Loudoun Now for March 11, 2021

n LOUDOUN

Pg. 4 | n LEESBURG

VOL. 6, NO. 15

Pg. 6 | n PUBLIC SAFETY

Pg. 10 | n OBITUARIES

We've got you covered. In the mail weekly. Online always at LoudounNow.com

THE YEAR OF COVID

Pg. 22 | n PUBLIC NOTICES

Pg. 24

MARCH 11, 2021

ECRWSS Postal Customer

Permit #1374 Merrifield VA

PAID

PRESRT STD U.S. Postage

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 2

MARCH 11, 2021

$1,000 Off First Month's Rent!

Brand New 55+ Community In Berryville, VA For More Info: 430 Mosby Blvd Berryville, VA 22611 (540)277-2567 CLambert@MarkDanaVa.com

Be Closer to Family Granite Countertops Smart Laundry Private Balconies 1 & 2 Bedrooms Available 2 Bdrm is a Roommate Friendly Layout

FITNESS FACILITY * BEAUTY SALON * BUSINESS CENTER * MULTI-USE ACTIVITY ROOMS

NewApartmentHome.com

APPLY TODAY! Professionally managed by:

MARCH 11, 2021

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 3

The Pandemic’s Lasting Lessons LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Loudoun Medical Corps volunteer Karen Tortora jabs Sterling resident Tony Sutphin with his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the Loudoun County Health Department’s distribution center in the former Nordstrom’s department store at the Dulles Town Center mall. As of this week, more than 91,000 doses have been administered in Loudoun.

Reliving the Year of COVID LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

It was one year ago that Loudoun County’s government and public health leaders activated emergency management operations in anticipation of the arrival of a new, deadly virus spreading rapidly around the globe.

It quickly became clear that this wasn’t going to be a short-lived threat, like a passing hurricane or mammoth blizzard that would typically spur the ramping of the multi-department Emergency Operations Center. Within a few weeks, schools and businesses would be closed by government fiat, patients would fill hospital wards with no clear treatment protocols, and the virus would spread mysteriously through the community with little testing or tracing in place to understand its movements.

No one then predicted that most students would be sitting through their lessons on Chromebooks, that masks would become part of daily attire, or that receiving an email confirming an upcoming vaccine appointment would be hailed as an essential step toward returning to life as normal.

The Virus Arrives For Loudoun Now, the hundreds of ar-

ticles written about the pandemic and its impact began March 3, 2020, with a breakfast meeting of the Leesburg Daybreak Rotary Club at the Tuscarora Mill restaurant.

There, Loudoun County Public Health Director Dr. David Goodfriend began to introduce the community to what was coming—although it is clear now how little was known about the virus.

At that time, the World Health Organization reported that more than 91,000 people worldwide had been infected and more than 3,000 had died from COVID-19.

However, no cases were yet reported in Virginia.

Goodfriend said there already could be cases in Northern Virginia region, but patients haven’t been tested for the virus so far because of a shortage of testing kits. “We just haven’t tested for it,” he said. “Just because we don’t know about it doesn’t mean it is not here.”

The advice disseminated in the early days now illustrates how little was known about the virus. Goodfriend said that, with evidence the virus is not transferred through the air, keeping high-contact surfaces clean—doorknobs, bathroom facilities and elevator buttons, among them— was important. It wasn’t clear how long the virus could live on a surface, whether a few

hours or a couple of days. He also stressed an important recommendation of national public health leaders—urging residents not to make a run on surgical masks that would be needed by medical professionals.

While the shortage of personal protective equipment would become a months-long challenge, a reversal would soon follow on the important role masks would play in preventing the transmission of the disease by unknowingly infected by asymptomatic people.

“In Loudoun County, we always say, if you see flu in the summer, think Lyme disease,” Goodfriend said. “If it looks like you have the flu in March and April you might want to think coronavirus. And it would be great at this point if we had the tests and we just send it to the lab to get the answer, but we’re not there yet.”

One week later, the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in Loudoun, involving a parishioner believed to have come in contact with the virus while attending Christ Church, Georgetown in Washington, DC, where the church’s reverend, Timothy Cole, had tested positive for the virus. It was the eighth known infection in Virginia.

RELIVING COVID continues on page 33

When the first orders to close down nonessential businesses and start taking serious precautions came down, it set both business and government scrambling to adapt. At that time, few people living had been through a pandemic. Nobody knew exactly how the disease spreads—or exactly how dangerous it is.

“I’m still having this conversation with myself: The governor shut us down, shut down pretty much all nonessential businesses. And if he would have said, ‘I’ll leave it up to each individual owner,’ I don’t know hsow I would have done it,” said Ford’s Fish Shack founder Tony Stafford. “I don’t know if I would have shut down.

I don’t know what I would have done, and I think about that all the time, I challenge myself, I think: ‘Tony, what would you have done?’”

As he said, at that time, face masks were “something you had in a hospital.” Now, he and the rest of Loudoun’s restaurateurs take even more extensive precautions to keep their customers safe.

And as restaurateurs and business owners have learned and adapted, their businesses have changed. Before COVID, Stafford said, about 5% of the business’s sales were takeout.

Now, about 40% of their business is takeout—and he hopes people keep eating that way.

“Those habits are great habits that we want people to keep now, because before those guests just weren’t coming to the restaurant. Well, now they can order food to go, they can call us and have us bring our food truck to their neighborhood,” Stafford said.

But it wasn’t all success stories.

Many employees were out of work while restaurants were closed.

Some never came back—they decided to get into another line of work. Stafford, who before the pandemic often said he would open more restaurants if he could find the staff for them, said that’s now one of the things he and other restaurant owners talk about: “Are people still going to want to work in the restaurant industry? Because for the last year, it’s been sort LASTING LESSIONS continues on page 34

PAGE 4

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

Loudoun

Supervisors Bump Tax Rate Up to Fund Fire Dept. Jobs

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Loudoun supervisors at budget talks March 4 and March 8 nudged the expected real estate tax rate up a half-cent by adding two fire-rescue service positions, a land use planner and an emergency management job to County Administrator Tim Hemstreet’s proposed Fiscal Year 2022 county budget.

One of those is a new Fire Marshal’s Office supervisor, at an overall cost of $259,554 including $124,875 of onetime costs. Fire Marshal Linda Hale said the current fire inspections supervisor is overburdened, and that the department is getting to only a fraction of the annual inspections that are required.

“We have an inspection rate of 14% of all of the structures that we’re able to inspect, so that means that there are 86% that we are not getting to,” Hale said. “That 86% we have tried to prioritize to the best of our abilities, but it does include things such as hotels that don’t have a ballroom [or] place of assembly, some of the hospitals, some of the rehab facilities, the large big-box stores, and much of the fast food restaurants that don’t have an occupancy that is 50 or more.”

System Chief Keith Johnson pointed out that that office also does more than inspections, also handling things like reviewing plans for new developments for fire safety. According to the Loudoun County Combined Fire-Rescue Service’s budget request, it would be appropriate for each Fire Marshal’s Office supervisor to oversee three to five people directly.

Currently, there are three supervisors in the office, two overseeing shift work and a third responsible for more than 20 functions and directly overseeing 10 people.

“The supervisor that currently supervises these people is beyond capacity, and this is really a stopgap,” Johnson said. “We could ask for probably 50 inspectors, and we wouldn’t even catch up, but we’ve got to chip away at this one year at a time.”

That convinced five supervisors, with the staff expansion passing on a 5-4 vote.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) and supervisors Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge), Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) and Matthew F. Letourneau

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company’s Engine 601 responds to a report of a burning electricity smell in the county government center Monday, Dec. 23, 2019. Firefighters found no hazards.

(R-Dulles) opposed the change.

“I think this is one of those things that if something happens, we might go back later and regret that we didn’t have enough people doing inspections in the county,” Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) said.

Supervisors also added a senior position in the Department of Planning and Zoning to review the most complicated land use applications, at a cost of $124,205.

That department, said director Alaina Ray, had had difficulty both recruiting and retaining capable planners—in large part due to the workload in a county where development is constant.

Hemstreet said part of the challenge is that in that job, employees have to attend Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors meetings—all of which are at night.

“When people are willing to do that, they’re willing to do that for a time, they’re willing to do that for the experience, however if they’re able to go someplace that offers just day work and the pay is comparable, they do that,” Hemstreet said.

He also said that even with Board of Supervisors meetings lasting late into the

night or into the early morning hours, the county is limited in how flexible they can be with those employees’ schedules.

Since Randall took the gavel in 2016, Board of Supervisors meetings often last until midnight or later. In the four-year term before she took the dais, only three Board of Supervisors meetings lasted past midnight; most lasted only a few hours. In 2021 alone, already four Board of Supervisors meetings have lasted past midnight.

Supervisors voted to add the position 8-1, Randall opposed.

Supervisors also added a delivery driver to keep 20 fire-rescue stations and worksites supplied, rather than splitting that work among other personnel as available. That workload has increased significantly with the increased need for personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the department, the number of items delivered more than tripled from Fiscal Year 2019 to Fiscal Year 2020, from more than 24,000 to more than 65,000. The position is expected to cost $75,946.

That passed by a 5-4 vote, with Randall, Buffington, Kershner and Supervisor Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run) opposed.

The department could be due for even more help; Vice Chairman Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) said he would ask the board to revisit a request for more staffing in the 911 call center later during budget deliberations. The department is expected to add four uniformed fire officers to the dispatch center, to fill a gap in the center identified after the drowning of Fitz Thomas and the delayed response to that incident. The department has also asked for three more dispatchers.

And a new Emergency Management Systems Administrator will support the county’s emergency management office in its internal systems as well as its emergency notification systems and communications to the public, at a cost of $143,138.

That office has seen its workload balloon during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I don’t believe […] the way we get through the emergency is to work our staff 55 hours a week, thus putting them at higher risk and everyone else at higher risk because of the jobs they’re doing,” Randall said. “It doesn’t help the taxpayer if when the need is the greatest, we can’t provide it at the level we otherwise would.”

“I have to believe that if this were an absolutely necessary position, then Mr. Hemstreet or [Deputy County Administator] Mr. [Charles] Yudd would have included it in the proposed budget,” Buffington said.

With those positions added, the provisional real estate tax rate sits at $1.01 per $100 of assessed value. The board typically adjusts its tax rate by half-cent steps, affecting how much money is available for the county budget. There is more than $4 million to go before the next half-cent step up, and supervisors would have to find $602,843 to trim from the budget to bring the rate back down.

That is also a penny above the projected equalized rate, the rate at which the average property owner pays the same dollar amount on their tax bill despite changing assessments. However, as Buffington pointed out during the meeting Monday, this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic all real estate did not appreciate at the same rate. Residential property values continued their climb, while commercial property values dipped, putting more of the tax burden on homeowners than years past. n

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

PAGE 5

Supervisors Approve, Reconsider Goose Creek Housing Development

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

County supervisors narrowly approved a rezoning request to build 238 homes along Goose Creek at the Sycolin Road crossing, marking the second time a major development in that area has been decided by one vote.

And on Wednesday, they were expected to reconsider that vote following a request from Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn).

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, March 2 approved Goose Creek Overlook by a 5-4 vote, with Turner, Supervisors Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian), Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run), Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) and Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) in favor. That will open the door to the construction of 123 townhouses, 40 two-over-two stacked units, and a 75-unit apartment building. The apartment building would be price-controlled units.

The county board will vote whether to reconsider that decision at their meeting Tuesday, March 16.

“I’m not at a point yet where I can tell you why, I wish I could give you more than that, but there’s some back-channel information that’s floating around,” Turner said.

The proposal also involves the county government donating 9.2 acres of undeveloped, conservation-easement-protected land to the developer to help the developer meet targets for open space. That land was placed under easement after the board approved another development plan in 2004. Because that application exceeded the minimums for open space, the county staff considered the land “excess” open space, to be applied to the Goose Creek Overlook project. The developer is working with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation toward moving that easement to the banks of the Goose Creek, which also is protected by a 300-foot no-build buffer.

There will also be a trail along the state scenic river, and a kayak launch, as well as multi-use trails on the road by the project, although those will end at the bridge over Goose Creek on one end of the project and the bridge over the Dulles Greenway on the other. The developer would also contribute just under $3 million to the county in capital costs offsets. Based on Loudoun County Public Schools projections, the schools that will serve the development will be over capacity. School system guidelines estimate costs of about $7.1 million in capital costs to

A rendering of the proposed Goose Creek Overlook development.

serve the expected students from the project.

Since a public hearing that saw public outcry over the project, the developer, Compass Datacenters, among other things had reduced its request from 251 units, made some layout changes, and committed to reserving space for bus stops, although currently no bus route goes by there.

Turner said the good in the application outweighed the bad.

“I don’t believe that the units south of Sycolin Road will even be visible from Goose Creek. I’ve walked the site several times and floated the Goose at the largess of some very kind people that enabled me to do that. Definitely there’s an impact on the viewshed on the north side, no question,” Turner said.

Briskmn said, “I don’t know how we can vote against this” after public input on the county’s budget brought out a number of people asking the county to dedicate a revenue stream to affordable housing.

“We have people sharing households, people having to move several times in order to stay in the county, afford rent, people paying more than 70% of the household income for housing, and we even heard about one single mother of seven having to be rescued out of a garage because they can’t afford housing in our county,” Briskman said. “This is a step forward to resolving that issue.”

Supervisors opposing the rezoning were concerned by the project’s impact on county resources like schools and

OUR PATENTED PRODUCT MDF 500

IS PROVEN TO KILL CORONAVIRUS

roads, including after seeing a price estimate to widen the bridge over the Goose Creek of more than $12 million.

“If you believe that the consequence of voting in favor of a land use application is that the board needs to expedite a $12.5 million capital project that is not in our CIP, when you know full well there’s no room in that CIP for six years, then perhaps you should rethink that decision, because we don’t have capacity,” said Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles).

He also said the proposal does not meet the 2019 comprehensive plan vision for the area.

“Forty-eight percent of a project being multi-family is not a complimentary use, it’s a core use, so why go through the effort of having the comprehensive plan and then take a project that really has no resemblance whatsoever?” Letourneau said.

Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) said he was concerned by the project’s environmental impacts, including clear-cutting of trees and blasting on the property.

“To me, the negatives associated with this proposal clearly outweigh the benefits,” Saines said. “Loudoun clearly needs more affordable housing, this proposal would bring 75 units. I cannot approve an application solely on affordable units alone.”

Goose Creek Overlook is across Goose Creek from the site where, in 2018, the Board of Supervisors approved a 750,000-square-foot data center complex by a 5-4 vote over public outcry at public hearings, again often over environmental concerns. That land is also the subject of a new application seeking permission to consolidate three of the nine planned buildings into one building, and to build 21 feet higher, up to 56 feet.

And across Sycolin Road from True North, another application working its way through the early stages of county review proposes to rezone 74 acres for another three data centers.

The majority of all Loudouners, almost 62%, are cost-burdened, or spending more than a third of their income on housing. A 2015 study found that in 2014, almost half of renters in Loudoun, roughly 14,000 households, fall into that category. If all 75 units in the proposed apartment building went to current Loudoun residents, it could address 0.5% of the 2014 gap.

Since he was on the winning side of that vote, Turner can ask supervisors to reconsider it. If they agree, and with the application only passing by one vote, the application could be denied if Turner switches his vote to no. n

“Dentistry with a Gentle Touch.”

Atiyeh Emam, DDS, PLLC

GOT MOLD? We do it all from start to finish!

• Repair Moisture Source Basement / Crawlspace Sealing / Encapsulation • Treat to Kill All Mold / HEPA Vacuum • Remove Damaged Debris Off-Site • Reinstall Drywall / Baseboard

Call Tod Schedu ay to le a NO OBL FREE IG In-Home ATION Evalu and Esti ation mate

Our Patented Product MDF-500® Safely and Effectively Removes 100% of Mold / Spores / Allergens / Improves Air Quality – Removes all Bacteria / Viruses / Odors

Green Solutions www.greensolpro.com

• 703-858-2000

Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

44135 Woodridge Parkway, Suite 280 • Lansdowne,VA 20176-1244

703.858.9200

www.lansdownedental.com

PAGE 6

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

Leesburg

Council Shares Town Plan Goals

BY KARA CLARK RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Kara C. Rodriguez/Loudoun Now

Since Lawson Road closed to vehicular traffic in 2008, neighbors report frustrations that they cannot access the nearby W&OD Trail and, more importantly, that flooding from the Tuscarora Creek has begun to erode their yards.

Lawson Road Project Accelerated, Council Office Space Funding Deleted in Budget Markup

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com

The Leesburg Town Council took its first whack at Town Manager Kaj Dentler’s proposed fiscal year 2022 budget Monday night.

In response to recent community outreach, the council unanimously supported accelerating improvements to address Tuscarora Creek at Lawson Road. Originally planned not to begin until fall 2026, design work will now begin this summer. The project addresses the deterioration of the low water crossing on Lawson Road, which was closed to vehicular traffic after the link of Battlefield Parkway connecting Kincaid Boulevard and Rt. 7 opened in 2008. The project will provide a new stream crossing for pedestrians and cyclists to access the nearby W&OD Trail, along with stabilizing the bank erosion 200 feet upstream of the crossing (See Sidebar). Around a dozen neighbors of the nearby Beauregard Estates neighborhood petitioned the council to accelerate the project, citing dangerous conditions at the crossing and property damage many neighbors have suffered because of erosion.

Council members said they understood the staff ’s rationale to have capital projects navigate a predictable process, beginning in the seventh year of the Capital Improvements Program and working their way up.

But they said that this project’s acceleration was justifiable, with many reporting shock at current conditions in the area.

“It’s dangerous,” Mayor Kelly Burk said of the crossing area. “I can’t imagine kids even attempting to cross that creek. Although it’s not the usual and we don’t want

to make it the usual there are times that public safety [needs] come forward.”

Accelerating that project will mean pushing back the phase 2 downtown streetlight project, which Capital Projects & Public Works Director Renee LaFollette noted will require a significant amount of staff time on design and working with property owners. This phase of the project replaces the existing cobra-style streetlights with new fixtures on pedestal poles, according to the project page in the CIP. Phase 2 addresses the area that includes Loudoun Street between King Street and just west of Wirt Street; Market Street between Church Street and west of Wirt Street; and Wirt Street between Loudoun Street and Market Street. The phase 2 streetlights project will now begin design in fiscal year 2023, and construction the following year, according to LaFollette.

Another change endorsed by the council was the deletion of one of Dentler’s three proposed General Fund enhancements—$60,000 for office space for the mayor and council members. Dentler had set that funding as a placeholder which would have covered leasing a privately owned space and other expenses like utilities, phone and Internet, and office or conference room furniture. Council members instead expressed a desire to find space for the mayor within town-owned property.

That could mean relocating staff to outside Town Hall’s walls, Dentler said. One area he said the staff will look at is whether office space can be used within the Loudoun Museum’s log cabin, a town-owned property. The museum is not using that space but had planned to before the COVID-19 pandemic, Dentler said. Should the town staff or the mayor move into the log cab-

in, the lease with Loudoun Museum would need to be tweaked.

Councilman Neil Steinberg proposed repurposing the $60,000 in office space funding to cover the cost of a colored bubble to go over some of Ida Lee Park’s tennis courts, as part of an upcoming project.

The outdoor three-court pod will be covered with a new air structure in time for the colder months later this year. Allowing those courts to have year-round use and produce revenue will allow the town to quickly recoup the costs of the project.

With the new air structure planned to be white in hue, like the existing tennis bubble, some residents and council members have requested a different color to blend in more with the environment. A staff report notes that changing the color of the new air structure would cost an additional $42,000, hence Steinberg’s recommendation to shift the office space funding. The manufacturer’s website, according to a staff report, had recommended gray to better blend in with the environment, although the staff had pointed out that having two tennis bubbles of different colors right next to each other may be visually displeasing.

