financial Corporation, Truist, and Tucker Gladhill, director of Technology Services, JK Moving.

The enterprise was launched as a

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internships, trade programs, and other pathways into the data center industry. Learn more and register at  7x24dc.org/2023-cloud-run.

On the same day, mb LoGistics & events is planning the inaugural Boxers and Briefs 5K at House 6 Brewing Company in Ashburn.

charitable nonprofit 2018 with the support of JK Moving Services. Learn more at jkcommunityfarm.org.

Community Foundation Hosts News Training for Nonprofits

Signups are open for a training session on effectively engaging news outlets hosted by the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, featuring a presentation and panel discussion with print and TV reporters.

“Nonprofits Meet the Press” will include training presentations provided by ABC7 News reporter Jay Korff and Loudoun Now Deputy Editor Renss Greene, followed by a panel discussion with Korff, Greene, Loudoun Times-Mirror Community Editor Karen Graham, and Leesburg Lifestyle Magazine Editor-in-Chief Melinda Gipson.

Nonprofits large and small will learn how to craft an effective press release, how and when to pitch a story to local media, understanding the differences between print and TV news, understanding how TV and print newsrooms work behind the scenes, and developing successful relationships with local journalists, all to help tell nonprofits’ stories to audiences across the county and region.

The session will take place March 13 from 1-3:30 p.m. at the Community Foundation’s Claude Moore Nonprofit Training Center in Leesburg. Online registration is open until 2 p.m. March 12 at loudounchamber.org/events/ nonprofit-workshop-meet-the-press. n

One Smile At A Time

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE OF PROPOSED REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

Pursuant to Section 58.1-3321 of the Code of Virginia, the LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, Loudoun County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 1st Floor, Leesburg, Virginia 20175 at 6:00 P.M. on March 21, 2023, in order to consider a proposed increase to real property tax levies.

The County of Loudoun proposes to increase real property tax levies as follows:

1. Assessment Increase: Total assessed value of real property, excluding additional assessments due to new construction or improvements to property, exceeds last year’s total assessed value of real property by 10.59 percent.

2. Lowered Rate Necessary to Offset Increased Assessment: The tax rate which would levy the same amount of real estate tax as last year, when multiplied by the new total assessed value of real estate with the exclusions mentioned above, would be $0.805 per $100 of assessed value. This rate will be known as the “lowered tax rate.”

3. Effective Rate Increase: The County of Loudoun proposes to adopt a tax rate not to exceed $0.89 per $100 of assessed value. The difference between the lowered tax rate and the maximum proposed rate would be $0.085 per $100, or 10.56 percent. This difference will be known as the “effective tax rate increase.”

Individual property taxes may, however, increase at a percentage greater than or less than the above percentage.

4. Proposed Total Budget Increase: Based on the maximum proposed real property tax rate and changes in other revenues, the total budget of the County of Loudoun will exceed last year’s by 12.24 percent.

Participants are encouraged to creatively display their boxers and briefs as they run 3.1 miles starting at 9 a.m.

Registration is $40 and includes a pair of custom race boxers and a finisher medal.

The event supports Latina Endometriosis League of America during Endometriosis Awareness Month.

For more information or to register go to boxersandbriefs5k.com. n

Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings. Public input may be provided by electronic means at Board public hearings. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, will be accommodated without advanced sign-up during the hearing, however, members of the public are strongly encouraged to signup in advance. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on March 17, 2023, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on March 21, 2023. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up during the public hearing. All speakers will be limited to two minutes and 30 seconds so that all in attendance may have the opportunity to speak. Written comments are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Board of Supervisors, 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.

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

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

& 2/23/23

Towns AROUND towns

County Cancels Fields Farm Park, Eyes

End-of-Month Deadline for Park-and-Ride Vote

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

With the planned purchase of 143 acres just outside the Purcellville town limits, the county government has withdrawn its applications for a long-planned sports complex in town.

Meanwhile, a Board of Supervisors committee has recommended the county also withdraw its application to build a new western Loudoun park-and-ride lot in Purcellville if the town does not act on the long-delayed project by the end of February.

The sports complex and adjacent parkand-ride lot are two of several projects that have now been delayed awaiting action by the town government. The lot is one of two such projects that received state SMART SCALE funding, and county staff members have warned that failing to

use that funding in a timely manner could jeopardize the county’s ability to win that funding for other projects around Loudoun in the future. The state weighs an applicant’s past performance in scoring the competitive applications for those grants.

The Board of Supervisors’ finance committee on Feb. 14 voted unanimously to recommend the board withdraw its application to build the park-and-ride, which would replace the existing lot in town, if the town does not act by the end of February. And, supervisors recommended, if the town does not act by then or denies the application, the county should end commuter bus service to the current lot at the Virginia Regional Transit lot on North Bailey Lane. The county would let Loudoun County Public Schools, which owns the property, know that the county no longer needs to use it. That would also

mean returning the $3.6 million in state funding for the new park-and-ride. The town held a public hearing for the parkand-ride Tuesday, Feb. 21.

The sports complex now more than two decades in planning may yet come to fruition, however—about a quarter mile to the southwest.

The Board of Supervisors’ vote Feb. 7 to buy 143 acres between Rt. 7 and West Main Street, abutting the town’s western boundary, gives the county more land than it needs for a planned Western Loudoun Recreational Center. An update to the finance committee noted the county also plans a multipurpose park there, and that the sports complex applications inside town were withdrawn as a result. The property is across Rt. 7 diagonally, on the opposite quadrant of the planned—and

Hamilton Commission Wrapping up New Town Plan

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Hamilton Planning Commission is concluding its work on drafting a new comprehensive plan, the first in 20 years.

Hamilton Zoning Administrator Martha Mason Semmes said the new plan has been a priority for the town for years, but it’s run into roadblocks along the way, including COVID-19 restricting the commission’s ability to meet in person and work through the new plan effectively.

She said while the new plan does not contain any significant changes to the town’s current community development vision, it does update statistics including the housing units in town, population, traffic counts and how much land is left for development.

Semmes said the most significant change in the new plan is that it includes a future land use map that allows for a commercial transition zone in town.

“The Planning Commission thought, ‘well, this is an opportunity’ because they don’t have much commercial in Hamilton, to provide an opportunity for folks to take those existing homes, which, many of them are historic, and reuse them for

maybe an office or a small shop, or a coffee shop, just like has been done in Purcellville,” she said. “So the plan now has a future land use map and it shows this proposed commercial transition.”

This change would allow homes to be converted to businesses to help improve economic growth without drastically changing the face of the town.

Semmes said another change in the new plan is an update to the Historical Resources chapter to include new areas surveyed since the last plan was adopted in 2003. The survey found that there were enough historic sites to possibly qualify as a historic district in the Virginia Landmarks Register and National Register of

Historic places. This would allow property owners of the surveyed areas to apply for state and federal tax credits.

“We’re not doing a local historic district like they have in Leesburg where people are going to tell you how or what color to paint your house. This would be an honorary designation that would encourage people to preserve their historic buildings,” she said.

Semmes said the plan also continues to emphasize desired improvements to pedestrian safety and accessibility in the town.

The next step for the Planning Commission is to hold a public hearing and receive input from Hamilton residents. That public hearing is scheduled for March 15 at 7 p.m. at the Town Office. After the hearing, the commission can make any adjustments based on the feedback from the public and then submit it to the Town Council for review.

Virginia State Code requires all towns to have a comprehensive plan that is prepared by the town’s planning commission. It is intended to designate what the focus of the town shall be over a 20-year span, specifically in the areas of zoning and land use. n

HILLSBORO

Ukraine Benefit Raises $9K

Nearly $9,000 was raised for humanitarian support for the people of Ukraine through the Feb. 11 auction of artwork donated by international artists and award-winning political cartoonists during the town’s UkraineAid23—Art of War lecture and art show.

Proceeds from the art sales are being directed to the international organization Blacksmiths Without Borders, whose exhibitions and events held in Europe have raised funds for emergency vehicles and protective equipment for communities in Ukraine.

“The events were a great success—raising the awareness of the ongoing plight of the Ukrainian people and raising much needed dollars to help provide emergency supplies to communities under attack,” Mayor Roger Vance said.

Combined with last April’s UkraineAid concert and art show, Hillsboro has raised nearly $30,000 to support the people of Ukraine.

LOVETTSVILLE

Smith Resigns from Town Council

Town Council Member Buchanan Smith has resigned from his seat effective Feb. 15.

Mayor Christopher Hornbaker said that Smith’s letter stated he was struggling to balance “his duties and constantly increasing load in his personal life” and was stepping aside to ensure that public service was not affected. Hornbaker said he hoped to see Smith return to public service in some capacity again.

Smith served two years on the Planning Commission before taking on the council seat in a 2019 special election.

“Seeing as he was one of the longest-tenured officials in town, outdating the previous mayor and AROUND TOWNS continues on page 19

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now The Hamilton Welcome sign off East Colonial Highway as seen Feb. 20, 2023.

PURCELLVILLE PARKS continues on page 19

Purcellville parks

continued from page 18

also delayed—interchange with Rt. 690.

Although that interchange is also partly funded through SMART SCALE, county staff members continue to seek ways to keep that project alive. They reported to the finance committee that they have contacted the Virginia Department of Transportation both for help with acquiring land from a nearby HOA and to let the state know about the circumstances affecting the normal SMART SCALE timelines for construction.

Design Program Manager Mark Hoffman said the county is looking at various options to keep the project alive, such as replacing the $9.6 million in state funding for the $40.7 million interchange if neces-

AROUND towns

continued from page 18

myself, I do thank him for his service in many capacities and wish him the best of luck in the future,” Hornbaker said.

The town is accepting applications until March 10, to fill the vacancy on an interim basis until a special election can be held in November. Applications can be found on the town website.

2 Advance to Districts in Bland Competition

The Lovettsville and Purcellville Lions Clubs held their James A. Bland music competition on Feb. 12.

The event featured 17 performers, ages 9 to 18.

As the top vocalist and instrumentalist Emily Gruessing and Maxim Balabanski will advance to the district round of the competition.

LUCKETTS

Fifth Graders Perform Aladdin Jr.

With the support of the Lucketts Ruritan Club, Lucketts Elementary fifth graders this month performed Aladdin, Jr. for two shows with two lead casts.

Under the direction of music teacher Briana Nei. the school’s 48 fifth graders began work on their 10-song presentation in September. The fourth graders joined in as the chorus.

River Crisostomo and Ryan Cabantog played the part of Aladdin; Giovanni

sary, or phasing work on the interchange to keep parts of it moving ahead.

Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure Director Nancy Boyd said that could mean removing the interchange’s eastbound ramp from Rt. 7 to Rt. 690, which would be on the land near the Catoctin Meadows HOA that has led to a holdup on that project. That, she said, could possibly be added later while still preserving a project, which is “so important” to the regional transportation network.

A Long Wait for Ballfields

The Fields Farm Park cancellation is the latest setback in the more than twodecade effort to bring a sports complex to Purcellville and western Loudoun on that spot. And it is only one of several county projects, also including a new

Holmes and Mackenzie Hatfield played the Genie; Aladdin’s Friends were played by Dylan Wither, Aidan O’Laughlin and Andrew Nethercott; Jasmine was played by Paige Julien and Kayla Fountaine.  Jasmine’s friends were played by Geralyn Garay Granada, Noor Jweinat and Arianne Delos Reyes. Chase Dalling and Fionn Tobin played the Sultan, Gabe Davis and Charlotte Kirker played Jafar. Iago was played by Marley Barron.

PURCELLVILLE

Nature Walk Planned Sunday

The Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is hosting a free nature walk at the Chapman DeMary Trail on Sunday, Feb. 26 starting at 1 p.m.

Two activities will be held at the same time: a nature walk for adults, and a nature scavenger hunt for kids. The walk for adults is called “Open Your Senses,” and is being led by Nancy Reaves. She is a Virginia master naturalist and a member of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.

The nature scavenger hunt will be led by Gina Faber, a Loudoun County master gardener.

The Chapman DeMary Trail is a 10acre area considered to be the last stand of old-growth forest in Purcellville. It runs along the South Fork Catoctin Creek, part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The area is open to the public for environmental recreation, exploration, and education.

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

road connection to Woodgrove High School called Fields Farm Park Road, the Franklin Park to Purcellville Trail, and a Rt. 7/Rt. 287 interchange, to face long delays in town government.

