Loudoun Now for March 9, 2023

AG Seeks Subpoena for LCPS Sexual Assaults Report

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

The Attorney General has asked the Loudoun County Circuit Court to subpoena an independent report into how Loudon County Public Schools handled repeated sexual assaults in high schools in 2021, which the School Board has voted to keep secret in its entirety.

Special Counsel to the Attorney General Theo Stamos wrote the report is material to criminal charges that are pending against former superintendent Scott Ziegler. She wrote if the division tries to claim the report is protected under attorney-client or work-product privilege, she asks that the division be required to turn over the report to be examined in private by the judge to see if those privileges apply.

“LCPS bears the burden to ‘establish that the attorney-client relationship existed, that the communications under consideration are privileged, and that the privilege was not waived,’” her motion reads.

The Loudoun County School Board on Feb. 14 voted 6-3 not to

REPORT SUBPOENA continues on page 38

Housing Challenge Grows for Those Most in Need

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

As housing and living costs continue to rise, they are hitting people living on disability, social security, and federal tax credits. And people living in western Loudoun often get dramatically less help to keep their homes.

In the Town of Purcellville, three apartment complexes offer subsidized housing: Renew, Purcellville East and Maple Avenue. But even with federal tax credits,

many are still struggling to pay rent amid rising inflation and the reduction of food stamps.

One Purcellville resident who has lived at Renew Apartments for six years said she receives $1,000 a month from social security. Her entire annual income makes up less than the required amount for the Affordable Dwelling Unit rental program. Instead, she relies on the Housing Choice Vouchers.

The resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said she recently received

notice that her rent was set to increase by almost $600 on April 1. She submitted an application for a higher voucher to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and received a response last week.

“I went to the mailbox today and I got a letter and I had to hold my breath,” she said the day it came. “I was scared to death.”

HOUSING CHALLENGE continues on page 38

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Purcellville East Apartments is one of three subsidized housing complexes available in town. Some residents still struggle to afford rent.

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Supervisors Chip Away at Child Protection Crisis in Budget

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudoounnow.com

County supervisors on Monday voted to add $1.6 million and 17 new positions to the Department of Family Services budget as the department works to fix its critically understaffed programs, including the Child Protective Services unit.

It is the second year of an ongoing effort under department director Ina Fernández to staff up the programs serving some of the county’s most vulnerable residents. And she said there has been progress already.

“Last year our vacancy rate story could be summed up in two words: dire straits. This year, I’m happy to report our vacancies are in line with other agencies our size,” she said. But she said even with the department’s growth over the last year it still does not have the staffing to meet professional best practice standards—and the demand on those programs continues to surge.

Fernández said from fiscal years 2018

to 2020, the average number of referrals to the Child Protective Services hotline for child abuse and neglect investigations was just over 2,100. In fiscal year 2021, that number jumped by 550.

“We thought that was a lot. It’s nothing compared to the last fiscal year, when the number of referrals jumped again by almost a thousand, to 3,578,” she said.

She said last September, the Office of the State Inspector General examined 75 localities, reporting an average caseload of 11.8 open cases per CPS employee. Loudoun County had an average of 47 cases per worker, the highest in the state and more than four times the best practice standard of one to 10.

And she said the heavy caseloads lead to burnout and increased turnover, leading to a lost experience and more time spent training employees, exacerbating difficulties recruiting more employees, creating a “negative feedback loop.”

Loudoun County must also compete with other jurisdictions to attract a limited pool of people who are both qualified and willing to do the work required of the

Department of Family Services.

“All of us are competing for the same people, and sometimes what you’ll see is people move from one jurisdiction to the other, but it’s a finite group of folks who want and feel compelled to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every holiday to really ensure the safety of kids in this community,” Fernández said.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large), who formerly worked in substance abuse with jail inmates, said “give me 35 male inmates any day, than 47 cases on a CPS caseload.”

“It is really the hardest job that there [is] in this behavioral mental health field, and the things you have to see, and the things you have to deal with,” she said.

Supervisors voted 8-0-1, with Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) absent, to add $775,729 and eight positions to the draft county budget to grow the Child Protective Services Unit.

Other Family Services programs have also seen the growing demand and workloads Fernández called “untenable.”

The public benefits program, which

administers services including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, child care assistance and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, has also seen a dramatic spike in the demand. From fiscal year 2020 to fiscal year 2022, Fernandez said, those workers saw their caseloads more than double from 696 cases per worker to more than 1,400. And she said caseloads are only expected to keep growing along with the county population and policy changes making more people eligible for assistance.

Supervisors also voted to add $819,273 and nine positions to the county budget to grow the program.

Other teams, like Family Engagement and Preservation Services, which handles cases that don’t meet the threshold for Child Protective Services intervention but still present a risk of child abuse and neglect, have also seen their case numbers increase. That program saw them double. The department expects to ask for more staffing in future years as it continues to phase in its growth. n

Former Loudoun Teacher Brings Awareness to Child Sex Trafficking

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Sydney Dunlap, a Loudoun County Public Schools teacher for 18 years, had heard the words “child sex trafficking” before but didn’t know much about it until she stayed up one night unable to pull herself away from a movie based on a true story about it.

“It showed kids hardly older than my students being screamed at and cursed at and thrown into a van,” she said.

Dunlap said it changed her and she decided to learn everything she could about it. A move to Texas shortly after got her involved. She decided to volunteer to help victims instead of taking a full-time teaching job.

Through her volunteer work leading the Houston-area organization called Traffick911, she spoke to countless youths in juvenile detention centers to bring awareness to the issue. She said many of the participants didn’t realize they were victims until they learned what it was.

Human trafficking is the use of force, fraud or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or labor against their will, according to the Powzlaris

Project, a national nonprofit organization that provides data to researchers and law enforcement. There are two types of human trafficking, sex trafficking and labor trafficking, according to the organization.

In some situations, people being trafficked know and trust their traffickers. It

can happen in relationships where one promises the other a better life if they engage in it and in other rarer situations parents traffick their own children. Dunlap said sex trafficking happens under the noses of society; in motels, hotels and massage parlors that can be fronts for it, often happening without the victim realizing what is going on.

According to the Polaris Project, traffickers target emotionally and physically vulnerable people. They often use social media to find victims and look for posts that indicate low self-esteem or loneliness. Anyone can be trafficked, but some are more vulnerable.

In 2021, over 10,000 situations of human trafficking were reported to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, involving 16,554 individual victims, according to the Polaris Project. The organization stated on its website that number is likely “only a fraction of the actual problem.”

Dunlap agreed. She said the numbers are grossly underreported and decided to write a book to bring awareness to kids aged 11-14 without it being too much for them.

“They need to know it’s a thing and that people are actively looking online

and at the mall and places where kids go. They are looking for vulnerable youth,” she said.

Sgt. Wayne Promisel has been the supervisor over the Special Victims Unit with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office since 2017. Before that he worked in sex crimes in both Loudoun County and Fairfax County. He echoed what Dunlap said about being aware to stay safe.

He said there are not huge numbers of child sex trafficking or sex trafficking in general in Loudoun. In fact in Virginia during 2021, there were 140 identified cases, but Promisel said, “it doesn’t mean it’s not happening, it’s just an underground thing.”

“Often, it comes to our attention when we trip over it in a case or someone brave calls in and says, ‘I’ve been trafficked,’” he said.

Promisel said age isn’t necessarily a qualifier when it comes to being more susceptible to being trafficked or getting caught up in scams he sees more often like sextortion—where kids or adults send compromising pictures to someone, then that person blackmails

continues on page 27

DUNLAP BOOK

Contributed/Karen Butts

Former Loudoun teacher and now author Sydney Dunlap is bringing awareness to 11–14-year olds about the dangers of child sex trafficking.

ON THE Agenda

Environment, Mental Health, Union Pushes Made at County Budget Hearings

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

People asking the Board of Supervisors to fund mental health supports, collective bargaining with county employees, affordable housing and a county environmental strategy were the most numerous voices at public hearings on the county budget Wednesday afternoon and evening.

Loudoun Family Services Advisory Board Chair Aimee McKinney urged supervisors to address the rising mental health crisis and bolster supports for people in need.

“It’s critical to put a human face to those who are benefiting from this county’s support. Most of us in this room are not struggling with how we get to work, or if we need to decide whether to take our child to the doctor or bring food home for dinner,” she said. “But many of the working poor and Loudoun County are doing just that.”

BUDGET HEARINGS

continues on page 37

Committee Adds Arts Center, Southern Service to Capital Plans

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

The Board of Supervisors finance committee is recommending the additions of an Eastern Loudoun County Community Arts Center and a southern Loudoun service center to the county’s long-range construction plans.

Both are, for now, placeholders for projects beyond the Capital Improvement Program’s six-year planning window, but also start the county staff planning for how to fund those projects in future budget cycles—and open the door to making deals with developers to build them.

Supervisor Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run) said she’s heard from the community about the lack of an arts center.

“It’s for those who may not be able to use the larger facilities because they are very expensive,” she said. “This is for our local folks who want to do plays or music, I know we have an orchestra, an area for them to hold their equipment—all these sorts of things that we have in the county that a lot of people don’t know about, be-

cause we don’t have a facility for them to use.”

She said she’s heard from people that they go to Reston, Fairfax or Arlington to see an orchestra or play, and an arts center could also attract people from outside Loudoun to see performances. Supervisors directed county staff members to come back to the committee with options for the scope of that arts center, to create more specific plans for it in the future.

At a budget public hearing the next night, arts advocate Betty O’Lear applauded that vote, and urged the full Board of Supervisors to follow suit.

“Schools roads, sports facilities, housing, environmental programs, and many other services are vital and require significant funding. Unfortunately, arts are often considered secondary to these demands. We believe this demonstrates a failure to understand the positive impact the arts can have socially and economically,” she said.

Finance committee Chair Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) has expressed skepticism about funding an arts center, arguing that is not a use for public funds.

“We have heard the arguments that promoting and funding the arts should be a private enterprise. We believe that this is a view that ignores the need to make art available to a widely diverse population,” O’Lear said.

Meanwhile, a southern Loudoun service center in the Rt. 50 corridor, Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said, would help an underserved community.

“All the services the county offers are either in Leesburg or Sterling, and it’s certainly true that this is a relatively affluent part of the county, there are still many, many individuals who have need for everything from early intervention to mental health services, and those are all easily a 24-35 minute drive away,” he said.

After the School Board delayed improvements at Dominion and Potomac Falls high schools in its own capital plans to free up money to rebuild Park View High School, supervisors later this year will also consider funding those projects

CAPITAL PLANS

continues on page 37

Supervisors Allocate Last $7.5M of ARPA Funding

County supervisors on Feb. 21 voted on how to spend the last $7.5 million of Loudoun County’s American Rescue Plan Act funding.

That will include $1 million to hire a nonprofit vendor to administer childcare provider grants, and another $1 million reserved for supports after a planned childcare needs assessment is complete. $1 million will go toward studies of transportation equity and maximizing the county’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act grant funding.

Another $2.55 million is set aside to support human service nonprofits, such as a creating a one-stop searchable directory of mental health and developmental disability services, money to help cover the costs such as hotel rooms because of the increase in people looking for a place to stay at local shelters, and cash incentives to landlords to encourage them to work with nonprofits serving people who are at risk or already homeless.

$450,000 will support training for small businesses, and $1.5 million will add to the $2 million of ARPA money already dedicated for a new housing information management software system in the county government.

ARPA requires funds to be obligated by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026. Supervisors voted 7-0-2, with County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) and Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) absent.

Lease Extended for Human Services Center Plan

Supervisors have added 10 years to Loudoun Hunger Relief’s lease on county-owned space, following delays in making that space available for a planned expansion and new Human Services Hub gathering several nonprofits under one roof.

Loudoun Hunger Relief plans to expand into space next door occupied until recently by the Office of Elections, growing its 4,700-square-foot footprint to approximately 10,541 square feet, along with a right of first refusal to another 2,865 square feet if vacated by the Loudoun Museum.

ON THE AGENDA

continues on page 6

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

SEIU Virginia 512 Loudoun County Chair Julius Reynolds speaks at a rally with Amalgamated Transit Union members and other union supporters outside the county government center in Leesburg on Feb. 14.

Irreversible is not a word you want to hear from your Doctor but it’s a common one if you’ve been diagnosed with ChemotherapyInduced Peripheral Neuropathy or CIPN.

John T. of Leesburg survived testicular cancer only to be living life in constant pain. He felt as though he were walking on pins and needles, becoming weaker and weaker every day. “I was beginning to be worried that one day I would be wheelchairbound.”

Nearly half of the patients who undergo chemotherapy will develop Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy or CIPN.

Chemotherapy meds travel throughout the body and attack cancer cells; sadly they can also cause severe damage to healthy nerves. CIPN can begin within weeks of starting treatment and can worsen as treatment continues. A high number of really unfortunate people will be forced to endure the symptoms associated with CIPN for months, or even years after they’ve completed chemo.

When asked how CIPN was affecting his quality of life, he responded, “It was difficult to even walk up and down stairs and do other things we usually take for granted.”

IT'S LIFE CHANGING

Finally! A local Doctor is helping cancer survivors live lives free from the constant pain and suffering associated with Peripheral Neuropathy!

The most common symptoms include:

pain, tingling, burning, weakness, or numbness in arms, hands, legs or feet sudden, sharp, stabbing or shocking pain sensations loss of touch sensation clumsiness and trouble using hands to pick up objects or fasten clothing loss of balance and falling

For some, their nerves will recover over time. For most, the nerve damage is ‘irreversible.’ John had been told just that by a series of Doctors and specialists. Essentially they could cure his cancer but couldn’t fix the damage done by the drugs used to cure his cancer.

Then John made a call to Rachal Lohr of FIREFLY|Acupuncture & Wellness right here in Ashburn Rachal and her team are using the time tested science of Acupuncture and a technology originally developed by NASA that assists in increasing blood flow and expediting recovery and healing to treat this debilitating disease

After a series of treatments John was taking stairs with stride!

“We have a beach house and it’s up stairs This morning I walked right down the stairs and got in the car,” John shared

“I remember thinking ‘that’s become mighty easy for me’, I didn’t have to hold on to the hand rail or anything! It’s life changing to have this mobility back!”

Again and again, we meet with patients who were once diagnosed as "untreatable” or “incurable” but after receiving Rachal Lohr’s treatments are now living lives free from pain and suffering. For almost 16 years she has been reversing the effects of CIPN and other varieties of Peripheral Neuropathy, including that caused by diabetes without invasive surgeries and medications that come with uncomfortable side effects.

If you’ve recently beat cancer only to find that you’re living a life in constant pain and discomfort or you’re struggling with the same symptoms as a result of either Idiopathic Neuropathy or Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Rachal and the incredible team at FIREFLY can help!

Rachal Lohr is now accepting new patients but only for a limited time. In an effort to protect her patients, both current and future, she has made the difficult decision to limit the number of patients seen in her clinic.

Only 10 new neuropathy patients will be accepted monthly so call (703)263-2142 now to schedule a consultation.

Supervisors Add 39 Deputies, $10.2M in Budget Talks

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Loudoun County supervisors added 36 deputies and almost $8.5 million to the Sheriff’s Office budget on their first day of budget talks Monday.

The new spending would fund hiring 35 field deputies and one new lieutenant, spread across the county.

That is aimed at maintaining a workload balance for field deputies based on recommendations by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Sheriff’s Office Operations Bureau commander Lt. Col. Chris Sawyer said the association recommends allocating 45% of deputies’ time for responding to dispatched calls for service, 30% for proactive patrolling such as traffic enforcement, 15% for administrative responsibilities and 10% flex time to cover overages in their other responsibilities. He said to get there, the Sheriff’s Office would need to hire 79 patrol deputies, but the smaller proposal is a “significant but responsible step” in that direction.

“We call them the backbone of the agency because they really do everything that has that immediate community impact,” Sawyer said. “They are the first responders to basically every call for service that comes out, regardless of what that is, and that’s why we call them jack of all trades because they get whatever comes at them. They are also really the face of the agency to the community as they’re out in the community engaging with people as well.”