The current bubble is expected to have another 10 to 15 years of use.

Only Councilwoman Kari Nacy supported Steinberg’s proposal.

The council was expected to vote Tuesday, after this paper’s deadline, to cancel its March 20 budget work session. The Saturday work session was tentatively scheduled if the council believed it needed an additional session to review the budget. A public hearing on the budget was also planned for Tuesday, and budget adoption is expected March 23. The council’s final markup session will be the preceding evening. n

Members of the Leesburg Town Council joined the Planning Commission for its March 4 meeting to discuss their vision for the end product of the Legacy Leesburg project, a comprehensive re-write of the Town Plan.

The commission was recently handed the first draft of the revised Town Plan, the culmination of a more than year-long effort that involved town staff, paid consultants and input from the general public.

Commissioners have set a review schedule, which has them handing off their recommendations on the plan to the Town Council by the first week of August. Council members hope to adopt the new Town Plan before the end of the year.

The discussion of the character of the county seat took up the bulk of last week’s discussion.

“Character is fundamental to all that follows,” Commission Chairwoman Gigi Robinson said.

“You’re really looking at what makes Leesburg so special, but there are some components I’d like to have you consider,” Mayor Kelly Burk said in beginning the discussion.

For Burk, she emphasized the importance of having plentiful open space in the almost completely built out town. She said the COVID-19 pandemic brought to light the importance of open space in maintaining mental health.

“I would really encourage you to make that a priority as you’re talking about what development comes in and what that looks like,” she said.

Burk and others said the Town Plan is an opportunity to create a guidebook of what Leesburg expects when it comes to development or redevelopment. One area she admitted the town had not held the development community to a high standard was in environmental technology.

Councilman Neil Steinberg also said connectivity was an important theme to have woven throughout the finished plan.

“Leesburg is nearly built out. As we continue to build in the areas we have left and as we redevelop, not only should these communities and businesses be connected within themselves, we have to strongly consider how we connect them to each other.

Hopefully we can work out ways so that all these communities don’t wind up being TOWN PLAN continues on page 33

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

PAGE 7

Town Council Indicates Support for Collective Bargaining to all terms and conditions of employment, he added. krodriguez@loudounnow.com Town Manager Kaj Dentler said the The Leesburg Town Council appears staff had not provided the council with poised to follow Loudoun County gov- an official recommendation, nor accomernment’s lead and prepare for collective panying financial figures on what implementing collective bargaining could cost bargaining.

A majority of the council during Mon- the town, so as not to sway the council one day’s work session favored an option pre- way or the other. County Administrator sented by Town Attorney Christopher Tim Hemstreet has budgeted $1 million Spera to “set the table” in how the town in the county’s fiscal year 2022 budget to will address collective bargaining negoti- accommodate collective bargaining. The ations with town employees. This option county has more than 10 times the numcould limit the bargaining units the town ber of employees as Leesburg, which has will negotiate with to certain departments. fewer than 400.

“We have not done the analysis, so I An amendment to the state code passed last spring gave Virginia localities cannot honestly tell you what we would the green light to allow employees to or- need,” Dentler said. “The better position ganize and collectively bargain, although may be to put resources into benefits, they are still prohibited from going on pay, compensation, etc., so that you make employees want to stay here and not seek strike. The change takes effect May 1.

No matter what the council decides, collective bargaining.”

The other options presented by Spera staff members in the Town Manager’s or Town Attorney’s offices are not eligible for included choosing not to participate in collective bargaining rights, nor is man- collective bargaining, or taking no action, agement staff that has access to finan- extending employees the right to organize cial information, Spera said. The council and approach the town to collectively could decide to limit the scope of bar- bargain.

In favoring the table-setting approach, gaining to wages and benefits as opposed

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

those on the council who shared their opinions said they supported employees’ rights to negotiate with the town.

Mayor Kelly Burk shared her past experience as president of the Loudoun teacher’s association. She said because they were prohibited from striking, the negotiations became more like discussions with the superintendent and the staff prior to the schools’ budget being finalized. In one instance, when wage increases and other requests were not attainable, teachers were given permission to choose their own coursework as opposed to it being prescribed by administration.

“I’m absolutely in favor of people having the right to organize. I believe workers know what they need,” she said.

“It’s not a matter of losing control. If you don’t have the ability to strike, it’s literally a conversation; it’s the idea of trying to make things better for the employees who are doing the work.”

Councilman Zach Cummings said in his prior council stint, in his Dover, OH, hometown, he was charged with leading collective bargaining talks with the police union.

“In my opinion, it did nothing but strengthen the relationship between the police department in my hometown and the council and citizens. I’m personally supportive of allowing any employees to do that. I think it will help move us forward and help keep folks feeling they’re getting paid what they deserve,” he said.

While a council majority favored moving forward on collective bargaining, some on the council dais sounded caution.

“The unintended consequences of this are a concern to me,” Councilwoman Kari Nacy said. “It could cause a rift between employer and employee.”

Councilwoman Suzanne Fox questioned the impact on the real estate tax rate and town services if collective bargaining led to an increase in wages.

“If we don’t do any sort of hiring freeze or cutbacks, taxes would go up, and our fiduciary responsibility is to our citizens and businesses of the town at this point,” she said.

The council will continue its conversation on collective bargaining at its April 26 work session, with a decision expected at its business meeting the next evening. n

GRANITE COUNTERTOPS | KITCHEN CABINETS GRANITE - MARBLE - SILESTONE - CAMBRIA - ZODIAQ - CEASARSTONE FABRICATION & INSTALLATION

FREE ESTIMATE

703.956.9470

ONE STOP SHOPPING FOR ALL YOUR REMODELING NEEDS

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 8

Cochran Dental CochranFamily Family Dental amily Dental Cochran Dental CochranFamily Family Dental

Cochran Family Dental amily Dental all new patients!

Welcoming Welcomingallallnew newpatients! patients!

Welcoming Welcomingallallnew newpatients! patients!

ochran Family Dental l Welcoming new patients! ian Cochran and his staff at all new patients!

Welcoming all new patients!

LoudounNow

W I N N E R

2 0 1 9

LOUDOUN’S

LoudounNow

W I N N E R

LOUDOUN’S

FAVORITE 2018

an Family Dental are an Cochran andCochran his staff atstaff at Dr. Brian and his tted to providing a comprehensive Cochran Family Dental are dental office ncaring Family Dental arethat will andcommitted gentle style serve most all of office to providing a comprehensive dental ted to dental providing aand comprehensive dental with needs a caringunder gentle that will serve mostoffice all of amily’s onestyle roof.

Insurance Mon. & Wed.: 8am - 6pm SPECIAL 703-771-9034 The Village Leesburg ofyour Loudoun for 13dental years. family’s needs under one roof.

Insurance Tues.

- at Thurs.: 7amfacing - 4pm y officeand offering budget wise payment options.

Dr. all of Route 7 between Wegmans and aring gentle style that will serve most WHITENING 1503 Dodona Terrace Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Visit our website: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Fri.: 8am 1pm Conveniently located in LA Fitness friendly office offering budget wise payment options.

Dr. 210 at Leesburg SPECIAL TheSuite Village facing Sat.: 8am - 1pm (once/month) an has provided trusted dental care to the citizens Use your dental benefits before the end the citizens Leesburg, 20175 Cochran hasWegmans provided trusted care to Route 7VA between mily’s dental needs under one roof.

Insurance 24hrand Emergency Service Dodona Terrace of the year and receive a FREE LA Fitness Teeth Whitening Kit with every udoun 13 years.

Suite 210 for703-771-9034 of Loudoun for 13 years.scheduled Mon & Wed: 8-6pm cleaning or procedure. office offering budget wise payment options. Dr. burg, VA 20175 Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm at:WHITENING WHITENING Visit our website TheLeesburgVADentist.com Visit our website: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Conveniently located in onveniently located in 8-1pm (Once/month) Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 3-771-9034 SPECIAL Emergency The24hr Village at Service Leesburgdental facing SPECIAL nillage hasatprovided trusted care to the Leesburg facing Use your benefits beforecitizens the end Route 7 between Wegmans and Use your benefits before thereceive end a FREE odona Terrace Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com of the year and 7 between Wegmans and LA Fitness of the year andTeeth receive a FREE Whitening Kit with every doun 13 years. uite 210 LAfor Fitness Mon & Wed: 8-6pm Please present to w/any receive the offer. combined other 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm Mon. & Wed.: 8am - 6pm •Fri:Tues.

- Thurs.: 7am(Once/month) - 4pm • Fri.: 8am •coupon 24hrwith Emergency Service Not -to1pm be combined any other offer. with every scheduled 24hr Emergency Service Use your benefits or before the end cleaning procedure. of the year and receive8/31/16. a FREE Offer Expires Teeth Whitening Kit with every Please present coupon to Mon & Wed: 8-6pm scheduled cleaning or procedure. receive offer.

Not to be Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm Offer Expiresthe January 1, 2016.

Please present coupon to w/any receive the offer. combined other Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month)

24hr Emergency Service

Not to be combined with any other offer.

Offer Expires January 1, 2016.

Please present coupon to receive the offer.

Not to be combined with any other offer.

WHITENING SPECIAL

scheduled cleaning or procedure.

Teeth Whitening Kit with every Offer Expires January 1, 2016.

Mon & Wed: 8-6pm Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm or procedure.

Please present coupon to receive the offer. veniently located in 8-1pm scheduled Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: (Once/month) cleaning Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm Offer Expires January 1, 2016.

Not to be combined with any other offer.

771-9034 24hr Emergency Service lage at8-1pm Leesburg facingPlease present coupon to receive the offer. pm • Sat: (Once/month) combined any otherbefore offer. the end yourwith benefits sit our website 24hr Emergency Service at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com between Wegmans andNot to beUse

rg, VA 20175

e

of the year and receive a FREE LA Fitness at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Teeth Whitening Kit with every

Mon & Wed: 8-6pm Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm m • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) hr Emergency Service

scheduled cleaning or procedure.

Offer Expires January 1, 2016.

Please present coupon to receive the offer.

Not to be combined with any other offer.

FIRST TIME OFFERED! 17 ACRES, ROUND HILL

at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com

Sometimes good opportunities become available and you don’t want to miss them. This is one of those times. Amazing, hard to find one level living sold brick and stone home. Over 3,000 sq. ft on the main level and a complete finished lower level with full kitchen adds another 1400 sq ft.

3 fireplaces, large rooms all maintained to perfection by original owners.

Three plus garage and out building. Gorgeous views and flat usable land for farming, animals… This is how country living is meant to be.

NEW LISTING

$1,325,000

HERNDON Delightful three level townhome in a great location! Minutes from the toll road, airport, dining, shopping and the future Innovation Metro Station.

Main level entrance offers large foyer that leads you into light filled family room with gas fireplace and an attached full bath. Bright and sunny home with 9 foot ceilings. Kitchen with large island, double ovens, walkin pantry and eat-in space. Living and dining room combo with Juliet balcony doors. Owners’ suite with cathedral ceiling, walk-in closet, bath with double sinks, soaking tub, and separate shower.

UNDER CONTRACT

$535,000 BOYCE 12+ ACRES

UNDER CONTRACT

A slice of paradise is still available in Clarke County. Private wooded 12 plus acres. This is a one of a kind gated community that offers direct river access to the scenic Shenandoah River from the community area.

The community also boasts community pool, picnic area, camping area and boat access. One level living with a brand new kitchen and stainless appliances. Gorgeous newly finished hardwood floors. Large family room/den. There is a large two car garage with one bay having a 10 ft door. Nice covered deck and open deck to enjoy the abundant wildlife and nature.

$359,900

Education

Discounts Available For Patients Without Insurance!

LoudounNow Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at Conveniently located Cochran Family Dental are in The Village of Leesburg 2020 to providing a comprehensive dental Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at office What we offer committed LOUDOUN’S 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 FAVORITE FAVORITE Conveniently located in with aCochran caring andFamily gentle style that will serve most all of Dental are • Cheerful, serene, state of the art offi ce Leesburg, VA 20175 Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at Leesburg your family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance The Village of • Digital x-rays (reduces radiation by 90%) to providing a comprehensive dental office committed 703-771-9034 Cochran Family Dental are friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Dr. 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 • We file all dental benefi t claims withhasa provided caring and gentle style that serve most all of Cochran trusted dental care to thewill citizens committed to providing a comprehensive dental office Leesburg, 20175 • Cosmetic Dentistry (veneers, whitefamily’s fifor llings, ZoomVA Whitening) of Loudoun 13 and years. your dental needs under one roof.

Insurance HOURS: WHITENING SPECIAL withand a caring gentle style that will serve most all of WHITENING 703-771-9034 • Crowns Bridges, alland phases of & Implants, Rootoffering Dentures Conveniently located inCanals FREE Teeth Whitening Kit options. Dr. friendly office wise payment Mon. Wed.: 8am - 6pm and budget SPECIAL with every scheduled The Village Leesburg facing your family’stherapy dental needs under one roof.

Insurance • We offer periodontal to restore your oral health as well as oral cancer screening.

Tues.

- at Thurs.: - 4pm your benefits before the end to the citizens Cochran has7am provided trusted dental care cleaning or procedure.

Wegmans and Use 1503 Dodona Terrace Route 7 between of the year and receive a FREE Fri.:Fitness 8am - 1pmwise payment Offer Expires 8/31/16.

LA friendly office offering budget options.

Teeth Whitening Kit with everyDr. Suite 210 Conveniently located in the Village of Leesburg of Loudoun for 13 years.

Please present coupon to Sat.: 8am 1pm (once/month) Mon & -Wed: 8-6pm HOURS:scheduled cleaning or procedure.

WHITENING SPECIAL Leesburg, 20175 receive the offer.

Not to be Cochran hasTerrace provided trusted dental care the citizens TuesEmergency & Thurs: 7-4pm Service 1503VA Dodona #210 • Leesburg, VA 20175 • to 703-771-9034 WHITENING January 1, 2016.

24hr Conveniently located inOffer Expires FREE Teeth Whitening Kit

MARCH 11, 2021

School Board Censures Leesburg District Representative

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Leesburg District School Board member Beth Barts (Leesburg) was the subject of a formal censure vote March 4 and has been stripped of her committee assignments.

Following a more than two hour closed session held virtually, the School Board voted 7-0 to publicly reprimand Barts for her social media postings deemed to violate the board’s private deliberations and to spread misinformation.

As part of the action, the board approved Chairwoman Brenda Sheridan’s (Sterling) proposal to disclose that Barts’ conduct has been subject to discussions in closed sessions since June 2020, five meetings in all. Following a closed session in November, 2020, the board voted to publicly reprimand Barts, claiming she publicly disclosed confidential information.

“The reason I’ve made this motion is for the public to be aware that the board and the board chair’s efforts to address the behavior of board members, to train and retrain on policy and good boardsmanship,” Sheridan said.

The censure motion by Sheridan stated: “The School Board finds that School Board member Beth Barts did violate School Board policy 1030 Code of Conduct for School Board members in failing to put student interests first, paragraph B2; failed to show respect for fellow board members and staff in the spirit of harmony and cooperation, paragraph B3; failed to welcome and encourage active cooperation of Loudoun County residents and the district, paragraph B9; and failed to work in the spirit of teamwork in service to the community, paragraph B10. And that this board does not condone the behavior of School Board member Beth Barts and does hereby publicly censure her.”

That was approved on a 7-0-2 vote, with Barts and Corbo absent.

“This is not in reaction to any one event.,” Sheridan said. “This is a response to a culmination of behaviors over the last 14 months, from the beginning of this term until today.”

On Tuesday, Sheridan took the additional step of removing Barts from her committee assignments and her authority

Loudoun Now File Photo

Beth Barts (Leesburg) last week was issued a public reprimand for social media postings criticized by parents pushing for schools to reopen more quickly for in-person learning.

to represent the board as a liaison to other organizations. “It is never an easy decision to take action in judgment of a colleague.

As chair it is the most difficult aspect of this leadership position,” she said “I believe our job is to look out for the students and by extension the entire community. And that community of students, parents and taxpayers here in Loudoun are smart,” Vice Chairwoman Atoosa Reaser (Algonkian) said. “They know that this has nothing to do with transparency or sharing information. They know that breaking attorney-client confidentiality is not about the kids or the best interest of the kids or the best interest of the board or the best interest of the school division.

They know that threatening colleagues to call misleading press conferences and other threats are not about the kids. They know that the best interest of the kids is to share information not misinformation.

They know that creating chaos and confusion is a way of deflecting from what is actually happening. They know the difference between a misunderstanding and repeated intentional behavior, as you just talked about, over the past 14 months.

BARTS CENSURED continues on page 9

MARCH 11, 2021

Barts censured continued from page 8 They know that when you apologize and make a promise to stop bad conduct, repeating it is no longer a simple misunderstanding, “Ms. Barts, your repeated violation of the Code of Conduct has made it impossible, not only for all of us, your colleagues, to do our best, job, but it impacts the staff ’s ability to take care of our students. It saddens me deeply that you’ve gone back on your promise to stop this. As you know this has nothing to do with transparency or your social media. The censure has only to do with your own misconduct.”

Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) highlighted the number of times the School Board had addressed the concerns in closed session before moving to a public censure. “What I am supporting tonight is not an action I take lightly, but a reflection of the fact that nothing else that we have tried has worked.”

Barts and her attorney, Charles King, released a statement responding to the action.

“It’s not my job to be liked. It’s my job to ask hard questions, work to provide the best education for our kids, make sure our teachers are paid what they really deserve and represent the people of Leesburg,” Barts stated.

King raised questions about the process of the School Board’s closed-door discussion of Barts’ actions, saying they were notified about the plans only two days earlier and his request to delay the meeting so more information could be gathered was denied. He said Barts was not informed about all the specific allegations until the meeting.

“Watching this process, parents should be concerned about the judgment of the elected officials in charge of the commonwealth’s third largest school system,” he said.

Barts also said that she was appreciative of the calls and emails of support she had received from constituents following the board reprimand.

According to a notice of the closed meeting sent to Barts by school division attorney Stephen L. DeVita, the concerns center on Facebook postings about efforts to reopen schools safely and criticisms of parents who had pressured the board to do so more quickly.

“These actions have hampered the Board’s ability to function effectively and has led to continuing negative public comments at board meetings. These allegations reflect continuing problems in

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

being able to work respectfully, harmoniously and as a team despite prior efforts of the Board and members to address this with you,” DeVita wrote.

As a vocal skeptic of a safe return to school, Barts has been a frequent target of criticism from parents who have appeared at most School Board meetings during the pandemic to urge a return to in-person learning. In recent weeks, those critics have announced plans to launch a recall campaign seeking to have a Circuit Court judge remove her from office. n

PAGE 9

One Smile At A

One Smile Time At A Time

One Smile At A Time

Offering the latest technologies & newest treatment optionsOffering the latest technologies & newest treatment options Invisalign™ - Digital Imaging Invisalign™ - Digital Imaging Russell Mullena free Dodona consultation Terrace SE Ste 201, Russell 703-771-98 Mullen Call orCall text us us for a for 1509 DDS, MS complimentary consultation!

Leesburg, VA 20175

Call us for a free consultation 703-771-9887

1509 Dodona Terrace SE Ste 201, (703) Next to the Russell Mullen Call or text us for a 771-9887 Leesburg Wegmans! complimentary consultation!

Leesburg, VA 20175 DDS, MS

(703) 771-9887

Find us!

Next to the Leesburg Wegmans!