The county first bought the Fields Farm land, at the time outside town limits, in 2000. In 2005, the Board of Supervisors approved zoning exceptions for the sports fields, but in 2009, the property was annexed into town with the goal of providing town water and sewer service to the park. That also put it under town zoning.

Work on the park stalled during a recession and funding wasn’t allocated for the park until 2015. And in 2020, the county began filing zoning and administrative applications for a number of interrelated projects in town, including the sports complex and adjacent park-and-ride.

Once again, the project ground to a halt against delayed administrative review and a chaotic Town Council. Almost two years later, the zoning applications for the park were still awaiting action by both the Planning Commission and Town Council, and in June 2022 the commission canceled a public hearing on the project.

Under state law and town code, that failure to act within 60 days on the Planning Commission permits constituted automatic approval; the Town Council voted in September 2022 to retroactively extend

a review deadline that had expired more than a year before on Aug. 30, 2021.

In October, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to deny the county’s two commission permits and to recommend denying all of the county’s applications, sending those applications to the Town Council. The Town Council that month sent out a survey to residents of the neighboring Mayfair community about the county’s various projects in the area.

County staff members amended their plans in response to Town Council concerns, but the council in December then canceled another public hearing on the project, sending it back to the Planning Commission for another review. In January, the Planning Commission then recommended denying the project again, and the project was scheduled to finally get its Town Council public hearing on Feb. 21.

But a Feb. 8 letter to the town advised them not to bother.

County Administrator Tim Hemstreet withdrew the county’s applications for the sports complex, ending the county’s long effort to build the sports complex on that site.

“We’re not moving forward with it at that location right now due to the Town Council’s inability to want to work with us,” Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) said later. n

LoCo Living Drama Queens

Campy Fun at StageCoach Theatre’s ‘Legends and Bridge’

BY JAN MERCKER jmercher@loudounnow.com

Take three washed up but sassy Hollywood icons, one DMV-famous drag queen and plenty of laughs, and you’ve got StageCoach Theatre Company’s new production, “Legends and Bridge.” The campy comedy runs weekends throughout March and marks the theatrical debut of drag performer Anja Dick.

The irreverent work by Los Angeles-based playwright C. Stephen Foster imagines three silver screen superstars in their retirement years: domineering Joan Crawford, bitter Bette Davis and ditzy Judy Garland. The aging actresses are sharing a New York apartment in 1965, plotting a comeback with a top-secret film project and fighting for top diva position.

“The lines are just so much fun, and now that we can just settle into it and ‘feel the fantasy’ as the drag queens would say, it’s getting to be a lot of fun,” said Dick, who plays Crawford in the show opposite two longtime Fairfax County-based actresses: Stacy Crickmer as Garland and

THINGS to do

LOCO LIVE

Notaviva Bluegrass Jam

Friday, Feb. 24, 5 p.m.

Notaviva Craft Fermentations, 13274 Sagle Road, Hillsboro

Details: notavivavineyards.com

Enjoy the best in local live bluegrass every fourth Friday. Admission is free.

Live Music: Grayson Moon

Friday, Feb. 24, 5 p.m.

Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights

Details: facebook.com/harpersferrybrewing

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Grayson Moon brings a refreshing new experience to the indie soul music scene, blending soulful vocals with contemporary guitar and electronic instruments.

Live Music: JP Jones

Friday, Feb. 24, 5:30 p.m.

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg

Details: lostbarrel.com

Loudoun-native JP Jones is a self-taught guitarist and passionate lifelong musician.

Live Music: Shane Gamble

Friday, Feb. 24, 6 p.m.

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

Details: flyingacefarm.com

Rising country music star Shane Gamble returns to Flying Ace for an afternoon of great tunes.

Live Music: Skyla Burrell Blues Band

Friday, Feb. 24, 7 p.m.

MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg

Details: macsbeach.com

Kick off the weekend with Burrell’s highenergy electric blues.

Erika Horton as Davis.

The show reunites producer Maggie Swan and director Scott Olson, who have worked together on several past projects. The Loudoun production (which will also be livestreamed for every show) is getting some enthusiastic West Coast promotion from Foster, a longtime friend of the director. Foster published the script in 2013, and Olson said he has been waiting a decade for the right cast to put it on in Northern Virginia.

“I’ve wanted to do this show for a while,” Olson said.

Olson said he initially envisioned casting drag performers for all three lead characters and had Anja Dick in mind to play Bette Davis. But after auditions, Olson decided she was meant for the Crawford role. Olson has worked with Crickmer and Horton in past regional productions and realized they were perfect to round out the diva roles.

Crickmer said she idolized Judy Garland as a kid and has embraced the duality of Garland’s life. The “Legends” role has Garland moving back and forth between

her worn out, drug-addled 1960s persona and her 1940s heyday.

“I get to play her in the 1960s when she’s in her 40s, drunk and on the pills,” Crickmer said. “But she transports herself back to when she’s younger—I go back and forth between those two personalities in voice and in character.”

Meanwhile, the Bette Davis character’s zingers are among the highlights of the play, the actors and director agree, often with Garland as the butt of her jokes.

“Bette definitely has all of the nastiest lines, which is a lot of fun for me. I get to be snarky and sarcastic and a little bit rude,” Horton said.

But despite the on-stage cat fights, the cast has become close and supportive.

“We’ve been having a lot of fun with it because it’s a very fun show,” Horton said. “As Bette, I constantly make fun of Judy’s singing. But I love listening to Stacy sing because she’s amazing. We often laugh about how the things we say on stage

DRAMA QUEENS continues on page 22

Live Music: Junior Bryce Band

Friday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m.

Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville

Details: monksq.com

An in-demand saxophone sideman in the DC region for years, Bryce has launched his own ensemble serving up groove and hippie funk with some jazz and R&B flavor.

Live Music: Zeppelin and Company

Friday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m.

Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg

Details: spankyspub.com

This rocking tribute band pays homage to Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and Bad Company.

Live Music: Chris Ellinghaus

Saturday, Feb. 25, 1 p.m.

Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville

Details: creeksedgewinery.com

Just South of 7’s Chris Ellinghaus serves up acoustic favorites from the 60s through today for a fun winery afternoon.

Live Music: Brisk

Saturday, Feb. 25, 1 p.m.

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts

THINGS TO DO continues on page 21

Kat Brais

Locally famous drag performer Anja Dick makes her theatrical debut as Joan Crawford in StageCoach Theatre Company’s production of “Legends and Bridge.”

Friday, Feb. 24, 7 p.m. MacDowell’s macsbeach.com

THINGS to do

continued from page 20

Details: vanishbeer.com

It’s an afternoon of MTV Unplugged-style ’90s alt rock covers from Brisk.

Live Music: Gary Smallwood

Saturday, Feb. 25, 2 p.m.

Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro

Details: doukeniewinery.com

Celebrate Saturday with Gary Smallwood’s locally famous classic rock, country rock and blues.

Live Music: Wayne Snow

Saturday, Feb. 25, 2 p.m.

Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville

Details: twotwistedposts.com

Wayne Snow is a singer/songwriter based out of Shepherdstown, WV, with a fun repertoire of indie, folk, pop and rock songs.

Live Music: Laura Farrell

Saturday, Feb. 25, 2 p.m.

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro

Details: breauxvineyards.com

Farrell has built a following around the DMV thanks to her powerful vocals and lively performances covering favorite hits and classics.

Live Music: The BeatOlds

Saturday, Feb. 25, 4 p.m.

Crooked Run Fermentation, 22455 Davis Drive #120, Sterling

Details: crookedrunbrewing.com

Get your groove on with a tribute to the timeless music of the Fab Four by lifelong Beatlemaniacs.

Live Music: Robert Mabe and Friends

Saturday, Feb. 25, 5 p.m.

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg

Details: lostbarrel.com

Mabe is a stellar banjo player and singer/songwriter from the hills of North Carolina. His unique style covers a wide range of music from bluegrass to jazz, Irish and roots tunes.

Live Music: SideTracked

Saturday, Feb. 25, 6 p.m.

Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn

Details: www.oldoxbrewery.com

Enjoy guitar-driven rock ‘n’ roll featuring hits and B-sides from the 60s through the 90s.

Live Music: Badlands

Saturday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m.

BEST BETS

Saturday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m. (doors)

Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg

Details: macsbeach.com

One of the region’s favorite dance/pop/rock cover bands returns to MacDowell’s for an evening of fun.

Lucketts Bluegrass: Larry Stephenson Band

Saturday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m.

Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Lucketts

Details: luckettsbluegrass.org

Beloved by Bluegrass fans around the region, Stephenson’s tenor perfectly captures the “high lonesome” sound. Tickets are $22 for adults, $5 for youth 5 to 17 and free for children 4 and under.

Live Music: Melissa Quinn Fox

Saturday, Feb. 25, 8 p.m.

Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville

Details: monksq.com

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

Live Music: Point of Rock

Saturday, Feb. 25, 8 p.m.

Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg

Details: spankyspub.com

POR serves up fun dance covers from the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Live Music: Carbon Leaf

Saturday, Feb. 25, 8 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg

Details: tallyhotheater.com

Richmond-based Carbon Leaf returns to Loudoun with their signature blend of rock, folk, Celtic, bluegrass and Americana and a high-energy style the group calls “ether-electrified porch music.” Tickets are $35.

Live Music: Acoustic Moose

Sunday, Feb. 26, 1 p.m.

Maggie Malick Wine Caves, 12138 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville

Details: maggiemalickwinecaves.com

This south-central PA duo with acoustic guitar and dynamic vocal harmonies plays a range of folk rock, blues and classic rock favorites.

Live Music: Jessica Paulin

Sunday, Feb. 26, 1:30 p.m.

Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville

Details: sunsethillsvineyard.com

Enjoy covers from the 60s through today as Paulin covers favorites from Joplin to Gaga.

Live Music: Jason Teach

Sunday, Feb. 26, 2 p.m. Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro

Details: breauxvineyards.com

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

Live Music: Jim Steele

Sunday, Feb. 26, 2 p.m.

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

Details: flyingacefarm.com

Join local favorite Jim Steele for an afternoon of fun

Saturday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m. Lucketts Community Center luckettsbluegrass.org

covers and originals.

LOCO CULTURE

Last Ham Standing

Friday, Feb. 24, 8-9:30 p.m. Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville

Details: franklinparkartscenter.org

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

SKYLA BURRELL BLUES BAND

CARBON LEAF

LARRY STEPHENSON BAND

Drama queens

continued from page 20

are completely untrue compared to how we feel.”

The actresses went to Anja Dick’s home studio to get hours of wig and makeup training, and the real-life connection has allowed them to let the wicked insults fly on stage.

“It’s the community part of community theater,” Dick said.

“We’ve actually been so helpful to each other from day one. … The secret to being super mean on stage is actually having a great teamwork backstage because then you can push the boundaries,” Crickmer said.

For all of the actors, jumping to their roles has meant plenty of research and watching classic films, but also bringing their own twist to these real-life screen icons.

“We’re based on real people, but we don’t just want to be carbon copies of those people. We’ve learned the voice, the mannerisms, the things that people expect from these people, but at the same time we don’t want to be caricatures,” Crickmer said.

For Dick as a drag performer, making

Crawford her own takes an extra level of creativity. After building a regional following for her own creations and characters, inhabiting a character created by another author and based on a real person is a new art.

“I’m definitely going to have my own flavor on Joan Crawford. But I love her. She probably was a raging bitch, but I also think she was misunderstood in some ways, so there’s a little bit of complexity there,” Dick said.

NOVA actors Brian Clarke and Danny Seal support the leads as Tennessee Williams and his nephew, Madison, who join the divas for a game of bridge as hilarity ensues. The play is full of adult humor and is an R-rated show for grownups, the production team advises. Anja Dick, who has done several one-woman shows and a musical cabaret at StageCoach, said the theater is meeting a desire for funny and sophisticated content in the suburbs.

“I think there are a lot of younger hip people in the suburbs who want enter-

tainment, and they don’t want to go into the city for it. A guy with a guitar playing ‘Wagon Wheel’ is not it,” Dick said.

Producer Swan says the campy humor is just what the doctor ordered as winter makes its exit in Loudoun and the chemistry among the actors grows.