Other improvements to county benefits such as a new paid family leave benefit are also reducing the number of working

ON THE Agenda

continued from page 4

That expansion was approved in 2019, but the elections office move was delayed for years by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new Human Services Hub is planned to bring together a range of nonprofits in one place, extending Loudoun Hunger’s existing collaborations with other charitable organizations and county departments.

The county does not charge rent for the space, reasoning Loudoun Hunger Relief’s services to the county, including distributing an estimated $4.1 million worth of food in fiscal year 2022, are worth considerably more than the

hours available. The Sheriff’s Office estimated annual usage of the Family Medical Leave Act and the county’s paid family leave benefit equated to the time of about 22 sworn deputies in 2022.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) asked if there are mental health programs that could be helpful to the Sheriff’s Office’s work. Sheriff Michael Chapman said his department is moving toward a co-responder model—typically a model in which law enforcement first responders are accompanied by mental health professionals when responding to a call involving a mental health crisis.

He also said the county’s proposed Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Center would help his deputies.

“I think that’s going to be very helpful

space’s estimated $156,000 rent value. The planned nonprofit services hub is expected to employ about 39 people, about $2.5 million in payroll, and provide $5.9 million in value of services. The term of the lease was extended from December 2030 to December 2040.

Supervisors approved the lease on a 7-0-2 vote, with County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) and Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) absent.

Northstar Boulevard Groundbreaking Celebrated

Local, state and regional officials recently celebrated the groundbreaking of the latest extension to Northstar

if we can do that, because what that’s going to do is free our deputies up that are having to stay with people at the hospital for extended periods of time and get them back on the road, and get these people in a place where they’re secure and where they can then get assigned to a hospital bed someplace,” Chapman said.

Randall agreed obligating deputies to spend time sitting in emergency rooms with people subject to temporary detention orders is a misuse of their time and training.

“You’re not mental health therapists and that’s not what you’re there for, to be quite honest. And all the crisis response training in the world doesn’t get you to where you would get if you had somebody co-responding to you, who looks at a person and says ‘oh my gosh, they’re having a schizoaffective crisis and that’s not a substance use that we’re looking at.’ It’s just different sets of training,” she said. “In some ways, I get very, very frustrated that the request of law enforcement is to be everything.”

Supervisors also added $1.7 million and 13 positions, including three more deputies, to the budget to enact the state legislature’s 2020 Marcus-David Peters Act, intended to establish protocols for law enforcement responding to people experiencing a behavioral health crisis. It is named for a young Black high school biology teacher who was killed by Richmond Police Department officer Michael Nyantakyi while experiencing a mental health crisis.

The county’s Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services worked with the sheriff’s office to develop the new Crisis Intervention Team Community Access Response

Boulevard.

The project will construct a four-lane median-divided road with shared-used paths on both sides, extending Northstar Boulevard from Evergreen Mills Road to Rt. 50, completing a connection from Rt. 50 to Rt. 7. The $90 million project requires a new bridge over North Fork Broad Run and a traffic signal on Rt. 50, and is funded through a mix of state, federal, local and Northern Virginia Transportation Authority money.

Construction is expected to finish in winter of 2025. The county plans to continue extending the connection south to the Prince William County line.

“I’m extremely happy to get started on this much needed segment of Northstar Boulevard. I know Brambleton area

or CITCAR unit, which includes sending co-responders along with sheriff’s deputies during busy times. The program is already rolled out in Prince William County and under development in Fairfax, and expected to begin in Loudoun on July 1, 2024, at the end of the next fiscal year.

The team also reviews 911 calls after the fact to identify behavioral health issues and connect those people with available resources. The team includes ten new department employees and three more Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

Almost $3.6 million of the cost of the new patrol deputies would go toward capital costs to outfit them and buy all of the new vehicles outfitted for law enforcement work. Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) wondered if there might be a way to trim that cost. Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) opposed that idea, saying he saw that during his law enforcement career. He said operating shared fleet law enforcement vehicles led to more downtime, more paperwork, and more maintenance.

Supervisors trimmed $53,982 from the sheriff’s office budget by reducing funding for a new School Resource Officer position. Rather than funding that position for the full fiscal year, the county would provide enough funding to hire that position midway through the year, since that position is intended to serve a school that is not planned to open until the fall of 2024. Fiscal year 2024 runs from July 2023 to June 2024.

Supervisors approved all of those edits to the draft budget 8-0-1, with Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) absent. Supervisors plan to wrap up budget talks with a vote on a final budget in early April. n

residents will appreciate easier access to Rt 50 and reduced congestion on Belmont Ridge Road,” Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) said. n

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Loudoun Sheriff Michael Chapman walks in the Town of Leesburg’s 32nd annual Independence Day parade Monday, July 4, 2022.

Christi Maple Local, state and regional officials celebrate the groundbreaking on the latest phase of Northstar Boulevard on Friday, Feb. 21.

Politics

Bell to Retire from Senate, Citing Cancer Diagnosis

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Sen. John J. Bell (D-13) will not seek reelection to the state senate, following a cancer diagnosis, he announced March 2.

“After some recent testing, I have been diagnosed with prostate cancer,” Bell wrote in a statement Thursday. “I have a number of excellent treatment options I’m currently considering, and I’m very fortunate to have access to the world-class healthcare that is available in our area. My doctors tell me that they are confident I will be able to be successfully treated and even cured. I’m thankful that my cancer has been caught so early, and I’m incredibly blessed to have a great team behind me. The prognosis for me is very positive, and I know how lucky I am to be in this position when there are so many other cancer patients who are far less fortunate.”

Bell has served in the General Assembly since 2016, when he was elected to the House of Delegates. In 2019, he flipped the 13th Senate District seat long held by former Sen. Dick Black, defeating Republican Geary Higgins with 54.2% of the vote. He has served in the Senate since 2020.

Absent a primary challenge, the seat was likely his to hold; following redistricting, Bell was the only incumbent in the new eastern Loudoun 32nd Senate District. Virginia Public Access Project analysis puts that district safely in Democratic hands, reliably voting for Democrats by at least 30 points in statewide races.

“It has become clear to me that my cancer treatment will greatly impact my life going forward, and I must consider the challenges of balancing my treatment, my campaign duties, my business obligations, and my family. For this reason, I have made the incredibly difficult decision not to seek reelection to the Senate of Virginia,” Bell wrote.

He said serving in the General Assembly was “a great honor and a privilege that I will always cherish.” And he indicated although he will not seek reelection, his office remains open for the remainder of his term.

Bell’s announcement drew supportive statements from both parties.

“The Loudoun County Democratic Committee has relied on John as a powerful and steadfast voice in Virginia politics

who delivered brilliantly, improving the wellbeing of his constituents, his district, and the Commonwealth,” the Loudoun County Democratic Committee wrote in a statement Thursday. “… Our members offer our love and support to John and his family as he begins his battle with prostate cancer.”

Loudoun County Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) wrote he and his wife “will be keeping John and his family in our prayers as he undergoes his treatment and we are rooting for him to beat it.”

“John and I are from different political parties and at various points we have both agreed and disagreed on some issues. But we have always maintained a strong personal relationship and mutual respect. Senator Bell has been very helpful to Loudoun County in the State Senate, and in particular, he and I have worked closely on the Dulles Greenway,” Letourneau wrote.

Subramanyam, Samirah to Vie for Seat

Following Bell’s announcement, both Del. Suhas Subramanyam (D-87), who was elected to Bell’s previous seat in the House of Delegates, and former delegate Ibraheem Samirah announced they would run for the Senate seat, setting up a Democratic primary.

“I know that I have big shoes to fill, but if elected to the Senate, I will continue the work I started as a delegate to empower my constituents, put people and families before special interests, and stand up for our core values,” Subramanyam stated.

He launched his campaign with Bell’s endorsement.

“Senator Bell is a friend and a mentor, and you would be hard-pressed to find a more dedicated public servant,” Subramanyam stated Thursday. “I am so grateful for his decades of service in the military and in public office, and we as Virginians have him to thank for so much of the progress we have made since he took office eight years ago.”

And he rolled out his campaign with other endorsements from national, state and local elected Democrats, including in Loudoun U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton (DVA-10); state Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-33); Loudoun County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large), Vice Chair Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) and supervisors Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn), Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) and Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg), and the person who unseated Samirah in a primary challenge in 2021, Del. Irene Shin (D-86).

Meanwhile Samirah said he had first planned another run for House of Delegates.

“Now that Kannan Srinivasan has entered the Democratic primary to represent the 26th House District, I feel confident that the people of Brambleton and South Riding will get the progressive and diverse leadership they deserve,” Samirah stated. “By shifting my focus to the 32nd State Senate District, I can ensure that Loudoun County is getting the best possible representation up and down the ballot. The more progressives that our movement sends to Richmond, the better.”

Samirah was elected to the House of Delegates in a February 2019 special election and was re-elected to a full term that November. After his first term, Shin, the director of a civic engagement nonprofit who lives in Herndon, challenged him with the endorsement of the state Democratic party. She won the primary and went on to win her election; after redistricting, she will no longer live in a district that reaches into Loudoun.

“My representation of my community has delivered progress on the issues of the environment, healthcare, housing, and education. Loudouners deserve a state Senator who will champion their progressive vision for the Commonwealth of Virginia through a Virginian Green New Deal, state-level Medicare for all, and housing policy that makes sure they aren’t one housing market crash away from financial ruin in these tough economic times,” Samirah stated.

Both men brought firsts to the General Assembly when they were elected in 2019. Samirah was the first Afro-Arab American elected to the General Assembly, according to his campaign. He was also the first Muslim to represent Northern Virginia or Loudoun in the General Assembly, and only the second Muslim in the state legislature’s history, following Roanoke Del. Sam Rasoul (D-11), first elected in 2011, and joining Midlothian Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-10), elected in November 2019.

For his part, upon his election, Samirah was the first Indian-American, first South Asian, and first Hindu elected to the General Assembly.

Both men were also born to immigrants to the U.S.

The winner of the primary will face Republican Greg Moulthrop, who Subramanyam defeated in his last House of Delegates election. n

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Sen. John J. Bell (D-13) attends a Jan. 7 listening session with other state legislators in the Loudoun County boardroom in Leesburg.

Council Plans to Lift Height Limitations for Data Centers

The Leesburg Town Council has initiated a Zoning Ordinance change aimed at better accommodating the construction of data centers.

The amendment would increase the maximum building height in the I-1 Industrial/Research Park district from 50 feet to 65 feet. The change is intended to accommodate the “prototypical” two-story data center design seen in other areas of Loudoun County.

Senior Planning Project Manager Christopher Murphy told the Town Council during a Feb. 28 briefing that the ordinance’s 50-foot limit was intended to accommodate two-story buildings. However, data center stories are taller than those of a typical office or apartment building. A data center story measures about 35 feet, while office buildings have floors of 12-15 feet. The move to two-story data centers is part of a trend to build the facilities on smaller

lots, according to the staff report on the proposal. In data centers, chillers and other rooftop equipment are installed above the 65-foot height.

The change is being proposed after the town received a request concerning two undeveloped lots southeast of East Market Street and Crosstrail Boulevard near Village at Leesburg.

In all, the change would impact 39 parcels totaling just over 300 acres. I-1 zoned land is located near Leesburg Executive Airport, in the Trailview Boulevard/Russell Branch Parkway corridor, and at the southwest corner of Edwards Ferry Road and Battlefield Parkway.

Council member Patrick Wilt questioned whether a 65-foot limit also would be too restrictive and asked if the council would be asked to make additional changes in the future.

The vote to initiate the zoning ordinance change begins a process of Planning Commission review and public hearings prior to any Town Council action.

The action follows a previous Town Council resolution adopted in September directing the staff to review the potential placement of data centers

and to develop design standards for the buildings.

Reduced Speed Zone Approved for Downtown

The Leesburg Town Council last week created a 20 miles per hour speed zone for the downtown business district.

The action follows months of review by the town’s Residential Traffic Commission and a study of existing travel speeds in the zone. State law allows localities to reduce speed limits to as low as 15 mph in designated residential or business districts as long as the changes are supported by an engineering and traffic study and speed limit signs are posted.

The study found that most downtown traffic in the area already complies with the existing 25 miles per hour speed limit, recording an average speed of 21 mph. Higher speeds were found on the fringes of the district, along West Market, West Loudoun and North King streets—including areas that would be outside the reduced speed zone.

That was the main concern voiced at the Feb. 28 meeting, with Mayor Kelly

Burk pressing for ways to slow traffic and improve safety at the western entrance to the downtown area.

“I see kids and people walking there all the time and I hold my breath. It is such a dangerous intersection,” she said of the western terminus of Loudoun Street at Market Street.

Director of Public Works and Capital Projects Renee Lafollette said that a new pedestrian crossing at that intersection is planned as part of the in-process Morven Park Road upgrades and that additional traffic calming measures could be implemented on Market Street west of that.

In approving the speed limit reduction, the council added a requirement that additional steps west of Morven Park be undertaken.

Under the statute, the new speed limit will take effect when the new signs are posted. It is expected to take 60 to 90 days to order and install the signs.

The zone includes portions of Market, Loudoun King, Royal, Church, Liberty, South, Cornwall, North, and Wirt streets; Memorial Drive; and Edwards Ferry Road. n

Education

LEA Unionization Cards Verified; School Board Faces Vote Deadline

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

The Loudoun County School Board met in a closed session Feb. 28 to discuss procedures around certification for collective bargaining.

The School Board is under a statutory 120-day deadline to vote on a resolution whether to authorize collective bargaining after Loudoun Education Association President Sandy Sullivan on Jan. 31 notified the division a majority of all licensed employees had signed authorization cards—a first step in having the LEA recognized as a union.

Those cards needed to be certified by the school division. The LEA collected cards last year, but the certification did not happen after problems arose when administrators wanted to examine the documents, but employees had been told they would be confidential. Sullivan had promised signed cards would not be turned over to division administrators and vowed to find a way to get it done and keep the promise.

During the Feb. 28 School Board meeting, Sullivan announced that the LEA, division staff, division attorney Robert Falconi and an attorney from the Virginia

Education Association, a statewide union, “successfully verified” the authorization earlier that day.

“We now look forward to working with the School Board to adopt a resolution to engage in collective bargaining,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan said in a March 2 interview that the cards were kept confidential, and the division staff was able to verify them by checking their database.

“They couldn’t have their phones or any recording device or take notes while the cards were being verified,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan mailed a signed affidavit con-

firming signatures from 51% of licensed employees, as well as a proposed collective bargaining resolution on Jan. 27, formally starting the 120-day review period. Under that deadline, a vote needs to come by May 31, possibly around the same time the board finishes up its fiscal year 2024 budget process.

The School Board’s adopted budget does not allocate funding to support collective bargaining, however, Acting Superintendent Daniel Smith in his Jan. 10 budget presentation estimated it would cost $3.5 million and require 14 staff positions to implement the program.

Sullivan dismissed the claim as a scare tactic and said the program could be administered at a minimal cost and with less staff.

Six School Board members have voiced support for collective bargaining, with Harris Mahedavi (Ashburn), most recently joining that list.

In a Feb. 28 tweet, he said “as someone who ran to bring a diverse perspective and voice to the TABLE, I believe collective bargaining (CB) will provide the staff a seat at the table to help strengthen our division and improve the OneLCPS culture.”

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

Attendance Zone Grandfathered; Equity Issues Raised

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

The School Board approved a request to grandfather rising eighth graders, rising juniors and high school siblings of rising seniors at Loudoun County High School into the school despite an attendance zone change approved in December that moved students in their area to another high school.

The board on Feb. 28 approved the exception on a 5-3-1 vote, with Brenda Sheridan (Sterling), Jeff Morse (Dulles) and Erika Ogedegbe (Leesburg) opposed and Denise Corbo (At-large) absent for the vote.