Find us!

www.mullenortho.com

www.mullenortho.com

If you love land, farms, and estates, then we are the firm for you.

If you are interested in learning more about joining this exciting division of McEnearney Associates, contact Candice Bower, Managing Broker 703.738.8260 | cbower@mcenearney.com | www.mcenearney.com

JUST LISTED Ashburn | $1,590,000 19808 Rothschild Court Geri Deane 703.615.4126 GeriDeane.com

JUST SOLD Hamilton | $907,500 17814 Julie Ann Court Kaaren Lofgren 703.862.9194 KaarenLofgren.com

JUST LISTED Ashburn | $250,000 44154 Natalie Terrace #101 Jo-Ann Hoovler 703.862.9426 JoAnnHoovler.com

McEnearney Associates, REALTORS® – Residential/Commercial/Land, Farm, and Estates 107 N King Street, Leesburg | 7 W Washington Street, Middleburg | www.McEnearney.com | Equal Housing Opportunity

DDS, MS

PAGE 10

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

Public Safety

Johnson Again Seeks New Trial After 74-Year Prison Sentence

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

Douglas Vernon Johnson, the 42-yearold Army veteran sentenced to 74 years in prison for shooting and injuring two Sheriff ’s Office deputies on Christmas Eve 2017, has once again Johnson appealed his convictions and sentencing.

On Dec. 24, 2017, three deputies responded to a domestic dispute call at Johnson’s Sterling residence involving Johnson and his then-19-year-old daughter. After determining that Johnson was the primary aggressor, the deputies began to arrest him. At that point, Johnson jumped into his closet, grabbed a .45-caliber handgun and fired it three times, striking one of the deputies in his arm and both legs and the other deputy in her leg as they attempted to subdue him.

Following a six-day trial in August 2018, a unanimous 12-person jury convicted Johnson on two counts of attempt-

ed capital murder, along with nine other felonies, and sentenced him to a total of 74 years in prison.

In February 2020, Johnson’s defense attorney Edward Ungvarsky filed a motion requesting the court throw out the jury’s verdict and initiate a new trial. In his motion, Ungvarsky wrote that all 12 jurors in the trial were white and that the court excused the only prospective Black juror because he was previously convicted of a misdemeanor DWI. The Loudoun NAACP at the time called for “justice to be served” in Johnson’s case and pushed for his sentences to run concurrently, rather than consecutively, with no more than 20 years of active time served. The NAACP also sought Johnson’s sentence to be served in an in-person mental health facility, rather than a prison, because Johnson has PTSD after serving two tours of duty in Iraq.

Loudoun Circuit Court Judge James P. Fisher in October 2020 denied Ungvarsky’s motion.

This week, Ungvarsky filed an appeal with the Virginia Court of Appeals seeking a new trial in Johnson’s case, citing “multiple inequities and misapplications

of the law” during Johnson’s jury trial and sentencing a year and a half ago.

Ungvarsky noted in a March 1 statement that Fisher excluded Johnson’s insanity defense during the trial, let prosecutors “force an all-white jury to decide Mr. Johnson’s fate for a cross-racial shooting of police officers” and barred Johnson’s family, friends and NAACP members attending from the sentencing hearing, which, Ungvarsky asserted, violated Johnson’s right to a public trial.

Ungvarsky wrote that Fisher’s exclusion of those defenses showed “a gross miscarriage of justice.”

Ungvarsky wrote in his statement this week that Johnson suffers from PTSD and depression, and bolstered that claim by noting that a forensic psychologist opined that Johnson reached for his gun during the Dec. 24, 2017, altercation because he was attempting to take his own life. “[T]he trial judge misapplied Virginia law and Rules of Evidence and barred Mr. Johnson from presenting an insanity defense and corroboration testimony about his mental illness and attempt to commit suicide during his trial,” Ungvarsky wrote. n

MARCH 11, 2021

DVM Security Guard Charged with Assaulting Customer LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

An Alexandria man working as a security guard at the Sterling office of the Division of Motor Vehicles has been charged with unlawful wounding after a scuffle with a customer.

Loudoun County deputies were called to the Free Court office at 1 p.m. March 2 for a report of a disorderly customer. Deputies were told a customer was pulling on a credit card machine and was confronted by a security guard hired by the DMV. As the customer was attempting to leave, the security guard forcibly detained the man and struck him with a baton.

The customer was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

The security guard, Sani Barua, 34, of Alexandria, was arrested and taken to the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center, where he was released on his own recognizance.

The case remains under investigation. n

Hillsboro Man Dies in Plane Crash The investigation is continuing into the March 4 plane crash that took the life of a Hillsboro man.

The crash happened just after 3 p.m.

Thursday when a 1979 Beechcraft C23 Sundowner crashed in a wooded area near the Krens Farm Airport, a private airstrip on the family’s property along Rt. 9 west of Hillsboro.

William Krens, 77, the pilot and lone occupant of the plane, died at the scene.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. n State Police photo

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

PAGE 11

Town of Hillsboro Traffic-Calming & Pedestrian Safety Project

ReThink9: Women on the Project Frontlines

Hillsboro’s long history of women leadership continues during its transformational infrastructure projects

‘Buy Local, Be Inclusive’ Commitment ReThink9 is a project funded locally and regionally, and managed by the Town of Hillsboro. And, it reflects Hillsboro’s longstanding commitments to “buy local” and seek inclusiveness and diversity in its endeavors. The Town required ReThink9’s prime contractor— to the greatest extent possible—to utilize local subcontractors, vendors, and women- and minority-owned businesses. ReThink9 prime contractor, Archer Western, has had extraordinary success in meeting Hillsboro’s aspirations, as some 20 local companies, including eight women-owned, have been employed on the project.

Hillsboro’s Heritage of Women Leaders

RETHINK9 MILESTONES

Hillsboro Vice Mayor and ReThink9 Deputy Project Manager Amy Marasco addresses area women leaders and Hillsboro Charter Academy Girls in Gear at the official groundbreaking last March.

The Town of Hillsboro’s past and present has been marked by women in public leadership roles, including one of the first women mayors elected in the Commonwealth, Evelyn Turberville, who served from 1947 to 1955.

Today, four of Hillsboro’s five Town Council members are women and a significant proportion of the ReThink9 management team and workforce are women. The impact of women professionals at all of the strategic levels of the $30-million infrastructure project’s planning, procurement and management is a testimony to the contributions and positive impact and commitments of the Town of Hillsboro’s women leaders.

Vice Mayor, Deputy Project Manager, Amy Marasco

The Women Workers and Leaders of Hillsboro’s ReThink9 ReThink9 broke ground during Women in Construction Week in March 2020, with scientist, Virginia Tech grad and Miss America Camille Schrier joining the Hillsboro Charter Academy’s Girls in Gear in moving the first dirt. Since then, women have played key roles in both the management— and on the ground—to move the project forward and ahead of schedule.

Project Coordinator Alison Badger

Hillsboro’s Vice Mayor Amy Marasco serves as ReThink9’s Deputy Project Manager, making vital contributions to this decade-long effort and bringing 30 years of federal procurement expertise, strategic planning and budgeting to the long-range vision and daily operations.

ReThink9’s Project Coordinator Alison Badger has a decade of construction coordination and finance control experience on major bridge and tunnel projects. Communications Specialist Christi Maple’s private sector marketing, communications and media relations experience ensures stakeholders are timely and accurately informed about the project’s progress. And, Hillsboro Councilwoman and Water Commissioner Claudia Forbes has led on the completion of the drinking water component of the project and solving a 30-year public health issue.

ReThink9 has also benefited from an extraordinary level of involvement and support from women leaders in transportation, from Virginia’s Transportation Secretary Shannon Valentine to Phyllis Randall, Chair of both the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), and Monica Backmon, the Executive Director of the NVTA.

Communications Specialist Christi Maple

Water Commissioner, Council Member, Claudia Forbes

For the latest project updates, visit ReThink9.com

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 12

MARCH 11, 2021

Nonprofit

CABINET SHOWPLACE Fine Cabinetry for the Entire Home

Early Giving Passes $80K As Give Choose Nears LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

www.cabinetshowplace.com

540.338.9661

210 N. 21st St., # E Purcellville, VA 20132

Early giving in the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties’ annual Give Choose fundraising event is on track to beat last year with a week still to go.

Give Choose will be Tuesday, March 16, but donors may give early to help their favorite nonprofits get a leg up. Last year, the early giving period raised about $103,000, according to Director of Grants and Nonprofit Programs Nicole Acosta. As of Tuesday, March 9, with a week of early giving left to go, the event has already raised more than $80,000 from about 300 donors.

The nonprofits have also done better than ever in gathering matching challenge gifts, which can double the impact for donors. Altogether, 48 nonprofits got challenge gifts, overall worth more than $220,000.

That’s good news, at a time when many nonprofits have seen their major annual fundraising events cancelled by COVID-19.

“We know that our nonprofits have lost significant income in the last year due to cancelled fundraising events; many of their traditional fundraising methods have gone out the window,” Acosta said. “Some organizations have seen their donations decrease, and others continue to see in-

creased demand for programs and services that costs them more money to operate.

Give Choose is a huge opportunity for our local charities to raise the dollars they need to keep going as they continue to navigate the impact of COVID in the year ahead.”

This year, there are more nonprofits than ever taking part, 115. They range from organizations focused on animal welfare to the environment, health, human services, education, youth, and arts and culture.

“While we are excited to see the community donating during Early Giving, we need everyone to keep giving on March 16. We have more nonprofits than ever before, and this year their fundraising goals have increased so that they can fill in the gaps in their budgets due to cancelled fundraising events and increased program costs due to COVID,” Acosta said.

In 2020, Give Choose raised $620,000 for local nonprofits. Since its inception in 2014, Give Choose has raised more than $1.8 million. The average gift made by donors during Give Choose is $125. Donations of $10 or more can be made through the Give Choose site, givechoose.org.

Local businesses also participate in Give Choose through sponsorships, which provide a prize pool to be awarded to participating nonprofits throughout March 16. n

GIVING back Catch A Meal Serves 1K Families The Catch A Meal Program hosted its largest community giveaway at Sugarland Elementary School on Feb. 27.

Program founder April Taylor teamed up with football legend Darrell Green to support more than 1,000 families that received supplies during the drive-through distribution event.

The program serves communities in areas that have been heavily impacted by the pandemic.

“While Loudoun is known to have the highest median income in the nation, many in our community still struggle to support their families and this has only been exacerbated by the pandemic,” said Supervisors Juli Briskman (D-Algonkian). “We know the pandemic has

disproportionately impacted disadvantaged black and brown communities across the nation, so it stands to reason that residents of Sugarland are feeling this severe impact physically and economically.”

Volunteers loaded food boxes, toys, diapers, coats, wipes, blankets, and supplies into trunks and back seats of more than 800 cars, as well as carts, wagons, bags, and arms at the walk-up stations.

Over the past year The Catch A Meal Program and its partners have provided over a half million pounds of fresh produce and boxes to impacted communities in Birmingham, AL, San Jose, CA, Manassas, Memphis, TN, Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD. To learn more about The Catch A Meal Program, go to catchameal.org.

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

settle for

Falcons Landing is delighted to announce the opening of our first Terrace Home, in March 2021. With the best features of apartment and cottage living, The Terrace Homes offer a new take on Independent Living for military officers who have honorably served and senior level federal employees. No matter how you spend your days, Falcons Landing gives you the freedom to enjoy all of the activities that define who you are.

ACT FAST, CALL (703) 293-5704 TO CLAIM YOUR NEW TERRACE HOME APARTMENT! FalconsLanding.org | Falcons Landing is proud to be a non-profit Life Plan Community.

PAGE 13

PAGE 14

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

Business

Prison Fellowship Sells Lansdowne Campus to ADF LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

Prison Fellowship has announced the sale of its 11.3-acre Lansdowne campus to Alliance Defending Freedom.

Prison Fellowship is the nation’s largest Christian nonprofit serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, while ADF is an alliance-building, nonprofit organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

Prison Fellowship has occupied the Lansdowne campus, which includes a three-story office building and a two-story hospitality center, since January 2005 after outgrowing its Reston location. As part of the sale, an agreement has been reached with ADF for the ministry to lease space in the Riverside Parkway building for two years. Prison Fellowship has been a partnering member of ADF for more than two years.

“For the last five years Prison Fellow-

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Prison Fellowship has sold its Lansdowne campus to Alliance Defending Freedom.

ship has become an increasingly virtual organization with more people operating closer to our in-prison work. Over twothirds of our staff were working from home

even before the pandemic,” stated James Ackerman, president and CEO of Prison Fellowship. “The Board of Prison Fellowship and the senior management team are

thrilled Alliance Defending Freedom will operate on the same property and buildings our founder, the late Charles Colson, dedicated to the Lord.”

“We are thrilled to reach this agreement with our partners at Prison Fellowship,” said Alliance Defending Freedom President and CEO Michael P. Farris. “Prison Fellowship’s founder, the late Chuck Colson, was a strong advocate for freedom of conscience and religion. As a drafter of the Manhattan Declaration he defended the very principles that we defend today.

With the purchase of this new property, we carry on his legacy and begin a new and exciting chapter in ADF’s 28 years of ministry as the world’s largest legal advocacy organization committed to protecting religious freedom, sanctity of life, freedom of speech, and parental rights.”

Alliance Defending Freedom is based in Scottsdale, AZ and also has offices in Atlanta and Washington, DC. n

Virginia Chamber Execs Honors Coffey for 30 Years in Loudoun Loudoun Chamber Director of Finance and Administration Linda Coffey was honored by the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives March 3 at the association’s annual statewide Staff Development Conference for her 30 years with the Loudoun Chamber.

“Linda Coffey is quite literally the heart and soul of the Loudoun Chamber.

While 30 years of service is remarkable, more impressive is Linda’s commitCoffey ment to excellence, professionalism and integrity, and by the respect she has earned from her colleagues and Loudoun’s top business and community leaders. It is an honor to work alongside her and see her pride in Loudoun County shine through her work, every day,” stated Loudoun Chamber President & CEO Tony Howard.

“As a volunteer leader with the

Loudoun Chamber, it is such a joy to work with Linda Coffey. The quality of her work is consistently excellent, and her devotion to the success of our Chamber and our members is truly inspiring. As chair of our board of directors, I wish to express our collective and deeply heartfelt gratitude to Linda and for all that she has meant to our Chamber,” stated Stacey Metcalfe, executive director of Morven Park.

The Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives is an alliance of chamber professionals representing all chambers of commerce from localities throughout the state. The association provides a forum and partnership for integrating the work of local chambers of commerce in order to contribute to the growth and development of their local communities and the commonwealth.

The association honors Virginia Chamber professionals that have reached five, 10, 20, 30 or more years of Chamber employment with a VACCE Service Award. n

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

PAGE 15

Visit Loudoun Debuts State First Tourism Training Visit Loudoun has launched Virginia’s first Certified Tourism Ambassador program to extend the tourism organization’s reach and enhance the visitor experience.

The internationally recognized Certified Tourism Ambassador program was developed by the Tourism Ambassador Institute and launched in 2006. Since then, more than 50,000 people have been certified in 18 states and Bermuda. Loudoun will be the only program destination in Virginia.

The Loudoun County Tourism Ambassador Program seeks to increase tourism by inspiring front-line employees and volunteers to turn every visitor encounter into a positive experience—with the goal of encouraging visitors to return and share their experience with others.

“By community members sharing what they love about Loudoun, the role of tourism in our economy is elevated,” stated Visit Loudoun President and CEO Beth Erickson. “As a Loudoun CTA, I can share that the virtual class focuses on what makes Loudoun a welcoming destination and how to ensure that visitors have a great experience. Part customer service training and part Loudoun tourism product knowledge, it’s fun and helps answer the question, ‘What’s there to do in Loudoun?’”

Visit Loudoun ran a soft roll-out of the program in late 2020, certifying its staff and board members, and has now opened it up to all members of the tourism industry and volunteers from the community.

The $45 virtual classes are held the second Wednesday of the month and cover the value of tourism, the history of Loudoun County, and its numerous local tourism assets. The goal is to provide the tools hospitality professionals need to answer questions, recommend Loudoun attractions and provide a welcoming experience to every visitor.

“As program facilitator, I love seeing members of our industry learn from each other as well as get inspired when they discover something new about their community,” stated Visit Loudoun Industry & Project Coordinator Jennifer Bodamer.

“This program also creates a sense of camaraderie among participants as they become part of this unique group that is the face of Loudoun County to visitors.”

Once the one-time class is complete, participants receive the official CTA designation and are encouraged to visit Loudoun attractions yearly to stay up to date on places to direct visitors. For more information or to sign up, go to visitloudoun.org/cta. n

BUSINESS announcements

Botox fillers & Vivace 3 injectors with over 25 years of experience combined.

Contributed

County Chair Phyllis Randall, WB20 co-owners Bernard Mustafa and Daphne Mustafa, Loudoun County Department of Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer, and Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce President Tony Howard celebrate the opening of the new fitness studio March 5.

WB20 EMS Opens in Ashburn Bernard Mustafa and Daphne Mustafa celebrated the opening of their new WB20—Whole Body 20 EMS—personal training studio in Ashburn on March 5.

The studio employs Electro Muscle Stimulation technology in its customized 20-minute mood-boosting, fat-burning, muscle-toning programs designed for all fitness levels.

Patrons conduct their supervised

Botox by Amy, Meredith and Ashley

workouts while wearing EMS suits with electrodes that mimic impulses the central nervous system uses to contract 44095 Pipeline Plaza, Suite 270, muscles. The WB20 staff says the studio’s Ashburn, VA 20147 20-minute workouts are efficient and ef571-266-1776 fective, delivering the equivalent of 90 botoxbyamy minutes of strength training in the gym. botoxbymere The studio is located in UniversiSchedule online at: ty Commerce Center, at 44921 George www.mountcastleplasticsurgery.com Washington Boulevard. Learn more We offer: at wb20.io. n

New 3000 square foot office!

New state of the art services: Coolsculpting, Vivace, prp hair growth, facials, lasers

$11/unit

Allergan top 250 in the country

•sculptra

44095 Pipeline Plaza, Suite 270 Ashburn, VA 20147

571-266-1776

botoxbyamy botoxbymere

www.mountcastleplasticsurgery.com

PAGE 16

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

TOWN notes

Our Towns

HAMILTON Town Offers Free Shred Event April 10 The Town of Hamilton will host a free spring cleaning shred event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 10 in the town office parking lot.

Residents are invited to bring old papers to the event to have them destroyed to avoid any security issues in the future. There is a limit to four boxes of paper per vehicle.

The town office is located at 53 E. Colonial Hwy. For more information on the event, go to hamiltonva.gov or contact the town office at 540-338-2811 or hamiltonva@hamiltonva.gov.

HILLSBORO Residents to Get 2021 Town Directory

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

The new Lovettsville Town Office features separate offices for all staff members and a large meeting room with an 85-inch television.

New Lovettsville Town Office Complete

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

It’s been at least 13 years in the making and finally, Lovettsville town staffers have more office space to run the ever-growing town.

Following final approvals and the issuance of an occupancy permit from county inspectors, town staff members last week were busy moving into the new 2,125-square-foot town office, which Fuog/InterBuild constructed under a nearly $500,000 contract. While the staff will eventually work full time out of the new office, Interim Town Manager Sam Finz said staffers for now would work on a flex schedule, with some in the office and some at home on different days.

Finz said all that’s left to do on the new office building, aside from setting up furniture and organizing the interior, is to install the ADA-compliant entrance ramp, perform a bit of exterior sitework and contract with a company to perform

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

The former Lovettsville town office was recently converted into a dedicated Town Council chamber space with seating for at least 40 people.

some landscaping.