“I’m at every rehearsal, and every time I laugh harder,” she said. “These guys have put a lot of time and effort into developing these characters and finding out who they were. They’ve been fantastic.” n

StageCoach Theatre Company’s production of “Legends and Bridge” runs Saturdays March 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 7 p.m. and Sundays March 5, 12, 19 and 26 at 2 p.m. Livestream tickets are also available for each performance. Tickets are $28 for in-person seats, $25 for a livestream. For tickets and information, go to stagecoachtc.com.

Kat Brais

From left, Danny Seal, Erika Horton, Stacy Crickmer, Anja Dick and Brian Clarke star in StageCoach Theatre Company’s “Legends and Bridge,” a campy comedy that imagines a game of bridge with three aging movie icons.

Construction Project Manager/Project Engineer

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

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

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

Qualifications

• BS degree in Engineering/Construction Management or relevant field

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

• Entry-level/mid-level Position

Contact Info:

Katherine Hicks

208 South King Street Suite 303 Leesburg, VA 20175

Send Resume to: khicks@meridiengroupllc.com (703) 777-8285

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING

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

ESTABLISHMENT OF TEMPORARY POLLING PLACES

(To be Effective for the June 20, 2023, Primary Election)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-1427 and 24.2-305 et seq., the Board of Supervisors gives notice of intent to propose for passage an ordinance providing for temporary polling places during the June 20, 2023, primary election. The purpose of the ordinance is to provide for temporary polling places for use in three precincts during the June 20, 2023, primary election.

The proposed ordinance is described below, by reference to the affected election precincts.

In the Algonkian District:

1. Due to construction/renovation at the Algonkian Elementary School, the polling place for the Algonkian precinct will be moved from the Algonkian Elementary School located at 20196 Carter Court, Sterling, VA 20165 to River Bend Middle School located at 46240 Algonkian Parkway, Sterling, VA 20165 for the June 20, 2023, Primary Election only.

2. Due to construction/renovation at the Potomac Falls High School, the polling place for the Potomac Falls precinct will be moved from the Potomac Falls High School located at 46400 Algonkian Parkway, Sterling, VA 20165 to the River Bend Middle School located at 46240 Algonkian Parkway, Sterling, VA 20165 for the June 20, 2023, Primary Election only.

In the Leesburg District:

1. Due to construction/renovation at the Cool Spring Elementary School, the polling place for the Cool Spring precinct will be moved from the Cool Spring Elementary School located at 501 Tavistock Drive, SE, Leesburg, VA 20165 to the Loudoun County Office of Elections located at 750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite C, Leesburg, VA 20175.

A complete copy of the full text of the above referenced ordinance and maps showing precinct boundaries and polling places are on file and available for inspection at the Office of the County Administrator, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). In addition, this information is available for inspection at the Loudoun County’s Office of Elections website at www.loudoun.gov/vote

PROPOSED CONVEYANCE OF COUNTY PROPERTY Grant of Easement to Loudoun County Sanitation Authority 23862 Evergreen Mills Road

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1800 et seq., the Board of Supervisors shall consider granting a 15 foot wide easement and right of way to Loudoun County Sanitation Authority d.b.a Loudoun Water through and across a portion of County property known as the Bernie Hanson Park for the purpose of installing, laying, constructing, operating, repairing, altering and/or maintaining an underground public water utility for the transmission of public water. Said easement will service the planned residential development known as Parkside Village. The subject property is located on the east side of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621) and north of Founders Drive (Route 2315) in Ashburn, Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Election District The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 201-37-3570.

Copies of the draft deed of easement and plat showing the location of the above-listed conveyance, and associated documents, are available for review and 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 or call (703) 777-0200. Documents may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”)

PROPOSED REPEAL OF CHAPTER 825, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY (C-PACE) FINANCING PROGRAM, AND ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW CHAPTER 826 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY

New Chapter 826

Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Program

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-1427 and 15.2-958.3, the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intention to repeal the existing Chapter 825, Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Financing Program, of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County and propose for passage an ordinance to establish a new chapter of the Codified Ordinances, Chapter 826, “Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Program.” The purpose of the proposed repeal and replacement of the C-PACE

ordinance is to allow the County to participate in the Virginia Statewide C-PACE Program pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-958.3.H.

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

AMENDMENTS TO THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY

Chapter 648. Nuisances

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-1427 and 15.2-958, the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intention to amend Chapter 648, Nuisances, of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County. The purpose of this amendment is to provide the County with the ability and direct authority to remove, repair or secure any building, wall, or any other structure that might endanger the public health or safety of other residents of such locality.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 648 will be effective upon adoption by the Board of Supervisors.

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

SPEX-2022-0026 & ZMOD-2022-0035

ENCOMPASS HEALTH EXPANSION

(Special Exception & Zoning Ordinance Modification)

Encompass Health Corporation of Birmingham, Alabama, has submitted an application for a Special Exception to expand a Medical Facility use in the PD-IP (Planning Development-Industrial Park) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 4-504(D). The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s):

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§5-1102(F), Adjustments to Parking Requirements

To permit a parking reduction due to the nature of the facility

The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, between the Ldn 60-65, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 9.16 acres in size and is located on the north side of Millstream Drive (Route 2626), and west of Stone Springs Boulevard (Route 2625), at 24430 Millstream Drive, Stone Ridge, VA 20105, in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 247-20-1488. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)), which designate this area for Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural, and Recreational uses at a recommended Floor Area Ration (FAR) of up to 1.0.

ZMAP-2021-0022, ZMOD-2021-0086, ZMOD-2021-0087, ZMOD-2022-0042

ZMOD-2022-0043 & ZMOD-2022-0044

UNIVERSITY CENTER LAKEVIEW (Zoning Map Amendment & Zoning Modifications in the Rt. 28 Tax District)

LAKEVIEW 1 LC, of Fairfax, Virginia, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 21.55 acres from PD-RDP (Planned Development – Research and Development Park) zoning district under the 1972 Zoning Ordinance to the R-24 (Townhouse/Multifamily) zoning district under Affordable Dwelling Unit regulations of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop 597 multifamily dwelling units at 27.7 dwelling units per acre. The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s):

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS

§3-702(A), R-24 Multifamily Residential, Size and Location.

To allow access to lots created after rezoning to be provided by private roads.

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Legal Notices

§3-707(B), R-24 Multifamily Residential, Building Requirements, Building Height.

§5-1102, Table 5-1102, Off Street Parking and Loading Requirements, Number of Parking and Loading Spaces Required.

§5-1404(D), Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Buffer Yards, Buffer Yard Widths and Plant Requirements.

§5-1408(B)(2)(d), Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, General Landscape Provisions, Plant Unit Requirements.

To increase maximum building height to 60 feet without additional setbacks from streets or lot lines for each foot of increased height.

To modify the parking requirements for Multifamily Residential to permit a minimum of 1.5 parking spaces per two- and three-bedroom affordable unit.

To decrease the width of portions of required Buffer Yard Type A to five feet.

To increase the maximum percentage of shrubs from 30 percent to 80 percent permitted within the Buffer Yard Type A.

The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, the Route 28 CB (Corridor Business)

Optional Overlay, and the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 airport noise contour. The subject property is approximately 21.55 acres in size and is located north of Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7), south of George Washington Boulevard (Route 1050), and east of Riverside Parkway (Route 607) in Ashburn, Virginia, in the Algonkian Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 039-35-5892 and PIN: 039-25-8839. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area ((Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)) which designate this area for compact, pedestrian-oriented environments with opportunities for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural, and Recreational uses at a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0.

CMPT-2022-0008 & SPEX-2022-0043 GOOSE CREEK SUBSTATION EXPANSION

J. Kevin Curtis of Dominion Energy Virginia, of Glen Allen, Virginia, has submitted applications for Commission approval to permit a Utility Substation, Transmission, and Special Exception to allow the Utility Substation, Transmission use in the JLMA-20 zoning district. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The proposed use requires a Commission Permit in accordance with Section 6-1101 and is listed as a Special Exception use in the JLMA-20 zoning district under Section 2-1303. The subject property is located within the Quarry Notification (QN) Overlay District (Luck Note

Area), partially within the Airport Impact Overlay District (AIOD) (partially outside of but within one mile of the Ldn 60 noise contour), and partially within the Floodplain Overlay District (FOD) (major and minor floodplain). The subject property is approximately 34.32 acres in size and is located north of Cochran Mill Road (Route 653) and south of Crosstrail Boulevard at 41990 Cochran Mill Rd, Leesburg, Virginia, in the Leesburg Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 151-45-9554. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Leesburg Joint Land Management Policy Area ((JLMA Employment Place Type)) which designate this area for light and general industry employment uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0.

Unless otherwise noted in the above notices, copies of the above-referenced amendments, applications, ordinances, and/or plans and related documents may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies, or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. This link also provides an additional opportunity for public input on active applications. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). In addition, for detailed instructions on how to access documents using LOLA, to request that documents be emailed to you, to receive physical copies of documents, or to arrange a time to view the file at the Loudoun County Government Center, please email DPZ@loudoun.gov or call 703-777-0246 (option 5).

Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings. All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Public input may be provided by electronic means at Board public hearings. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, will be accommodated without advanced sign-up during the hearing, however, members of the public are strongly encouraged to sign-up in advance. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on March 3, 2022, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on March 15, 2023. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up during the public hearing. Citizens may also submit written comments by email sent to bos@loudoun.gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members and made part of the minutes for the public hearing.

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

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

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DRAFT LOUDOUN COUNTY FAIR HOUSING PLAN

Date: Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 6:00pm

Location: Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development

Olmstead Room, 1st Floor 106 Catoctin Circle, SE Leesburg, VA 20177

Loudoun County is one of eight participating jurisdictions that are working collaboratively to develop a regional fair housing plan also known as the Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, located at https://www.mwcog.org/community/planning-areas/housing-and-homelessness/fairhousing/. Loudoun County is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to “affirmatively further fair housing.” The regional analysis will fulfill this HUD requirement and aims to increase collaboration, innovation, and effectiveness of strategies to further fair housing throughout the metropolitan area, including Loudoun County. The plan will become final in 2023.

The Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development invites residents to provide comments on the draft fair housing plan for Loudoun County at https://www.mwcog.org/community/ planning-areas/housing-and-homelessness/regional-fair-housing-plan-comment-form/. The public comment period opened on January 31, 2023, and closes on March 31, 2023. Residents will also be able to provide comment at a public hearing to be held on March 8, 2023, at 6 p.m.

The public hearing will include an overview of the Loudoun County sections of the fair housing plan including goals, past achievements, and data on affordable housing and barriers to fair housing in the County, and will be held at the offices of the Department of Housing and Community Development indicated above. All citizens and organizations are invited to present their views and comments.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability or need language assistance in order to participate in this meeting, please contact the Department of Housing and Community Development at 703-737-8323 at least one business day in advance of the public hearing. Some accommodations may require more than one day of notice. An Assistive Listening System is available at the meeting.

2/23/23

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TOWN OF HAMILTON PLANNING COMMISSION

Notice is hereby given that the Hamilton Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Office located at 53 E. Colonial Highway, Hamilton, VA to hear public comments considering a draft comprehensive update of the 2003 Town of Hamilton Comprehensive Plan (“Plan”):

Pursuant to Code of Virginia Section 15.2-2223, the Hamilton Planning Commission has completed a Plan review and proposed revisions to maps, text and policies. The draft Plan updates, rewrites, removes or adds new Goals, Policies, Action Items, and Maps. While the 2003 Plan was developed, reviewed and adopted by both the Town of Hamilton (“Town”) and Loudoun County (“County”), this Plan update was prepared by the Planning Commission over a number of years in parallel with, but separate from the County’s own Plan update, which was completed in 2019.

Proposed updates and amendments to specific Plan Chapters include:

Introduction

• Updates the purpose and basis of the Comprehensive Plan, the relationship of the Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Hamilton and its revised Joint Land Management Area (JLMA) with the County’s 2019 Comprehensive Plan, as well as the setting and history of the Town of Hamilton.

Population and Growth Management

• Updates population estimates and forecasts to reflect growth during the past 2 decades

• Revises Goals, Policies & Action Items to reflect progress and change since 2003

Land Use

• Updates Existing Land Use and Existing Zoning tables and Existing Zoning Map

• Revises and updates land use goals, policies and action items for the Town

• Updates recommended land use policies for the Hamilton JLMA

• Adds a Future Land Use Map with associated land use policies for each of the following land use categories:

• Public/Semi-Public: Includes government properties and places of worship that are envisioned to remain in public/semi-public use for the foreseeable future.