The attendance zone, CL06, is an area west of Leesburg that starts along Dry Mill Road and runs along Rt. 7 to the Rt. 9 interchange and encompasses several neighborhoods including Shenstone, Colts Run

and Ketoktin Farm Estates.

Parents from this zone were actively involved in the recent secondary school rezoning process that began in the fall and concluded with a vote from the School Board on Dec. 13. With that vote, secondary students in this zone were moved from J.L. Simpson Middle School and Loudoun County High School to Smart’s Mill Middle and Tuscarora High School. However, several parents argued they lived closer to Loudoun County High School, many within walking distance, and argued the move to a high school across town was not practical and was disruptive after the pandemic.

Overcrowding at Loudoun County High School was one reason given for the secondary boundary changes in the fall.

Student groups identified in the School Board’s exception policy, namely rising seniors, siblings of rising high school seniors, rising juniors and rising eighth

grade students, were given a survey Jan. 31 to gauge the interest in staying at their current school. Parents were told a decision would be made based on survey responses as well as staffing and space availability. Parents were also told no transportation would be provided from the division for students seeking the exception. Of the 36 surveyed, a combined 25 rising juniors and eighth graders asked to keep their assignment to Loudoun County High School. An additional two rising sophomores with rising senior siblings asked to stay.

After last week’s vote, Mike Brown, a parent in another attendance zone that was also moved out of Loudoun County High School, was upset.

Brown, a parent of a rising sophomore

ATTENDANCE ZONE

continues on page 12

Middle School Team Wins Robotics Tournament

A team of five students from Stone Hill Middle School in Ashburn won the Virginia State VEX Robotics Championship on Saturday.

Team 71999A-Patilies consisted of Safwaan Majid, Pratyay Jakkula, Maneesh Getni, Amogh Sarasam and Prateek Vadde and is coached by Kamran Majid.

Forty-eight middle school teams from across the state participated in the two-day tournament held at Meadows Event Park in Doswell. Teams had to build a robot from a kit then program it to compete against other teams in 90-second matches for points.

Next the team will compete in the VEX Robotics World Championship tournament in Dallas, TX, in April.

Family Arts Night at Sander’s Corner

Sander’s Corner Elementary School held a family arts night March 7 for students, teachers and community members.

The free event featured arts and crafts, art demonstrations and performances by Stone Bridge High School Jazz Band and Strings, Rhythmaya Dance and the Sanders Corner Chorus.

There was also a recycled runway and STEAM-based fashion design contest.

A pottery painting fundraiser benefiting Loudoun Hunger Relief was held that included staff made clay bowls, cups and other pottery for sale. Attendees donated money to buy one of the pieces which was then glazed and kiln fired and given back to the students. The money helps to alleviate hunger in the community.

Foxcroft Earns Computer Science Diversity Award

The Foxcroft School earned its fourth College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in both AP

SCHOOL NOTEBOOK continues on page 12

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

From left, Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge), Vice Chair Harris Mahedavi (Ashburn), student School Board representative Rashmi Admala and John Beatty (Catoctin) listen to a presentation during the Feb. 28 School Board meeting.

MS-14 No More: School Board Approves New Name for Dulles North School

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

The School Board voted unanimously Feb. 28 to name the next Ashburn-area middle school Watson Mountain.

Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) said it was a rare occurrence for the current School Board to approve the primary recommendation of a community-based naming committee.

“I feel like one time during this term we should take the primary recommendation of the naming committee,” he said jokingly. “There’s a first time for everything.”

“I do feel like Watson Mountain Middle is an appropriate name for the middle school. It reflects the history of the region as well as a nearby road that is one of the major roads in the area,” he said. “It reflects the history of Watson as a community in the area as well as the individuals who lived in that area and I think it’s got a nice ring to it.”

Watson Road is just west of where the middle school is being built and runs along the ridge often referred to as “Watson Mountain.” Through the years the community of Watson had a general store, a post office and both a Baptist Church for Black congregants and a Presbyterian Church for white congregants. At one time the Baptist Church served as the public school for Black children, according to information provided to the school division from History Matters, LLC.

The name was one of four recommendations given by a naming committee formed Sept. 27, 2022, to name the Dulles North area school which is under construction.

Other recommendations included Watson Freedman Middle School, William H. Ash Middle School and Crossroads Middle School.

History Matters was contracted by the school division to compile historical backgrounds on Watson and William H. Ash.

Naming committee members included school-based staff, parents, students and other community members. The committee met in October and November to discuss name options. On Nov. 16, the committee voted to recommend Watson Mountain Middle School.

The school, slated to open in fall 2024, is located at 41480 Steeplechase Loop Dr. west of Brambleton, at the southwest corner of the Evergreen Mills Road, Ryan Road and Red Hill Road intersection.

The School Board also voted unanimously to form a naming committee for ES-32, a school in the Dulles South area being built on a 117-acre site with

Lightridge High School and Hovatter Elementary School.

The new elementary school will serve students in kindergarten through second grade and Hovatter Elementary School serving students in third through fifth grade.

Division staff had suggested naming the school Hovatter Primary School to promote the cohesive unity of the two schools, but the board voted instead to form a naming committee to avoid confusion with two schools with similar names. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Watson Mountain Middle School is under construction at the intersection of Evergreen Mill Road and Red Hill Road.

Cochran Family Dental

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and freshman who lives in nearby CL24, a small zone in downtown Leesburg, said it has been a very frustrating process and it seemed like the board was “cherry picking” exceptions.

He said he was actively involved in the rezoning process too, and thought once the board voted and made the changes in December it was over and done with. He said he planned to apply for special permission for his children so they could stay at Loudoun County High School. Then he heard an entire zone was given an exception.

“It’s frustrating that all of a sudden they are making a special exception for one without hearing from the broader community,” he said.

Parents from CL06 had argued there were just a few students who wanted to continue attending Loudoun County and allowing them to do so wouldn’t affect the total count at the school.

“Where is the community engagement to make sure everyone who truly is impacted by all these changes are represented?” Brown asked.

Brown said after the initial vote in December, he asked the board in an email Dec. 14 to consider a revision to the exception policy to include rising sophomores and their siblings, especially after what students endured during the pandemic. He said he never got a response back from the board.

He noticed CL06 was using the exception policy to grandfather in their students.

“I see they [CL06] had a community engagement survey. What is going on? I haven’t seen one in CL24, is one coming our way? It doesn’t feel equitable,” Brown said.

He said CL24 is a small zone and

SCHOOL notebook

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Computer Science and AP Computer Science Principles courses during the 2021-2022 school year. The school is only one of two in Virginia and only 64 in the world to earn the awards.

This is the second time the school has received both the AP CSA and AP CSP Female Diversity Awards and the fourth time it has received the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award.

Schools receiving the award have either 50% or higher female representation in one of the two AP computer science courses or

includes a disenfranchised community—a mobile home park—that didn’t know about the attendance changes when they were being discussed this fall.

“There are a lot of issues with cherry picking. We can go back to the broader issue about equity treatment to these children and this community not being engaged. The survey CL06 got was around community engagement,” he said.

He said in the meantime his children are in limbo. The special permission process to request to change schools opens April 1 and is for one school year only, meaning, he will have to apply each year until his children graduate.

He said he plans to apply for special permission next month, but until they find out his children can’t choose their classes for next year and his son doesn’t know if he will be accepted into the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program available at Loudoun County High School.

“My understanding is because CL06 was grandfathered in that zone gets priority for space, so my kids may get bumped,” he said.

“My daughter is trying to get into some AP classes, and she’s concerned she won’t get in because she has to wait,” he said. “We don’t have an answer on the NJROTC application because my son’s current middle school fed into Loudoun County and up until this change, he didn’t need to apply. But now, he has to, but they are telling us he doesn’t. It’s confusing and he’s in limbo for the program.”

“I think all in all, they need to look at these children as a whole. Look at the kids who were impacted by the rezoning and look at doing a pandemic exception to grandfather them into their current schools. To me, that would be the best solution,” he said.

Ogedegbe, his representative, said she supported his proposed changes to the exception policy and has asked that the policy be reviewed. n

a percentage of the female computer science examinees meeting or exceeding that of the school’s female population.

Foxcroft School recently announced construction on the Mars STEAM Wing to enhance its STEM program to encourage girls to pursue studies in STEAM fields.

Foxcroft School, founded in 1914 is a college-prep boarding and day school for girls in grades 9-12. The school offers 73-77 courses in six disciplines, including over 16 AP classes, more than five post-AP courses, and a STEM program. It also has teams in 10 sports and has a nationally recognized riding program.

Visit Foxcroft.org for additional information. n

STEP Pre-K Program Considered for Full Day

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

The School Board’s Specialized Programs and Centers Committee is proposing to phase in a full-day pre-kindergarten program for Loudoun’s at-risk children.

The Starting Towards Excellence Preschool, or STEP, program is for 4-yearold children whose families make up to 200% of the Federal Poverty level, who are homeless, who have parents who dropped out of high school, or who are eligible for special education services.

Head Start and STEP Supervisor Alexis Duffin proposed a phased approach that would change the current 10 half-day classes to 10 full-day ones starting in the 2024-2025 school year.

That plan would start with two classes at Meadowland Elementary School and two at Rolling Ridge Elementary School.

Duffin said the school district would add two more full-day classes in 2025 and two more in 2026 to make a total of 14 full-day STEP classrooms that would serve 224 students. She noted the first year’s costs would be offset by state grants, but after that, the program would cost the division $336,560 to hire the two additional teachers and two assistants for 2025 and beyond.

There are currently 320 STEP students in 10 half-day classrooms in the county. The program operates three hours a day with morning and afternoon sessions and can have 16 students per class. It provides breakfast to students attending morning sessions and lunch for afternoon classes.

It is funded through the Virginia Preschool Initiative Grant and the school division and supported by the Loudoun Literacy Council with books and family literacy events.

Duffin said under the state grant requirements, half-day programs must have three hours of instructional time every day excluding lunch. She said the current half-day program includes lunch within the three-hour timeframe and said moving to a full-day program would bring it into compliance. Full-day programs are required to offer 5.5 hours of instructional time, excluding lunch.

She also noted that the division was one of four in the commonwealth that offers only half-day programs.

Director of Research, Assessment and School Improvement Ryan Tyler presented assessments from this fall’s Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening, or PALS, benchmark from current kindergarten students to show how pre-K programs impact kindergarten readiness.

Seventy five percent of kids who attended a preschool program met the fall benchmark, 71% of STEP students met the benchmark, and 70% of Head Start students—a federally-mandated preschool program for low-income children—met the benchmark. Forty-four percent of students who didn’t attend a pre-K program met the benchmark, according to the data.

Ryan said the staff would compare the data after the spring assessment to show the growth. He said they couldn’t compare it to pre-K students from the past two years because of pandemic restrictions that kept kids out of school.

Duffin said once the phased full-day approach is implemented, staff members want to add some reverse inclusion classes to the STEP program. She said it would be an additional cost and something to be discussed when they got to that point.

A reverse inclusion program places typically developing students into an Early Childhood Special Education class to be peer models for social, emotional and communication for students with disabilities.

The committee on Feb. 21 voted 2-1 to recommend approval of the expansion.

John Beatty (Catoctin) opposed sending it to the full board because he said moving to a full-day program would cut out 96 students from the STEP program. Pointing to the data showing how helpful pre-K is, he said it would be better to wait until there is more classroom space available.

There are currently 320 students enrolled in STEP. The full-day plan would allow for only 224 students, 96 fewer, once fully implemented.

Jeff Morse (Dulles) and Committee Chair Brenda Sheridan (Sterling) voted to send the program to the full School Board for a vote this month. n

Douglass High School Makeover Nearing Completion, Rededication Date Set

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

School Board members Feb. 28 were given an update on the Douglass High School Renovation project with a rededication ceremony planned for the historic building May 21.

Douglass High School Commemorative Committee Co-Chair Charles Avery said the rededication ceremony will likely feature remarks from school alumni, members of the Board of Supervisors, members of the School Board, Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burke and supporters of the renovation project.

He said it would focus on the commemorative features from the committee, as well as the future educational component of the facility.

Avery said they are reaching out across the nation to get alumni back for the event.

“I wasn’t there for the first dedication and some others were not, but we are looking forward to representation across Loudoun County at this dedication,” he said.

Committee Co-chair Erica Bush presented updates on several items the panel has completed, including reviewing and providing pictures and other commemorative elements for the 1960s gym area, creating a display of historical information as well as a brochure for the school, meeting with Jeff Hall about the sculpture he’s creating for the front plaza entry, completing the oral history project with about 30 alumni and teachers, and selected Florida artist Jason Tetlak to paint the sports themed mural on the outside of the gym.

Bush said they are waiting on approval of the mural design from the Town of Leesburg but hope to have that in hand by mid-March so the work can begin.

“The commemorative committee has been very, very busy finalizing a lot of the commemorative concepts and really putting our ideas out and bringing them to life,” Bush said.

She thanked the committee for working tirelessly over the past two years to bring the elements of the project to life. She also thanked the school division staff and School Board for helping get so much done and for the opportunity “to work on such a significant, historic project.”

Avery echoed Bush’s sentiments and shared upcoming history projects, including a potential documentary to tell the

story of Douglass High School.

“It’s not just for Loudoun County. It’s a powerful story we believe that has national implications,” Avery said.

Avery said committee members visited Douglass High School Tuesday night and added items to a time capsule from each member on the project as well as from those who supported it, including the school division and locked it. The plan is to open it in 50 years.

“All the work is not yet complete, but it was enough to give those of us that walked those hallways before a wow experience to see that facility that has been renovated and is at a point of welcoming the community,” Avery said.

The school was built in 1941 on land bought by the Black residents and transferred to the School Board for the purpose of providing a building for their children’s secondary education, according to information presented to the School Board.

It was the only high school for Black students in Loudoun County until the end of segregation in 1968, according to the information. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register.

Renovation of the building began in June 2021. The DHSCC was appointed by the School Board May 11, 2021, to decide how the history of the school should be incorporated into the renovation project.

The campus will house programs from the school division, Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services and three division related historical organizations—the Loudoun Douglass High School Alumni Association, the Edwin Washington Society and The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Loudoun Chapter. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

The entrance to Douglass High School in Leesburg. The two-year renovation of the historic building is nearing completion with a rededication date set for May 21.

Public Safety

Ashburn Woman Convicted in $2.5M PPP Fraud

A federal jury has convicted an Ashburn woman on charges of conspiracy, bank fraud, and money laundering stemming from Paycheck Protection Program loans.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Rose-Marie Nsahlai, 47, and her husband, Didier K. Kindambu, fraudulently obtained two PPP loans intended to help businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic continue to pay salaries or wages to their employees. She was accused of creating fraudulent payroll documentation for two of her husband’s businesses, and submitting that documentation in support of the PPP loan applications. The fraudulent documentation represented that the companies had dozens of employees and a $17 million annual payroll in 2019. In fact they had few, if any, employees.

In total, they obtained approximately $2.5 million in loan proceeds, and spent the money on expenses unrelated to any legitimate use of PPP funds, including the down-payment on a 7,000-square-foot home in Leesburg.

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap.

All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.”

This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-9753.

Nsahlai faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled July 19.

Kindambu pleaded guilty to the scheme in 2021. He was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison, fined $15,000, and ordered to repay the $2.5 million in restitution to Bank of American upon his release. In January, his petition for compassionate release was denied by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston. In his petition he claimed the food served at his prison, FCI Allenwood, aggravated his diabetic condition.

Passenger on Leesburg-Bound Jet Dies in Turbulence

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a death aboard a private jet that was bound for Leesburg Executive Airport on Friday.

According to preliminary reports, the Bombardier Challenger 300 encountered severe turbulence after departing from Keene Dillant-Hopkins Airport in Keene, NH, on March 3 and diverted to a landing at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, CT.

The aircraft had two crew members and three passengers aboard. Connecticut

State Police identified the passenger fatally injured in the incident as Dana Hyde, 55, of Cabin John, MD.