“It’s ready,” Finz said of the new office.

The Lovettsville-Waterford Ruritan Club, the local Lions Club and American Legion Post 1836 are also in talks with the town about contributing money to install a flagpole and pavers outside the office. Finz said that would make the new office “more accessible to people, also

more friendly to people.”

As for the old town office building, the exterior is scheduled to be painted.

Inside, crews have already converted the building into a new Town Council chamber, with the new dais set against the back wall rather than curved around two side walls as it was before and seating for at least 40 people.

Work on the new town office began in August, when town leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the occasion.

Town staff members for years petitioned the Town Council to approve funding for the project, citing a need for more room in an already crowded office; in 2008, the town staff was so cramped the council purchased a single-wide trailer that was set up in the back yard to provide office space for two employees.

Although the manufacturer of that trailer recommended the town replace it in 2010, it remained in use until last year. n

Town leaders this month will distribute the 2021 Hillsboro Directory and two Hillsboro-branded fabric facemasks to residents.

Last month, for Valentine’s Day, those leaders handed out chocolate bars featuring the town logo on them custom made by Veritas Artizen Chocolates to all in-town residences, along with a custom greeting card made by Potted Palm Papery.

LOVETTSVILLE Cub Scout Pack Challenges Residents to 35 Hours of Exercise Cub Scout Pack 962 is challenging residents to participate in its UnPack the Pounds Fitness Challenge to see if they’re fitter than a Cub Scout.

The challenge incorporates 35 hours of exercise across eight weeks beginning this Saturday, March 13.

There will also be a walk through town starting at the Town Square every Saturday during the challenge from 3-5 p.m. All participants who keep up with the challenge by logging their exercise will earn a patch for their achievement.

TOWN NOTES continues on page 19

MARCH 11, 2021

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 17

Round Hill Council Considers County’s Annexation Request for Firehouse

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

The county plans to build a new fire station in Round Hill, and the Town Council has a chance to ensure it’s built to its liking.

The council last Wednesday night discussed a proposal to annex three county-owned properties: the site of the Old Round Hill Elementary School; the 14-acre Western Loudoun Sheriff ’s Office Substation site; and a 15-acre property next door to that substation, formerly owned by the Thomas family, where the county plans to build the new firehouse. The town could annex those properties with a boundary line adjustment.

Town Administrator Melissa Hynes said that it has “been a big dream” of the Round Hill Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department to move from Main Street to land on or near the substation off West Loudoun Street, and that moving the department would open up the existing firehouse off Main Street for other uses.

Mayor Scott Ramsey said the county wants to be annexed because it wants an “easier site plan and zoning process.” He said the county would also benefit from in-town utility rates and trash service.

When Councilman Mike Hummel asked what the town would get from an annexation, Ramsey said the firehouse property could be developed in a way that fits the town better and is less “lot eating,” contrary to the way the Sheriff ’s Office substation was designed with a 100-foot setback from West Loudoun Street. Ramsey said that if the town annexes the property, the Town Council would have a say on how the property is developed.

“What they did with the Sheriff ’s Office [substation], you can tell that was a huge waste of land,” he said.

The extra space resulting from less of a setback would allow for more use of the property. Hummel said he heard from a Planning Commissioner that it would be important for the county to put in affordable housing.

Hynes said the county needs an answer from the Town Council on annexation by November.

If the Town Council were to move ahead with the annexation, it might also bring adjacent property owners into town, which would increase the candidate pool for town elections—a long-time goal among town leaders. In 2017, those town leaders met multiple times with out-oftown residents to discuss a boundary line adjustment to bring them into the town limits.

If the county’s proposed boundary line adjustment were to go through now, prop-

erty owners seeking to be a part of the annexation would be required to file a formal request.

The town staff plans to send letters to those property owners informing them that they have a chance to make that request. Ramsey clarified that those letters would be “noncommittal,” “informal” and simply a way for town leaders to determine which property owners are interested in being a part of the boundary line adjustment.

Hynes is expected to bring more information to the Town Council at the April 1 meeting. Ramsey emphasized that the council will need to work closely with the Planning Commission on the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance aspects of the process.

Performing the boundary line adjustment would align with the town’s Comprehensive Plan, which sets out to “strengthen the town and overall community” via bringing properties within the Urban Growth Line into the town’s corporate limits.

This isn’t the first time the Town Council has considered an annexation of the former Thomas family property.

In January 2019, Casey Chapman of

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

The Town of Round Hill could bring into its corporate limits a 15-acre property formerly owned by the Thomas family, which the county now owns and where it plans to build a new firehouse.

the Mozzell commercial real estate firm proposed the town annex the property so his company could develop 43 townhome-style attached dwellings and four single-family homes. Chapman during his presentation to the Town Council said the community would be an “agrihood” by us-

ing the land’s green space for features like parks, trails and greenhouses.

A little more than a year after that proposal, in May 2020, the Thomas family sold the property to the county for $1.6 million, according to the county parcel database. n

I N D E P E N D E N T L I V I N G • A S S I S T E D L I V I N G • M E M O RY C A R E

FIND YOUR CADENCE® AT ONE LOUDOUN THERE’ S MORE TO LIFE HERE We’re committed to providing you with amenities and activities designed to enrich every stage of life. From elevated dining to holistic wellness programming and more, there are endless ways to get the most out of your senior living community at One Loudoun.

Your best life awaits at Tribute at One Loudoun!

Call (571) 799-9511 to schedule your visit today.

Due to COVID-19, we are operating within the CDC guidelines.

TRIBUTEATONELOUDOUN.COM • 20335 SAVIN HILL DRIVE , ASHBURN, VA 20147

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 18

MARCH 11, 2021

Aldie Land Owner Wins Court Case Against Land Trust

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

The developer behind a halted St. Louis project and a redevelopment proposal at the Aldie Tavern has won a long legal battle against the Land Trust of Virginia around the parkland behind the Aldie property.

Supervisors are mulling over a proposal to give developer Jack Andrews the Aldie Tavern property, $1.5 million, and $600,000 in escrow for matching funds to work on the tavern building and install an access road to a private park behind it. In exchange, they would get the 16-acre St. Louis property, where developer MOJAX LLC had planned a 30-home subdivision, a deal is meant to forestall the development near St. Louis and provide a path to restoring the Aldie Tavern.

Andrews also owns Mt. Aldie LLC, which owns 60 acres behind the Aldie Tavern and is protected by a conservation easement. Part of the proposal would include access to that 60 acres, which people already commonly stroll for leisure, as parkland.

From 2013 until Feb. 25 this year, Mt. Aldie and the holders of the easement, the Land Trust of Virginia, had been in a legal battle over alleged construction work on the protected land, with the Loudoun Circuit Court issuing an injunction against Mt. Aldie and awarding the Land Trust more than $2.2 million in fees and costs.

But the Supreme Court of Virginia overturned that decision, finding that the disturbance that led to the Circuit Court

Contributed

Jack Andrews on the 60 acres in Aldie that was the subject of a legal dispute with the Land Trust of Virginia, which holds a conservation easement on the property.

ruling was not the disturbance named in the Land Trust’s complaint, and citing precedent that “[t]he issues in a case are made by the pleadings, and not by the testimony of witnesses or other evidence.”

The Circuit Court had ruled in favor of the Land Trust after finding that Mt. Aldie had violated the terms of the easement by installing brick paving stones on the Indian Spring Trail to allow water from the Indian Spring to drain across the trail.

But because that was not raised in the Land Trust’s complaint, the state Supreme Court decided the lower court should not have ruled based on that finding. The Land Trust’s complaint instead referenced construction of “what appeared to be a

road” inside the riparian buffer around the Little River, which the Indian Spring drains into, including clearing plants, removing rock outcrops, and grading.

“My family has always wanted to preserve Mt. Aldie, so that the public might enjoy it forever,” Andrews stated in a press release from his attorneys. “It is disappointing that others claim that ‘development’ is the goal when the real goal is preservation, much like our recent work on the Aldie River Walk and Aldie Dam Millrace Trail. I am pleased with the Supreme Court’s confirmation that Mt. Aldie acted within its reserved rights under the Conservation Easement.”

The Supreme Court did not decide

whether Mt. Aldie had violated the terms of the easement with the paving stones, as the Circuit Court had. “[T]he citizens of Aldie have been visiting the Indian Spring for more than 200 years,” stated attorney James P. Campbell.

“Consistent with the recent proposal to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, Mr. Andrews and Mt. Aldie hope that the beautiful Indian Spring Trail and historic spring will be a natural wonder that the citizens of Aldie might enjoy in perpetuity.”

Andrews has been at the center of objections to the proposed Aldie Tavern deal, which is now with the Board of Supervisors’ finance committee awaiting further discussion. The proposal includes a restored tavern, shops in the two other buildings on the property, a brewery, and a bed-and-breakfast. It would also serve as the entrance and park office for the private parkland.

The supervisor who first made the motion to first launch that debate, Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge), has since indicated he no longer supports the deal.

“Since making the original motion out of Closed Session, I have been contacted by many constituents, organizations and Towns,” Buffington emailed his colleagues.

“All had the same message of—we don’t trust the individual making the offer and we don’t want the County coupling the Aldie Assemblage to any deal related to the Saint Louis property. Not one person who has contacted me has been in favor of selling the Aldie Assemblage to the individual involved in the current offer.” n

Loudoun Launches Online Map of Unpaved Roads The Loudoun County Office of Mapping and Geographic Information has launched a new, mobile-friendly online map of the county’s unpaved roads.

The county’s extensive network of unpaved roads is a treasure for outdoor enthusiasts, attracting cyclists, runners and equestrians from throughout the country.

Last year, Preservation Virginia added the network of 18th and 19th century unpaved rural roads to the list of the commonwealth’s most endangered historic sites, the latest achievement for a group of historians, educators and journalists who have been working over the past two years to record history of Loudoun’s gravel roads and highlight their historical importance as part of the America’s Routes project. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources also declared them eligible for listing on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2019, a documentary about America’s Routes, the project to save Loudoun’s historic unpaved roads, won an Emmy.

Many unpaved roads remain in their original alignment in Loudoun County, shaped by centuries of travel and representing the migration, settlement and travel patterns of the county’s early populations. Travelers on many of these roads can view Loudoun’s landscape much as it was in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The map can help travelers plan their bike, riding or running paths. The online map also lets users provide information on roads they travel, which will help the county keep the map updated to current conditions.

The map also indicates whether unpaved roads are public or private, and who is responsible for maintenance.

View the map at loudoun.gov/unpavedroads. To

see other online Loudoun County maps, visit loudoun. gov/geohub. n

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

TOWN notes

continued from page 16 To register, go to pack962.mystrikingly. com. Registration closes March 20.

MIDDLEBURG Town Suspends Farmer’s Market Operations The Town of Middleburg has suspended the 2021 farmer’s market “in light of recent challenges and a decrease in attendance due to COVID-19,” according to a statement last week.

Last year, the town moved the market to the National Sporting Library and Museum for more space, but the new location, coupled with a decrease in attendance, made the viability of the market challenging.

“As of this time, the town does not believe that the market can be successfully organized and operated for the coming year,” the town statement reads.

In the meantime, town leaders are working to locate a permanent home for

the farmer’s market. That spot will be somewhere that can accommodate additional activities and vendor options. Town leaders expect the new town hall complex, which should be complete in early 2023, will be an “ideal location” for the market.

The town is encouraging residents and visitors to support local farms, vendors and producers. Learn more at middleburgva.gov/market.

ROUND HILL Town Council to Continue Meeting Virtually Following a brief discussion last Wednesday, the Town Council opted to continue meeting virtually over Zoom until Gov. Ralph Northam lifts the state of emergency and restrictive orders.

Mayor Scott Ramsey said that, while council members are missing out on in-person interactions and are forced to have “one-at-a-time” discussions over the virtual meeting platform rather than more free dialogue when meeting in the town hall, they have gotten “the hang of it.”

“I think we’re being productive,” he said.

Town Attorney Maureen Gilmore said that if any council members decide to attend meetings virtually once the council again meets in person, there will still need to be a quorum physically present to run the meetings.

Ramsey said that because council members haven’t seen each other in person in a while, and because there are a few new council members on the dais who were elected during the pandemic, the town would look to host “social mixer events.”

“We’ll try to find some opportunities,” he said.

LUCKETTS Elementary School PTA Awarding $500 Scholarship The Lucketts Elementary School PTA will award a $500 scholarship to a graduating senior who plans to enlist in the military.

Applicants must have attended the school for at least one year. To apply, fill out an application and attach two letters of recommendation from teachers. Applications and recommendations are due in

We’re All in This Together Be part of our Community’s COVID-19 Recovery & Relief efforts

Early Giving Opens on March 2

PAGE 19

by April 10.

For more information, email LuckettsElementaryPTA@gmail.com.

PTA Wins Award for Mental Health The Lucketts PTA has won the Ruritan Youth Grant Award for Mental Health and Well-Being.

A student assembly with youth motivational speaker Blake Brandes with a focus on growth mindset will take place on April 5. A parent presentation will take place April 8. Teachers will soon receive additional curriculum materials on mental health.

Learn more about Brandes at blakebrandes.com.

Talent Show Registration Open The Lucketts Elementary School is looking for participants for this year’s talent show.

Jugglers, magicians, singers, dancers, hula-hoopers and students with all kinds of talents are invited to register. For more information, email Amy Tribié at LuckettsTalentShow@gmail.com or call/ text 571-330-3754.

a program of

MARCH 16 Give Choose 24 Hours of Giving Midnight to Midnight

GIVECHOOSE.org

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 20

MARCH 11, 2021

Loco Living TICKETS ON (703) 777-1665 SALE NOW! wwww.TallyHoTheater.com

JOHN KADLECIK SOLO ACOUSTI’LECTRIC COWBOY MOUTH

FEB 1

FEB 13

UFO FAREWELL TOUR

FEB 21

A TRIBUTE TO 70’S ROCK: FOREPLAY

SOUL ASYLUM WITH LOCAL H

FEB 22

03/12/21 DOORS: 7PM THE WAILERS SHOW: 8PM

03/13/21 UNCLE CARBON LEAF KRACKER DOORS: 7PM BROTHERS IN ARMS TOUR FEB 28 8PM SHOW:

FEB 29

ND 2/7 COBS BA CHRIS JA 2/8 RE FI TRIAL BY 5 ts 2/14-1 Two Nigh IA AN 6 EAGLEM YEARS 3/ AN AG RE THE

TWO COMEDY NIGHTS

19 W Market St., Leesburg, VA For a full schedule please visit

www.TallyHoTheater.com

DC IMPROV PRESENTS:

COMEDY NIGHT IN LEESBURG 03/18 & 03/19/21 DOORS: 7PM | SHOW: 8PM

MATINEE SHOW ADDED! LATE SHOW SOLD OUT

THE ULTIMATE AC/DC EXPERIENCE:

LIVE WIRE

03/20/21 DOORS: 2:30PM | SHOW: 3PM DOORS: 7PM | SHOW: 8PM

2 NIGHTS OF SUN DOGS!

SUN DOGS:

A TRIBUTE TO RUSH 03/26 & 03/27/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM

TWO NIGHTS OF AMISH OUTLAWS!

AMISH OUTLAWS 04/02 & 04/03/21 DOORS: 7PM | SHOW: 8PM

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Khadija Sareshwala in her home studio in Ashburn.

Ashburn’s Khadija Sareshwala Bridges Cultures with Textile Art

BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com

When textile artist Khadija Sareshwala moved to Ashburn four years ago, she built a bridge to her home in India in the form of gorgeous wearable art.

Sareshwala, who grew up in the UK and Mumbai, is someone who moves easily between cultures. Now, she’s embracing her new home and blending the flora and fauna of Loudoun into her work.

“I’m very adaptable to different situations. I moved a lot when I was younger,” she said. “For me it’s just a matter of seeing people and absorbing the culture. I like to take what every place has in it and try to get that into my work.”

Sareshwala was making inroads on the DMV juried craft show scene when COVID hit, but she’s staying productive and building an online presence for her

"I was like this is something interesting where I can bridge the gap of high fashion and my esthetic as an artist and also collaborate with artisans.”

— Khadija Sareshwala ethereal hand-painted scarves and decorative textile work. For Sareshwala, her work is a way to stay connected to her home and support the women artists who inspired her during her career with two Indian nonprofits.

Sareshwala’s mother is a ceramic artist and her first inspiration.

“I’d always see her work and textures.

Her work is very 3D, so that was always an inspiration—I’ve grown up with that,” she said.

When Sareshwala went to art school in Mumbai, she initially thought she’d focus on digital art but found herself drawn to the textures and hands-on nature of textile work. Her passion for textiles was cemented by her work with the nonprofit Craftroots organization, which supports low-income urban and rural women in western India. Craftroots helps women generate income through traditional handicrafts by providing a platform for jewelry and textile sales.

“Their whole mission was to empower women and revive the dying art forms.

It was a very eye-opening thing for me,” TEXTILE ART continues on page 22

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

THINGS to do LOCO LIVE Live Music: Melissa Quinn Fox Duo

Friday, March 12, 7 p.m.

Saigon Outcast, 44921 George Washington Blvd., Ashburn Details: saigonoutcastva.com Fox returns to Saigon Outcast with her signature high-energy rock and country.

Live Music: Chris Bone

Saturday, March 13, 2 p.m.

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro Details: harvestgap.com Great tunes from western Loudoun singer/songwriter and one-man band Chris Bone.

PAGE 21

Hillsboro Details: breauxvineyards.com Best known for his electric blues band The Danger Zone, Stoll hits the local winery scene as a solo artist with a mix of blues and Americana, including favorites like Johnny Cash and John Prine.

Live Music: Matty D

Saturday, March 13, 6 p.m.

Bear Chase Brewing Company, 18294 Blue Ridge Mountain Road, Bluemont Details: bearchasebrew.com Matt Davis returns to Bear Chase with favorite tunes from a range of genres and eras.

Live Music: John Kadlecik

Friday, March 12, 7 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com Kadlecik is best known as the guitarist for Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir in the band Furthur and a co-founder of the Dark Star Orchestra.

Now he’s bringing his solo “acousti-lectric” show to the Tally Ho. Tickets are $20-$30.

Live Music: Acoustic Ayre

Live Music: Bill Rose and Laurie Blue

Saturday, March 13, 7 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com It’s a ’70s rock party with covers from Boston, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner, Heart, Kansas, Led Zeppelin and other favorites. Tickets are $17.50$30.

Friday, March 12, 8 p.m.

King’s Tavern and Wine Bar, 19 S. King St., Leesburg Details: kingstavernandwinebar.com Rocking originals and beloved covers from a legendary local duo.

Live Music: Ken Wenzel

Saturday, March 13, 1-4 p.m.

The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com Wenzel is back at the Barns with his roots-rock, country-jazz take on love, learning and life in America.

Saturday, March 13, 6:30 p.m.

Parallel Wine and Whiskey Bar, 43135 Broadlands Center Plaza, Broadlands Details: parallelwinebistro.com Enjoy classic rock and folk covers from a DMV favorite.

Live Music: Foreplay Tribute to ’70s Rock Courtesy Shane Gamble

Live Music: Shane Gamble

Saturday, March 13, 4 pm.

Bluemont Vineyard, 18755 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont Details: bluemontvineyard.com Rising country music star Shane Gamble has several hit singles under his belt and a new EP on the horizon.

Live Music: Karl Stoll

Saturday, March 13, 2-5 p.m.

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane,

Live Music: Dave Mininberg

Sunday, March 14, 1-4 p.m.

The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com Well known for his work with the band 7th Son of WV, Mininberg brings a blend of originals, classic rock, blues and country.