• Commercial Core: Includes existing properties in the downtown core zoned C-2 Retail Sales & Service district consistent with the 2003 Plan. Uses include retail, office and personal services.

• Commercial Transition: This new category includes properties abutting W. Colonial Hwy between Rogers and Laycock Streets. Most are surrounded by public/institutional uses or next to the commercial core and can serve as a transition between the higher density core and single-family neighborhoods. Current uses, including retail, office and personal services, as well as residential uses, should remain as permitted uses. Adaptive reuse of historic buildings is encouraged.

• Residential-Max 6 Dwelling Units per Acre (DUA): Includes townhouses along Sydnor St. developed at a maximum of 6 dwelling units/ acre.

• Residential-Max 4 DUA: Includes the properties on Ladysmith Court, which are small lot single-family homes and a small apartment building.

• Residential-Max 2 DUA: Includes most of the existing residential lots within town, consisting of single-family detached homes on lots of approx. one-half acre or larger.

• Residential-Max 1 DUA: Includes areas of town that are developed with single-family detached lots of approximately 1 acre or larger.

Community Facilities & Services

• Updates text and Map to reflect new community facilities in Town and the JLMA

• Updates goals, policies and action items to reflect changes in population, facilities, and services since 2003

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR:

OPERATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPERVISED LIVING SERVICES, RFP No. 565784 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, March 29, 2023.

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

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

Natural Resources

• Streamlines text to reflect that Town and JLMA are mostly developed and removes data more readily available and updated by other agencies; Removes maps that are available through County and other agencies

• Updates goals, policies and action items to reflect the development status of the land in and around Hamilton

Transportation

• Updates traffic count table and text to reflect changes since 2003, including sidewalk improvements completed.

• Revises Map to include updated sidewalks and pedestrian trails in Town and JLMA.

• Maintains focus on pedestrian and vehicular safety through Town in updated goals, policies and action items.

Housing & Community Development

• Updates housing data and table to reflect changes in housing stock since 2003.

• Updates table of area subdivisions and text on community institutions to reflect growth and change since 2003.

• Includes goals, policies and action items related to maintaining and enhancing housing and community services.

Economic Development

• Adds text recommending the proposed new commercial transition area along W. Colonial Hwy. to provide additional opportunities for business growth in the Town while maintaining small town character.

• Updates and expands goals, policies and action items related to encouraging new businesses.

Historic Resources:

• Updates the list of historic sites to include new sites surveyed since the 2003 Plan was adopted.

• Updates and consolidates former two historic chapter maps into new Historic Resources Map to show all surveyed sites in the immediate Hamilton area and a proposed Hamilton historic district boundary resulting from a 2003 County reconnaissance-level architectural survey of the Hamilton area.

• Updates goals, policies and action items to continue progress recommended in 2003 Plan to document and encourage preservation of the Town’s historic resources, including an application to list the Hamilton area historic district on the Virginia Landmarks Register and National Register of Historic Places, which are honorary designations without associated regulations on private property.

Annexation

• Continue policy to study feasibility and fiscal impacts of annexation of JLMA land into the Town limits.

• Focus on annexation of lands in commercial use on the east and west ends of Town as first priority. All interested persons should appear and provide comments at the above time and place. If a member of the public cannot attend, comments may be submitted by mail to PO Box 130, Hamilton, VA, 20159-0130 or by email to zoning@hamiltonva.gov. Comments received by 12:00 noon on the day of the hearing will be distributed to Commission members and made part of the public record. Copies may be viewed in the Town Office between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and at www.hamiltonva.gov

Anyone needing assistance or accommodation under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act should call the Town Office at (540) 338-2811.

2/23 & 3/2/23

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE

SOLICITATION OF APPOINTMENT TO TOWN COUNCIL

The LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL currently has a vacant Council Member seat with a term that expires December 31, 2024. An appointment can be made by Town Council in anticipation of a special election on November 7, 2023. Any person qualified to vote in town elections is eligible for appointment. Council Members appointed to fill vacancies on the Council shall have the rights, privileges, powers, duties and obligations of an elected member.

All interested parties must complete an Application for Town Service that can be found on the Town’s website at www.lovettsvilleva.gov/government/council-subcommittees and submit to the Town Clerk before 4:30 P.M. on Friday, March 10, 2023. Submission can be made via email at clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov or in-person at the Lovettsville Town Hall, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays, holidays excepted.

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING COUNTY OF LOUDOUN, VIRGINIA

Proposed Budget for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024 Proposed Tax Rates for Tax Year 2023

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, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024 (the FY 2024 Proposed Budget); and the proposed tax rates on real and personal property for Tax Year 2023, beginning January 1, 2023, and ending December 31, 2023. 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 $1,151,074,067. This is the local tax revenue proposed for the Loudoun County Public Schools to fund its Fiscal Year 2024 budget for public schools, as compared to the estimated minimum contribution required by state law in the amount of $438,025,435.

Two 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, March 1, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. An additional session of the public hearing will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in the School Board Meeting Room, Loudoun County Public Schools’ Administration Building. 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. The Loudoun County Public Schools’ Administration Building is located at 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, Virginia. Copies of the FY 2024 Proposed Budget may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The FY 2024 Proposed Budget is also available online at www.loudoun.gov/budget

Public hearings conducted from the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23, and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings. All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Public input may be provided by electronic means at Board of Supervisors public hearings. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, will be accommodated without advanced sign-up during the hearing, however, members of the public are strongly encouraged to sign-up in advance. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on February 16, 2023. Advanced sign-ups will close at 12:00 p.m. on March 1, 2023, for the two sessions held on March 1, 2023; advanced sign-ups will close at 5:00 p.m. on March 3, 2023, for the session held on March 4, 2023. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up during the public hearing. All speakers will be limited to two minutes and 30 seconds so that all in attendance may have the opportunity to speak. Written comments are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Board of Supervisors, 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:

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Legal Notices

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 2023 as indicated below:

Type of Taxable Property

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Real Property – Owned by Surviving Spouses of Certain Persons Killed in the Line of Duty (Va. Code § 58.1-3228.2)

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))

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

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

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

Tangible

Tangible Personal Property – Satellite Manufacturing, Testing and Operating Equipment within Route 28 Highway Transportation Improvement District (Va. Code § 58.13506 (A) (21))

Tangible Personal Property – Furniture, Office and Maintenance Equipment (except motor vehicles) owned and used by Homeowners Associations (Va. Code § 58.1-3506 (A)(24))

Tangible Personal Property – Motor Vehicles, Trailers and Semi-trailers of Interstate Motor Carriers (Va. Code § 58.1-3506

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

BY ORDER OF: PHYLLIS RANDALL, CHAIR

LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL

LEGAL NOTICE and NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

An Ordinance proposing to sell and grant a Franchise Agreement for electricity distribution, transmission and sale in the Town of Lovettsville, Virginia, and for installing broadband facilities for use by third parties and Inviting Bids therefor. Further details regarding this Invitation For Bid can be found in the “Project Requests for Bids” section of the Town of Lovettsville website at: https://www.lovettsvilleva.gov/project-request-for-bids/ or a copy is available the Town of Lovettsville Town Hall.

AN ORDINANCE

To grant the right for the term and upon the conditions herein stated to use the streets and alleys of the Town of Lovettsville, Virginia, and to acquire, construct, install, operate, maintain and use, and to the extent now construct or installed to operate, maintain and use, poles, towers, structures, attachments, wires, cables, conduits, ductways, manholes, handholes, meters, appliances and other equipment necessary or useful in the distribution, transmission or sale of electricity in, over, along, on and under the streets and alleys of the Town of Lovettsville, for the purpose of distributing, transmitting and selling electricity at any point within the corporate limits of the Town of Lovettsville as the same now exist or may hereafter be extended or altered, together with the right to attach, operate, and maintain, additional cables, including but not limited to fiber optic cables, wires, attachments, and other transmission facilities, and all equipment, accessories and appurtenances desirable in connection therewith, including the right to increase or decrease the number of wires for the purpose of transmitting voice, text, data, internet services, and other communication services, including the wire and attachments of third parties; the right to lease or license the right to transmit signals, data, or other communications through broadband facilities to third parties as may be useful or practical, including the rights to transmit third party data and the right to lease or license surplus communications capacity to third parties through broadband facilities; and the right to install such additional pole, guys, and anchors on said property as may be necessary for the purposes of the safety and stability of broadband facilities.

The LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will open and review any and all bids, including those submitted from the floor, then close bid submission, and hold a public hearing on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at 6:30 pm in the Town Council Chambers, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia, for the purpose of awarding a Franchise Agreement to the most responsible and responsive bidder that aligns with the best interests of the Town of Lovettsville. The Town reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

All persons desiring to speak will be given an opportunity to do so at this meeting.

A copy of the full text of the Ordinance is available for review at the Town Hall between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays or by special appointment, holidays excepted. Call 540-822-5788 for more information or visit www.lovettsvilleva.gov. In the event the meeting is cancelled, the public hearing will be convened at the next regular scheduled meeting at the same time and place.

FIND OUT ABOUT THE COUNTY’S REAL ESTATE AND CAR TAX RELIEF PROGRAMS FOR ELDERLY OR DISABLED RESIDENTS

Commissioner of the Revenue, Robert S. Wertz, Jr., encourages eligible property owners at least 65 years old or totally and permanently disabled to learn about Loudoun’s property tax breaks for eligible residents. Qualified program participants are relieved of 100% or 50% of the real estate taxes on their primary dwelling and lot up to 3 acres and may have their car taxes reduced. The qualifying net worth limit for real estate relief is $920,000, excluding the home and up to 10 acres. The qualifying gross combined income limit for real estate relief is $77,000. Disability income, income of a relative providing bona fide care, and $10,000 of income of a spouse or relative in the home is excluded from the $77,000 limit for real estate relief. The net worth and income limits are $195,000 and $52,000 for car tax relief.

The Commissioner’s Office will be holding information sessions at the following locations and times to explain the county’s tax relief program and answer residents’ questions. Attendance is free and no signup is required. For additional information, please contact the Tax Exemption and Deferrals Division at 703-737-8557 or taxrelief@loudoun.gov.

Cascades Library Potomac Falls

Wednesday, March 8, 2023 10:30 AM

Purcellville Library Purcellville Monday, March 13, 2023 10:30 AM

Ashburn Library Ashburn Friday, March 24, 2023 10:30 AM

Rust Library Leesburg Monday, March 27, 2023 10:30 AM

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 12, 2023, in order to consider:

ADOPTION OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY ANNUAL PLAN FOR LOUDOUN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING

AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM

Pursuant to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations at 24 CFR Part 903, the Board of Supervisors hereby gives notice that it intends to conduct a public hearing for the purpose of considering and adopting the Public Housing Agency (PHA) Annual Plan (FY24) for the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development Housing Choice Voucher Program. The draft plan provides information on current housing programs and the resident population served.

A copy of the full text of the above-referenced plan is available and may be examined at the Loudoun County Department of Housing & Community Development, Front Desk, 1st Floor, 106 Catoctin Circle, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia 20175 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday or call (703)7378213 to request hard copies or electronic copies. Documents are also available for viewing at all ten (10) branch locations of the Loudoun County Public Library during regular business hours. Library hours and locations can be found at: https://library.loudoun.gov/contactus. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun. gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40 and livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings. All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Public input may be provided by electronic means at Board public hearings. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, will be accommodated without advanced signup during the hearing, however, members of the public are strongly encouraged to sign-up in advance. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on March 31, 2022, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on April 12, 2023. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up during the public hearing. Citizens may also submit written comments by email sent to bos@loudoun.gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members and made part of the minutes for the public hearing.

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

BY ORDER OF: PHYLLIS RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 2/23 & 3/2/23

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES

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

YR. MAKE MODEL VIN

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TO CONSIDER RENEWING THE EXISTING FRANCHISE WITH WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-2100 et seq., notice is hereby given that the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg, Virginia, will hold a public hearing on:

Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA to consider the adoption of the following ordinance:

AN ORDINANCE RENEWING THE EXISTING FRANCHISE WITH WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY

The proposed ordinance to renew the franchise permits Washington Gas Light Company to continue to use and occupy the streets, alleys and other public grounds of the Town of Leesburg for the construction, maintenance and operation therein of a system of pipes, mains, connections, meters and other equipment and appliances as necessary or convenient for the transmission, distribution, and sale of natural gas in and to any part of the Town of Leesburg.