On Monday, the NTSB reported investigators are looking at a reported trim issue before the in-flight upset, and will learn more after analyzing the flight data recorder, cockpit voice recorder and other information like weather data. The agency said a preliminary report will be available in two to three weeks.

The aircraft was registered to Kanas City, MO-based rural broadband provider Conexon LLC and operated by the fractional ownership service AirShare. n

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

AcceptingNewPatients

Community Foundations Join to Address Pediatric Mental Health

STAFF REPORT

The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation is collaborating with 17 other philanthropic foundations from throughout Virginia to provide funding for expanded REACH behavioral health trainings for primary care providers treating children, adolescents, and young adults.

More than $170,000 has been contributed by these to help address the growing need for improved access to mental health care.

practitioners, and physician assistants are focused on building skills and confidence in diagnosing and treating pediatric behavioral health problems. Following course completion, they participate in bimonthly calls with national primary care and child/adolescent psychiatry experts to address cases in their daily practices.

The VMAP program is administered by the Medical Society of Virginia Foundation through a contract with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

Convértase en paciente y benefíciese de estos servicious:

• Atención Médica y Dental para Adultos y Niños

• Psiquiatría y Consejería

• Asistencia para Medicamentos

• Programa de Descuentos de Cargos Proporcionales

Aceptamos TODOS los seguros, Medicaid y Medicare. Oficinas

Dr. William Hazel, senior deputy executive director of the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, said the training programs will create an immediate boost to access to behavioral health care for youth and that the collective impact approach to philanthropy should be viewed as a model for how organizations can come together to address critical issues.

The primary goal of the Virginia Mental Health Access Program is to ensure better mental health for children. Through education initiatives, training, and access to specialists, primary care providers will be better equipped to screen, diagnose, manage, and treat mental health, ensuring better quality of life for children and their families. VMAP will coordinate two REACH trainings serving up to 80 primary care providers. The intensive three-day, 16-hour interactive courses for physicians, nurse

The Step Sisters Expands Breast Cancer Support

STAFF REPORT

The Step Sisters have expanded their services to include care for breast cancer patients and their families in every stage of the disease—from those newly diagnosed as well as those who have entered hospice care.

For those first diagnosed with breast cancer, the Ashburn-based nonprofit is providing specialized medical planners to help schedule the many appointments associated with treatment.

“Receiving that initial diagnosis is devastating for patients.  We hope that this act is of practical use, but also lets them know that they are not alone,”

“To have the philanthropic community come together in support of this work has been incredible. We’re hopeful that the impact of these trainings will benefit all of Virginia by improving education and resources for youth mental health,” stated MSVF Executive Director Melina Davis.

According VMAP Founder Dr. Sandy Chung, pediatric behavioral health needs are growing exponentially, outpacing the availability of mental health providers. “The pandemic worsened a youth mental health crisis that was already present. We now have more young people than ever before suffering from anxiety, depression, and thoughts of self-harm,” she said.

Locally, both the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties and the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia are participating. For more information about The Virginia Mental Health Assistance Program and REACH go to vmap.org. n

Founder and Co-Executive Director Ashley Campolattaro said.

In addition, the organization has partnered with Capital Caring Health, which treated approximately 120 palliative and 190 hospice care breast cancer patients around the region last year. It is the 12th medical facility partner for The Step Sisters, but the first working to support hospice care.  Under the new partnership, The Step Sisters will work to provide comfort to families with a breast cancer patient at Capital Caring Health, starting with gift cards to area restaurants for those families.

In its ninth year, The Step Sisters also fund quality of life support services, emergency assistance and Chemotherapy Care Bags for breast cancer patients throughout Northern Virginia. n

Jones Joins Coalition Board

Rob Jones, a retired U.S. Marine Corps sergeant and Paralympian, has joined the board of directors of the Leesburg-based Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes.

“I can think of no better person than Rob to help guide our mission through this constantly changing environment,” Coalition President & CEO David Walker said. “As combat-wounded veterans recover and move forward in their post-military lives, their needs change. Rob understands this better than most. He will be a credit to our board and his peers as we evolve as an organization.”

A Loudoun County native, Jones joined the Marine Corps after graduating from Virginia Tech. In 2008, he deployed to Iraq with the role of finding buried caches of weapons. His second deployment was to Afghanistan in 2010, where he was tasked with finding improvised explosive devices. On July 22, 2010, Jones

stepped on an IED, which resulted in double above-knee amputations of his legs and other injuries.

After retiring in 2011, Jones earned a bronze medal in the 2012 Paralympic Games in the double sculls rowing competition. Two years later, he began the first double amputee to ride a normal bicycle across America, raising $125,000 for the Coalition and two other charities. In 2017, he completed 31 marathons in 31 days in 31 cities, raising another $225,000 for Veterans charities.

He lives with his wife, Pam, near Middleburg.

“I am incredibly proud and honored to join the Coalition’s board, and to work alongside David and his team, as well as the other distinguished directors,” Jones said. “I’ve served as an ambassador for the Coalition for many years, so I am intimately familiar with the organization and its amazing work, which I learned firsthand during my recovery at the National Naval Medical Center.”

Learn more about Jones at  robjonesjourney.com. n

WORKFORCE HOUSING IS ABOUT LOUDOUN’S FUTURE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY

$205,000 is the income needed to afford the median home price of $641,000 in Loudoun.

Housing affordability is typically thought of as a low-income household concern, but that’s no longer true.

Workforce Housing is not an issue about charity, it’s about the future economic prosperity of Loudoun.

Let’s shape Loudoun’s future. WON’T YOU JOIN US? workforcehousingnow.org

Workforce Housing Now is an initiative of the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties.

Jones

Loudoun Urgent Vet Opens in Leesburg

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Veterinarian Rachael Dunn is set to open Loudoun Urgent Vet, an after-hours urgent care for small animals, March 10.

While the county has several animal hospitals that are open Monday through Friday during normal business hours and two emergency veterinary hospitals, Dunn said she hopes to help bridge the gap between those two types of facilities by providing after-hours care for non-life-threatening cases. The facility is located at 135 Robinson Mill Plaza SE, by the Aldi and across from Lowe’s.

In contrast to animal hospitals that close between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., Loudoun Urgent Vet will be open on select weekdays from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The urgent care will accept walk-ins and will offer online

Norse Atlantic to Open London-Dulles Route

Norse Atlantic Airways will commence low-price, nonstop service between London’s Gatwick International Airport and Dulles Airport on June 1.

Flights will operate daily except Tuesdays using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft configured to carry 338 passengers.

“Norse Atlantic’s low-price, high-quality offering is a great option for travelers who want to enjoy world-class attractions on a budget,” Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority vice president of Airline Business Development Paul Bobson stated in the in the Feb. 28 announcement.

Norway-based Norse Atlantic was founded in 2021 and has operating bases in Oslo, London, New York’s JFK and Fort Lauderdale. It will be the first Dulles route to Gatwick.

Leesburg Law Firm Launches GuideWISE

The Legacy Elder Law Center, based in Leesburg, has launched a holistic, client-centered service to help provide comprehensive and coordinated personal, medical, and legal help to individuals and families.

booking to allow owners to select an available arrival time. It requires a deposit on the exam fee and comes with the guarantee that when they arrive within the designated window, they will be taken into an exam room immediately or treated within 15 minutes.

“The nice part about that feature is we’re trying to work with people’s schedule in terms of helping them not have to sit here and wait,” Dunn said. “And that way they can kind of be guaranteed that the treatment process will essentially start within 15 minutes of them being there.”

Her office includes four exam rooms, a large dog run, a treatment area, a radiology machine, in-house lab services and a surgery suite. Her team is comprised of herself and eight part-time licensed

GuideWISE creates a Life Care Plan designed to help families and caregivers develop individualized plans and strategies as they move through each phase in life. It offers health and safety analyses, client visits, personal and medical care coordination, and financial services, as well as downsizing and real estate services. A goal is to help individuals remain independent for as long as possible, protecting their life savings against the high cost of long-term care, and enjoying the peace of mind that comes with having a plan in place for the future.

“We created GuideWISE to provide individuals and families with the ability to focus on two things: What is happening right

BUSINESS BRIEFS

continues on page 19

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Veterinarian Rachael Dunn and her dog, Koda, in her new facility, Loudoun Urgent Vet, which is set to open March 10.

URGENT VET continues on page 19

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

The x-ray machine at Veterinarian Rachael Dunn’s new urgent care facility located at 135 Robinson Mill Plaza SE.

BUSINESS briefs

continued from page 18

now and what will be needed in the future to ensure your loved one will get the very best of care as they move through the continuum of life,” owner and managing partner Rory Clark said.

For more information, go to guidewisecare.com.

Miller & Smith Enters Final Phase at Brambleton

Miller & Smith is building its final phase at Birchwood at Brambleton after more than 20 years of building in the Ashburn community.

The company is offering three home styles in the age 55+ development, including elevator single-family homes, courtyard homes and elevator townhomes. Birchwood at Brambleton was named one of Ideal Living’s “Best of the Best” Planned Communities in 2020.

Decorated model homes are slated to open this summer. Currently, virtual tours are available online or at the sales center located at 23710 Schooler Plaza #155. Learn more at millerandsmith.com.

Tribute Adds Community Relations Directors

Tribute at One Loudoun has hired Daphne Andrews and Gwendolyn Prisco as new community relations directors at the Ashburn senior living community.

Andrews has nearly 20 years of experience in the senior living industry. Prisco

Urgent Vet

continued from page 18

veterinary technicians as well as veterinary assistants and kennel technicians.

Dunn grew up in Waterford and graduated from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. She said she can’t remember a time that she didn’t want to be a veterinarian, and that owning her own practice was always the goal, but that she wanted to take some time to learn from others and gain experience.

“Within the last couple years, I’ve kind of dipped into a bunch of different areas of small animal medicine,” she said. “So, I’ve done general practice. I’ve done feline medicine. I’ve done urgent care. I’ve done emergency. And I do rescue medicine currently, as well.”

is a native Virginian who made the career switch to senior living after many years in the real estate industry.

Tribute at One Loudoun was also recently awarded 2023 Best Senior Living by A Place for Mom, a senior care advisory service with the largest senior care network in the country, accessing over 14,000 communities nationwide.

According to A Place for Mom’s website, the top senior living communities stand out for their exceptional care and support of seniors in independent living, assisted living, memory care, and in-home care. The Best of Senior Living Award winners represent the top 1-2% of senior care providers nationwide based on reviews from residents and families. Tribute at One Loudoun is one of two Loudoun County senior living communities to receive the honor this year.

Meehan Earns PPA Master’s

Gwen Meehan of g Custom Photography in Ashburn has earned a master of photography designation from Professional Photographers of America.

The U.S. Air Force veteran specializes in family and high school senior portraits, as well as portraits with monarch butterflies. In 2019, she was awarded Best Portrait of a Child from the Virginia Professional Photographers Association and she was a silver medalist in the 2021 International Photographic Competition.

Learn more at gcustomphotography.com. n

With local emergency hospitals often forced to turn away patients because of staffing shortages and high caseloads, Dunn said she hopes to relieve some of the pressure on those clinics by treating non-critical illnesses and injuries. She said it was important to her to collaborate with local emergency hospitals so they can help support each other.

“I absolutely want a partnership with the local emergency clinics, because we are not set up to do the critical life-threatening cases,” she said. “That is what they’re good at, that is what they specialize in. And that is where I do believe those type of situations should still go. … This is more of again just bridging the gap and trying to partner with everyone in the area so we can do the best for the community.” n

A New Welcome

At year’s end, the Loudoun Circuit Court approved an annexation that extended Round Hill’s western boundary to the Hill High Orchard complex. Soon a new sign will be posted to welcome visitors entering from that side of town.

It’s one of several new entrance signs planned, each designed and custom painted by Patti House, of Sign Design in Purcellville, who created the town’s existing eastern-end welcome sign years ago.

Town Administrator Melissa Hynes said each sign will feature a different aspect of outdoor living as the town promotes its status as an Appalachian Trail Community. The first new one includes an image of a kayaker on Sleeter Lake.

Round Hill Council Eyes Equalized Tax Rate, Ditches Utility Tier Talks

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The Round Hill Town Council opened its budget deliberations last week with a vote to build its fiscal year 2024 spending plan using a real estate tax rate that largely would hold bills level for homeowners.

The council voted 4-1-1, with Paula James opposed and Jesse Howe absent, to plan for a nearly equalized tax rate of 6.9 cents per $100 of assessed value. That would be a reduction from the current 8-cent tax rate, the lowest among Loudoun’s municipalities. The reduced tax rate is expected to offset property value increases experienced in the latest round of assessments.

At the 6.9-cent rate, Town Administrator Melissa Hynes’ draft budget would require a $23,000 transfer from the town’s General Fund reserves. Council members supporting the lower tax rate expressed confidence that a relatively small shortfall in the million-dollar operation budget easily could be covered.

The council also voted to maintain its

longstanding $1.15 per $100 of value personal property tax rate. Most notably, the tax is applied to motor vehicles. The decision to hold the current tax rate follows the trend of Loudoun’s other towns so far during budget season even as the Board of Supervisors signaled its intent to lower the countywide $4.20 personal property tax rate—unchanged for more than three decades—by 5 cents this year.

The council is just beginning its budget deliberations, but because the county government collects property taxes for Round Hill and Loudoun’s other towns, an early decision on the personal property tax rate was required so the billing process can begin.

The council also will continue to charge $25 for the annual vehicle license fee.

During its March 2 meeting, the council also concluded its exploration of options to adopt a tiered rate structure for the utility system. The council looked at increasing the rates charged to the town’s highest water users as a means of promoting conservation. Also considered was raising the minimum billing amount for

the town’s smallest users, who currently are charged for 2,000 gallons, about 33 gallons a day, even if they use less water.

After spending two meetings pouring over user data and the impacts different billing scenarios would have on customers, the council agreed to make no changes to the rate structure, concluding the options would make the system more complex while providing little benefit to the system or its users.

That doesn’t mean the town’s more than 1,800 customers shouldn’t expect big changes next year.

The council next will examine the rates needed to fund the water and sewer systems, with a sharp increase in expenses on the horizon as the town builds a new well and storage tank and faces increasing maintenance requirements at its treatment plants. Mayor Scott Ramsey, who is leading the rate analysis, has alerted council members that options to meet those expenses could include large rate hikes to bring revenues back into balance or require the delay of important projects they’ve been planning. n

HILLSBORO

State of the Gap Update Planned Saturday

Hillsboro residents will gather at the Old Stone School on Saturday morning for its annual community celebration known as the State of the Gap.

Following a 9 a.m. breakfast, Mayor Roger Vance will provide an update on town activities—including plans to host the Appalachian Trail Festival this year in conjunction with Round Hill and for another summer concert series. The program also includes awards for those who have provided extraordinary community service.

Business Alliance Returns to In-Person Meetings

The Greater Hillsboro Business Alliance will meet March 14 at Kalero Vineyard starting at 7 p.m.

The organization seeks to foster organic growth of right-sized rural enterprises, agricultural operations, hospitality and tourism-related businesses and supporting services while preserving farmland, open space and mountain vistas.

Residents and businesses, including neighbors from West Virginia and Maryland, are invited to attend.

LOVETTSVILLE

Friday Deadline for Council Candidates

Those interested in filling a vacant Lovettsville Town Council seat AROUND TOWNS continues on page 21

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Town Planner Bobby Lohr displays the newest Round Hill gateway sign that will be installed at the town’s newly expanded western boundary.

AROUND towns

continued

have until 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 10 to submit an application to be considered for the interim appointment.

The council will select a person to fill the seat until a special election is held Nov. 7. Any person qualified to vote in town elections is eligible for appointment. An application form is available on the town website.

For questions or to make a submission, email clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov.

MIDDLEBURG

Council Completes Strategic Retreat

The Middleburg Town Council spent Monday morning at the Hill School for a retreat aimed at refining its strategic priorities.