Live Music: Jes Jams

Sunday, March 14, 1:30 p.m.

50 West Vineyards, 39060 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg Details: facebook.com/50westvineyards Jessica Paulin returns to 50 West with a bank of well-loved hits from the ’60s through today: rock, country, oldies, alt, folk and pop. There’s something for everyone.

Andrew McKnight Online Irish Luck Concert

Thursday, March 18, 7:30 p.m.

Details: andrewmcknight.net Loudoun-based singer/songwriter Andrew McKnight celebrates the season with a full-length living room concert. Pay what you will via the website.

LIBATIONS St. Patrick’s Day Weekend at Lost Barrel Brewing

Thursday, March 11-Sunday, March 14 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg Details: lostbarrel.com It’s four days of food and drink specials, favorite DJs and fun at Lost Barrel.

Lost Rhino St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

Saturday, March 13, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Lost Rhino Brewing Company 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn Details: lostrhino.com Kick the day off with kegs and eggs, then enjoy Shooter McMunn’s Irish Stout release, food specials and live music from Mercy Creek from 2-5 p.m.

THINGS TO DO continues on page 22

See the full job listings at

NowHiringLoudoun.com

HELP WANTED AT FAMILY PRACTICE

HELP WANTED AT FAMILY PRACTICE

Experienced Lab Tech Or MA – Busy Family Practice office in Lansdowne, VA looking for an experienced lab tech or MA to collect and process Covid 19, Flu & Strep samples. Must be familiar with manual and automated methods. EMR experience preferred.

We offer health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401k and many other benefits.

Large family practice in Loudoun County with 6 locations and 28 providers looking for FT LPN’s or MA’s with a dedication to excellence. New LPN graduates welcome to apply. Pediatric and or family practice experience preferred. EHR experience highly recommended. We offer competitive pay rates, health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401K and many other benefits. Please send your resume to: lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-726-0804 attention Lisa

Please send your resume to lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-726-0804

NOW HIRING FLAGGERS Full time, to provide traffic control & safety around construction sites. A valid driver license & clean driving record a must.

Starting $13/hr & scheduled raises & bonuses.

Company-paid medical & dental premiums.

Please fill out an application at trafficplan.com or come to our office on Tuesdays or Thursdays (8am-10am) 7855 Progress Ct. Suite 103, Gainesville, VA

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 22

Obituaries Janice K. Butts Janice K. Butts, age 88, of Sterling, Va. passed away Thursday morning, March 04,2021 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Joanne and Will Cockerill of Purcellville, VA. Janice was born in Fayette, Iowa on August 14,1932 and lived on a farm up until the third grade. She has shared many fond memories of those days, of spending time with her dad in the front seat of his pick-up truck and of her love for the chickens and the hogs. When the farm was sold, she and her family moved to Texas, later to Arizona and eventually ended up in the State of Washington. There in Kennewick, after graduating from high school, she met the love of her life and married on April 26,1952. After her husband, Harry, graduated from college he was hired by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. During his years with FDA, Harry, with wife Janice and by then six children eight years of age and under, transferred to Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1965, another transfer moved the family to Washington, D.C. Sterling Park in Loudoun County, Virginia was their home for more than 40 years. Janice loved to be involved with her church, with the choir, VBS programs, women’s bible studies and with cub scouts. She also enjoyed knitting, sewing, crewel embroidery, singing and playing the piano. Working with children was one of her greatest sources of joy. She was the caregiver for two of her grandchildren from their age of 12 weeks until they entered elementary school and thereafter, she volunteered many hours at Guilford Elementary School to continue being with her grandchildren. Once those grandchildren entered middle school, Janice was hired by the LCPS system as a kindergarten aid and worked for 10 years at Guilford Elemen-

tary School. When the time came to sell the Sterling Park home, Harry and Janice moved to what was then known as Leisure World at Lansdowne. After 62 years of marriage, her husband Harry passed away in June 2014. In March of 2015, Janice and her family felt it was best for her to move to Western Loudoun to live with her oldest daughter Joanne and husband Will. She was able to spend the last six years of her life there. Soon after making Western Loudoun her home, Janice didn’t miss a day at the Carver Senior Center in Purcellville. If it was open, she was there enjoying the bible studies, exercise classes, art workshops, special holiday events and making new friends.

Because of the onset of her dementia in 2017, with the love and support of staff from both the Carver Senior Center and the Mac Brownell Adult Day Center, Janice was transferred to the MBADC. She thoroughly enjoyed her days spent there participating in the wonderful program MBADC offers to seniors with impaired mental and physical abilities. When the pandemic caused the Center to close in March 2020, it was obvious to her family that Janice was being greatly affected by the loss of the structure, routine, daily activities and the socialization that the Center provided for her. Janice is survived by her four sons, Jim Butts (Zeb), David Butts (Susan), Jeff Butts (Heidi), and Wade Butts, two daughters, Joanne Cockerill (Will), and Kris Newcomer. Janice had 24 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren that knew her as Pokee. A Private graveside service will be held. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to Mac Brownell Adult Day Center, 200 E. Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville, Va. 20132.

Arrangements by Hall Funeral Home, Purcellville, VA. Please visit www.hallfh.com to express online condolences to the family.

Lives are like rivers: Eventually they go where they must, not where we want them to.

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

THINGS to do continued from page 19

Solace Brewing St. Patrick’s Celebration

MARCH 11, 2021

Details: stagecoachtc.com StageCoach Theatre’s original play explores six possible conspiracies, based on historical facts, surrounding the death of Alexander Hamilton in 1804. Tickets are $25. Performances continue

Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14, 11 a.m.8 p.m.

Solace Brewing Company, 42615 Trade West Drive #100, Dulles Details: solacebrewing.com Celebrate with green beer, Irish dancers from the Boyd school, bagpipes, an Irish menu from Blackfinn and limited-edition Solace St. Patrick’s Day glassware.

St. Patrick’s Day at Rocket Frog

Saturday, March 13, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Rocket Frog Brewing Company, 22560 Glenn Drive, Sterling # 103 Details: facebook.com/rocketfrogbrewing Celebrate with special beers and a St. Patrick’s Day themed menu. Reservations are strongly recommended.

LOCO CULTURE ‘The Hamilton Murders’

Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14, 7 p.m.

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

Textile art continued from page 20 Sareshwala said. “I would just sit with [craftswomen] trying to absorb everything that I saw.”

Sareshwala continued her work in the Indian nonprofit sector, working for the trendy global Being Human clothing line, which supports the Being Human Foundation launched by Bollywood star Salman Khan. When Sareshwala married and moved to Ashburn four years ago, she turned her focus to her own art while continuing to support textile workers in India.

“I was like this is something interesting where I can bridge the gap of high fashion and my esthetic as an artist and also collaborate with artisans,” she said.

Sareshwala sources silk and cotton silk fabrics from India, and many of the fabric embellishments, like tassels and crochet work, are done by artisans in her home country. Sareshwala creates designs through traditional batik, block print and tie-dye techniques, experimenting with wax, salt, rubbing alcohol and other materials to create texture, while hand painting whimsical elements like butterflies, dragonflies, botanicals and florals.

“I just want to experiment and explore,” she said.

Before COVID hit, Sareshwala was getting her foot in the door in the local arts and crafts scene with a focus on juried shows. In her first years in Loudoun, her work was a hit at shows in Richmond and Hyattsville, and she made her local debut

Courtesy Terra Voce

through April 11 with no shows Easter weekend.

Live Music: Terra Voce

Tuesday, March 16, 7 p.m.

Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville Details: franklinparkartscenter.org Terra Voce presents a 45-minute classical chamber music program with cello and flute. 45-minute program. In-person audiences are limited to 50 people with socially distanced seating provided.

Tickets are $15 for in-person seats and $8 for a virtual ticket.

at spring and holiday craft shows at Ida Lee Recreation Center. Last spring, she earned a spot at the sprawling and popular Bizarre Bazaar in Richmond, but the show was canceled because of COVID. Sareshwala is slowly dipping her toes back into the in-person craft show scene and has applied to the prestigious Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival in Reston, which has been pushed back to September 2021. For now, Sareshwala is focusing on building her online presence with an active Instagram page and a new website.

For textile artists, in-person connection is key, she says. But artists are adapting to the times.

“I know that everything is changing. I have to see a way to get my work online.

But I do want to be able to meet my customers, explain the story behind everything,” Sareshwala said. “It’s a great feeling to see and show them what I’m working on.”

With her new website up and running and in-person craft shows slowly coming back online as COVID restrictions are relaxed, Sareshwala is focused on making beautiful work and forging connections in the Loudoun arts community.

“It’s been a good creative journey,” she said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do next with it.” n Check out Ashburn artist Khadija Sareshwala’s wearable and decorative art on Instagram @khadijasareshwala and shop online at khadijabrand.com.

9/3/19

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

HELP WANTED Experienced Carpenter/Carpenters Helper for residential remodeling in Western Loudoun. Tools and transportation required.

PAGE 23

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 Position

Department

Salary Range

Closing Date

Building Technician I or II

Public Works & Capital Projects

$41,353-$76,882 DOQ

Open until filled

Business Systems Integrator/Administrator

Town Manager’s Office

$70,374-$120,339 DOQ

Open until filled

Capital Projects Manager

Public Works & Capital Projects

$82,999-$141,929 DOQ

Open until filled

Controller

Finance

$79,227-$135,636 DOQ

Open until filled

Police Captain

Police

$83,559-$143,016 DOQ

3/26/2021

Police Officer

Police

$53,233-$89,590 DOQ

Open until filled

Senior Engineer (Capital Projects)

Public Works & Capital Projects

$70,374-$120,339 DOQ

Open until filled

The Town of Lovettsville seeks an Accountant to carry out Town accounting and financial activities.

Senior Systems Analyst

Information Technology

$70,374-$120,339 DOQ

Open until filled

Traffic Technician I

Public Works & Capital Projects

$48,295-$83,805 DOQ

Open until filled

Utilities Project Manager

Utilities

$76,941-$131,689 DOQ

Open until filled

Duties include financial reporting, reconciliations, invoices, taxation, vouchers payments approvals, maintenance of ledger, internal and external audits, project/ client and vendor payments and receipts, maintenance of records, and budgeting.

Utility Plant Operator: Trainee, I, II or Senior

Utilities

$41,353-$89,790 DOQ

Open until filled

Utility Plant Supervisor

Utilities

$61,857-$105,896 DOQ

Open until filled

Call 202-812-1022

Requirements: work experience as an Accountant, or similar experience in Finance, knowledge of local government accounting regulations and procedures, including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), experience with accounting software like Harris and Quick books, Advanced MS Excel skills including VLOOKUP’s and pivot tables, experience with general ledger functions, attention to detail and good analytical skills. Additional certification CPA or CMA is a plus.

Please send your Town of Lovettsville application and resume/cv to Clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov.

10:58 AM

Summer Internship Position

Department

GIS Intern

Utilities

Hourly Rate $15.00

Closing Date Open until filled

Summer Position Position

Department

Maintenance Worker

Utilities

Hourly Rate $15.00

Closing Date Open until filled

To review Ida Lee (Parks & Recreation) flexible part-time positions, please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs.

Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications.

All Town vacancies may be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 67 and Verizon FiOS Channel 35.

The Town of Lovettsville, VA is hiring for an entry-level Project Manager who will manage the design and construction of a variety of the Town’s Capital Projects. The candidate should have project management knowledge and experience in municipal infrastructure projects, including storm water, flood mitigation, roadways, transit, bicycle and pedestrian, and parks and recreation facilities. The candidate will have a willingness to learn and accomplish the job duties in line with the mission, vision, and goals of the Town. The candidate will perform the following functions as the Town’s Project Manager.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Be responsible for the design and construction of Town, County and State facilities within the Town.

Develop and manage the schedules and budgets for capital projects from start to finish.

Identify funding sources, submit grant requests, and manage federal, state and local grants Manage the consultants work including procurement, defining scope, monitoring expenditures and schedules, and assuring quality deliverables are received.

5. Assist with the preparation and development of the Capital Improvements Budget and 5-year Plan.

Process payments, monitor expenses, and track the schedule of projects.

6. Coordinate with Town residents, Town Attorney, County and State Agencies, permit agencies, consultants, and contractors to address complaints, issues, and concerns to ensure the projects are satisfactorily completed.

7. Responsible for negotiation and preparation of contracts, RFP’s RFQ’s and RFB’s and report project status and information to Town Manager and Town Council.

The ideal candidate shall demonstrate knowledge in local, state and federal requirements. Candidates should have a Civil Engineering degree or a degree in a closely related field with at least two years of Project Management/Civil Engineering experience. Salary is negotiable. Please fill out the Town of Lovettsville employment application and email it with your cover letter, resume/cv with the words “Project Manager” in the subject line to Clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov.

HELP WANTED AT LOCAL CAFE

Maverick Cafe has an opening for a detail-oriented, aggressive, competent, well-spoken barista with an out-going personality, a firm grasp on using social media for promotion, and ability to run a PnL for a growing small business. Critical thinker and problem solver who will work directly with the CEO to take this growing business to the next level.

Hourly salary plus ability to be bonused on reaching profit goals to grow your own nest egg as well as cafe profits!

Contact us with your exceptional resume ASAP at:

cafe@foods.maverick-llc.com rjb@maverick-llc.com

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 24

MARCH 11, 2021

Planning Commission Endorses Gas Pumps, Convenience Store in Compass Creek

BY KARA CLARK RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com

The Leesburg Planning Commission has given its approval to allow gas pumps with convenience stores as a by-right use in the zoning district that includes the Compass Creek development.

The move is part of ongoing negotiations between the town and Loudoun County regarding a boundary line adjustment that would bring Compass Creek into town limits. One stipulation the county has placed on negotiations is the need to obtain consent from all property owners to be annexed, and many want to

retain development rights and approvals obtained from Loudoun County, according to a staff report. This zoning change aims to placate Walmart.

“Walmart is a large footprint retailer whose business practices include accessory gas pumps, much like Costco. To assist in securing Walmart’s consent, this Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment proposes to create a new use limited to the PD-CC-SC District called Accessory Fueling Stations with Convenience Store,” the staff report reads.

Initially, Walmart had only requested the ability to have a fueling station, but added the desire for the accompanying convenience store. In turn, the council

Legal Legal Notices Notices ATTENTION NONPROFIT ATTENTION NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN ORGANIZATIONS IN LOUDOUN COUNTY LOUDOUN COUNTY

Nonprofit organizations seeking exemption Nonprofit organizations from Loudoun County realseeking and/or exemption personal from Loudoun and/or property taxes for County the 2022real tax year maypersonal file an property taxes 2022 year may file an application with for the the Office of tax the Commissioner withbythethe Office Commissioner ofapplication the Revenue Aprilof1,the 2021 deadline. of the Revenuenonprofit by the April 1, 2021 deadline.

Most charitable organizations are not Most charitable nonprofit organizations not automatically exempt from local property are taxes exempt from inautomatically the Commonwealth, even local thoseproperty that maytaxes be in the Commonwealth, even taxes. those that exempt from federal income The may filingbe from federal income taxes. Theoffiling ofexempt an application with the Commissioner the of an application with thefirst Commissioner of the Revenue is the necessary step to obtaining is the necessary first step to obtaining a Revenue local real estate or personal property tax a local realCompleted estate or personal property tax exemption. applications should Completed applications ofshould beexemption. returned to the Commissioner the be returned the Commissioner the Revenue with atopostmark

by April 1, of 2021, Revenue with a this postmark

by April 1, 2021, for consideration year. Any exemption, if for consideration this year.January Any exemption, granted, would be effective 1, 2022. if granted, would be effective January 1, 2022.

Applications are available online at www.

Applications are online at www. loudoun.gov/cor.

Foravailable information or assistance, loudoun.gov/cor. information or assistance, please contact my For office at trcor@loudoun.gov contact my office 8:30 at trcor@loudoun.gov orplease 703-737-8557 weekdays AM to 5:00 PM. or 703-737-8557 weekdays 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Robert S.ofWertz, Jr. Commissioner the Revenue Commissioner of the Revenue Loudoun County Loudoun County Leesburg Office Leesburg Office 1 Harrison Street SE 1 Harrison Street SE First Floor First Floor Sterling Office Sterling Office 21641 Ridgetop Circle 21641Suite Ridgetop 100 Circle Suite 100 Mailing Address: Mailing Address: PO Box 8000, MSC 32 PO BoxVA 8000, MSC 32 Leesburg, 20177-9804 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804 Phone: 703-737-8557 Phone: 703-737-8557 Email: trcor@loudoun.gov Email: trcor@loudoun.gov 03/04, 03/11, 03/18 & 03/25/21 03/04, 03/11, 03/18 & 03/25/21

amended its initial September initiation of the text amendment in January to include the convenience store use.

The changes unanimously endorsed by the commission limit the number of gas pumps at the fueling station to eight; allow a maximum canopy height of 22 feet; establish a maximum square footage for the convenience store of 1,500 square feet; and create a parking ratio of four spaces per 1,000 gross square feet.

The latter guideline means the convenience store will need to provide at least six parking spaces, and can apply for a special exception for more spaces. Commissioners questioned whether this was enough, considering the need to provide

parking for convenience store staff, but Zoning Administrator Michael Watkins said town staff did not want to set a higher standard to create the need for more impervious surfaces. A car wash will not be permitted with the use.

While the changes received commission endorsement, Chairwoman Gigi Robinson questioned the need for a convenience store next to a retailer like Walmart, and also near several planned drive-through restaurants.

“I’m not sure we need it,” she said.

The proposed changes will now head to the Town Council for final action.

Commissioner Brian McAfee was absent for the meeting. n

NOTICE OF ABANDONED BICYCLES NOTICE OF ABANDONED BICYCLES

Notice is hereby given that the bicycles described below were found and delivered to the Office of the Sheriff of Loudoun County; if the owners of the listed bicycles Notice is herebywithin given sixty that the describedthe below found and delivered Office of who the Sheriff of Loudoun the owners of if thehe/she listeddesires. bicycles are not identified (60)bicycles days following final were publication of this notice, to thethe individuals found said bicyclesCounty; shall be if entitled to them areunclaimed not identified within sixty (60) daysaccording followingtothe final publication of this notice, the individuals who found said bicycles shall be entitled to them if he/she desires.

All bicycles will be handled Chapter 228.04 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.

All unclaimed bicycles will be handled according to Chapter 228.04 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.

Description Description Green Kensington Free Spirit mountain Green Kensington bike Free 500 Spirit mountain bike 500 Huffy bike with Frozen characters Huffy bike with Frozen characters Red and silver Raleigh Venture bike Red and silver Raleigh Venture bike Blue Mt. Fury road master bike Blue Mt. Fury road master bike Burgundy Mongoose Crossway 250 bike Burgundy Mongoose Crossway 250 bike Yellow Diamondback Wildwood bike Yellow Diamondback Wildwood bike BCA SC29” Model No. BCA72954 BCA SC29” Model No. BCA72954

ORDER OF PUBLICATION ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

COMMONWEALTH VA. CODE § 8.01-316 OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.: JJ044669-02-00 Case No.: JJ044669-02-00 Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations Loudoun Juvenile andCourt Domestic Relations District District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Lucas Eduardo Ixcotoyac Castro Lucas Eduardo Ixcotoyac Castro Loudoun County Department Loudoun County Department of Family Services of Family /v. Services Catarina Castro /v.

Chiroy, mother, Catarina Castro Chiroy, mother, Lucas Ixcotoyac Iztep, putative father, Lucas Ixcotoyac Iztep, putative father, unknown father unknown father hold a foster care review hearing and review a foster carepursuant review hearing and review ofhold foster care plan to Virginia Code foster care pursuant Virginia Code §§of16.1-282 andplan 16.1-281 forto Lucas Eduardo §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1-281 for Lucas Eduardo Ixcotoyac Castro.