Pursuant to requirements under Va. Code §§ 15.2-2101 and 15.2-2105 for renewals, the Town has posted an Invitation for Bid on the Town’s Bid Board to invite bids for the franchise permits to be granted in this ordinance. Bids shall be in writing and delivered by 3:00 p.m. on February 15, 2023, to the Town Attorney’s Office, and shall be opened in the public hearing.

A copy of the proposed ordinance is available from the Town Clerk, located in 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, Town Clerk, at 703-771-2733.

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.

2/16/2023 & 2/23/2023

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE

ARTICLES 3, 6, 7, 9, 10 AND 15

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 2, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 W. Market Street, Leesburg VA 20176 to consider the following amendments to the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO):

1. Amending TLZO Article 3 to specify an inactivity period for Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) applications in the Old and Historic Overlay District.

2. Amending TLZO Article 7 to specify an inactivity period for Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) applications in the Gateway Overlay District.

3. Amending TLZO Sec. 3.8 to require additional information for Wall Checks.

4. Amending TLZO Sec. 10.4.4.F to reconcile State Code requirements for Boundary Line Adjustments that result in a Lot Consolidation.

5. Amending TLZO Articles 6 and 9 to include the use “Trade/General Contractor”.

6. Amending TLZO Sec. 9.1.5 to remove the term “Transient Housing” as a prohibited use.

7. Amending TLZO Sec. 10.4.5.C.9 to allow pool covers in lieu of fencing around resident owned pools.

8. Amending TLZO Sec. 15.2.5 to include a size limitation for Temporary Signs.

9. Amending TLZO Sec. 15.3 to create a definition for “Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Sign”.

10. Amending TLZO Sec. 9.4.5 to increase sign area for electric vehicles, and to permit illuminated signage. Copies and additional information regarding each of these proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments are available at the Department of Planning & Zoning located on the 2nd floor of Leesburg Town Hall, 25 W. Market Street, Leesburg VA 20176 during normal business hours (Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or by contacting Michael Watkins, Zoning Administrator, via email at mwatkins@leesburgva.gov, or via telephone at 703-737-7920. This zoning ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLOA-2022-0010.

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.

ABC LICENSE

Badeer Fahmy trading as C N B Cut LLC, 23520 Overland Dr., Suite 126, Sterling, Virginia. The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a ABC commercial lifestyle center to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Badeer Fahmy, Owner

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

2/23 & 3/2/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ041604-07-00, JJ041604-08-00; JJ043080-04-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Diana Gissel Medina Lainez and Gabriela Medina Lainez

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

Jose Medina, Putative Father

The object of this suit is to hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1-281 for Diana Gissel Medina Lainez and Gabriela Medina Lainez, and; hold a hearing on placement in a qualified residential treatment program pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1281(E) for Diana Gissel Medina Lainez.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Jose Medina, Putative Father appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his interests on or before March 22, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.

2/9, 2/16, 2/23 & 3/2/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

Case No. CL-21-6494

LOUDOUN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

18 East Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re

SOPHIA MARIE CARVAJAL VS. SOPHIA MARIE LOZADA

The object of the suit is to: CHANGE NAME OF MINOR It is ORDERED that Arlene Carvajal appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before March 24, 2023 at 2:00PM.

2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23/23

ATTENTION LOUDOUN COUNTY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS

INCOME AND EXPENSE SURVEYS DUE MARCH 1

To facilitate the establishment of accurate real estate assessments for tax year 2024, as authorized by the Code of Virginia § 58.13294, I am requesting that owners of incomeproducing real estate provide a certified statement of income and expenses for calendar year 2022. This information, which shall be kept confidential in accordance with the Code of Virginia § 58.1-3, will be utilized to determine fair market values for tax assessment purposes. The survey forms are available online at loudoun.gov/income-expense and should be returned to my office by email or regular mail by March 1, 2023.

Commercial property owners are encouraged to review and verify our record of property characteristics online at loudoun.gov/parceldatabase to assist us in ensuring fair and equitable property valuations. For information or filing assistance, please visit loudoun.gov/cor or contact my office at commercialre@loudoun.gov or 703-777-0260.

Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue

Loudoun County

Leesburg Office

1 Harrison Street SE First Floor

Sterling Office Loudoun Tech Center 46000 Center Oak Plaza

MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 8000, MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804

Phone: 703-777-0260

Email: commercialre@loudoun.gov

Website: loudoun.gov/cor

2/16 & 2/23/23

ABC LICENSE

West End 1915 LLC trading as West End Wine Bar & Pub, 36855 W Main St, Purcellville, VA.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Mixed Beverage Restaurant to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

West End 1915 LLC, Owner

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

2/23 & 3/2/23

Legal Notices

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 2023, AND AMENDING LEESBURG TOWN CODE SECTION 20-30 AND APPENDIX B – FEE SCHEDULE

In accordance with the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, §§ 15.2-1427, 46.2-752, 58.1-3000, 58.13007, 58.1-3503, 58.1-3506, 58.1-3506.1 et. seq., 58.1-3515 and 58.1-3524, the Leesburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on:

Tuesday, February 28, 2023, 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 2023 to remain unchanged, as follows:

• Aircraft = $0.001

• Motor vehicles = $1.00

• Motor vehicles of eligible elderly and disabled (Town Code Sec. 20-25) = $0.50

• Tangible personal property (excluding public service corporations) = $1.00

• Bank capital = $.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 2023 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 35% 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 2023 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.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA CODE §§ 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104

Case No. CL-22-6446

LOUDOUN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

18 East Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re

MARLON JAHELL FRANCO ECHEVERRIA VS ANTHONY JAHELL ECHEVERRIA

The object of the suit is to: CHANGE NAME OF MINOR. It is ORDERED that MARLON ANTONIO FRANCO appear at the above-named court and protect his interests on or before April 28, 2023 at 9:00 AM

2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA CODE §§ 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104

Case No. CL-22-6473

LOUDOUN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

18 East Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176

CHRISTINE MICHELLE STRANO RONALD ROCCO MACK

The object of the suit is to: name change for Kylie Kathleen Mack Barbiere

It is ORDERED that Ronald Rocco Mack appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before March 24, 2023 at 10 AM.

2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23/23

2023 TAX EXEMPTION INFORMATION

Pursuant to §58.1-3604 of the Code of Virginia, the Loudoun County Commissioner of the Revenue has determined that the 2023 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 $9,221,996,370. This aggregate assessed value represents 6.6 percent of all real property assessed in the County.

PUBLIC NOTICE INVITATION FOR BID (IFB)

The Town of Leesburg will accept bids electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia.gov), until 3:00 p.m. on March 21, 2023 for the following:

IFB NO. 100314-FY23-44

IDA LEE PARK RECREATION CENTER

POOLPAK NUMBER 3 REPLACEMENT

VIRGINIA:

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LOUDOUN COUNTY

IN RE: ESTATE OF EVELYNN BELLE WARE ) FIDUCIARY 17950

SHOW CAUSE ORDER AGAINST DISTRIBUTION

It appearing that the Personal Representative has petitioned this Court to enter a Rule to Show Cause against Distribution; that the debts and demands against is estate has been filed, that the First and Final Account has been filed with the Commissioner of Accounts, and the six months have elapsed since the qualification, on Motion of the said Personal Representatives;

It is ORDERED that the creditors of, and all others interested in, the Estate do show cause, if any they can, on the 3rd day of March, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. before this Court in its Courtroom, against the payment and delivery of the Estate of Evelynn Belle Ware, deceased, to the payees without refunding bonds.

2/23 & 3/2/23

ABC LICENSE

Master A INC trading as Potomac Taphouse, 44921 George Washington BLVD, Ashburn, Virginia 20147-4032.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine and Beer On and Off Premises, Mixed Beverage Restaurant license sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Mina Bebawy

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.

2/23 & 3/2/23

The Town is soliciting bids from qualified contractors to replace the existing Ida Lee Recreation Center PoolPak Number 3. Works includes all work to demolish and dispose of the existing PoolPak Model Number SWHP140-10E and furnish and install a new PoolPak Model Number PPK-100-GBX-A4FB6103W2E5AF4H (OAFC Model Number NG-V-12-EUHSMO-V) or approved equal. The work includes, but is not limited to, all necessary demolition, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, grounding, testing and commissioning, curb and roof improvements and all incidentals related thereto to complete the work.

For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard

2/23/23

The total reduction in tax revenues resulting from such exemptions is $82,075,768 based on the maximum proposed tax rate of $0.89 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 Loudoun Tech Center Office 46000 Center Oak Plaza, Sterling MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 8000, Leesburg, VA 20177-9804

Phone: 703-777-0260

E-mail: realestate@loudoun.gov

Website: www.loudoun.gov/cor

2/16 & 2/23/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ045610-04-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Kelvin Menjivar

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v

Rene Alavarenga Buezo, putative father

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant Rene Alavarenga Buezo, putative father appear at the above named Court and protect his or her interests on or before March 14, 2023 at 10:00 am. 2/2, 2/9, 2/16 & 2/23/23

Legal Notices

TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE IN LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA

RESOLUTION NO. 23-01-03

A RESOLUTION:

PRESENTED: JANUARY 19, 2023

ADOPTED: JANUARY 19, 2023

PRESCRIBING: (1) THE DATE, TIME, AND PLACE OF REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION; AND (2) THE PROCESS TO CONTINUE A REGULAR MEETING FOR UNFINISHED BUSINESS OR HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS.

BE IT RESOLVED that the regular meetings of the Town of Purcellville Planning Commission shall be held on the first and third Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm at Town Hall, located at 221 South Nursery Avenue, in Purcellville, Virginia, in the Town Council Chambers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all regular meetings of the Planning Commission shall end no later than 9:30 pm unless the meeting is otherwise extended for a time certain by a majority vote of the Commissioners present, recognizing that the completion of an agenda item commencing prior to the designated ending time may be finished; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that should a regular meeting of the Planning Commission: (i) need to be continued to complete unfinished business; or (ii) need to be rescheduled due to hazardous conditions, then such meeting shall automatically be held on the Thursday immediately following such regular meeting. All hearings and other matters previously advertised for the regular meeting shall be conducted at the continued or rescheduled meeting without further advertisement; however, notice shall be given as provided in subsection D of § 2.2-3707 of the Code of Virginia; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in order to reschedule a regular meeting due to "hazardous conditions," the Chair, or the Vice-Chair if the Chair is unable to act, shall: (i) make a written finding that weather or other conditions are such that it is hazardous for members to attend the regular meeting; and (ii) declare as promptly as possible to all members of Planning Commission and the press that the regular meeting must be continued to the Thursday immediately following the regular meeting. All hearings and other matters previously advertised shall be conducted at the rescheduled meeting without further advertisement; however, notice shall be given as provided in subsection D of § 2.2-3707 of the Code of Virginia; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all prior rules governing the date, time and place of regular meetings of the Town of Purcellville Planning Commission are hereby replaced; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town of Purcellville after its adoption.

Cross References

Code of Va. § 15.2-2214. Meetings.

PASSED THIS 19th DAY OF JANUARY, 2023.

ATTEST:

Public Notice

The Town of Leesburg Board and Commission Vacancies

The Town of Leesburg is soliciting applications for multiple Board and Commission vacancies. Current vacancies include: Commission on Public Art, Diversity Commission, Environmental Advisory Commission, Technology and Communications Commission and a NW resident for the Residential Traffic Commission. Citizens interested in serving on a board or commission can find additional information, membership requirements, or may apply via the Town’s web site at www.leesburgva.gov/ government/boards-and-commissions. Applications will be kept on file for one year. Any questions can be sent to the Clerk of Council via email at eboeing@leesburgva.gov

2/16 & 2/23/2023

Town of Round Hill Planning Commission PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The Round Hill Planning Commission will hold a public hearing in accordance with Sections 15.22204, 15.2-2285, and 15.2-2286 of the Code of Virginia on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Round Hill Town Office, 23 Main Street, Round Hill, Virginia for the purpose of receiving public comment on a proposed amendment to the Town of Round Hill Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission meeting and public hearing will also be held via Zoom and can be accessed electronically using information including on the meeting agenda, which will be posted on the Town's Website, www.roundhillva.org.