Mayor Bridge Littleton said the session featured three focus areas.

The council wants to take additional steps to protect the character of the R-2 zoned Ridgeview neighborhood as market conditions threaten to spur redevelopment

of the modest homes. Already the town has adopted more restrictive zoning rules, but more options will be explored.

The council also is exploring an investment in the downtown business infrastructure, looking at options to improve walkability and safety and potentially boosting foot traffic along Federal or South Madison streets.

A third key item was the future of town-owned Asbury Church, for which the council has committed up to $1 million for its restoration. Still uncertain is how the historic building should best be used. Littleton said the council plans a consultant-led public outreach effort to garner input and develop a vision for the property.

ROUND HILL Audit Raises Water Mystery

Round Hill’s fiscal year 2022 audit found the town continues to enjoy a strong fiscal position, albeit with one unexpected finding.

Auditor Jeff Mitchell presented his latest report to the Town Council March 1, showing the town closed the budget year with a record $1.7 million fund balance

What matters

surplus.

A surprise in the report was a decline in the percent of drinking water that was billed to customers. The town is usually a leader among local jurisdictions in that measure of utility system efficiency, typically collecting on more than 90% of the water it produces. During the most recent audit period, that ration fell to about 85%.

There was no immediate explanation for the performance change, with some council members asking whether the town’s aging water meters could be inaccu-

rate, or if water main breaks or increased line-flushing activity contributed to water loss. The staff agreed to take a closer look at the water records and report back.

A welcome surprise from the audit briefing was a notice that Mitchell, the town’s auditor for more than 20 years, had agreed to continue working with the town to assist with the transition of its newly hired treasurer. Mitchell had announced plans to retire, and his firm was planning to wind down its municipal auditing services. n

Rocks, Banjos and Faith

What’s New from Local Authors?

BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com

Spring has sprung in Loudoun, and the season brings a flurry of new books from local and regional authors. From nonfiction combining geology and political intrigue to Christian historical fiction and a spiritual coming of age novel, Loudoun authors are serving up something for just about every reader.

Rocks Rock with Leesburg

Naturalist Paul Kreingold

Loudoun-based historian and Master Naturalist Paul Kreingold has been passionate about the history of the locally mined limestone, known as Potomac Marble, for years. Last month, Kreingold released his new book “Potomac Marble: History of the Search for the Ideal Stone.”

Kreingold takes a deep dive into the decision to use Potomac Marble to rebuild the U.S. Capitol after it was destroyed by

the British army in 1814.

“Americans were devastated when the U.S. Capitol burned,” Kreingold said. The fire’s glow could be seen from 45 miles away in Leesburg. … The Capitol

then housed the Library of Congress, the House, Senate and Supreme Court. They were not mere offices, but symbols of the aspirations of the republic. Finding material handsome yet strong to rebuild it was essential.”

Potomac Marble isn’t actually marble, but a conglomerate of limestone, quartz and feldspar found in Loudoun and in Frederick and Montgomery counties in Maryland. But Kreingold’s book is far from a dry geology lesson. He also explores the international brinkmanship, romance and political rivalries surrounding the decision to use the local stone for the capitol’s famed columns.

Kreingold, whose professional background is in computer science, is best known locally for his role as a citizen scientist, Virginia Master Naturalist and conservation director of Izaak Walton

LOCO LIVE

Live Music: The Bluemont Ramble

Friday, March 10, 5 p.m.

Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont

Details: dirtfarmbrewing.com

This hyper-local group of Bluemont musicians makes their Dirt Farm debut.

Live Music: Matt Metz and Matt Kline

Friday, March 10, 5 p.m.

Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights

Details: facebook.com/ harpersferrybrewing

Enjoy folk and bluegrass tunes from a regional favorite duo.

Live Music: JP Jones

Friday, March 10, 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: Lee Jones and the Cold North

Friday, March 10, 5:30 p.m.

Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church Road, Hillsboro

Details: old690.com

This father-daughter vocal duo plays a variety of musical styles on guitar, ukulele and banjo.

Live Music: Joey Hafner

Friday, March 10, 7 p.m.

1836 Kitchen and Taproom, 34 E. Broad Way, Lovettsville

Details: 1836kitchenandtaproom.com

Former Ghost Pepper frontman Joey Hafner plays favorite songs to sing along from the ‘70s through the 2000s.

Live Music: Just South of 7

Friday, March 10, 7 p.m.

MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg

Details: macsbeach.com

Just South of 7 returns to MacDowell’s with five decades of rock.

Live Music: Sam Grisman Project

Friday, March 10, 8 p.m.

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

Details: tallyhotheater.com

The son of bluegrass/Americana legend David “Dawg” Grisman pays tribute to his dad and musical collaborator Jerry Garcia with favorites from their repertoire along with inspired originals. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $45 for VIP seats.

Live Music: Hard Swimmin’ Fish

Friday, March 10, 8 p.m.

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

Details: monksq.com

THINGS TO DO continues on page 23

24

ROCKS, BANJOS, FAITH continues on page

Contributed

Loudoun-based historian and Master Naturalist Paul Kreingold has published his latest work, about the locally mined limestone used to rebuild the U.S. Capitol after it was destroyed in the War of 1812.

HARD SWIMMIN’ FISH

Friday, March 10, 8 p.m. Monk’s BBQ monksq.com

THINGS to do

continued from page 22

Hard Swimmin’ Fish returns to Monk’s with a versatile blues sound covering everything from Mississippi country blues to the urban Chicago sound and beyond.

Live Music: Side Piece

Friday, March 10, 8 p.m.

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

Details: spankyspub.com

Side Piece serves up rock and pop hits, old favorites and original mash-ups with fresh twists.

Live Music: Linda Andersen

Saturday, March 11, 1 p.m.

Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville

Details: creeksedgewinery.com

Andersen returns to Creek’s Edge with gorgeous jazz vocals.

Live Music: Wayne Snow

Saturday, March 11, 2 p.m.

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro

Details: breauxvineyards.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: Summer and Eric

Saturday, March 11, 3 p.m.

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

Details: flyingacefarm.com

This DMV duo plays a fun, eclectic and unexpected mix of music from the past and present, as well as original tunes.

Live Music: Juliet Lloyd Trio

Saturday, March 11, 5 p.m.

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg

Details: lostbarrel.com

Singer/songwriter/pianist Juliet Lloyd returns to Lost Barrel with pop, rock and

BEST BETS

THE OUTLAWS

Saturday, March 11, 7 p.m. (doors) Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

ZLATOMIR FUNG

Sunday, March 12, 4 p.m. Waterford Old School waterfordconcertseries.org

classic soul favorites.

Live Music: Steve George and Friends

Saturday, March 11, 7 p.m.

MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg

Details: macsbeach.com

Celebrate Saturday with classic rock, country, blues and beyond from a local favorite.

Live Music: The Outlaws

Saturday, March 11, 8 p.m.

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

Details: tallyhotheater.com

The Southern Rock legends are going strong after more than 40 years, a musical band of brothers bound by history, harmony and the road. Tickets are $35.

Live Music: Crooked Jack

Saturday, March 11, 8 p.m.

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

Details: spankyspub.com

Energize your Saturday night with power rock from the DMV.

Live Music: The Rock-A-Sonics

Saturday, March 11, 8 p.m.

The Branch, 49 Catoctin Circle SE, Leesburg

Details: bowlthebranch.com

With their authentic brand of rockabilly, vintage country and rock ‘n’ roll, the Rock-a-Sonics are ready for a fun Saturday night.

Live Music: Rule G

Saturday, March 11, 8 p.m.

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

Details: monksq.com

Rule G returns to Monk’s with favorite covers and a bluesy groove.

Live Music: Bruno Acoustic

Sunday, March 12, 1 p.m.

Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton

Details: fireflycellars.com

Loudoun’s Bruno Campos puts a fun acoustic twist on rock favorites.

Live Music: Famous Last Words

Sunday, March 12, 2 p.m.

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro

Details: breauxvineyards.com

This acoustic duo made up of Chris Coutts and Maria Lynn brings favorite hits from the ’60s to today.

Live Music: One Blue Night Sunday, March 12, 2 p.m.

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

Details: flyingacefarm.com

Kick back with dynamic honky-tonk country from Frederick, Maryland.

THINGS TO DO continues on page 24

Rocks, banjos, faith

continued from page 22

front current events in the light of history and scripture.”

In “Ladies of the Lake,” Gohlke tackles her concern with bullying and loss of civility in contemporary life.

“The current event that has really concerned me is the growing disregard for other people and the increased bullying I see. … I wanted to show through the story that there are consequences for our actions and we need to take responsibility.”

The novel is also an exploration of the importance of female friendships and the bonds between women.

Church. Robert questions his own call to ministry after a romantic upheaval and a series of interactions with spiritual leaders from other faiths.

Aschermann, a father of seven and a pastoral leader at Christ Episcopal Church in Lucketts, wanted to create a classic coming of age story that also tackles questions of faith.

THINGS to do

continued from page 23

Live Music: Freddie Long

Sunday, March 12, 2 p.m.

Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights

Details: facebook.com/ harpersferrybrewing

League’s Loudoun chapter, where his environmental programs draw fans of all ages.

“Potomac Marble” is available through Arcadia Publishing’s History Press at arcadiapublishing.com and through major online booksellers. For more information about the Virginia Master Naturalist program, go to virginiamasternaturalist. org

Cathy Gohlke’s “Ladies of the Lake”

Novelist Cathy Gohlke is new to Loudoun—but not new to writing. With 11 titles under her belt, the Lovettsville-based historical/Christian fiction author releases her latest historical novel “Ladies of the Lake” this summer.

“Ladies of the Lake” tells the story of four friends who meet at a Canadian boarding school, only to see their friendship torn apart by a romantic conflict and the advent of World War I. Gohlke was inspired by the real-life Halifax Explosion of 1917, when a collision involving a cargo ship full of explosives killed more than 1,700 people. Gohlke was fascinated by reports that people changed their identities after the explosion as authorities struggled to identify victims, and weaves that thread into her novel.

As with her previous works, Gohlke combines her Christian faith with her passion for history, working to combine inspiration with entertainment, tying history with current events.

“History repeats itself with astonishing regularity,” she said. “All of my books con-

“Iron sharpens iron, and friendships are so important. But they’re also fragile in that you need to nurture them,” she said Gohlke, who didn’t sign her first publishing contract until she was 50, has made up for lost time, with 11 published novels, multiple awards and another book in the works. Gohlke and her husband bought their home in Lovettsville in 2021 and have been inspired by Western Loudoun’s pastoral scenery. Her next novel, scheduled for publication in 2025, was inspired in part by visits to a local Christmas tree farm.

For more information on Cathy Gohlke and “Ladies of the Lake,” go to authorcathygohlke.com.

“I want [readers] to enjoy a good story. As to deeper meaning, I hope they realize that questions are OK. You can follow Jesus without having to buy everything the church has created about him. And I want them to wonder if perhaps they have had real experiences of Jesus in their life.”

“That Was You Wasn’t it?” Is available from the publisher at xlibris.com and at barnesandnoble.com.

Long is part introspective singer/ songwriter, part bluesy classic rocker for a perfect Sunday afternoon.

Live Music: Bodeans

Sunday, March 12, 8 p.m.

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

Details: tallyhotheater.com

The 80s roots rockers, known for their hit “Closer to Free,” are back in action and taking the stage in downtown Leesburg. Tickets are $35 for general admission, $75 for VIP seats.

LOCO CULTURE

‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’

Thursday, March 9-Sunday, March 12, 7:30 p.m.

Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville

Details: jupitertheatercompany.com

Jupiter Theater Company presents the classic adventure set during the French Revolution. Lady Marguerite Blakeney is blackmailed by a French secret agent into discovering the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel, a British vigilante revered as a hero. Tickets are $17 for adults, $16 for students.

Mom and Son Team Up with “Banjo Joe and Mo”

Fairfax County-based mother and son author/illustrator team Julia Gonsalves and Matthew Gonsalves have teamed up for their first illustrated children’s book “Banjo Joe and Mo” with a Loudoun meetthe-author event slated for March 25.

‘Legends and Bridge’

Saturday, March 11, 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 12, 2 p.m.

StageCoach Theatre Company, 20937 Ashburn Road, Suites 115 and 120, Ashburn

Details: stagecoachtc.com

Kurt Aschermann’s “That Was You Wasn’t It?”

Questions of faith are also at the heart of Leesburg author Kurt Aschermann’s third book “That Was You, Wasn’t It?: A Spiritual Coming-Of-Age Story.”

Aschermann’s latest novel tells the story of Robert Forester, the grandson and son of the pastors of Billingham Bible

This Old West children’s book is full of fun, with cowboy hats, whimsical critters and music. Banjo Joe is everyone’s favorite music man in Buckaroo Pass. His biggest fan is young Maureen, or “Mo” for short. As far as anyone knows, little Mo has never uttered a word. But everything changes when a new fiddler appears and Banjo Joe’s place in the Pass is in jeopardy. Mo delivers big lessons on friendship, standing up for others and reconciliation.

“Banjo Joe and Mo” is available at major online booksellers and through Mascot Publishing at mascotbooks.com. Julia and Matthew Gonsalves will read from the book at an author event Saturday, March 25 at 1 p.m. at Barnes and Noble One Loudoun. n

C. Stephen Foster’s campy comedy imagines Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Judy Garland sharing a New York apartment  in their retirement years, plotting a comeback and fighting for top diva status. Tickets are $28 for in-person seats, $25 for a livestream. Performances run weekends through March 26.

Waterford Concert Series: Zlatomir Fung

Cello

Sunday, March 12, 4 p.m. Waterford Old School, 40222 Fairfax Street, Waterford

Details: waterfordconcertseries.org

Cellist Zlatomir Fung was the youngest person to win first prize in the International Tchaikovsky Competition and the first American winner in 40 years. Now 22, Fung tours the globe performing with major orchestras. Tickets are $40 for adults, $20 for students and free for children 12 and under. n

BENEFIT Issues Call for Performers for 2023 Crossroads Music Festival

BENEFIT’s Crossroads Music Festival is returning to downtown Leesburg on Saturday, Sept. 16. The organization is extending a call for musicians to perform at the event.

The event features original music performances from regional songwriters and bands for an evening of music that helps support Loudoun County community nonprofit organizations.

Established in 2017, Bands Empowering Nonprofits with Engagement and Fundraising Improving Tomorrow (BENEFIT) is a coalition of musicians and community leaders uniting people with music to raise funds and awareness for nonprofits serving children in need in Loudoun County.

Bands, singer-songwriters and other musicians who are interested in offering their time and performing a 60-minute showcase set are encouraged to submit their information through the online application form on BENEFIT’s Performer page (benefit.live/performers) no later than Friday, March 31. The final lineup of performers will be announced in May.

“We at BENEFIT have proven that music can bring people together and make a difference,” co-founder Amy Bobchek said.

“BENEFIT’s Crossroads Music Festival gives artists the chance to share their talents in a way that enriches the community.”

While the 60-minute showcase performances are not compensated, musicians interested in performing at the festival have the option to apply to be a venue “host band,” providing sound and lighting for all performances taking place at their assigned venue. Each venue host band will receive a stipend as well as recognition at the event. Performers interested in being a host band may select the “Optional: Host Band” checkbox when completing the online application form.

“Several members of the BENEFIT team are musicians, and we know the amount of effort that goes on behind the scenes to set up and hold a live music performance,” co-founder Ara Bagdasarian said. “Because of this, BENEFIT is offering a stipend and additional recognition for performers if they are a venue host band at our 2023 Crossroads Music Festival.”

For more information about BENEFIT, becoming a BENEFIT Artist or being a venue host band, go to BENEFIT.Live. n

What could be easier than giving away money?

Rocket science, for starters

From personalized family foundations, to memorial funds, to scholarship funds, to donor-advised funds, we can help you make a difference that never ends.