Ixcotoyac Castro.

It is ORDERED that the defendants Catarina It is ORDERED that the defendants Catarina Castro Chiroy, mother, Lucas Ixcotoyac Iztep, Castro Chiroy, mother, Lucas Iztep, appear at the putative father, unknown fatherIxcotoyac putative father, unknown father at the above-named Court to protect theirappear interests on Court to protect orabove-named before April 13, 2021 at 2:00 their pm. interests on or before April 13, 2021 at 2:00 pm.

03/11, 03/18, 03/25 & 04/01/21 03/11, 03/18, 03/25 & 04/01/21

Case Number Case Number SO200013199 SO200013199 SO200016406 SO200016406 SO200016630 SO200016630 SO200019131 SO200019131 SO210002139 SO210002139 SO210002776 SO210002776 SO210002889 SO210002889

Recovery Recovery Location Recovery Date Recovery Location Date 08/15/2020 46164 Westlake Dr. Sterling, VA 08/15/2020 46164 Westlake Dr. Sterling, VA 10/08/2020 Charles Town Pike/Dry Mill Rd, VA 10/08/2020 Charles Town Pike/Dry Mill Rd, VA 10/12/2020 Algonkian Pkwy/Middlefield Dr, VA 10/12/2020 Algonkian Pkwy/Middlefield Dr, VA 11/22/2020 20403 Rosemallow Ct. Sterling, VA 11/22/2020 20403 Rosemallow Ct. Sterling, VA 02/08/2021 43180 Edgewater St. Chantilly, VA 02/08/2021 43180 Edgewater St. Chantilly, VA 02/19/2021 22031 Auction Barn Dr. Ashburn, VA 02/19/2021 22031 Auction Barn Dr. Ashburn, VA 02/22/2021 23392 Bymes Mill Terr. Ashburn, VA 02/22/2021 23392 Bymes Mill Terr. Ashburn, VA

VIRGINIA V I RINGTHE I NCIRCUIT IA COURT OF

IN LOUDOUN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COUNTY LOUDOUN COUNTY Case No.: CL 21-359 Case No.: CL 21-359 DALJIT KAUR BEESLA, Plaintiff DALJIT KAUR BEESLA, Plaintiff v. v.

HARINDER SINGH SOHI, Defendant HARINDER SINGH SOHI, Defendant ORDER OF PUBLICATION ORDER PUBLICATION The OBJECT of theOF above-styled suit is to The OBJECT obtain a divorce.of the above-styled suit is to a divorce.by affidavit filed according ITobtain APPEARING APPEARING by affidavit according toIT law that the Defendant in thefiled above titled to law thatnot thereside Defendant the above titledof cause does in thein Commonwealth cause does reside in the Commonwealth of Virginia; it isnot therefore Virginia; it is therefore ORDERED that the said HARINDER SINGH ORDERED thebefore said HARINDER SOHI, appear that on or the 23rd day SINGH of SOHI, appear or in before the 23rd day of April, 2021 at 2on p.m. the Circuit Court April, 2021 at 2 p.m. in the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, located at 18 E. Market Loudoun County, located20176 at 18 E. Street, Leesburg, Virginia andMarket do what is Street, Leesburg, 20176and anditdo is necessary to protectVirginia his interests; is what further necessary to protect his interests; and it is further ORDERED that this order be published once a ORDERED this order be published once a week for four that successive weeks in LOUDOUN week afor four successive weeks in LOUDOUN NOW, newspaper of general circulation in the NOW, of a newspaper of general inbe the County Loudoun; that a copy circulation of this order County of Loudoun; that aCode copy §of1-211.1, this order posted pursuant to Virginia andbe pursuant to Virginia Code § 1-211.1, and a posted copy mailed to the Defendant at his last known a copyas mailed at hisherein. last known address statedtointhe theDefendant affidavit filed address as stated in the affidavit filed herein.

02/25, 03/04, 03/11, & 03/18/21 02/25, 03/04, 03/11, & 03/18/21

Phone Phone Number Number 703-777-0610 703-777-0610 703-777-0610 703-777-0610 703-777-0610 703-777-0610 703-777-0610 703-777-0610 703-777-0610 703-777-0610 703-777-0610 703-777-0610 703-777-0610 703-777-0610

03/04 & 03/11/21 03/04 & 03/11/21

ORDER OF PUBLICATION ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH VA. CODE § 8.01-316 OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ038628-14-00 Case No.: JJ038628-14-00 , Loudoun County Juvenile and Domestic , Loudoun County District JuvenileCourt and Domestic Relations Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Sanay Elliyoun-Yousefabad Sanay Elliyoun-Yousefabad Loudoun County Department Loudoun County Department of Family Services of Family /v. Services /v.

Shahnaz Zabihi Khodapasand, mother Shahnaz Zabihi Khodapasand, mother The object of this suit is to hold a 7th The object of this suithearing is to hold 7th permanency planning andareview hearing review ofpermanency Foster Careplanning Plan pursuant to and Virginia of Foster Care Planand pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 16.1-281 for Code Elliyoun-Yousefabad. §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Sanay Sanay Elliyoun-Yousefabad.

It is ORDERED that Shahnaz Zabihi It is ORDERED that Shahnaz Khodapasand, mother, appear atZabihi the Khodapasand, mother, the above-named Court and appear protectat her above-named Court and protect her at interests on or before March 30, 2021 interests 2:00 pm. on or before March 30, 2021 at 2:00 pm.

2/18, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11/21 2/18, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11/21

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

PAGE 25

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 23, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:

ZMAP-2019-0021 OAK GROVE

(Zoning Map Amendment) Zeeland LLC of Leesburg, Virginia, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 4.73 acres from the R-1 (Single Family Residential -1) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the R-16 (Townhouse/Multifamily Residential) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop 50 single family attached units at a density of 10.6 dwelling units per acre. The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District. The subject property is approximately 4.73 acres in size and is located on the north side of Hall Road (Route 788), west of Davis Drive (Route 868) and east of Oakgrove Road (Route 824) in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as:

Steep Slope and Moderately Steep Slope according to the standards of Section 5-1508(C)(1). The subject property is located on the east side of Sycolin Road (Route 625) and south of Cochran Mill Road (Route 653) in the Catoctin Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as follows: PIN

ADDRESS

193-26-8899

20226 Sycolin Rd., Leesburg, VA

193-26-8988

20244 Sycolin Rd., Leesburg, VA

193-26-9027

20280 Sycolin Rd., Leesburg, VA

193-26-9072

20254 Sycolin Rd., Leesburg, VA

193-46-2814

41087 Cochran Mill Rd., Leesburg, VA

PIN

PROPERTY ADDRESS

193-36-8578

N/A

024-46-1074

117 Dominion Lane, Sterling, Virginia

024-46-2062

N/A

193-36-3375

N/A

024-46-2653

N/A

193-36-9814

N/A

024-46-1245

N/A

024-45-9931

N/A

024-45-8235

N/A

The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Compact Neighborhood Place Type)), which designate this area for Residential uses at a recommended density between 8-12 dwelling units per acre.

ZRTD-2020-0007, SPEX-2020-0027 & ZMOD-2020-0036 ALBAN CAT FACILITY

(Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District, Special Exception, and Zoning Modification) Alban Limited Partnership of Rosedale, Maryland, has submitted applications for the following: 1) to rezone approximately 9.7 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development-Industrial Park) zoning district under the 1972 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, in order to permit all principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, at a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.60 (up to 1.0 by Special Exception); and 2) a Special Exception to permit heavy equipment and specialty vehicle sales, rental, repair and accessory service in the PD-IP zoning district. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 4-504.

The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance Modification(s): ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION Table 5-1404(B), Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Buffer Yards, Use Buffer Yard Matrix.

PROPOSED MODIFICATION Eliminate the 25-foot Type C Buffer for a Heavy Industrial and Aviation use adjacent to a Commercial/ Retail use, along the southern property line.

The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing district, and within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 9.7 acres in size and is located on the east side of Sully Road (Route 28), south side of East Severn Way (Route 847) and west of Atlantic Boulevard (Route 1902) at 1201 East Severn Way, Sterling, Virginia in the Sterling Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 042-10-7650. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)), which designates this area for compact, pedestrian-oriented environments with opportunities for a mix of residential, commercial, entertainment, cultural, and recreational amenities at a recommended FAR up to 1.0.

ZMAP-2019-0010 & SPEX-2019-0022 SYCOLIN ROAD DISTRIBUTION FACILITY

193-36-4150

N/A

193-36-6330

20210 Sycolin Rd., Leesburg, VA

The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan. A portion of the subject property is within the Joint Land Management Area (Leesburg JLMA Employment Place Type), which designate this area for a range of light and general industry uses at a recommended FAR of up to 1.0.

The remaining portion of the subject property is governed by the policies of the Transition Policy Area (Transitional Light Industrial Place Type) which designate this area for a range of low-traffic industrial and employment uses at a recommended FAR of up to 0.6.

ZMAP-2019-0013, ZMOD-2019-0036, ZMOD-2019-0055 ZMOD-2019-0057 & SPEX-2019-0051 CASCADES PARKWAY SUBDIVISION (Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception & Zoning Modifications)

Metropolitan Development at Cascades LLC, of Vienna, Virginia, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 7.6184 acres from the PD-CC(RC) (Planned Development – Commercial Center, Regional Center) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the R-1 (Single Family Residential) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the R-24 ADU (Multifamily Residential-24, ADU Development Regulations) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop 219 Residential units, consisting of a maximum 135 stacked multifamily units and a maximum of 84 attached multifamily units, at a density of approximately 28.7 dwelling units per acre. The applicant is also requesting a Special Exception to permit the modification of the minimum yard requirements for ADU developments in the R-24 ADU zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the proposed modification of the minimum yard requirements for ADU developments in the R-24 ADU zoning district is listed as a Special Exception under Section 7-1003(C)(4).

The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s): ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION

PROPOSED MODIFICATION

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

Allow for direct access to a minor collector road (Potomac View Road) from private roads in lieu of a minor collector road.

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

Increase the permitted building height from 45 feet to 60 feet without providing an additional setback from street or lot lines in addition to the required minimum yard dimensions, a distance of not less than one foot for reach foot of height in excess of 45 feet.

(Zoning Map Amendment Petition & Special Exception)

Scannell Properties, LLC, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has submitted applications for the following: 1) To rezone approximately 44.87 acres from the TR-10 (Transitional Residential – 10) and JLMA-20 (Joint Land Management Area – 20) zoning districts under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to permit the development of an approximately 210,000 square foot regional distribution facility at a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.60; and 2) A Special Exception to permit land disturbance less than 5,000 square feet within very steep slope areas when associated with a permitted use in the PD-IP zoning district. in accordance with Section 5-1508(D)(1)(d)(vi). These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception under Section 5-1508(D)(1) (d)(vi). The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, between the Ldn 60-65, and outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contours. The subject property is also partially within the QN (Quarry Notification) Overlay District – Luck Note Area and partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District) – major floodplain. The subject property contains areas of Very

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

Reduce the required building setback from 75 feet to 15 feet along Potomac View Road.

And Reduce the required building setback from 100 feet to 21 feet along Cascades Parkway.

The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, and partially within the Steep Slopes Overlay District. The subject property is approximately 7.6184 acres in size and is located on the east side of

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 26

MARCH 11, 2021

Legal Notices Cascades Parkway (Route 1794), north of Potomac View Road (Route 637) and south of Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7) in the Sterling Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 02026-1776. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area) in the Suburban Mixed Use Place Type which designate this area for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural and Recreational uses at recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.0.

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

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, members of the public are encouraged to view the public hearing electronically; however, the Board Room will be open for any members of the public who wish to attend in person with appropriate physical distancing. Planning Commission public hearings are available for viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23, Open Band Channel 40, and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/webcast. All members of the public will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. If you wish to sign up in advance of the hearing, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning

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 5:00 p.m. on TUESDAY, March 16, 2021 in order to consider: PROPOSED ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE READOPTED ORDINANCE TO SUSPEND CERTAIN DEADLINES AND TO MODIFY PUBLIC MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES TO ADDRESS CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC DISASTER In accordance with Virginia Code §15.2-1427(F), the Board of Supervisors (Board) gives notice of its intention to adopt an ordinance extending the effective date of the Readopted Ordinance to Suspend Certain Deadlines and to Modify Public Meeting and Public Hearing Practices and Procedures to Address Continuity of Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic Disaster (“Readopted Continuity Ordinance”), which was adopted by the Board on October 14, 2020, pursuant to Virginia Code §15.21413. The Readopted Continuity Ordinance allows the Board of Supervisors, the School Board, and other public bodies and entities created by the Board of Supervisors or to which the Board of Supervisors appoints members (“Public Entities”) to conduct public meetings and public hearings without a quorum being physically present in one location, during the COVID-19 disaster. The current ordinance will expire on April 14, 2021, unless otherwise rescinded, extended or re-adopted by the Board. The proposed extension will allow Public Entities to continue to conduct electronic public meetings and public hearings for an additional six months from the date of Board action, without any change to the operative provisions of the ordinance.

A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed ordinance is on file and 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 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”).

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic this public hearing may be conducted as an electronic meeting. Members of the public are encouraged to view the public hearing electronically; however, the Board Room will be open for any members of the public who wish to attend in person with appropriate physical distancing. Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/webcast.

All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters.

Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. Instructions for remote participation will be forwarded to all individuals who sign-up in advance and who would like to provide their comments remotely. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on March 12, 2021, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on March 16, 2021. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up 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 03/04 & 03/11/21

at 703-777-0246 prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing. Speakers may also sign up at the hearing.

Written comments are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 3rd Floor, MSC #62, Leesburg, Virginia 20175, or by e-mail to loudounpc@loudoun. gov. Any individual representing and/or proposing to be the sole speaker on behalf of a citizen’s organization or civic association is encouraged to contact the Department of Planning and Zoning prior to the date of the public hearing if special arrangements for additional speaking time and/or 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:

FOREST HAYES, CHAIRMAN LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION 3/11/21

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) 2021-2025 CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND 2021-2022 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at 6:00 p.m.

Loudoun County Office of Housing

Pursuant to Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, 42 United States Code §5301, et seq., and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations at 24 Code of Federal Regulations Subtitle A §91.105(c), the Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 to consider adopting the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan and the 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan for Loudoun County. All citizens are encouraged to attend and express their views regarding the proposed CDBG 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan and the 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan for Loudoun County.

In 2004, the County became an entitlement community, as defined by HUD, and began receiving CDBG funding. HUD regulations require the adoption of the above referenced Plans which outline the County’s housing and community development needs, priorities and objectives, and proposed use of the federal funds within the 2021-2025 consolidated plan period.

Components of the 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan include, without limitation, descriptions of: • • • • • • •

Executive Summary Housing Needs Assessment Homeless and Special Populations Needs Assessment Five Year Strategic Plan for Housing and Community Development 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan Five Year Fair Housing Plan Citizen Participation Plan

Components of the 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan include, without limitation, descriptions of: • • • • •

Federal and other resources expected to be available Leveraging of sources and how match obligations will be met The activities to be undertaken The geographic distribution of investment Planned homeless and other special needs activities

Copies of the proposed Plans will be available and may be examined beginning March 11, 2021 through the date of the Public Hearing, April 14, 2021, at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Written comments on the Plan may be submitted to the attention of the CDBG Program Manager, Eileen Barnhard at the Loudoun County Office of Housing, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, Virginia 20177 through April 12, 2021.

3/11 & 3/18/21

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

PAGE 27

Legal Notices TOWN OF HILLSBORO, VIRGINIA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Proposed Operating & Capital Budgets for Fiscal Year 2022 Notice is hereby given that the Town Council of the Town of Hillsboro, Virginia (the “Town Council”) will hold a VIRTUAL public hearing to receive public comment and to consider adoption of the proposed Operating and Capital Budget for FY2022. A summary of the Budget is provided below. Copies of the Proposed FY2022 Budgets are available for review on the Town website at: www.hillsborova.gov and also by appointment at the Town office at 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro, Virginia 20132, between the hours of 10 AM and 3 PM, Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.

The public hearing, which may be continued or adjourned, will be held on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 5:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, via Zoom at the link listed on the Town’s website or by telephone, Dial: (301) 715 8592, Meeting ID: 891 4202 9285. Any person interested in the Budget may appear electro nically via Zoom at the public hearing and present his or her views. The Town Council may set time limits on speakers and other rules and procedures for the conduct of this public hearing.

Written comments regarding the Budget may be delivered prior to the public hearing in care of the Mayor at 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro, Virginia 20132, or e-mailed to cmaple@hillsborova.gov.

All comments received will be presented to the Town Council during the public hearing.

TOWN OF HILLSBORO, VIRGINIA Roger L. Vance, Mayor

PROPOSED BUDGET AND RATES/FEES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR GENERAL FUND-OPERATING BUDGET

INFRASTRUCTURE CAPITAL BUDGET

Revenue FY2022

Expenses

FY2021

FY2022

Real Estate Tax

$40,000

$34,250

Contractual Services

Other Local Taxes and Fees

$37,000

$34,750

$5,500

$1,500

Donation Interest Income Miscellaneous Bond

$65,000

$100,000

$1,500

$1,500

$355,000.00

$0.00

$30,000

$36,000

Utilities, repairs, maintenance

$5,000

$2,000

Insurance

$5,000

$5,000

Town Stipend & activities support

$15,000

$500

Supplies & Advertising

$15,000

$20,000

Miscellaneous Reserve Contributions & Misc.

Loan Payments

Total Operating Revenue

$504,000

$172,000

Revenue

FY2021

Total Operating Expenses

$5,000

$3,000

$400,000

$105,500

$29,000

$0

$504,000

$172,000

FY2022

Expenses

FY2021

FY2022

FY2021

Water Income

$35,000

$35,000

Water Contractual Services

$20,000

$25,100

Trash Income

$12,000

$10,000

Water Operations, repairs/maintenance

$20,000

$12,000

Grants Litter

$1,100

$1,100

$8,100

$9,000

Subtotal Operating Revenue

$48,100

$46,100

Utility Reserve

$75,500

Trash Contractual Services

$4,500,000

$16,000,000

$4,000,000

$16,000,000

Infrastructure Bond Proceeds

$800,000

$300,000

Infrastructure Bond Repayment

$300,000

$300,000

Total CIP Revenue

$4,800,000

$16,300,000

Total CIP Expenses

$4,800,000

$16,300,000

TOWN OF HILLSBORO TAX RATES AND FEES, VA. CODE AUTHORITY PROPOSED FY 2022 TAXES AND FEES Description

FY2022

FY2021

Real Estate and Pub. Serv. Corp. P. Property

$0.17*

$0.17*

Drinking Water Rates No FY2022 increases to drinking water rates are proposed; future years may have an inflation adjustment.