CPAM 2022-01 is for a proposed amendment under Chapter 11- Land Use. This chapter is a tool for decision makers (elected officials and planning commissioners) to guide growth and development in Round Hill, for developers as they seek new projects, and for residents and others to make known their desire for growth and change in the future.

CPAM 2022-01 is for a proposed amendment of 11-3 Future Land Use Map to extend the Central Commercial District. 11-3. The Future Land Use Map shows desired future uses of parcels.

CPAM 2022-01 is only in reference to the following parcels:

11 Main Street 18 Main Street

12 Main Street 22 Main Street

13 Main Street 26 Main Street

14 Main Street 28 Main Street

15 Main Street 3 Mulberry Street

Copies may be viewed in the Town Office, 23 Main Street, Round Hill between the hours of 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, or at www.roundhillva.org. Anyone needing assistance or accommodations under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act should call the Town Administrator’s Office at (540) 338-7878.

Any interested person may attend the public hearing, in person or electronically, at the above time and place to present his or her views. If a member of the public cannot attend, written comments may be submitted to hwest@roundhillva.org by Noon on the day of the public hearing. All written comments received will be provided to the Commission Members at the public hearing and made a part of the public record.

If this public hearing is postponed, it will be rescheduled for Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at 7:00 PM.

Manuel Mirabal, Chairman Round Hill Planning Commission

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE MIDDLEBURG TOWN COUNCIL

2/23/23 & 3/2/23

The Middleburg Town Council will hold a public hearing beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 9, 2023 to consider AN ORDINANCE TO VACATE A PORTION OF S. PICKERING STREET RIGHTOF-WAY AND CONVEY IT TO THE FUN SHOP, INC. The portion to be vacated runs from the north side of W. Federal Street to the dead end and is currently unimproved.

The hearing will take place at the Town Office, 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia. Interested persons may appear at such time and place and present their views. Those who are interested in participating in the public hearing remotely may do so by calling (540) 3396355. Anyone who is interested in participating remotely is encouraged to notify Rhonda North, Town Clerk, no later than 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting at rnorth@middleburgva.gov or by calling the Town Office at (540) 687-5152. The proposed ordinance may be reviewed online at www.middleburgva.gov/313/Public-Hearings or in the Town Office from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.

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 hearing.

2/23 & 3/2/23

Off the Hook?

As county supervisors open this season’s budget talks, they again are faced with a proposal to invest local tax dollars to provide services the state government is grossly underfunding.

Should Loudoun County spend $16.6 million to construct a Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Center and later millions more to staff it? According to early analysis by the county staff, that may be the best option to save on the climbing expenses resulting from a lack of mental health services across the commonwealth.

Although never a funding priority, in recent years state leaders have watched without urgency as treatment facilities closed or scaled back operations in the face of staffing shortages—at a time when concerns about mental health have only grown.

Gov. Youngkin attempted to address the “crisis” this year, rolling out a $230 million proposal to expand services. According to his stats, almost 1.5 million Virginians have some form of mental health challenge, 340,000 with serious conditions. Yet six out of 10 afflicted adults received no treatment.

The governor’s budget request did include

Leveling the Field

Editor:

Recently, there has been much discussion about the need for the Loudoun County Supervisor’s position on equity. Equity does not exist on its own. It takes investment and time.

I was part of an equity experiment in the 1960s. Not race or ethnicity-based but, based on socio-economic status and geographic location. I grew up outside a small town in Massachusetts. Our house was located between the town dump and the Massachusetts Correctional Institute for the Criminally Insane. Several of the neighborhood kids I played sandlot ball with were either in prison or dead by the time I graduated from

funding for crisis centers like the one proposed in this year’s county budget, but only earmarked $58 million statewide for those services. Another $20 million was requested for mobile crisis units.

The acknowledgment of the state’s responsibility is a welcome step forward. But if it is not matched with adequate funding, no credit should be sought— or awarded—for addressing the need.

Loudoun County taxpayers already have picked up a significant portion of the state government’s road construction responsibility—forced to take that action to maintain a functional transportation system needed to keep the commonwealth’s core economic engine running. Today, fully one half of the general county government construction budget is for transportation. In addition to $26 million in pay-as-you-go local tax funding, the fiscal year 2024 construction budget includes another $64 million from regional taxes and fees. Revenues from state sources, including federal pass-through grants, total barely $10 million.

That local funding approach cannot be the model for mental health services. We can’t afford to let state leaders off the hook yet again. n

LETTERS to the Editor

high school.

I was accepted into my dream college with a scholarship. I was feeling proud until the first night at the dorm when all the students were sharing SAT scores. It became painfully clear I was an experiment.

I managed to prevail. However, in my junior year, the financial aid office informed me that they were taking away my scholarship, not for inadequate performance but, because I had told them I secured a job in a fastfood restaurant off campus. They said I didn’t need the scholarship anymore and they were giving the scholarship to another student who needed it. I was angry and stayed angry until year three of my engineering career when I was writing the final check to payoff my student loan. It struck me. They

were correct. I didn’t need it.

So, did I take a spot away from a more qualified student? Yes. Did that student find another dream school to attend? I’m sure that happened. Did the student who received the scholarship I had succeed? I hope so. Did the experiment work? Yes.

After working for 20 years, we started an engineering firm that grew to five offices around the country. In 2014, the firm received the National Capital Business Ethic Award. I appreciate those who rise to senior levels in both government and the private sector and choose to use their influence to level the playing field from time to time because equity does not exist on its own.

It takes investment and time.

— Paul Swanson, Lovettsville

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The Cost of Housing in Loudoun: The Economics of Workforce Housing

BY TONY HOWARD

In many ways, Loudoun County is the great American success story.

Just count our blessings: Dulles Airport, the international gateway to our nation’s capital. A robust tech industry, led by the world’s leading data center market. A world class school system, more wineries and farm breweries than any Virginia County and now, Metro has arrived.

Yet, there is one issue that threatens to make Loudoun a victim of its own success.

That is the lack of affordable housing for our workforce, particularly those who work in our shops, schools, public safety and young adults in every industry.

While Loudoun’s population has grown by more than 260,000 residents since 2020, new home construction has come nowhere near keeping pace.

That is the conclusion of the Loudoun

Balls Bluff

continued from page 10

Thomas said. “When we’re able to codify history, in the form of interpretive signs, we put the narrative where it should be right alongside of our Civil War history. All history is important. African American history is American history. Black history is American history.”

Thomas commended NOVA Parks for highlighting other Black history stories, including markers that tell the story of the lynching of Orion Anderson in Leesburg and segregation on the W&OD railroad.

“I thank you for doing the difficult work of saying that you will not continue to live out this status quo, raising up our voices standing together shoulder to shoulder to say all history matters. This is important. The time is now. There’s something about the fierce urgency of now. It’s not just because it’s Black History Month. It is because our children need to know the truth,” she said. “ … now this truth is really going to, I think, help school children who in this upcoming season will be learning more about the Civil War earlier now. They’ll learn the truth about the

Board of Supervisors’ Unmet Housing Needs Strategic Plan.

As the plan states, the Loudoun “market is not producing enough housing to meet current and future demand and is not producing enough housing at diverse price points to meet the needs of many residents.” Particularly those at lower income levels.

These are the conditions that foster economic and social crisis.

What is the root of this crisis? Supply and demand. Loudoun has generated demand by creating a world-class community, with high quality jobs, excellent schools, a superior health system and a vibrant community filled with eateries and attractions.

Yet we have failed to meet the demand by providing an adequate supply of safe, affordable, and diverse housing.

For example: In 2013, Loudoun issued 4,302 housing building permits.

Last year, the county issued just 1,680 permits, while our population grew by approximately 116,000 in the past decade, according to the U.S. Census Bureau

This has led to skyrocketing

Civil War that African Americans participated and they fought for freedoms— not just then, but we’re still fighting today.”

County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) said Bell’s heroic actions add his name to a long list of those who fought for freedom and civil rights, making her own career of public service possible.

“These have been important times that we’re standing in. We are making history. We are in historic times. But even as we stand to make history, we reach back for the Lewis Bells. We can never think that we’ve done this by ourselves, Randall said.

“I say all the time. There were two groups of people that I owe, I owe everyone who came before me. And I owe everyone who’s going to come after me, which basically is everyone. I owe everyone. But we cannot remember we cannot forget what has happened if we’re going to remember what’s next.

Supervisor Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg) and Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk said it was important to tell a more complete version of history.

“I remember how much we have lost as a country by not always including Black history in our teaching of American history. We have lost the inspiration that comes from a story like that of Lewis A. Bell,”

home prices.

According to the Dulles Area Association of Realtors, the median home sales price in the second quarter of 2022 was $705,000. Ten years ago, an average Loudoun home cost around $430,000.

Two of Loudoun’s own studies estimate that by 2040, the county will need nearly 20,000 additional homes to meet the demand for housing.

This crisis is even more severe for those making below 80% of the average local income. Loudoun needs 10,000 additional homes for these workers, many who are teachers, health care workers, and first responders, even tech workers.

How do we solve this crisis?

First, Loudoun needs more diverse and abundant housing, built close to transportation, and priced for those making under the local average salary.

The public agrees. According to a recent independent poll, 78% of Loudoun residents believe people who work in Loudoun should be able to live here, and 67% believe Loudoun would benefit from a wider range of housing options.

To achieve this goal, Loudoun needs to reform our restrictive land-use poli-

Umstattd said.

Burk said that when she first moved to town 50 years ago, Ball’s Bluff was viewed as a Confederate memorial.

“I came over to see it and I was very dismayed because it was related to me that this was a Confederate site, and that there was a Confederate battle here, and the Confederates won, and the people buried there were Confederates and there was a memorial to the one Union soldier,” Burk said. ”So I left, never coming back again for many, many years.”

Only recently, Burk said, she learned the narrative had changed.

“I’m delighted to hear the stories that we’ve got here now. And the recognition of the men that served and to know that the first African American that that got involved in a battle was here, here in Leesburg in Loudoun County is very heartwarming, and very inspirational,” Burk said.

Smith has been a Ball’s Bluff tour guide for five years.

“It’s a dream come true to see the story that I tell on my tours memorialize the battlefield with this sign we dedicate today,” he said.

He noted that in 1861 slavery was still

cies that make it harder, more expensive and more time-consuming to build new homes.

As the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors rewrite the county’s zoning laws, those who care about Loudoun’s future prosperity must implore these leaders to address our housing crisis.

Or this great American success story may not have the happy ending we want for our children. n

Led by the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, “What is the Cost of Loudoun Housing?” is part of the Workforce Housing Now community service effort amplifying Loudoun’s voice for workforce housing as the missing ingredient to our community’s prosperity. Tony Howard, a Leesburg resident, is the president and CEO of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce, a 1,200-member business organization that is Northern Virginia’s largest chamber of commerce.  Learn more at workforcehousingnow.org.

legal in northern states like Maryland and Black men were barred from service in the Union Army until President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation a year later. “Despite this discrimination, a free black man named Louis A. Bell managed to fight here alongside Union soldiers.”

Smith said he was introduced to Bell’s story by Balls Bluff historian James Morgan, in his book “A Little Short of Boats,” which reported that Confederates noticed a Black man with military uniform standing armed in the ranks—”a provocation that was more than they could bear.”

Smith dug deeper into Bell’s story. His actions were recorded in a Massachusetts regimental history and newspaper accounts document Bell being among the prisoners taken to a camp in Richmond and, later, among those released in a prisoner swap at Ft. Monroe.

Smith said that is where the trail ends, so far.

“While we do not yet have confirmation of his whereabouts after being released from a military prison, Lewis Bell’s spontaneous service here is an early example of an African American contribution to the Union cause,” he said. n

Howard

Roldan confession

continued from page 3

It was then she thought of the call they had made to the National Domestic Abuse Hotline and their talks about whether to seek a protective order against Roldan, Nelson said.

Decker’s grandmother, Evelyn Bayles, said Roldan was very controlling and had threatened Decker and her family. On the day before her death, Decker was at her house for a visit and the treat of her favorite homemade pizza. During that time, she said Decker was answering a string of text messages from Roldan. She tried to convince Decker to stay with her overnight, but she slipped out the door.

“I couldn’t save her,” Bayles said.