Giving away money can be tougher than you think. Use our expertise to have the greatest impact on your community and the most benefit to all of your charitable giving. We’ll make the whole process easy.

Town of Leesburg

Employment Opportunities

Please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs for more information and to apply online.

Resumes may be submitted as supplemental only. EOE/ADA.

Regular Full-Time Positions

Summer Internship

To review Ida Lee (Parks & Recreation) flexible part-time positions, please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs. Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications. All Town vacancies may be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 67 and Verizon FiOS Channel 35.

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

• Entr y-level/mid-level Position

Contact Info:

Katherine Hicks

305 Harrison Street STE 100 Leesburg, VA 20175

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

Dunlap book

continued from page 3

them— because it’s more about trolling for vulnerability or weakness and that can happen at any age, including to adults.

“It’s no surprise that the younger they are the more susceptible they become,” he said. “Can you call it trafficking? I’m not going to say no.”

He said they see sextortion cases involving both teens and adults several times a month. He said today 42% of victims who initially met their trafficker online never met them in person but were still trafficked.

He said parents need to find ways to better communicate with their children and to be more aware of their children’s activities, habits and peers to protect them from becoming victims of sextortion or sex trafficking.

“Kids are putting their whole life on blogs. It’s a field day for anyone, exploiters, traffickers, they can throw out a fishing line and snare as many as they want,” he said.

“People are worried, I get that. But we can’t burry our heads in the sand, [child trafficking] does happen and it’s a whole lot worse than being told about it,” Dunlap said.

She said she had her former fourthgrade students in mind when she wrote the book.

“When you read something, you can experience an event along with the character and empathize and learn things so much deeper than by the facts you are told. It’s more applicable,” she said.

She decided to base her book in Northern Virginia centered around a young girl who posts a picture on social media and gets a comment from someone she doesn’t know. The girl begins an online relationship with the person and eventually agrees to meet them. Dunlap said she purposefully put the character in peril, but only long enough to leave an impression on readers.

The second half of the book is focused on recovery from trauma with a counselor.

She said she wants children and parents to know how to maneuver online safely by being aware and to remember anyone can be anyone online.

“If something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut, it may save your life. Even if your friends don’t feel it, trust it and listen to yourself. Kids are so concerned about fitting in. It’s better to be alive and safe than have something terrible happen,” she said.

Promisel agreed with listening to your gut. He said the best way for kids to pro-

tect themselves is to be smart about what they put online and to avoid sharing personal information like psychological or traumatic experiences and to avoid falling into the peer pressure trap.

“Everything we’ve talked about thus far comes from someone who represents themselves as a loving, caring, sympathetic person all under the guise that they have the intention to take and ensnare them into whatever they want.”

Dunlap said parents should have a code word kids can text when they don’t feel safe that means they want to be picked up. Other ways parents can keep their kids safe is to have GPS tracking on their phones so they can get to them immediately. The iPhone has a feature that can be turned on in settings under “emergency SOS” that calls 911 by pressing the side button five times fast. It can also reach out to emergency contacts at the same time, letting them know your location if that has been set up in the health app. A warning sound will be triggered when this happens unless it’s disabled. That can be found in the same part of the phone.

It is similar on an Android phone; open settings, then safety and emergency and tap emergency contacts and add a contact. You can add emergency contacts from your contact list. Once this has been added you can go back to settings, scroll down to safety and emergency, tap on emergency SOS and slide the toggle to enable the skill. In this same location you can disable the play alarm sound to not alert the person that 911 has been called. You do have to allow Google Maps to see your location at all times to use this feature.

“If kids can have this as part of their vocabulary and know what it is; what a recruiter is what a trafficker is and know it’s a part of life it can save them. Kids can still go out and have fun but it’s always better to do it safely and to be aware,” Dunlap said.

Dunlap will be at Scrawl Books in Reston on March 31 at 6:00 p.m. to sign books and answer questions about child sex trafficking. n

Legal Notices

VIRGINIA:

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN

RE: ESTATE OF LUIS E. PEDEMONTE, Deceased COURT FILE NO. CLOOW16322

SHOW CAUSE ORDER

It appearing to the Court that the report of the accounts of Laura Greene Moldowan, Administrator of the Estate of Luis E. Pedemonte, and of the debts and demands against the estate has been filed in the Clerk's office and that six months have elapsed since the qualification, and upon motion of the Administrator, IT IS Ordered that the creditors of, and all others interested in, the above estate show cause, if any they can, on the 17th day of March, 2023, at 9:30 A.M. before this Court by remote teleconference, against the payment and delivery of the estate to the distributees without requiring refunding bonds.

3/9 & 3/16/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046150-04-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Marjorie Cruz

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

Endenilson Alavarado, putative father & Unknown 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 Marjorie Cruz.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Endenilson Alavarado, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or April 11, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.

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

ATTENTION NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN LOUDOUN COUNTY

Nonprofit organizations seeking exemption from Loudoun County real and/or personal property taxes for the 2024 tax year may file an application with the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue by the April 3, 2023 deadline. Most charitable nonprofit organizations are not automatically exempt from local property taxes in the Commonwealth, even those that may be exempt from federal income taxes. The filing of an application with the Commissioner of the Revenue is the necessary first step to obtaining a local real estate or personal property tax exemption. Completed applications should be returned to the Commissioner of the Revenue with a postmark by April 3, 2023, for consideration this year. Any exemption, if granted, would be effective January 1, 2024.

Applications are available online at loudoun. gov/cor. For information or assistance, please contact my office at trcor@loudoun.gov or 703-737-8557 weekdays 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

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: 703-737-8557

Email: trcor@loudoun.gov

If you suspect human trafficking or believe you may be a victim of it you can call the 24/7 confidential National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or you can call the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.

3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23 & 3/30/23

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:

ZMAP-2021-0010, ZMOD-2021-0039, ZMOD-2021-0040, ZMOD-2022-0002, ZMOD-2022-0003, ZMOD-2022-0072, ZMOD-2023-0004 & SPEX-2022-0025

DOGWOOD FARM STATION

(Zoning Map Amendment, Zoning Modifications, & Special Exception)

U.S. Home Corporation, of Chantilly, Virginia, and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors of Leesburg, Virginia, have submitted applications for the following: 1) a Zoning Map Amendment to rezone approximately 20.05 acres from A-3 (Agricultural-Residential) zoning district under the Revised 1993 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 up to 505 multifamily units at a density of 26 dwelling units per acre; and 2) a Special Exception to permit a Child Care Center use in the R-24 zoning district. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The proposed Special Exception use is listed under Section 3-704(A) pursuant to the additional regulations of Section 5-609. The applicant also requests the following Zoning Modifications:

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§1-205(A), Interpretation of Ordinance Limitations and Methods for Measurements of Lots, Yards and Related Terms, Lot Access Requirements.

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

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

§3-710(A), R-24 Multifamily Residential, Development Setback and Access from Major Roads, Private Streets.

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

Parking Spaces Required

§5-1403(B), Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Road Corridor Buffers and Setbacks, Road Corridor Buffer and Setbacks Matrix, Table 5-1403(B)

To permit structures requiring a building permit to be erected upon a lot that has frontage on open space.

To allow access to Riverside Parkway (Major Collector Road) from existing Bonnie Court (Local Road) and Garden Center Court (Local Road).

To increase R-24 maximum building height from 45 feet to 70 feet without being setback from streets or lot lines one foot for each additional one foot of height.

To permit an internal private street to serve a childcare center.

To permit a reduction in the amount of parking spaces required for two or more bedroom units in the Multifamily Attached Affordable Housing Unit building from 2 and 2.5 parking spaces per dwelling unit to 1.3 parking spaces per dwelling unit.

To reduce building setback from Riverside Parkway from 75 feet to 40 feet.

To reduce the Route 7 building setback from 200 feet to 150 feet and the parking setback from 125 feet to 100 feet.

The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, between the Ldn 60-65 airport noise contour. The subject property is approximately 20.05 acres in size and is located north of Leesburg Pike (Route 7), west of Bonnie Court (Route 823), and south of Riverside Parkway (Route 607) in Ashburn, Virginia, in the Algonkian Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as:

REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL OF LAND BELONGING TO BRADLEY AND TANDY BONDI FROM THE BEAVERDAM VALLEY AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-4314 and the Beaverdam Valley Agricultural and Forestal District Ordinance, Bradley and Tandy Bondi, of 21398 Willisville Road, Bluemont, Virginia, have submitted an application to withdraw a 144.89-acre parcel and a 141.315-acre parcel from the Beaverdam Valley Agricultural and Forestal District. The subject property is located on the east side, of Willisville Road (Route 623) and north of Welbourne Road (Route 743), in the Little River Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PINs: 641-26-1214 and 641-37-2761. The Beaverdam Valley Agricultural and Forestal District currently has a 4-year period that will expire on June 19, 2026, and is subject to a subdivision minimum lot size of 50 acres.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the applications may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-777-0246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (1-30-2023 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: https://www.loudoun.gov/pc (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for Public Hearings Packet).

SPEX-2022-0041

TOPGOLF LIGHTING

(Special Exception)

(Modify Existing Conditions of Approval)

TopGolf USA Dulles, LLC of Dallas, Texas, has submitted an application for a Special Exception to modify the conditions of approval and special exception plat associated with SPEX-2014-0030 and SPEX-2014-0031 in order to disallow the use of pole lighting and instead allow the use of 16 golf ball tracer lights to be installed in existing driving bays. The subject property is located within the Airport Impact (AI) Overlay District outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contours and located within the Route 28 Taxing District. The subject property is approximately 12.79 acres in size and is located on the south side of Leesburg Pike (Route 7), north side of Russel Branch Parkway (Route 1061) and east of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 607) at 20356 Commonwealth Center, Ashburn, Virginia, in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 039-16-2406. The area is governed by the policies of the Revised General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)), which designates this area for compact, pedestrian-oriented environment consisting of a mix of residential, commercial, entertainment, cultural, and recreational uses at up to 1.0 Floor Area Ratio (FAR).

CMPT-2022-0006

LEESBURG SOUTH FIRE & RESCUE STATION #28 (Commission Permit)

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has submitted an application for Commission approval to permit the construction of a 25,600 square foot fire and rescue station in the AR-1 (Agriculture Rural - 1) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the proposed uses require a Commission Permit in accordance with Section 6-1101. The subject property is located within the Reservoir Protection Area and Steep Slopes Overlay District. The subject property is approximately 29.32 acres in size and is located on the west side of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621), north side of Marcum Farm Court (Route 881), and the south side of The Woods Drive (Route 771), at 21447 Evergreen Mills Road Leesburg, Virginia in the Little River Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 279-49-2419. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Rural Policy Area (Rural North)) which designate this area for agricultural, agricultural supportive, and limited residential uses at a recommended density of up to one dwelling unit per 20 acres or one dwelling unit per five acres equivalent for optional residential clustering in large-lot subdivisions.

SPEX-2022-0012 & ZCPA-2022-0007

BELMONT CHASE II COMMERCIAL

(Special Exception and Zoning Concept Plan Amendment)

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 of up to 1.0.

Regency Centers Acquisitions LLC of Jacksonville, Florida, has submitted applications for the following: 1) a Special Exception to develop an automobile service station with carry-out restaurant in the PDCC(CC) (Planned Development – Commercial Center (Community Center)) zoning district; and 2) a Zoning Concept Plan Amendment to revise proffer language relating to the specific location of outdoor amenities. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed automobile service station is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 4-204(B)(2). The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 4.7 acres in size and is located

Legal Notices

south of Leesburg Pike (Route 7), east of Claiborne Parkway (Route 901), and north of Russell Branch Parkway (Route 1061), in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 083-27-7956. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)), which supports Retail and Service Commercial uses at a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0.

Unless otherwise noted above, full and complete copies of the above-referenced amendments, applications, ordinances and/or plans, and related documents may be examined in the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday or call 703-7770220, or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. This link also provides an additional opportunity for public input on active applications. Additionally, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically the week before the hearing at www.loudoun.gov/pc. For further information, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246.

Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. If you wish to sign up in advance of the hearing, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-7770246 prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing. Speakers may also sign up at the hearing. Written comments are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 3rd Floor, MSC #62, Leesburg, Virginia 20175, or by e-mail to loudounpc@loudoun.gov. If written comments are presented at the hearing, please provide ten (10) copies for distribution to the Commission and the Clerk’s records. All members of the public will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Any individual representing and/or proposing to be the sole speaker on behalf of a citizen’s organization or civic association is encouraged to contact the Department of Planning and Zoning prior to the date of the public hearing if special

SBPR-2023-0004 West Belmont Place Phase 1

Mr. Matthew D. Kroll of Timber Ridge at Belmont, LLC of Ashburn, VA is requesting a preliminary/ record plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately sixteen (16.247) acres into forty-four (44) residential lots, two (2) multi-family landbays, one (1) residue parcel, two (2) open space lots, and accompanying right-of-way and easements. The property is bounded by Belmont Manor Lane to the north, Russell Branch Parkway (Route 1061) to the south, Black Pebble Drive to the east, and Tournament Parkway to the west. The property is zoned Residential - 16 (R16), and Airport Impact Overlay District under the provisions of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is more particularly described as Parcel Identification Number 083-26-6046 in the Ashburn Election District.

Additional information regarding this application may be found on the Loudoun Online Land Applications System www.loudoun.gov/LOLA and searching for SBPR-2023-0004. Complete copies of the above referenced application(s) are also available for public review at the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, Land Development File Room, 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Eric Blankenship at Eric.Blankenship@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to the Department of Building and Development 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by April 13, 2023. The Department of Building and Development will take action on the above application(s) in accordance with the requirements for preliminary subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.08 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO).

3/9/23

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR:

LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION SERVICES, RFP No. 597790 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, March 31, 2023.

POLICE-DIRECTED TOWING, RFP No. 572784 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, April 6, 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.

3/9/23

arrangements for additional speaking time and/or audio-visual equipment will be requested. Such an organization representative will be allotted 6 minutes to speak, and the Chairman may grant additional time if the request is made prior to the date of the hearing and the need for additional time is reasonably justified.

Citizens are encouraged to call the Department of Planning and Zoning on the day of the public hearing to confirm that an item is on the agenda, or, the most current agenda may be viewed on the Planning Commission’s website at www.loudoun.gov/pc. In the event that the second Thursday is a holiday, or the meeting may not be held due to inclement weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend, the meeting will be moved to the third Tuesday of the month. In the event that Tuesday is a holiday, or the Tuesday meeting may not be held due to inclement weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend, the meeting will be held on the following Thursday. The meeting will be held at a place determined by the Chairman.

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings at all other locations. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246. Please provide three days’ notice.

BY ORDER OF: MICHELLE FRANK,

CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

Public Notice

The Town of Leesburg Commission Vacancies

3/9 & 3/16/23

The Town of Leesburg is soliciting applications for multiple Commission vacancies. Current vacancies include: Commission on Public Art, Diversity Commission, Environmental Advisory 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.

3/9/2023

Loudoun County Public Schools Community Information Meetings on Future School Facility Projects

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Department of Support Services continues to schedule monthly community meetings to share information on funded, planned and proposed school capital projects. By design and to focus the discussion and public involvement, each community meeting will spotlight a specific geographic area of Loudoun County. The March and April meetings will highlight LCPS’ Dulles South and Dulles North planning districts, respectively. Additional community meetings for other areas of the county will be scheduled and announced.

Date & Time Auditorium of Meeting Spotlight

Wednesday, March 22, 2023 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 20, 2023 6:00 p.m.

Mercer Middle School (42149 Greenstone Drive, Aldie) Dulles South Area

(General Description: North of Prince William County, East of Town of Middleburg, South of Rt 50, West of Fairfax County)

Brambleton Middle School (23070 Learning Circle, Ashburn) Dulles North Area

(General Description: North of Rt 50, East of Goose Creek, South of Rt 267, West of Rt 28)

Following each meeting, the presentation will be posted on the LCPS website, at https://www.lcps.org/ Page/81470.