Fixed charge $38.20 per month includes 2000 gallons; monthly consumption 2,001-3000 gallons $5.50 per 1000 gallons, 3001-4000 gallons $8.60 per 1000 gallons, over 4,000 gallons $13.00 per 1000 gallons. (Virginia Code §15.2-2111, 15.2-2143) Business License (Virginia Code, Title 58.1, Chapter 37)

$30

$30

Cigarette Tax (Virginia Code §58.1-3840)

$0.05 per pack

$0.05 per pack

Zoning & Sign Permits No FY2022 adjustments (Virginia Code §15.2-2286)

Based on type of application

Based on type of application

$46,100

$66,100

Utility Reserve

$75,500

$66,100

Subtotal Utility Reserves & Debt

$75,500

$66,100

Motor Vehicle License (Virginia Code §46.2-752)

$25.00 per vehicle

$25.00 per vehicle

$123,600

$112,200

Meals Tax (Virginia Code §58.1-3840)

4% of meals purchased

4% of meals purchased

Transient Occupancy Tax (Virginia Code §58.1-3840)

5% of revenues

5% of revenues

Trash Rates Per Month (Virginia Code §15.2-928)

$24

$27

$66,100

Total Utility Funds Revenues

$123,600

$112,200

Total Utility Funds Expenses

OSS/LG FUND-OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET Revenue

Expenses

FY2021

FY2022

Events

$35,000

$15,000

Grants

$57,000

$292,000

Rentals

$48,000

$15,000

Renovation & Preservation

Donations

$25,000

$40,000

$165,000

FY2021

$48,100

$75,500

Total Revenues

CIP Expenses: Infrastructure Outlays

FY2022

Subtotal Operating Expenses

Subtotal Utility Reserves & Debt

FY2022

CIP Revenue: Infrastructure: Road, Water/Sewer Capital Fund

Expenses

FY2021

(Virginia Code Title 58.1, Ch.32 and §58.1-2606) *$0.17 per $100 of assessed value

UTILITY FUND Revenue

FY2022

$362,000

Event Expense Insurance

$27,000

FY2021 $12,000

$2,000

$5,000

$57,000

$292,000

Furniture, Fixtures & Electronics

$2,500

$7,500

Repairs & Maintenance

$33,000

$55,000

OSS reserves

$43,500

$34,500

$165,000

$406,000

Total Expenses

03/11 & 03/18/21

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 28

Legal Notices

School Board Seeks Name Suggestions for New High School The Loudoun County School Board is seeking name suggestions for a new alternative high school.

The alternative high school is anticipated to open in fall 2021, with the start of the 2021-2022 academic year. The school, while located at Park View High School, will operate as a separate and distinct school. The high school will offer an alternative option to support Loudoun County Public Schools students whose formal education has been interrupted by external and life challenging circumstances.

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLE 8 TLOA-2020-0005 – FUELING STATION WITH CONVENIENCE STORE 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 23, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176.

The purpose of this text amendment is to create a new by-right accessory use called Fueling Station with Convenience Store. The proposed amendments will add use standards for fueling station with convenience store to the following section of the Zoning Ordinance: 1.

Sec. 8.7 PD-CC-SC, Planned Development-Commercial Center-Small Regional Center

Copies and additional information regarding each of these proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments 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 703-771-2765 and asking for Michael Watkins, Zoning Administrator. This zoning ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLOA-2020-0005.

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.

03/11 & 03/18/2021

TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLES 3, 7, AND 15 Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on THURSDAY, March 18, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 W. Market Street, Leesburg VA 20176 to consider the following amendments to the Zoning Ordinance:

2.

3.

A School Board-appointed naming committee will consider geographic and historic names, as well as names of deceased individuals who significantly contributed to improving life in Loudoun County Public Schools, Loudoun County, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and/or the United States of America.

The School Board will not consider naming a school facility for any individual unless the person has been deceased for at least five (5) years.

School name suggestions should be sent to Loudoun County Public Schools Division of Planning Services, 21000 Education Court, Ashburn VA 20148 or emailed to lcpsplan@lcps.org by no later than March 19, 2021. Persons suggesting a school name are requested to provide background information to aid in the committee’s review process.

Committee meeting dates are scheduled for March 22, 2021 (6:00 p.m.) and April 15, 2021 (6:00 p.m.). The meetings will be held virtually; persons may register for access to the meetings by emailing lcpsplan@lcps.org.

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING SETTING TAX RATES ON REAL PROPERTY AND CERTAIN PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR TAX YEAR 2021 AND AMENDING LEESBURG TOWN CODE, APPENDIX B – FEE SCHEDULE (SECTION 20-22) In accordance with the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended §§ 15.2-1427, 58.1-3000, 58.1-3007, 58.13200, et seq., and 58.1-3500 et seq., the Leesburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on:

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

1.

MARCH 11, 2021

Amendments to various subsections of Zoning Ordinance Section 7.10 Crescent Design (CD) District to permit modifications to allow for development and redevelopment of land consistent with principles of traditional urban design in accordance with the guidelines provided in the Crescent District Element of the Town Plan. Proposed modifications include, but not limited to: a. Sec. 7.10.4.C.1 and Sec. 7.10.12 Modifications to permit variations in the Required Build-to Line and Parking Setback Line greater than five feet (5’) as part of a rezoning or special exception application approved by Town Council. b. Sec. 7.10.4.A [Siting Table] and Sec. 7.10.12 Modifications to permit the Building Frontage Requirement to be reduced to less than 50% as part of a rezoning or special exception application approved by Town Council. c. Sec. 7.10.9.A.2 [4] and TLZO Sec. 7.10.9.B.2.3 [Minimum Rear Yard Setback] to permit townhouse and 2-over-2 lot rear yards to be zero (0) feet if required parking for the unit is required on the lot.

Add a new section to Article 15 Signs to be known as TLZO Sec. 15.10.11 Signs in the Gateway District (Overlay) with appropriate subsections to explain how signs in the Gateway District (Overlay) are processed.

Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA. at which time the public shall have the right to present oral and written testimony on the following proposed amendments to the Leesburg Town Code: • A one cent increase to tax rates for all real property for tax year 2021 ($0.194 per $100 of assessed value) • Appendix B – Fee Schedule, Sec. 20-22(a): o Real estate; manufactured or mobile homes = $0.194 per $100 of assessed value o Real estate; tangible personal property for public service corporations (excluding aircraft and motor vehicles) = $0.194 per $100 of assessed value The Town Manager’s proposed budget assumes a tax rate of $0.184 per $100 of assessed value in each of the foregoing categories, for current services and proposed enhancements.

Copies of the proposed ordinance are available for public examination prior to the public hearing in the office of the Clerk of Council at Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA, during normal business hours. For more information about the ordinance, please contact Clark G. Case, Director of Finance and Administrative Services at 703-771-2720.

Persons requiring reasonable accommodations are requested to contact Eileen Boeing, Clerk of Council at 703-771-2733, three days in advance of the public hearing. For TTY/TTD services, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

3/11 & 3/18/21

Article 3 Review and Approval Procedures to update time and advertising requirements for Comprehensive Plan adoption and amendments thereto as specified by the Virginia General Assembly.

Copies and additional information regarding each of these proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments are available at the Department of Planning & Zoning located on the 2nd floor of Leesburg Town Hall, 25 W. Market Street, Leesburg VA 20176 during normal business hours (Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or by contacting Brian Boucher, Deputy Director, via email at bboucher@leesburgva.gov, or via telephone at 703-771-2774. This zoning ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLOA-2021-0001.

At this hearing all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of the Commission at (703) 771-2434, three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

03/04 & 03/11/21

LoudounNow.com

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES This notice is to inform the owner and any person having a security interest in their right to reclaim the motor vehicle herein described within 15 days after the date of storage charges resulting from placing the vehicle in custody, and the failure of the owner or persons having security interests to exercise their right to reclaim the vehicle within the time provided shall be deemed a waiver by the owner, and all persons having security interests of all right, title and interest in the vehicle, and consent to the sale of the abandoned motor vehicle at a public auction.

This notice shall also advise the owner of record of his or her right to contest the determination by the Sheriff that the motor vehicle was “abandoned”, as provided in Chapter 630.08 of the Loudoun County Ordinance, by requesting a hearing before the County Administrator in writing. Such written request for a hearing must be made within 15 days of the notice.

YR.

MAKE

MODEL

VIN

STORAGE

PHONE#

2009 2001 2002 2008 2004 1989

CHEVROLET MAZDA MERCEDES BENDRON LEXUS JEEP

SILVERADO B300 E320 DIAMOND SC430 WRANGLER

1GCEC14XX9Z227277 4F4YR16U91TM07749 WDBJF82J22X062824 5UZBE10178D006719 JTHFN48Y740059855 2J4FY59T1KJ129928

BLAIR’S TOWING BLAIR’S TOWING ASHBURN TOWING ASHBURN TOWING ASHBURN TOWING AL’S TOWING

703-661-8200 703-661-8200 703-585-8770 703-585-8770 703-585-8770 703-435-8888

03/04 & 03/11/21

MARCH 11, 2021

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 29

Legal Notices NOTICE OF JOINT PUBLIC HEARING

BY THE TOWN OF HILLSBORO, VIRGINIA Notice is hereby given that the Planning Commission and Town Council of the Town of Hillsboro, Virginia (the “Planning Commission” and “Town Council”) will hold a VIRTUAL joint public hearing to receive public comment and to consider adoption of a resolution approving proposed amendments to the Hillsboro Comprehensive Plan and an ordinance amending the Hillsboro Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map (together, the “Amendments”). A summary of these amendments is provided below. Complete copies of the Amendments are available for review on the Town website at: www.hillsborova.gov and also by appointment at the Town office at 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro, VA, 20132 between the hours of 10 AM and 3 PM, Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.

A. Comprehensive Plan Amendments. The 2020 Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Hillsboro (the “Plan”) is proposed to be amended to add after the Existing Zoning District Map (after page 57 of the Plan) a Future Land Use section with a Future Land Use Map that divides the Town into future land use categories and adds corresponding text that describes these future land use categories as summarized below: Future Land Use Hillsboro’s land use vision is illustrated in the Future Land Use Map (Figure 7). This map is a guide for the Town, its residents and its property owners in how land within the Town can best be used to implement the Town’s land use goals, including through its Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances. The Future Land Use Map is divided into five land use categories: 1. Agricultural Conservancy. This category includes areas intended to be used in a manner that supports continued agricultural, horticultural and agritourism use and open space within Town and promotes the vision of the Town for the Agricultural Conservancy designated areas (detailed further later in this chapter). Existing farmland, forest, and floodplain areas are designated in this category, This category encompasses most of the properties zoned AC Agricultural Conservancy Zoning District when they were brought into the Town limits by the most recent Town boundary line adjustment.

2. Civic. The Civic land use includes existing and proposed areas for public and semi-public uses. The category encompasses the Hillsboro Charter Academy, the Hillsboro United Methodist Church, and areas currently in Town ownership such as the Old Stone School, as well as public utility facility sites. The latter includes the proposed location of the planned wastewater treatment package plant on the west side of Hillsboro Road south of Stoneybrook Farm Market.

3. Commercial. The Commercial land use category includes areas currently zoned to the C-1 Commercial Zoning District, as well as areas deemed appropriate to consider for rezoning to this district to allow compatible commercial development that supports the Town’s vision for commercial uses. This vision is detailed further in a later section of this chapter.

4. Mixed Use. The Mixed Use land use category is a new land use designation for the areas immediately adjacent to Charles Town Pike. These areas include the core of Hillsboro’s historic structures. Their location along the new pedestrian and streetscape improvements makes them appropriate for consideration for a mix of residential, commercial and civic uses that reflect the historic uses of these structures. A new zoning district, the Traditional Main Street District, is proposed in order to promote the goals of this Plan for the preservation of existing historic properties while providing opportunities for commercial development compatible with the historic character of the town’s main street and existing residential uses.

5. Residential. The Residential land use category includes areas currently zoned to the R-1 Residential Zoning District that are planned to continue in that district in order to help achieve the residential vision within Hillsboro as described in the next section.

B. Zoning Ordinance Amendments. Multiple amendments are proposed to the text of the Town of Hillsboro Zoning Ordinance to help implement the Comprehensive Plan as it is proposed to be amended. These amendments are summarized below: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Article II, Basic Definitions, Section 2-1: Definitions of Basic Terms, is amended to revise some existing definitions and add some new definitions. The intent of these amendments is to ensure that all of the major uses and terms included in the revised ordinance are properly defined.

Section 10-5: Home Occupations is amended to better ensure that businesses operating within a residential dwelling are compatible with nearby residential uses.

Section 10-6: Accessory Dwelling Units. This proposed new section would permit accessory dwellings on residential properties with certain conditions, including that the property owner must live in either the main dwelling or the accessory dwelling.

Section 10-7: Short-Term Residential Rentals. This proposed new section would regulate the rental of guest rooms or a whole house by a residential property owner for less than 30 days for a fee and would require the owner to obtain an annual permit and Town business license in order to operate this use.

Article X, Part 1. Residential Zoning District (R-1). Proposed amendments to the R-1 District would make use names consistent with uses in other districts and would add Accessory Dwelling Units and Short-term Residential Rentals as permissible accessory uses.

Article X, Part 2. Commercial Zoning District (C-1). Proposed amendments to this district would add promotion of tourism-oriented uses to the Purpose statement to conform to the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments and would add more uses that support tourism and the rural agricultural economy to the uses permitted by-right, as accessory uses, or as special exception uses with appropriate use limitations.

Article X, Part 3. Agricultural Conservancy District (AC). Proposed amendments to this district would add a purpose statement in conformance with the corresponding land use category in the Comprehensive Plan and would add some uses that were permitted in the County AC District in which AC properties were located prior to the Town/County boundary line adjustment, modified to be compatible with Hillsboro and including appropriate use limitations. A new cluster subdivision option is also added.

Article X, Part 4. Traditional Main Street District (TMS). This proposed new district would implement the Mixed Use land use category in the proposed Future Land Use section of the Comprehensive Plan, intended to be located on properties not zoned C-1 that are located in the center of Town adjacent to Charles Town Pike. The new district would permit a mix of residential, commercial and public/institutional uses including appropriate use limitations.

C. Zoning Map. The current Zoning Map is proposed to be replaced with the following Zoning Map:

In addition, a number of clarifying amendments are proposed to the Residential, Commercial, and Agricultural Conservancy, and Surrounding Area Vision sections following the Future Land Use section. Redundant maps for each zoning district are also proposed for deletion, since the Plan already includes a complete Zoning District Map. The following Future Land Use Map is proposed to be added as the new Figure 7:

The public hearing, which may be continued or adjourned, will be held before the Planning Commission and Town Council on Monday, March 29, 2021 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, via Zoom at the link listed on the Town’s website or by telephone, Dial: (301) 715-8592, Meeting ID: 862 6900 7753, Passcode: 634364. Any person interested in the Amendments may appear electronically via Zoom at the public hearing and present his or her views. The Town Council may set time limits on speakers and other rules and procedures for the conduct of this public hearing.

Written comments regarding the Amendments may be delivered prior to the public hearing in care of the Mayor at 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro, Virginia 20132, or e-mailed to cmaple@hillsborova. gov. All comments received will be presented to the Town Council and Planning Commission during the public hearing.

TOWN OF HILLSBORO, VIRGINIA Roger L. Vance, Mayor 3/11 & 3/18/21

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 30

Legal Notices

MARCH 11, 2021

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS

BY THE TOWN OF LEESBURG, VIRGINIA MARCH 23, 2021 AT 7:00 P.M.

ABC LICENSE

First Watch Restaurants, Inc., trading as First Watch #468, 603 Potomac Station Drive, NE, Leesburg, Loudoun, Virginia 20176-1816 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine & Beer On Premises; Mixed Beverage On Premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Jay Wolszczak, Secretary, Chief Legal Officer 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.

03/04 & 03/11/21

ABC LICENSE

Lost Barrel Brewing LLC, trading as Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Hwy, Middleburg, Loudoun, Virginia 20117-3508 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine and Beer On and Off premises and Mixed Beverage Restaurant license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

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

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

03/04 & 03/11/21

ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.:

JJ044816-01-00

, Loudoun County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Alexander Beers Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

John Beers, putative father

The object of this suit is to hold a hearing to find child in need of services pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-228 and 16.1-241 for Alexander Beers.

It is ORDERED that John Beers, appear at the above-named Court and protect her interests on or before April 6, 2021 at 3:00 p.m.

3/11, 3/18, 3/25, & 4/1/21

ABC LICENSE

AshBourbon LLC, trading as Bourbon Bayou Kitchen, 44184 Ashbrook Marketplace Plz Ashburn, VA 20147 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine & Beer On & Off Premises/Delivery Permit/ Mixed Beverage Restaurant license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Artin Safarian 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.

03/11 & 03/18/21

A message to elderly and disabled Loudoun County residents from Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue Residents 65 and older or totally and permanently disabled who are required to complete a 2021 Renewal Application or Renewal Certification, must submit their renewal to my office by the April 1, 2021 filing deadline.

Please visit our website or contact my office for information or filing assistance.

Leesburg Office 1 Harrison Street SE First Floor Sterling Office 21641 Ridgetop Circle Suite 100 Internet: www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, M - F Phone: 703-737-8557 Email: trcor@loudoun.gov Mailing Address: PO Box 8000, MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804 03/04, 03/11, 03/18 & 03/25/21

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg, Virginia (the “Town”) will hold a public hearing in accordance with Section 15.2-2606 of the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, on the proposed issuance of one or more series of general obligation bonds in an estimated maximum principal amount of $13,450,000. The Town proposes to issue the bonds and use the bond proceeds to finance the costs of various capital improvement projects in the Town’s Capital Improvements Program and other approved capital projects. The proposed uses of the bond proceeds for which the Town expects that more than ten percent of the total bond proceeds will be used include financing the costs of the Town’s Capital Asset Replacement Program as identified in the Town’s Capital Improvements Program.

The public hearing, which may be continued or adjourned, will be held at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, before the Town Council in the Council Chambers, Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, in Leesburg, Virginia.

A resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds will be considered by the Town Council at its meeting on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, following the public hearing on the issuance of the bonds. The resolution also authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds of the Town to refund outstanding bonds or other obligations of the Town. A copy of the proposed resolution is available for public examination prior to the public hearing in the office of the Clerk of the Council at Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, during normal business hours. Additional information regarding the bond financing is available in the Department of Finance, located on the first floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, during normal business hours.

At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard.

Persons requiring special accommodations should contact Eileen Boeing, the Clerk of Council, at 703771-2733, no later than three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

03/04 & 3/11/21

Resource Directory Tax Services ROBERT BEATSON II

Attorney/Accountant,Former IRS Attorney Admitted to DC, MD, VA & NY Bars All types of Federal, State, Local & Foreign Taxes Individual/Business Trusts - Estates - Wills Amended & Late Returns Back Taxes - IRS Audits Civil Litigation Business Law - Contracts

FOR RENT Sterling, VA Basement large room. Painted, carpeted, electric & water included. $550/mo. Deposit required.

Call 703-282-4738

* Bobcat Services * * Gravel Driveway Repair *

Br am

◆ Stone DuSt ◆ Mulch ◆ topSoil ◆ SanD ◆ ◆ light graDing ◆ graveling ◆ ◆ Drainage SolutionS ◆ Backhoe Work ◆

Let us heLp you carry your Load!

www.beatsonlaw.com

Cleaning R&D Cleaning Service, LLC

hall Trucking

540-822-9011

703-798-3590 OR 301-340-2951

Residential - Commercial Move In/Out - Carpet Cleaning

Misc.

Bobcat BOBCAT

Cleaning Lulus Cleaning Service COMMERCIAL — RESIDENTIAL ALWAYS the Same Team

Excellent References - Reasonable Rates Licensed & Insured - FREE ESTIMATE

Moving In Moving Out • Windows Clean Carpet Cleaning • Regular Cleaning

(703) 303-1364 Email: rdcleaningserv@gmail.com

Once A Week - Every Other Week - Monthly • More Than 25 Years Licensed, Insurance and Bonded

CALL MARLENE

WE ACCEPT:

R&D Cleaning Service LLC RDCleaningservice.com

Construction CONSTRUCTION

WE TS LOVE PE

703-675-5151 lulusservicecleaning.com

CONSTRUCTION Construction

C ustom C onstruCtion A dditions • r epAirs Blue Ridge Remodeling, Inc. 540-668-6522

www.brrinc.net Purcellville, VA

Since 1976 • Free Estimates Licensed & Insured

30 YEARS EXPERIENCE • DRIVEWAYS • EXPOSED AGGREGATE • PATIOS • FOOTINGS • SLABS • STAMPED CONCRETE • SIDEWALKS

Free Estimates

Ph: 703-437-3822 • Cell: 703-795-5621

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

PAGE 31

Resource Directory CONSTRUCTION Construction

Construction

Kenny Williams Construction, Inc.