In the weeks and months that followed, the Sheriff’s Office conducted a highly publicized search with extensive community involvement. While Roldan was a suspect in the disappearance, evidence remained elusive.

Soccer uniforms

continued from page 3

student participation and ticket sales for each school.

“A school might have 10% of the overall student participation within LCPS, but only 8% of the ticket sales, this school would receive 9% of the contribution from the gate sharing revenue,” Farrey said.

That’s where Park View gets hit hard, Testerman said.

“We don’t generate nearly as much money as some of the Ashburn schools. For example, Stone Bridge or Independence high schools their average football gate sales are $12,000 to $13,000 a night, where ours are $3,000 a night,” he said.

He said they go above and beyond to give their athletes the best and the same experiences as other schools, but they do have to stretch the budget more.

“Our varsity uniforms are some of the nicest in the county, then you add the wear and tear and the five-year cycle and by the time they get [handed down] to the junior varsity team they are close to 10 years old instead of three like other teams,” he said.

Farrey said booster clubs at each school have their own set of bylaws and often help purchase uniforms or help the school buy them.

“Angels come in now and then and help us to keep up with our needs,” Testerman said.

Taylor’s donation helped buy a home and away uniform for each girl on the

As the investigation continued, Roldan moved to North Carolina, where he was convicted in 2016 of felony assault with intent to kill his new girlfriend. He was sentenced to six years in prison for that case.

Upon his release, Roldan had been set for deportation to his native Bolivia, but the Loudoun County Sherriff’s Office in November 2020 obtained a warrant charging him with abduction in Decker’s disappearance. After bringing him to Loudoun, investigators in December 2020 secured a second-degree murder indictment from a grand jury.

Until Monday’s hearing, there had been no public testimony in the case.

Public Defender Lorie O’Donnell said that with only circumstantial evidence linking Roldan to Decker’s death the outcome of the case at a trial wasn’t certain. As part of the plea agreement, she said, Roldan took responsibility for the crime and provided information that was important to the family. “It was something he did not have

to do,” she said.

Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Shaniqua Clark Nelson said the plea agreement, including limiting the active prison sentence to 12 years and six months, was developed in consultation with Decker’s family.

“This is a horrific crime. It has had a tremendous impact on the entire community,” Clark Nelson told the judge.

Roldan was sentenced to 40 years in prison, the maximum permitted, with all but 12 years and six months suspended. Roldan could serve the full sentence if he commits another crime or violates other conditions, including to have no contact with members of Decker’s family, during a 25-year suspension period.

“I can’t tell you how hard it was knowing that when we had her last Christmas that that would be the last one,” Nelson said while speaking to reporters after the hearing. ”The night before Bethany was murdered, she called me she said, ‘Mom, I love you.’ That was the last thing she said [to me], so I just want to encourage each

and every one of you not to take for granted tomorrow and to really make sure that you are talking to your loved ones. That you’re letting people know how much you care and not wait for the tomorrow, which may never be.”

“I want to thank you very much for your time and appreciation for the support of our family,” she said.

Clark Nelson and Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaji said the conviction was the result of extraordinary efforts by the Sheriff’s Office and other agencies including the FBI and Secret Service and thousands of hours of work over the past 12 years.

“We are not able to make Bethany Decker’s family whole because we can’t undo her death,” Biberaji said. “But maybe today we have been able to deliver some peace to her family in knowing that, although she died in 2011, she was not and will never be forgotten. May she rest in peace.” n

are all hoping to return to the team this season.

They got to try on the new uniforms on Wednesday, Feb. 15 and to meet Taylor.

They are excited about tryouts next week, the upcoming season and the new uniforms.

“I think she’s amazing and I love this and hope it starts a riptide of support between schools. I get it, there is always going to be rivalry, that is part of it but at the end of the day there is a line and it’s so nice to see even though they are rivals and playing each other there is also this community support. That is so important,” Gazes said.

Heritage High School Principal Jeff Adam said he’s proud of what Taylor has done. Adam, the former Assistant Principal at Park View said her kindness toward his former school touched his heart in a special way.

team. Testerman said a local donor gave money to purchase a black alternative top for each girl, as well.

“It feels good someone like Grace would have a thought like that toward Park View and want to do something because it’s always the opposite,” Testerman said.

He said Park View is often misunderstood, which is frustrating to him. He said they are a community that supports each other and that focuses on and celebrates all successes no matter how big or small.

“The new uniforms are going to inject excitement into the program,” he said.

Testerman said the uniforms put the team on a three-year cycle like their peers.

Testerman said they are trying to build up their numbers again after COVID hit hard with fewer kids trying out for teams. He said last year the girls’ soccer team was thin, with maybe 30 players. This year he said there are at least 55 girls trying out.

Five of those girls, Karla Cardoza, Ignacia Vera, Lilyani Lopez, Dania Gonzales, all 15, and Alexia Garcia-Gamez, 16,

“These are the kinds of values schools hope to instill in all of our students, and Grace has just shown everyone a prime example of unconditional giving and the ability for us all to take action to help one another,” he said.

Taylor wants to make the fundraiser for Park View a yearly event and plans to up her donation to $2,200 next year. She said she hopes the player wearing the number 22 jersey after she graduates will keep the relationship with the school alive.

The two teams plan to foster the new relationship by having a pizza night after their match in April. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Members of the Park View girls soccer team show off their new uniforms with Heritage soccer player Grace Taylor. Taylor did a fundraiser to help the girls get new uniforms.

SNAP shrinks

continued from page 1

February 2020, and 513 new applications in December 2022.

“We’ve seen a steady incline in the number of people that are eligible for the SNAP programs, so consistently from month to month it has increased,” Loudoun Public Benefits Program Manager Chris Slagle said.

One person who will feel that change, an older woman living on disability benefits, said the change will leave her with $53 a month to buy groceries. She and her adult daughter agreed to tell their story on condition of anonymity.

$53 A Month

Unable to stand or walk for long periods of time, she has been living on a fixed income for years. And being on a fixed income often comes with more expenses rather than less. She has health problems including diabetes, high cholestorol, and rheumatoid arthritis, restricting her diet and requiring a range of medicines and tests.

“Everything I can eat, salmon, fish, those are very expensive. The things that I can eat are very expensive,” she said.

“That’s basically what she does with her special diet, is budgeting, figuring some days we’ll be able to have salad, some days she’ll have maybe just a few almonds, because she has to really watch what she eats,” her daughter said.

While spirited and outspoken, she walks slowly and carefully, with a cane. She also tries to volunteer at a food pantry, but she has to be careful in a busy place like that—if somebody jostles her and she falls, she’ll likely break something.

The family came to Virginia from New York City, where her daughter remembered going to “maybe six different stores” comparing prices. They came to Virginia to get away from the city’s high cost of living.

One day, the woman went to babysit for her daughter, planning to stay for a few days, and five years later, she’s still there. They share their home with her daughter’s fiancé and three grandchildren, one a newborn.

The high prices caught up to them in Virginia, as did the pandemic. The daughter was working for a tour company and lost her job in the early days of the pandemic. She had a little money saved and was able to make rent until she found a new job, where she works now. And recently, her nephew, who works contract jobs, has moved in too while he gets on his feet.

“He’s a young man, and I know he wants his privacy, but he said ‘I can’t afford it,

grandma,’” she said.

She tries to help with watching the kids while her daughter and fiancé work. “Never mind childcare,” her daughter said, mentioning the costs for childcare in Loudoun.

“Oh, childcare, forget about it,” she said.

In her case, the enhanced allotment added $200 a month to her SNAP benefits. That adds to a $1,000 monthly fixed income.

That kind of scraping to get by puts lives on hold. The woman said her grandson left college and is working now, with no immediate plans to go back.

“He said, ‘how? I can’t even pay rent anymore,’” she said.

And trying to get by on that kind of income only compounds health problems.

“It’s not that she doesn’t want to eat healthy, she does, and she wants to lose the weight, and the way she does is sometimes very unhealthy, like not eating for a whole day,” her daughter said.

“We are not healthy, and we want to live longer for our grandkids. I wish I could see my great-grandkids,” she said.

As for the $53 a month, she said— “might as well don’t give it to me.”

“If I lived by myself, I would die of hunger. Especially with the rent, too,” she said. “I can’t imagine rent that high. And sometimes I have to buy my medicine.”

“Basically, I think they need to wake up and see that poor is there. Inflation is there. It’s not going to go away. There’s no more middle class. The average American in suffering,” her daughter said.

An Investment

“Something that I feel is important to talk about is the SNAP return on investment in the community,” Slagle said. “Because SNAP is a program that, once you receive those benefits, you are using them in the community.”

She pointed out research by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that estimated every $5 of SNAP benefit spent generates as much as $9 in economic activity.

“It’s injecting immediate revenue into grocery stores, local businesses, farmers markets,” Slagle said. “So when someone receives SNAP benefits, it allows them to defray the cost of food and be able to utilize some of their funds for other things, such as utilities and rent.”

It can be particularly beneficial for the typically small, local businesses at farmers markets—the Virginia Fresh Match program doubles the value of SNAP benefits spent at participating markets. According to the program website, the Leesburg and Cascades farmers markets are included, as do the nearby Chantilly and Herndon markets.

Instead, the reduced benefit will put

more pressure on already-busy nonprofits.

Loudoun Hunger Relief President and CEO Jennifer Montgomery said that nonprofit served 12,000 separate people last year. Of those, 20% said they were also on SNAP.

“So we know that that portion, in addition to the SNAP that they were receiving, also needed some additional food assistance,” she said. “So we are preparing for increased need, which is already on top of the need that we’re already seeing in the community because of inflation.”

Although the numbers they’re seeing come to their door for help are down from the pandemic peak, they’ve never come close to pre-pandemic levels. Montgomery said they’re still serving two and a half times as many people as before the pandemic began.

And instead of an emergency helping hand to get through a difficult time, she said nonprofits are increasingly becoming a regular part of household budgets.

“The charitable food network was not ever meant to be the total safety net for hunger,” Montgomery said. “It takes a multitude of programs and things coming together to be able to help give people that support.”

The nonprofit gives clients voluntary questionnaires to get a sense of the need in the community. One such survey conducted from November to January asked if over the past year clients had faced a choice between buying food and paying for something else. Almost half of people said they’d had to choose between food and utilities, or housing. More than 30% of people selected medical care. They could have been choosing among several—the survey allowed people to mark multiple answers.

Another question asked what other items would be most important to offer at the nonprofit. The top answers were cleaning products, toilet paper, personal and dental hygiene products and menstrual products, followed by diapers.

“We know that they’re struggling to pay their basic bills, and yet the majority are working. We have a really low unemployment rate,” she said.

Loudoun Hunger, like other hunger nonprofits, is working on ways to increase access to both their services and others. They are helping people connect to other nonprofit and government services, including signing up for benefits like SNAP.

She encouraged people who are collecting benefits to reach out to their benefits worker to make sure they’re maximizing those. Others can check to see if they’re eligible for benefits without knowing it.

If you are looking for help with food, or want to volunteer or donate to one of Loudoun’s hunger nonprofits, go to loudounfeeds.org. n

Budget challenges

continued from page 1

will authorize an assessment ratio, in effect only taxing a portion of a vehicle’s assessed value as car values remain elevated.

Hemstreet’s public notices advertised a tax rate of 89 cents, giving supervisors flexibility to consider tax rates up to that rate.

On the county government side, growth over last year’s budget includes $14.3 million in budget adjustments as the county’s costs and population grow yearover-year.

While population growth in Loudoun is slowing, it remains high, and population growth remains one of the biggest drivers of growth in the county budget as the government works to serve the needs of more residents.

The largest category of growth is $27 million in employee compensation, with $14.5 million toward 6% merit raises for county employees, $4.6 million for 6% average raises for fire-rescue system employees, $6.4 million for an average 9% raise for Sheriff’s Office employees, and $1.5 million set aside for hiring and retention incentives. Hemstreet said the public safety raises were in response to raises implemented in other jurisdictions.

By comparison, Acting Superintendent Daniel Smith’s budget proposal included minimum 5% raises for full-time school district employees, with many getting more.

Hemstreet’s proposal also includes 45 new positions, five of which are expected to be funded through new revenues or reallocating existing funding. Thirty more positions are proposed to staff up the Leesburg South Fire Station when it opens.