Those who need translation/interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate meaningfully in the community meetings should contact the Support Services office at least three (3) days prior to the specific meeting.

Kevin L. Lewis, Chief Operations Officer

Loudoun County Public Schools

Department of Support Services

21000 Education Court

Ashburn, Virginia 20148

Telephone: 571-252-1385

Email: LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG

3/9/23 – 4/20/23

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

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

PROPOSED MODIFICATION

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.

Legal Notices

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS

§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 8.5 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

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

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLE 11 FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVISING PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE HOTEL/MOTEL USE IN THE B-1 DISTRICT

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 to consider Zoning Ordinance Amendment TLOA-2022-0009 to revise the following provision of the Zoning Ordinance:

Article 11, Section 11.3 Number of Parking Spaces Required – amending this section to reduce the number of required parking spaces for the hotel and motel uses in the B-1, Community (Downtown) Business District.

Copies and additional information regarding this proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by calling 703-771-2774 and asking for Brian Boucher, Deputy Director. Mr. Boucher can also be reached by email at bboucher@leesburgva.gov. This Zoning Ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLOA-2022-0009.

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.

3/2/23 & 3/9/23

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

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

LVZA 2022-0003

AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 42, ZONING, ARTICLE 42-VI (Residential Districts), Division 42-VI-3 (Specific Districts) and ARTICLE 42-VII (Commercial and Light Industrial Zoning Districts)

The LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at 6:30pm in the Town Council Chambers, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia, to consider the following amendments to the Lovettsville Zoning Ordinance:

• Sections 42-233 (CRA-1), 42-258 (C-1 Community Commercial District), Section 42-259 (C-2 Mixed Use Business District), and Section 42-260 (CI-1 Commercial and Limited Industrial/Flex District): modify uses to increase protection for the Town’s water supply by requiring legislative review of commercial uses that may include the storage, distribution, or sale of herbicides, pesticides, petroleum products or other hazardous or toxic materials.

• Section 42-257 (Purpose; Specific Requirements for All Districts): regulate the storage of hazardous and toxic materials within 1,000 feet of a Town well.

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

Written comments regarding this item can be submitted to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00PM on the day of the meeting. Members of the public may access and participate in this meeting electronically. The proposed zoning amendments are available for review on the Town’s website at: www.lovettsvilleva. gov/government/planning-commission/ You may also request a copy be sent to you via email by contacting John Merrithew, Planning Director at (540) 822-5788 between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays, holidays excepted. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened on the next regularly scheduled meeting at the same time and place.

Legal Notices

ABC LICENSE

Badeer Fahmy trading as CNB Cut LLC, 2350 Overhand Dr. Suite 126, Sterling, Virginia 20166.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Marketplace license 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.

3/9 & 3/16/23

ABC LICENSE

Lovettsville Cooperative Market Inc. trading as Lovettsville Cooperative Market - The Co-op, 11 Town Center Drive, Suite 150, Lovettsville, VA 20180-8543.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Convenience Grocery Store to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Glenn Willard, Member, Board of Directors

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.

3/2 & 3/9/23

ABC LICENSE

Gael, LLC trading as Pollo Inti 2, 544 Fort Evans Rd NE, Leesburg, Virginia 20176-4098.

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

Gael, LLC

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

3/2 & 3/9/23

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

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLE 6 NONRESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS, ARTICLE 8 PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS, ARTICLE 9 USE REGULATIONS, ARTICLE 11 PARKING, LOADING AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS, ARTICLE 12 TREE PRESERVATION, LANDSCAPING, SCREENING, OPEN SPACE AND OUTDOOR LIGHTING, AND ARTICLE 18 DEFINITIONS RELATING TO ESTABLISHING DATA CENTER USES

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 16, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 to consider Zoning Ordinance Amendment TLOA-2022-0006 revising the following Sections of the Zoning Ordinance:

1. Sec. 6.5 B-3, Community Retail/Commercial District to establish Data Center as a special exception use in the B-3 District.

2. Sec. 6.7 I-1 Industrial/Research Park District to establish Data Center as a by-right use with minimum use standards in the I-1 District.

3. Sec. 8.6 PEC, Planned Employment Center District to establish Data Center as a by-right use with minimum use standards in the PEC District.

4. Sec. 9.2 Use Table to reflect Data Center as permissible uses in the B-3 and I-1 Districts with applicable use standards.

5. Sec. 9.3.6.2 Data Center to establish minimum use standards applicable to all data center applications.

6. Sec. 9.8 Flex Industrial Business Park amending Table 9.8.4 Allowable Uses in Flex Industrial/ Business Park Developments to add Data Center and remove Electronic Data Storage Center.

7. Sec. 11.3 Number of Parking Spaces Required to establish the minimum number of parking spaces required for data center uses.

8. Sec. 11.9 Number of Off-Street Loading Spaces to establish minimum number of loading spaces required with data center uses.

9. Sec. 12.8 Buffers and Screening to establish minimum buffer and screening requirements applicable to data center uses.

10. Sec. 18.1 Terms Defined establishing definitions for Data Center and Dedicated Utility Substation. Copies and additional information regarding this proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment is available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by calling 703-737-7009 and asking for Christopher Murphy, Senior Planning Project Manager. This zoning ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLOA2022-0006.

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) 7712434 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

3/2/2023 & 3/9/2023

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

ABC LICENSE

Breanne Brady trading as Cowbell Kitchen, 26 North King Street, Leesburg, Virginia. The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Mixed Beverage license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Breanne Brady, 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.

3/2 & 3/9/23

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.

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

ON THE PROPOSED 2023 TAX RATES AND SCHEDULE OF FEES FOR FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2023 - JUNE 30, 2024

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-107, 15.2-1427, 15.2-2111, 15.2-2119, 15.2-2122, and 15.2-2143 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on March 23, 2023 at 6:30pm in the Town Council Chamber, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia at which time the public shall have the right to provide written and oral comments on the Town’s proposed schedule of fees for tax year 2023 and fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024.

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

Copies of the proposed budget are available on the Town website and are 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.

GENERAL FUND

Real Estate Tax (per $100 assessed value) $0.1625 (Elderly/Disabled Real Estate Tax discount is 100% for qualifying residents)

Meals Tax 3% on gross receipts Cigarette Tax $0.40 per pack Transient Occupancy Tax 5% of gross receipts

License Tax $25.00 per car/truck/motorcycle

Facilities Use Permit $25.00 In-Town Rate $50.00 Out-of-Town Rate

No charge for work valued under $25,000.00 annually; Fee of $30.00 plus a tax of $0.16/$100 for gross receipts over $25,000.00

Permit – Minor $75 Zoning Permit – Major $150 Pool Permit (Fence Included) $75

Zoning Determination Letter $75

Demolition Permit $0

Rezoning/Zoning Map Amendment** $750 FOR FIRST ACRE + $250 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL ACRE

Proffer Amendment $500

Ordinance Amendment** $150 Home Occupancy Permit $75

Zoning Certificate $75

Sign Permit – Permanent (UP TO 3 SIGNS) $75

Sign Permit – Temporary (PER SIGN) $25

Preliminary Plat $300 + $15 PER LOT

Preliminary Plat Amendment $250

Final Plat $500 + $25 PER LOT

Final Plat Amendment $250

Boundary Line Adjustment $250

Minor Subdivision Plan/Plat $300 + $15 PER LOT

Preliminary Site Plan $1,000+ $50 PER ACRE

APPLICATION FEES

Final Site Plan $1,000 FOR FIRST ACRE + $50 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL ACRE

Preliminary/Final Site Plan $1,000 FOR FIRST ACRE + $50 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL ACRE

Conditional Use Permit** $350

Subdivision/Site Plan Exception* $100 PER SECTION VARIED

Comprehensive Plan Amendment $2,500

Occupancy Permit $75

Bond Reduction (PER REDUCTION) $100

Bond Release $150

VDOT Street Acceptance $150

Variance/Appeal* $100

Subdivision/Site Plan Engineering & Legal Consultant Review Deposit Fee** $3,000

Comprehensive Plan (Document) $40

Notes:

* Additional charges for advertising and/or adjacent property owner notification will be billed to the applicant. (Applicants are responsible for all base fees as well as any engineering or Town Attorney Review Costs)

** As required by Section 30-37 of the Town Code for subdivision construction drawings and development site plans. If actual costs differ from amount deposited, the excess shall be paid by the applicant to the Town or difference refunded to the applicant, as applicable. FREEDOM

Cost for staff time to research and respond to FOIA requests will be based on the hourly rate of the appropriate staff member(s) responding to the request. For more information, see the Town of Lovettsville Freedom of Information Act Policy and FOIA Request Form.

UTILITIES FUND

FEES

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

water and sewer accounts after the minimum billed usage and an additional dollar amount is applied per 1,000 gallons and includes a 3% increase in residential 5/8 & 3/4 meter sizes, as well as rates for non-residential and other size water meter connections.

DEPOSITS FOR NEW WATER AND SEWER ACCOUNTS

$116.29 WATER AND SEWER INSPECTION FEES

Inspection Fee $1.90 x linear foot of Water Main + $2.15 x linear foot of Sewer Main + $300 for Beneficial Use Inspection + $300 Final Inspection

Lateral Inspection Fee $150 per connection- charged with Zoning Permit for the building

Record Drawing Fee $1,350 + $1.25/linear foot of Water Main + $1.50/linear foot of Sewer Main

Water Modeling Fee Engineering Reimbursable- cost to update water model to include new water lines and provide required information to VDH for their review and approval; component of Engineering Deposit.

Hydrant Flow Test Fee $100 + provide needed testing equipment

Lateral Upgrade Fee $100 + Cost of meter (when existing connection upgrades to a larger size meter)

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.

Notes:

*** Upgrades from a smaller meter size will equal the difference between the new availability fee and the current availability worth of the existing meter size.

These actions are authorized by the Code of Virginia §15.2-2111 - §15.2-2143 & §15.2-2111 -

2119 $30.00 bank charge for all returned checks

Keeping Control

For nearly a decade, the remote tower system at Leesburg Executive Airport has made operations there safer and more efficient—contributing to the growth of the important community business asset during that time.

While the system remains experimental under the federal evaluation program, it has achieved the critical designation of being operationally viable. Although that’s still short of the FAA’s standard for rolling the technology out at airports across the country, it was an acknowledgment that the system works.

And, in this situation, it should be allowed to continue to work—at least until a comparable air traffic control system can be stood up in its place. Most likely, that means the construction of a brick-and-mortar tower.

That is the conventional path growing airports take and Leesburg was in line to get a tower

years ago. Those plans have been sidelined as the airport became a showcase for this new technology that, if ultimately certified, could save local communities (including ours) and the federal government millions of construction dollars while more rapidly improving air safety. That may be a path the FAA no longer wishes to pursue, but Leesburg’s airport and its pilots and their passengers need not be penalized for the bureaucracy’s changing course.

A more suitable outcome is to allow the remote system to continue operations while local, state and federal leaders work to accelerate construction of a conventional tower—moving Leesburg to the front of the line if need be to ensure it is not punished for investing in an experiment of national significance.

The FAA has no greater responsibility than promoting air safety. Requiring Leesburg Executive Airport to return to uncontrolled operations does not advance that mission. n

LETTERS to the Editor

Wake Up

Editor:

As we face another Board of Supervisors election period, I have to ask if the minimum expectations have been met.

Yes, I ran as an independent taking no donations from anyone against two opponents, with nearly $1 million campaigns, who I believed to be less competent.

For those who are too busy with normal life to spend an hour on Election Day voting, I want to ask what part of non-participation are you proud of? Rt. 15 north of Leesburg widening was approved and budgeted yet not one additional

inch of blacktop has been placed. Amazon, Microsoft and Google have added tens of millions to our budget, yet we can’t seem to get our property tax rate close to the rest of Virginia. The largest component of our budget is LCPS, yet this board instead of earning their stipend (for a part time) job evaluating it chose to just give them a fixed percentage of the collected budget. The largest taxpayers (by assets) in Loudoun pay no taxes or reduced taxes, while residential homeowners get no such breaks. Nobody is stewarding our tax dollars, rather they are just spending it.

Loudoun County is made up of

many different cultures, but one thing is clear. Most of the residents were not born in Loudoun so why would reparations for slavery be a priority for the Board of Supervisors when most residents probably grew up in “northern” states? Does anyone remember the first push of this board after getting elected? It was bi-directional—take over the Sheriff Office and take down 100-plusyear-old statues. Is that a priority for residents?

Wake up and vote this time and stop voting on party lines but choose quality candidates.

— Bob Ohneiser, Lucketts

Norman K. Styer, Publisher and Editor - nstyer@loudounnow.com

EDITORIAL

Renss Greene, Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com

Jan Mercker, Reporter jmercker@loudounnow.com

Alexis Gustin, Reporter agustin@loudounnow.com

Hanna Pampaloni, Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

ADVERTISING

Susan Styer, Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.com

Tonya Harding, Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.com

Vicky Mashaw, Account Executive vmashaw@loudounnow.com

Budget hearings

continued from page 4

She particularly urged growing the public benefits and child protective services programs, citing crisis-level caseloads.

“At the end of the last year, the average number of cases per benefits specialist in Loudoun County was double the recommended number. They are just not able to do their jobs effectively,” she said. “The scenario described above is similarly reflected in the CPS program, which has the highest caseload in the entire Commonwealth of Virginia. At the end of last year, the average number of cases per caseworker was more than four times the recommended guidelines. High caseloads and workloads dramatically impact a specialist’s ability to ensure child safety in our county.”

Loudoun Community Services Board Chair Patty Morrissey urged the board to stay on track with plans to fund a mental health crisis receiving and stabilization center, somewhat like an urgent care for mental health.

“Our capacity to appropriately care for people in a mental health crisis is very limited given the demand, and often our citizens don’t know where to go for help,” she said. And she said today, even many people who go looking for help—or are placed under an emergency temporary detention order—don’t get it.

“Our most recent data shows that 79% of people treated for a psychiatric crisis end up spending more than two days boarding in a hospital emergency room before appropriate treatment or hospitalization at a mental health facility is provided—or the patient decides to leave on their own accord,” she said. “In the second half of 2022, a hospital bed could not be secured prior to a temporary detention order expiring for 69 people. This is a failure of the community safety net. This endangers both individuals suffering a mental health crisis as well as the public.”

Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions co-founder Jean Wright urged the county board to fund a proposed environmental work plan and energy strategy in the county budget.

“It is a matter of urgency. NASA has just released its latest update on vital signs of the planet stating that 2022 is the fifth warmest year on record, with the last nine consecutive years, being the warmest nine on record,” she said. “The good news is that we here in Loudoun County can make a difference for the environment, but that difference includes passing the full budget.”

That project, which is included in the draft county budget, includes a range of green energy and environmental projects and hiring a new energy program manager to oversee that work.

“As a walker and hiker, I see the eroding river and stream banks and too many dying and dead trees. Also, I’m hearing and seeing fewer birds. This saddens me. The energy work plan is essential to the health of our soils, water animals, vegetables, and yes, human life,” Wright said.

Piedmont Environmental Council spokesperson Gem Bingol said the energy program manager, in particular, is a crucial hire.

“This person is essential to start implementing the energy strategy and getting them on board will help to apply for and receive grants from the Department of Energy to support the goals of the strategy,” she said. “Without this position the strategy will be just another good idea on the shelf at a time when urgent action is needed.”

And Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy Executive Director Michael Myers, speaking for the county’s Environmental Commission which proposed the work plan and energy strategy, the part of that plan that would collect county information on energy and natural resources in one easily accessible place on the county website. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy Conservation Advocacy Specialist Trinity Mills said that hub, along with a new watershed management plan, would end up also saving the county money.

“Funding these important projects would help provide the county with actionable tools to prevent environmental issues regarding improper or incomplete water quality protection. This in turn would ultimately save the county time and money by enacting a proactive approach to correct issues within the watershed before they become costly or dangerous,” she said.