Hemstreet also proposed funding a new School Resource Officer for a new middle school opening, along with more maintenance staff in the Department of General Services and seven positions to support the county’s capital budget and construction.

And, Hemstreet noted, this year $6.5 million in projected real estate tax revenues will go to the county’s Housing Trust Fund to help fund projects providing or preserving affordable housing.

Meanwhile, the county’s tax revenues are facing uncertainty from a range of sources.

Economic growth and employment

BUDGET CHALLENGES

continues on page 38

Supervisors, School Board Meet on Budget Request

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN AND RENSS GREENE agustin@loudounnow.com rgreene@loudounnow.com

As the Board of Supervisors prepares for its annual budget debates, supervisors and the School Board are looking at a possible $13.6 million gap between the school district’s request and what is available.

The county government provides the majority of the school district’s funding but provides that funding as a lump sum. By state law the School Board has authority over how to spend that money.

This year, the School Board is requesting a $1.67 billion fiscal year 2024 budget, $1.1 billion of which would come from local taxes. That represents a $75.3 million increase in local tax funding from the current fiscal year. County Administrator Tim Hemstreet’s budget proposal increases local funding for the school division by $69.1 million, $6.2 million short of the School Board’s request.

Hemstreet’s budget is in line with a Board of Supervisors’ plan to set the school district’s annual funding increase by formula, rather than by debate on the dais. This year, supervisors have aimed to send the school district 60% of the yearover-year growth in local tax revenue, with the other 40% staying with the county government.

However, the county could find itself filling a gap in the school budget caused by a state accounting error that resulted in school districts being allocated $201 million less than expected in funding from the

Budget challenges

continued from page 37

are both still expected to be positive, but below the growth rates of last year’s economic rebound. While home values have slowed their growth from last year, they still remain above normal historical rates, Hemstreet said.

Much of the crunch in the budget is actually conservative budgeting in the face of uncertainty—Hemstreet’s proposal is based on the possibility of a recession and a worst-case scenario for data center revenues, keeping Loudoun County government in the black if those come to pass.

His budget proposal is based on assumptions that high interest rates will lead to slower residential construction and growth in values, along with a possible drop in commercial real estate values, long a sector that showed consistent growth

state. In Loudoun, that error amounts to $7.4 million less in state funding.

“The General Assembly and the governor are saying that they have a budget surplus of $1.94 billion,” County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said. “I’m not quite sure why we’re having trouble covering $200 million.”

At a joint meeting of the School Board and Board of Supervisors on Feb. 16, county supervisors questioned some of the asks in the school district’s funding request—as well as some of the things it doesn’t include.

Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) asked for clarification on how collective bargaining would be funded if it wasn’t included in the School Board’s adopted budget, and specifically if it would be covered in the end of year fund balance.

The School Board did not include collective bargaining in its budget because it has not voted on a resolution, but Smith estimated implementing it would cost $3.5 million dollars and require 14 new hires. The Loudoun Education Association submitted the required signatures for certification at the end of January, setting up a School Board vote on whether to allow collective bargaining among its employees.

School Board Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) said the signatures are being certified, and once that is done the board will vote on whether to allow collective bargaining.

Randall wanted to know more about the fund balance and if there would be enough to cover collective bargaining, saying if the School Board used the timeline they proposed and planned to ask for funding later,

in Loudoun.

That is driven by a possible 14% drop in the commercial real property portfolio, in turn driven by falling revenues from data centers, by far the largest source of commercial tax revenue in the county.

“One of the concerns that we have is the General Assembly action that was taken last year that changed the way that data center real property is to be assessed,” Hemstreet said. The effects of that change are still uncertain—the Commissioner of the Revenue has not yet been able to implement it because of a lack of data, he said.

As that information becomes available and assessments change, he said, the county budget staff expects those values and revenues to be lower.

“So we’ve made an adjustment so that we do not end up short in terms of the amount of revenue available to fund the budget,” Hemstreet said.

Additionally, news from Dominion

it would be too late.

School district Chief Financial Officer Sharon Willoughby said the school system is projected to have a $14.1 million fund balance. However, she noted that the projection was expected to change because they only had numbers through Dec. 31. She also said if the General Assembly wasn’t able to correct the $3.5 million fiscal year 2023 budget shortfall, the school district would need to deduct that from the fund balance.

Other questions revolved around the Park View rebuild and delaying other projects like press boxes at Dominion High School and new weight rooms at Heritage and Potomac Falls High Schools. Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) asked if there was a way to complete the projects instead of pushing them off into 2027 or later.

Chief Operations Officer Kevin Lewis defended the plan to push off the projects, saying when the Capital Improvement Plan was presented, the School Board had to make tough decisions based on the rising costs of inflation, which he said increased project costs by 15-20%. He said the projects were deferred in order to do the Park View rebuild and renovations at Waterford and Banneker Elementary Schools.

Briskman said the projects were included in last year’s CIP and that she understood some work had already started on some press boxes. She asked the Board to figure out how to get the projects done “on time as promised.”

Supervisor Caleb E. Kershner (R-Catoctin) brought up the history of budget

Energy that its grid would not live up to its commitments are expected to impact Loudoun’s data center market through fiscal year 2027, Hemstreet said. And all of that couples with COVID-19 pandemic-era supply chain difficulties that meant data centers now go longer before upgrade to newer—and therefore more valuable— computer equipment.

“If we go back to say, circa [fiscal year 2019] or so, we were using refresh rates of every three years or so. More recently, partly due the pandemic and partly due to other factors specific to the industry, those refresh rates have slowed more towards five years,” Hemstreet said.

“I think what you’re, trying to tell us is, we may have a bit of a challenge this year, but we’re going to have a really big challenge in the next fiscal year beyond the upcoming one,” Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said. Hemstreet agreed.

growth because of enrollment and said almost every superintendent had used enrollment increase as justification for budget increases, but he found it “interesting” that this year despite flat enrollment projections the budget still increased.

“I find it very, very interesting and I understand inflation is an issue, but I want more explanation,” he said.

He also expressed concerns over parental rights and asked if the division was losing teachers, and what was being done to avoid mistakes around alerting students of National Merit Scholarship honors in the future.

Four schools in Loudoun County didn’t alert students that they were National Merit Commended Scholars. There was a total of 16 schools in Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun that didn’t notify students of the award.

Randall said the most important people in the school system are the children and their parents, and said she appreciates educators.

“They have had a very tough year, they have been called everything from abusers to groomers. And by the way, calling our teachers, our educators ‘groomers’ is disgusting and disrespectful,” she said. “Our teachers and educators deserve not only deserve to be paid a competitive salary, they deserve to be respected.”

Supervisors typically pass a county budget at their first meeting in April. If they vote to send the school district a different amount than the School Board’s request, the School Board will go back to work on their budget to reconcile the difference. n

The Board of Supervisors will hold three public hearings on the budget.

On Wednesday, March 1, the county will hold public hearings at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the County Government Center in Leesburg.

On Saturday, March 4, the county will hold a public hearing at 9 a.m. in the Loudoun County Public Schools Administration Building in Broadlands.

More information about speaking at public hearings is at loudoun.gov/signuptospeak.

Members of the public can also offer comment on the Board of Supervisors Comment Line at 703-777-0115; email loudounbudget@loudoun.gov; send mail to Board of Supervisors, PO Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177; or provide comment on the county government’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

More information about the budget is at loudoun.gov/budget. n

Orma Ilene Call

Orma Ilene Call was called home to her Lord and God on Sunday February 12 while residing in Leesburg, Virginia. Born in Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Albertina (Schwochow) Grealy. She is survived by her granddaughter Christina Sutton DeWaard (Larry) of Leesburg, and her great grandchildren Elizabeth Stevens (Nolan Mackey) of Chicago, Illinois and Matthew Stevens of Leesburg, Virginia, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her daughter Kathleen (Dwelle) Raymond; sisters Edna Weyer, Marie Maule, and Dorothy McCready; brother William Grealy; grandson David Sutton; rst husband Sylvester Dwelle; and second husband John Call. Mrs. Call spent most of her life in Sandusky, Ohio where she owned and operated a beauty salon for many years. She attended St. James Episcopal Church while living in Leesburg. Funeral services will be private, with burial in Oakland Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio.

Obituaries

Jones Sandefur. JB was predeceased by his wife, Romona Graves Sandefur. He is survived by his daughter, Ginger Wilhoite (Gene) of Leesburg, VA, three grandsons, Tyler Wilhoite of Westminster, CO, Travis Wilhoite of Denver, CO, and Gene III “Trey” Wilhoite (Erica), and great grandson, Noah Gene Wilhoite of Castle Rock, CO. A memorial service will be held at 1:00PM on Saturday February 25, 2023, at Leesburg Presbyterian Church, 207 W. Market St. Leesburg, VA 20175. In lieu of owers memorial donations can be made to the Loudoun Free Clinic or Blue Ridge Hospice. JB worked diligently for these non-pro ts and any donation would be greatly appreciated.

In addition to being appointed by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors to the Board of Directors for the Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia, Judy was on the Loudoun Health Commission for more than 10 years, and served on the Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging. As a Congressional Fellow in the O ce of Technology Assessment of the U.S. Congress, her participation in the Federal government is also noteworthy.

Judy was born in Bu alo, New York, on July 8, 1929, a daughter of the late Jules and Judith Randal. She was a 1947 graduate of the Brearley School in New York City and a 1951 graduate of Wellesley College in Massachusetts. Judy graduated from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism Advanced Science Writing Program in New York city in 1961. She was a devoted cat lover and supporter of animal care organizations. Judy was renowned for her generosity, putting others before herself, both humans and felines. She was also an avid supporter of environmental groups locally and globally.

on August 12, 2023 at 11AM where both Elizabeth & her husband John will be laid to rest.

Death Notices

Carolyn E. Simons died on February 9, 2023. Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband, Stevens Simons, her parents, Esther and Richard W Rush, and her brother, Richard C. Rush.

She is survived by her children Pamela Simons and her son Steven Simons, his wife Michelle, her sister Lucinda Copp (Glenn) and sister Priscilla Olmsted. Carolyn is also survived by her grandchildren Corley Simons, Gretta Simons, and Jordan Simons along with several great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Services will be held on February 23, 2023 at 11 am at Round Hill United Methodist located at 11 W Loudoun Street, Round Hill, VA. followed by a private interment.

Judith Randal

Judith Randal, 93, who was a trailblazer for women in journalism in the 1960s, died February 3rd at her home in Lovettsville, Virginia, a er a brief illness. She was the science and health correspondent and the chief science writer for the Washington Star from the late 1960s through the mid 1970s; a former medical and science writer for the Newhouse National News Service; a contributing writer to e Economist and the Journal of the National Cancer Institute; and a former syndicated columnist on health and health policy with Princeton Features.

Judy is survived by her brother, Jon Randal of Paris, France, and was predeceased by her husband, William Hines. A celebration of life service will be held in the spring.

Elizabeth Parker Benson

Elizabeth Parker Benson le this earth peacefully at home in Texas on February 4, 2023.

Liz was 90 years old and was married to the love of her life, John Benson for over 70 years until his passing in 2020. ey resided in Matamoras PA for most of their lifetime.

In lieu of owers, donations can be made in Carolyn’s name to Capital Caring Hospice by visiting

JB Sandefur

JB Sandefur passed away on February 9, 2023, in Leesburg, VA, at the age of 88. Born February 13, 1934, in Smithland, Kentucky. He was the son of the late Vernon Austin Sandefur and the late Myrtle

Judy was Past President of the National Association of Science Writers and past board member of the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing. She received numerous awards for her science and health writing from the National Society for Medical Research, the American Association of University Women, the National Press Club, the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Medical Writers Association, and the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, among others.

She is survived by her 6 Children: Jay Benson and his wife Helen of PA, Kathy Benson Krause and her husband Richard Krause of VA, Barry Benson and wife Treva of NY, Rick Benson and wife Paula of TN, Jane Benson Kelly and husband Al of Fl. , Jo Benson Corbin and husband Barry of TX. 20 Grandchildren including Kara Krause LeGrand and her husband Robert LeGrand of NV , Jason Krause and his wife Lisa Krause of VA. 25 great grandchildren including Jason and Lisa’s two children Logan Krause & Sierra Krause. e family would like to thank everyone for their kindness and condolences.

Grave side services will be held at Pine Grove Cemetery Matamoras, PA