And Ashby Ponds resident Louise Evertt said if the county makes glass recycling collection widely available, “you’ll hear a loud cheer from Ashby Ponds.” Already, she said, residents there routinely collect glass from their neighbors and transport it to the nearest glass recycling drop-off at Sterling Park Community Recycling Center by Park View High School.

SEIU Virginia 512 Loudoun County Chair Julius Reynolds said this will be the last budget the Board of Supervisors passes without a collective bargaining agreement with its employees in place, and “we deserve a seat at the table.”

“Without hearing from employees directly and collaboration, how can the county hope to pass a budget that matches the reality about jobs?” he said. “When

employees like me have to work two or three jobs to make ends meet, then it means that significant changes need to be made. Many of our employees also can’t live in the county that they work in, and those that do in many cases are hardly ‘living’ in the county but merely existing, because it’s so expensive to live and thrive here.”

SEIU member and Loudoun County employee Stacey Fedewa said at a previous government job, a union contract had protected her from retaliation by an elected treasurer who sought to cut her pay.

“The union contract gave me a choice. Without that, I would have just left him and went back to bartending. And right now, Loudoun County employees don’t have the same choices that I did, and we need to move to change that,” she said.

And others came to urge the board to invest more in affordable housing, including some asking them to push the halfcent of the real estate tax dedicated to the housing fund up to a full penny, or about $12 million a year in tax revenues.

Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance Executive Director Jill Norcross said the current funding proposal is insufficient to meet the demands for housing or the goals in the county’s Unmet Housing Needs Strategic Plan.

“It’s not an issue of charity, but it is an issue that directly ties to Loudoun County’s future economic wealth and prosperity,” Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties Executive Director Amy Owen said. “We also believe workforce housing shall not compromise the rural landscape and environmental safeguards in our community; and further, that thoughtful development that meets the county’s unmet housing strategic plan through innovation, flexibility, reduced parking allocation along with increased density, merits approval and support.”

Members of New Virginia Majority, some speaking through interpreters, told their own stories of growing housing costs and struggling to afford their homes. They also said that COVID-19 era federal aid does not help all taxpayers equally.

“We know that the income assistance program will use the money from the ARPA emergency funds that was established during COVID. The restrictions on immigration status put on this program hurt the disadvantaged families in the community,” New Virginia Majority community leader Kellen Orellana said. “I urge the Board of Supervisors and county administrators to work with equity and inclusion for all communities regardless of their race, color or immigration status.” n

Capital plans

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sooner with money from the county’s yearend fund balance. After the county closes its books on a fiscal year, it typically has as much as $100 million in unspent funds, some of which is used for one-time expenses like construction projects.

After Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) could not find support on the committee to fund those projects immediately out of a contingency fund, he asked supervisors to send that discussion to their December fund balance talks. They will consider spending the $4.39 million estimated to fund a weight room expansion at Dominion, and press boxes and tennis court lighting at Dominion and Potomac Falls.

Supervisors approved all of those plans 3-0-2, with Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) and Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) absent. The capital budget changes will go to the full Board of Supervisors for approval when they vote on their annual budget in early April.

More changes could be on the way. The committee also directed county staff members to come up with options to fund a number of road projects sooner by delaying funding to extend Prentice Drive from Lockridge Road, across Loudoun County Parkway to the intersection of Shellhorn Road and Metro Center Drive. That $150 million project is up for major funding next fiscal year, with some funding beginning this year and some design work already done.

Letourneau said since that project was planned, things on the ground have changed and there are now higher priorities for that money.

“When we first started the planning around this, the land use of this area was not known. We were talking about potentially having pretty high-density residential development just outside the 65 LDN [airport noise zone] on the Loudoun County Parkway corridor. It did not develop that way,” Letourneau said. “It is data center alley today, and it will continue to be throughout this entire corridor, which just does not generate much traffic.”

Two of the other projects that could be moved up, he said, also make the same road connection. He suggested planned projects to extend Shellhorn Road, extend and widen Westwind Drive, and to widen Rt. 7, Loudoun County Parkway, and Braddock Road as options. Other committee members also suggested moving up plans to build bus stops. Committee members plan to hear those options on March 8 n

Housing challenges

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The letter said that she had been approved to have her voucher updated to cover the added rent cost. Without additional help, she would have been left with very little of her $1,000 monthly Social Security check.

She said several of her neighbors are experiencing similar circumstances.

“There’s a lady … who is certainly disabled, she’s probably about 75,” the resident said. “She’s worried sick because she got the same letter I did.”

Manager of Renew Apartments

Purcellville Laurel Ellerts said the company doesn’t want to turn anyone away or evict anyone but that as a taxcredit community, there are certain requirements and standards they have to meet. She said that when they took over the property, they learned that the required documents and paperwork for many tenants were in disarray.

“Things were not looked after the way they should have been looked after with the previous owner of this whole entire property with files and even making sure that the right person was on the account,” she said. “We noticed many, many, many apartments that we had them in the system as occupied and then we would find that they hadn’t been living there for a year.”

Ellerts said Renew is working to improve conditions around the complex and have already completed upgrades to the laundry room, replaced every toilet in the apartments, and completed construction of a community event space.

Better A Life founder Elizabeth Ford, whose nonprofit works to reduce and eliminate food insecurity for children and frequents the subsidized housing neighborhoods, said she has seen an increase in eviction notices as she’s been delivering

Report subpeona

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release the report, which was prepared by Fairfax County law firm Blankingship & Keith at Ziegler’s request. The assaults also prompted a special grand jury investigation that resulted in criminal charges against Ziegler and Public Information Officer Wayde Byard. Ziegler was fired and Byard placed on unpaid leave.

The Blankingship & Keith report was

food. She said she also knows some of the families personally who have been evicted and are struggling to find new and safe environments to live in.

County Programs Leave Very Low-Income Individuals Lacking

The program that serves the lowest-income people also offers less than half as much help in some areas of Loudoun compared to others.

Loudoun County has a variety of low-income housing programs including the Affordable Dwelling Unit Rental Program, the Affordable Dwelling Unit Purchase Program and homeownership loan programs, joining nonprofits that assist with housing costs.

But the program that provides assistance to residents with a very low-income classification is the Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly known as Section 8. Other programs, such as the ADU Rental program have a required income minimum, which at its lowest is 30% of the median household income for the area. That program also requires that the household not make more than 50% of the median household income. The requirements listed on the Affordable Dwelling Unit program website outline that a single person’s household income must be at least $29,900 and no more than $49,850.

And Loudoun County’s Housing Choice Voucher Program currently is closed and not accepting new applications for the waiting list, leaving little recourse for those who do not make the minimum income requirements for other programs.

With no minimum income requirement, the voucher program is a primary source of help from the federal government for very low-income individuals. However, there is a payment standard—the maximum amount of assistance that the voucher program will support for the rent and additional utility allowance—for varying

completed in January 2022, but the School Board decided not to release it to the public, even with redactions. In December a report from the special grand jury was unsealed that detailed the assaults and the administration’s actions and claimed administrators were “looking out for their own interest instead of the best interest of LCPS.” The grand jury also urged greater transparency from the school district, and that “the School Board should limit the degree to which legitimate matters and information of public concern are

ZIP codes within Loudoun County.

For the Purcellville 20132 ZIP code, the maximum amount of aid for a single-bedroom apartment is $1,300. That’s only the fourth lowest of the 20 zones in Loudoun, ahead of Middleburg, Upperville and Bluemont, according to the Loudoun County website. A review of online listings for rentals found that one-bedroom apartments in Purcellville start just shy of $1,500 a month. Renew and Purcellville East apartments rent single-bedroom apartments starting at about $1,480.

The Middleburg 20117 ZIP code is the lowest, at only $990 for a one-bedroom apartment. It’s across Snickersville Turnpike from the Aldie/Stone Ridge 20105 ZIP code. Across the street, the voucher program provides more than twice as much, at $2,125 for a onebedroom apartment.

Applicants who are able to qualify and receive a voucher must also go through a qualification process with their potential landlord.

Ellerts said that when potential tenants approach Renew with a voucher, they fill out documents to confirm their income and that they are able to make payments on the remainder of the rent.

Lack of aid combined with rising housing costs is also affecting children enrolled in Purcellville schools. Loudoun County

shielded from the public under the cloak of attorney-client privilege.”

The release of the special grand jury report renewed the push from the public, joined by the Loudoun Board of Supervisors, to release the independent report.

School Board Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) and Vice Chair Harris Mahedavi (Ashburn) maintained it was protected under attorney-client privilege. County supervisors wrote the School Board twice asking them to release the report, even reminding them they could release a redact-

Public Schools Family Liaison Erin Bucci, who works in several schools in western Loudoun, said she is seeing children drop out and leave school as a result of their families either being evicted from their apartments or moving to find cheaper housing out of the county. She said even if they are able to remain in the same area, the effects trickle down into other aspects of their schooling.

Transportation is one of those areas that trickle down.

“They [often] only have the one car that they’re sharing. And it takes several days once you’ve changed your address for the system to catch up with it, understandably, so transportation has to totally reroute students to pick them up at their new place.”

“Evictions do, they affect the kids,” she added. “Also, some of them are—well, probably they’re all on free and reduced lunch. Some of them take food home for the weekend. So, it affects all of that.”

With federal programs not providing enough assistance to those in Loudoun’s western towns, Purcellville Mayor Stanley J. Milan is looking for a way the town can help those who are struggling to find affordable housing.

He said the town is considering the possibility of utilizing some of the properties it owns for affordable housing, as well as possibly hosting a business summit to garner help from local business owners.

“Affordable housing is a complicated political football,” he said adding, “It’s not easy and the median income in Loudoun County is pretty high.”

He said if the town pursues transitioning its properties, he would like to see students from a vocational school, work on the property for school credit under the supervision of licensed professionals as a way for the town to mitigate costs. n

ed version in order to regain trust. They emphasized that withholding the report is voluntary, not required, and “attorney-client privilege belongs to the client and not the attorney. Any client at any time can waive the privilege.”

School Board members Tiffany Polifko (Broad Run), John Beatty (Catoctin) and Denise Corbo (At-large) voted to release the report.

A Circuit Court hearing on the motion to compel is scheduled April 6. n

“Affordable housing is a complicated political footbal. It’s not easy and the median income in Loudoun County is pretty high.”

— Mayor Stanley Milan, Purcellville

A Nature Walk Along the W&OD Trail

BY EMILY SOUTHGATE

On a breezy February day, I ventured onto the W&OD Trail just west of the Leesburg Bypass to see what birds might be enjoying the weather. Two red-shouldered hawks entertained me with their aerial courtship display, while chickadees, Carolina wrens, downy woodpeckers and many other species called from the bushes and trees.

Any time of year, the W&OD offers walkers a welcome glimpse into the natural wonders of Loudoun County, from rock outcrops and a large quarry to fields, forests and streams. On both sides of the trail, I enjoyed a view of fast-flowing streams, bubbling over rocks, bordered by some huge whitebarked sycamore trees.

The gentle grade, with no steep hills, reflects the history of the trail as a railroad bed. The section I walked along in February was sometimes built up to form a narrow ridge, and in others, blasted through the greenstone rock that forms the geological barrier between eastern and western Loudoun County. I hardly noticed that the trail was slowly climbing to its peak of 606 feet. The 23 miles of the W&OD in Loudoun County, ending in Purcellville, provides a glimpse of the county’s varied terrain and ecology.

When I hear the term “trail,” I think of a dirt path through woods, mountains or other natural habitats, such as the Appalachian Trail, which predominantly follows natural topography. Because of its history, however, the W&OD is not that kind of trail. Its gradual grade was engineered to accommodate trains, and the trail designers replaced the tracks with parallel paths of asphalt and gravel. As a result, the hard-surface trail (with a yellow dividing line) is safe and easy to walk, ride a bicycle, rollerblade or push a stroller, and the gravel portion, designed for use by horseback riders, provides a more natural feeling.

There is a lot of nature to observe all along the trail. On satellite images you can see the trail as a ribbon of green, often trees and shrubs, even in built-up areas. Naturalists have reported seeing well over 100 kinds of birds along the trail, for example, and a large number of both native and non-native plants.

In walking just a mile or so along the trail at the eastern edge of the county, I passed through a microcosm of ecological succession, the sequence of plants

that naturally colonize open fields as they begin their evolution to forest. Grasses and showy goldenrod and asters formed the first stage. In the fall, I noticed the bright red leaves of both shining and staghorn sumac, where shrubs were taking over from the herbaceous plants. Birds such as beautiful yellow goldfinches were flocking to their fruits. At another point, beautiful stands of red cedar, with oaks and other trees of mature forest in their understory, marked the beginning progression to a forest.

Wherever the trail crosses wetlands and streams, native willows and sycamores grace the banks. Some more open streambanks, such as those involved in stream restoration projects in Leesburg, may have jewelweed, and even the bright red cardinal flower. If you see jewelweed in fruit, stop and enjoy a few minutes gently squeezing the fruits to have them pop and forcefully eject their seeds.

Although the history of the trail has resulted in a concentration of non-native weeds along the right-of-way, native plants still flourish and provide links to

its history. For example, where the trail passes through abandoned farmland, rows of black walnut, box-elder and hackberry mark old field edges. A variety of maples, oaks and hickories give hints of the future of the local forests.

Accessing the trail from Hampshire Park in Ashburn, I saw native vines, including native clematis, beautiful in both flower and fruit, and native grapes, which provide food for birds and small mammals. Sassafras, Virginia creeper and poison ivy added to fall colors, and also feed wildlife. Grasses are more subtle, but also beautiful—the bluegreen broomsedge, which turns golden in winter, bottle-brush grass with long awns that make it look like filmy brushes, and purple-top, abundant with tiny dark purple flowers and fruits.

Non-native plants, unfortunately, have proliferated as well: Tree-of-heaven, a major host of the insect pest, spotted lantern fly, for example, and many invasive shrubs and small trees, such as privet, Bradford pear and autumn olive. Nova Parks historian Paul McCray noted to me that catalpas and princess trees are found especially near old railroad

stations. Their fluffy fruits were used as early “bubble-wrap,” and opening packages for inspection allowed their seeds to spread.

My winter walks on the W&OD route revealed an abundance of birds, especially visible without the leaves on most of the trees and shrubs. Flashes of white tail-feathers caught my eye as I flushed a flock of juncos from the grass, often with white-throated sparrows, both birds that spend their winters here and nest much farther north. Woodpeckers, from the diminutive downy to the Woody Woodpecker-like pileated, are easy to see on the gray bark of trees. An occasional bald eagle may soar past, starting to build its nest in January. Brilliant red cardinals and bright azure bluebirds and blue jays add color to the mostly brown and gray winter landscape.

So, the next time you are on the trail, take some time to look around you. You may find a bird’s nest in the vines in a chain link fence as I did, or a bright flower hidden in the grass along the trail, or enjoy the vivid colors of Virginia creeper high in a tree in the fall. Listen for the birds, and a stream rippling over the rocks, and consider volunteering for a group to help remove invasives from the right-of-way along the trail and plant more natives.

For more information about the trail, see the Northern Virginia Regional Parks website, Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park | Nova Parks and the map on Loudoun County’s GeoHub; go to “Enjoy Loudoun,” and then to “Take a Trail Ride.” Though a bit dated, the latter provides much current information. The Friends of the W&OD also has a helpful website: FOWOD (wodfriends.org).You can learn more about the history of the railroad and the trail in two previous articles in this column: The Rise and Demise of the W&OD Railroad, May 19, 2022, and The W&OD’s Odyssey from Rail to Trail, Sept. 22, 2022, both by Paul McCray. n

Emily Southgate is a historical ecologist/ botanist who lives in Loudoun County. She is the author of “People and the Land Through Time: Linking Ecology and History.” 2nd ed., Yale University Press, 2019. In Our Backyard is sponsored by the Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition. For more information about the organization, go to loudouncoalition.org.

Every trip down the W&OD Trail can be a nature walk if one takes the time to look and listen.