WE CUSTOM BUILD ON YOUR LOT BillTylerHomes.com

* Decks & Screen Porches * Additions * Fences * Garages * Finished Basements * Deck Repairs

CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE !

C & BROTHERS

contractor VA, DC HIC LISENCE

DECKS, PATIOS, AND STONE WORKS LICENSED BONDED & INSURED

240-413-5827 240-413-5873 www.candbrothers.com

LEESBURG, VA

GARAGE DOORS Garage Doors

Fencing

703-771-8727

Loving Fence

www.kennywilliamsconstruction.com

NEW INSTALLATION, REPAIRS & PAINTING

Licensed • Insured • bonded

Class A Contractor

Cristian Arias

Free Estimate candbrothers@gmail.com

Free Estimates

Serving Loudoun County for 35 years.

EXCAVATING Excavating

Decks

Building Custom Homes in Loudoun and Fauquier for over 25 years

540.687.0223

BOBCAT SERVICES LICENSED & INSURED

WESLEY LOVING 1824 HARMONY CHURCH RD HAMILTON, VA 20158

540-338-9580 LOVINGFENCE@AOL.COM

HANDYMAN Handyman

Gutters

Handyman C & Brothers Home Improvement, LLC 20 Years of Experience FRE Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling, ESTIMATEE S! Decks, General Handyman Services Cristian Arias 240-413-5827 | 240-413-5673 candbrothers@gmail.com

$30 per estimate

Credited upon Acceptance

Licensed, Bonded & Insured | References Available

Handyman

Land Clearing

Handyman/Master Craftsman Licensed. Insured.

Since 2000.

BUILT-INS • CABINETS • CLOSETS • CARPENTRY DRYWALL • INTERIOR DOORS • CROWN MOLDING CHAIR RAIL • CERAMIC TILE • PLUMBING • LIGHTING ELECTRICAL • BATHROOMS Damon L. Blackburn 703-966-7225 | www.myashburnhandyman.com damon.blackburn@yahoo.com

LAWN CARE Lawn Care

Veterans LLC Land Rescue Reclaim Your Land Lovettsville, VA Veteran Owned & Operated VA, MD & WV Residential & Commercial

703-718-6789 major@veteransllc.us www.veteransllc.us

Realty Services

Landscaping

Landscaping

Providing The personal professional touch to each of our customers.

HARDSCAPING • LANDSCAPE WALLS PATIO AND WALKWAY INSTALLATION RETAINING WALLS • STONE WORK

571-490-1879 luckettslandscaping.com a1chilly@aol.com

Mowing and landscaping mulching, spring and fall cleanups sod, core Aerating and over seeding, excavating, Ponds, Horse arena, horse burial, retaining walls, patios, stonework, demolition, asphalt

540-668-9005

Serving Loudoun County since 1989

Also selling bulk material such as mulch, topsoil, filled dirt and stone.

No job too big or too small

Roofing

Richard Hamilton

Realtor® Associate Broker

c: 703.819.5458 e: richard.hamilton@pearsonsmithrealty.com w: www.varealestate4sale.com Call today for your free consultation!

Licensed in Virginia #0225020865

43777 Central Station Drive, Suite 390, Ashburn, VA 20147

Siding

Video Production

Expert Tree Service Expert Tree & Stump Removal Hes Company, LLC 703-203-8853

15% OFF

HOA Maintenance • Tree Planting • Lot Clearing Storm Damage Pruning • Trimming • Crowning • Spring Clean Up Mulch • Roofing and Decking Available JohnQueirolo1@gmail.com • www.hescompanyllc.com

Licensed & Insured • Member Angie’s List & BBB • Affordable

18 Liberty Street SW

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 32

MARCH 11, 2021

Opinion Team Players?

Leesburg District School Board representative Beth Barts certainly has built a reputation as an outspoken and opinionated member during the first year of her term. She has ruffled feathers and frustrated colleagues and parents alike with many of her views. At times it has seemed that she actively sought out reasons to keep students out of the classrooms as the community wrestled with the pandemic response.

Last week, her comments and conduct resulted in a formal censure by the School Board. That followed a public reprimand last fall.

It’s clear she is not viewed by her fellow board members as a team player.

However, she wasn’t elected by her board colleagues; she was elected by the voters of the Leesburg District, with a charge to represent their views and interests regarding issues that come before the board.

The School Board has adopted—and continues to develop—a

LETTERS to the Editor

number of policies dictating conduct expectations for members and promoting the concept of a harmonious board that speaks with a unified voice. That’s fine for school administrators, teachers and other

A Threat

staff members down the chain of command; politicians are a different

Editor: Loudoun County Supervisors are unanimous in expanding the drug court program and hiring five new positions for Fiscal Year 2022 at a total unknown cost, but in excess of $140,000. The corrections director cited 312 felony drug offenders in its probation and parole program and that there were 400 visits to Loudoun ER’s for drug overdoses in 2020, total year-end deaths unknown. I believe supervisors and county taxpayers need a wake-up call to the anticipated costs which can be expected by 2023 and thereafter when marijuana is legalized.

Too many state and local legislators and/or officials support this measure but not before I would ask them to conduct a survey of the Drug Court, parole and probation participants as well as those who survived a drug overdose whether their first drug of choice and subsequent addictive behaviors and crimes began

animal. Their constituent advocacy isn’t easily silenced when they hold a dissenting opinion. It shouldn’t be.

That sometimes makes for messy government, with unproductive friction and head-banging-against-the-wall frustrations. But that’s politics.

Ms. Barts’ tactics likely will prove ineffective in building board support for her causes and could undermine her ability to meet the expectations of her constituents. But for that conduct, it should be the voters, not her “teammates,” who issue the verdict.

n

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

Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC 15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723

EDITORIAL Renss Greene, Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com Jan Mercker, Reporter jmercker@loudounnow.com Kara C. Rodriguez, Reporter krodriguez@loudounnow.com Patrick Szabo, Reporter pszabo@loudounnow.com

Loudoun Now is delivered by mail to more than 44,000 Loudoun homes and businesses, with a total weekly distribution of 47,000.

ADVERTISING Susan Styer, Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.com Tonya Harding, Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.com

with the use of marijuana. I believe I and others know the answer.

What will be the cause and effect? The state and county specifically will experience increased impaired driving with the legalization of marijuana, leading to more vehicular accidents, injuries, and deaths on our roadways. Further, law enforcement officers will have a lessened ability to pursue the culprits and preventative measures, which leads to more first responder/EMT calls and ER visits and expenses, higher insurance costs, increased civil and criminal court actions and fatalities. We will experience these negative actions in our neighborhoods and towns.

I’ll leave it to the county authorities to project the untold losses and expenses we can expect for their citizens from 2023 onward. This decade started with COVID and now we face a threat beyond measure.

— Rebecca Reeder, Leesburg

Correction An article on page 4 of the March 4, 2021 issue, ‘New Goose Creek Development Applications Spark Public Concerns,’ incorrectly stated that the Goose Creek Overlook development is proposed by Compass Datacenters. It is not. Loudoun Now regrets the error.

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

Readers’ Poll

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION:

The General Assembly passed legislation allowing Loudoun’s School Board to switch to staggered terms. Is that a good idea?

Is it time to roll back on COVID-19 restrictions?

We should be able to have bigger crowds

Reliving COVID continued from page 3

Schools Close From the outset of the outbreak, school leaders stressed the need to be agile in their response. On the recommendation of division administrators, the School Board moved quickly to allocate $5 million to buy the 15,000 Chromebooks needed to immediately complete that planned multiyear roll out of a program to provide every student with a digital device. That locked up, they said, the last ones then available on the market. The devices quickly would prove their worth.

In another example of the conflicting advice that would become a hallmark of the national response to the virus, then-Superintendent Eric Williams announced the close of classrooms one day after a School Board briefing during which Goodfriend recommended they stay open.

Even as the World Health Organization officially declared a pandemic, Goodfriend said he was not aware of the medical community recommending drastic steps. He warned that closing schools could present additional problems, with many students likely to end up in the care of grandparents who are at greater risk for infection and others likely to miss out on important meals and support services the schools provide.

Williams initially proposed a two-week closure to allow administrators top develop safety measures and ensure disinfectant supplies are adequately available to students and staff. At the same time, the staff began reviewing plans to roll out a distance learning program that could be used to keep students engaged in the event of a long-term school closure—although the Virginia Board of Education didn’t yet have

PAGE 33

policies to govern such a program.

During the closure, the school division quickly developed a plan to help students who rely on school meals by distributing food daily with a convoy of buses delivering to pick up locations countywide. That program would continue throughout the year providing more than a million meals.

On March 12, Loudoun’s second COVID-19 case was reported, an individual who came in contact with the first known infected resident. It was the 17th case in Virginia.

State of Emergency Next, Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency and followed Williams’ lead, closing schools throughout the commonwealth through March 27.

Loudoun County Administrator Tim Hemstreet issued a declaration of local emergency March 16.

On St. Patrick’s Day, Northam issued the public health emergency order prohibiting more than 10 patrons in restaurants, fitness centers, and theaters. More restrictions would quickly follow. The next week, he also ordered recreation and entertainment venues—theaters, gyms, spas etc.—to close for at least 30 days and prohibited dining-in service at all restaurants. Then, after seeing crowds fill Virginia beaches over the warm spring weekend, he issued another executive order closing beaches, campgrounds and university classrooms.

He also mandated that classrooms remain closed for the rest of the school year, although the Department of Education had yet to issue any guidance on how online learning should be conducted or how high school seniors would continue their path to graduation.

“We are moving into a period of sacrifice,” Northam said. “The sooner we can get this health crisis under control, the quicker our economy can recover.”

Northam said the nation essentially is “fighting a biological war.”

“This will change every part of our life.

It will require everyone to live differently,” Northam said By mid-March, the run on—and hoarding of—essential supplies left Loudoun’s groceries with bare shelves. “It should not be this hard to buy toilet paper,” lamented Supervisor Tony Buffington (R-Blue Ridge). Many supermarkets imposed limits on the amount of some products—water, toilet paper, canned meat, pasta, cleaning supplies, and Airborne, cold, flu and allergy medications—a customer could purchase.

The county started to make gains on testing March 23, when the Loudoun Medical Group opened the first centralized, drive-through COVID-19 testing operation in Leesburg. At the time, the county was reporting fewer than two dozen testing encounters per day. The LMG operation would help boost that to more than 100 per day. By the summer, with more tests available and the rollout of government-run testing sites, the number climbed above 500 and then to more than 1,000 daily through the fall and winter.

On March 26, the first Loudoun resident died as a result of contracting COVID-19.

The woman in her 70s was a former first grade teacher who was working as a reading tutor at two Ashburn elementary schools.

By April 1, the number of cases in Loudoun surpassed 100. A week later the count exceeded 200. Before the end of April 10 COVID-related deaths would be reported in the county.

Reopening/Mask Up Through the spring, calls for social distancing and frequent hand washing, along with a restriction on large crowds began paying dividends as the pandemic’s first RELIVING COVID continues on page 35

Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls

Town plan continued from page 6 separate and distinct,” he said.

Councilwoman Suzanne Fox said the plan needs to address the delicate balance of affordable housing and development.

“There’s conflicting statements we get all the time from constituents—‘We need affordable housing’ and ‘We need to stop developing.’ Those things are in conflict. I’d like us to figure out what our plan would be to have both, if we can have them. If we’re going to add close to 10,000 homes over 20 years [as the plan envisions] how is that going to look and how is that going to affect our community character,” she questioned.

Several council members and commissioners said they wanted the plan to encourage extending the vitality and vibrancy of the historic downtown throughout Leesburg.

“Somewhere I would like to have the transference of vitality not just in the historic district, but everywhere,” Robinson said. “So when you walk down Market Street there’s a sense of wanting to stop to talk, to shop.”

Steinberg echoed Burk’s sentiment on the importance of the plan creating predictability in the development process.

“If we make it clear this is our vision when people come here to do business and/ or develop they understand what it is that we’re looking for, and we insist we get what we devised over a long period of time,” he said.

The Planning Commission plans to hold an April 1 public hearing on the Town Plan.

An additional public hearing will be held once the plan is before the council. A copy of the draft Town Plan rewrite and updates can be found at legacy.leesburgva.gov. n

PAGE 34

Lasting lessons continued from page 3 of a shaky business to work in. You didn’t know if your restaurant was going to be open when you go in, you didn’t know if the governor was going to shut it down,” Stafford said.

Where before Ford’s employed about 160 to 175 people, Stafford said, today they’ve brought back everyone who wants to come back, about 125 people. But, he said, those people are making more now than they were before.

“This is something that’s touched not only small business and restaurant owners—it’s touched all of our employees who have stuck by us the last year, knowing we may not make it, and having the confidence in us that we were going to make it,” Stafford said.

And as the weather warms, all three Ford’s Fish Shack locations have outdoor seating.

Two Local Governments Ever since the pandemic came to Loudoun, said County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large), Loudoun has been running two local governments in parallel: the normal local government, and the COVID response government. The county’s Emergency Operations Center, normally only opened for limited times to deal with particular catastrophes, has been running constantly since then.

Photos of the first pandemic press conference a year ago in the County Government Center are disconcerting today—all of the key figures in Loudoun County government’s pandemic response, from elected leaders to public safety and health officials, standing unmasked and shoulder-to-shoulder inside the boardroom.

“One year ago, we didn’t know what PPE was, we really didn’t,” Randall said. “We didn’t talk about all these acronyms that now exist in our lexicon.”

Loudoun’s government quickly adapted to holding meetings virtually, as well as reaching out into the community to get information out to as many people as possible. That also meant partnering with organizations like New Virginia Majority and the NAACP to reach as many communities as possible and in as many languages as possible, Randall said.

“Then, of course, when we had our first COVID case and then our first COVID death, it was very upsetting,” Randall said.

As of Tuesday, March 9, the Virginia Department of Health reports the virus has killed 259 people in Loudoun—more than the entire population of the county’s smallest town, Hillsboro, with around 170 residents.

Randall said she still writes a letter to

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

the family every time she finds out who one of those people are, often through a family member or pastor reaching out to her.

“I don’t like writing form letters, so I try to let them know, first of all, how on behalf of the county, on behalf of the board and the county, we send our condolences for the loss of their mother, their grandmother, their sister, their brother, whomever that might be,” Randall said. “[I write] that that person meant something to them. Although we count numbers and we talk about COVID in number of deaths, that that person wasn’t a number for them, that was somebody they loved and cherished and cared for, and that I hope that the memories of that person can at some point in their life bring comfort to them even through the pain.”

The pandemic has also thrown many of the inequities in society into stark relief.

“One of the largest inequities that we saw almost immediately was who had access to good broadband,” Randall said. “[…] We’ve been talking about that for a long time, but not until COVID when kids have to go home and do distance learning that it becomes crucial, because literally they can’t go to school. You literally can’t get an education.”

The same has been true for older people who have access to the internet but aren’t computer-literate, she said. Loudoun supervisors and schools have taken steps to push broadband access out to as many people as they can as quickly as possible, like expanding broadband access near libraries or even using school buses as mobile hotspots.

And those inequities have persisted as health officials seek to get people vaccinated who may not have internet access or speak English.

“I don’t know that I know an answer to addressing the disparities in the healthcare system. I do know that for my little part of the world, Loudoun County, my job will be having better connectivity, and I don’t just mean broadband connectivity, but connectivity between organizations and groups and that sort of thing,” Randall said. “I think that is so important. I get on Zoom calls around COVID and everyone on that call is white, or everyone on this call is Black. It’s like, what are we doing?”

The effort it also complicated by people who are mistrustful of government and the vaccine, and by the politicization of the pandemic.

“Not only have we divided ourselves among demographics, but we divided ourselves among party lines, which is completely ridiculous, because this virus doesn’t care about your political party,” Randall said. “So when you have a virus that’s been politicized, it’s even harder to convince people that vaccines are something you want to consider.”

Even amid the difficulties of a long winter of COVID-19, there were some bright

spots—all things considered.

“What really surprised me was how effective our mitigating strategies were at preventing the flu from coming into our community, because all of our modeling was that it was going to be a really horrible winter,” said Loudoun Health Department Director Dr. David Goodfriend. “And it was a bad winter with the second phase of COVID, but the model was that our emergency departments and our hospital beds would be overwhelmed because we were dealing with the flu and COVID at the same time. But we didn’t have any flu, which allowed our doctors to give the best care possible to everyone who had COVID, and definitely saved lives.”

“I have stopped saying ‘we’re all in this together’ or ‘we’re all in the same boat,’” Randall said. “I stopped saying that because it sounds good, but it’s not really a true statement. The better statement is, ‘we’re all in the same storm,’ but some of us in the storm have a canoe, some of us have a tent, some of us have an umbrella, and some of us are standing out in the storm getting drenched.

So we’re all in the same storm, but we haven’t all been affected by it evenly.”

Moving On Today, the Loudoun Health Department is working with various organizations like churches, hospitals low-income senior communities and the Arc of Loudoun to get the vaccine to the people who are most vulnerable—and have the most trouble getting signed up. That can mean anything from lacking internet access to difficulty with the English language.

They are also working to take the vaccines to where people live, rather than requiring people to come to the centralized vaccination site at the Dulles Town Center Mall.

“I want to make sure everyone in Howardsville is vaccinated, everyone in Conklin, everyone in St. Louis,” Randall said. “So we’re doing kind of the macro-level vaccinations right now, but there are pockets of people all over Loudoun who I know are not getting vaccinated, and probably will not until we come to them.”

With limited vaccine supplies, that can pose a challenge, because vaccinators have a limited amount of time to administer all the doses in a vial of vaccine once it is opened, and people are monitored for 15 minutes after being vaccinated to make sure they have no adverse reaction to the vaccine.

“In a mass clinic setting, that’s easy to do, because we’ve got one area where folks get vaccinated, and a completely separate area where folks sit in their chairs and look at their phones, and we just stare at them for 15 minutes,” Goodfriend said. “When you go to someone’s house, then essentially […] that person also has to sit in their house for 15 minutes. It’s problematic when you need

MARCH 11, 2021

to get all 10 doses of the vaccine used within 6 hours.”

And they are still figuring out how to get the vaccine to another particularly vulnerable population—people who are homebound. Goodfriend has said before that for now, everyone around those people should get vaccinated, and offered a reminder that people who care for a homebound person are eligible for vaccination now.

More help could also be coming for businesses if and when Loudoun receives funding from the American Rescue Plan— among other things, giving the local government the money to do more rounds of grants to support small businesses, Randall said.

If past pandemics—even those a fraction as deadly as COVID—are any indication, this one could have a lasting impact on health practices. Goodfriend said that after the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, often called swine flu, hand sanitizer and practices like sneezing into the elbow instead of the hands became more common. He said it’s hard to predict which COVID-era precautions will stay with us.

“Will people go back to normal completely, and in which case we have a bad flu season every year and on top of that probably some COVID deaths?” Goodfriend said.

“Or, now that our school systems are built up to be able to be a bit COVID-resistant, […] we’ve really seen how productive folks can be with Zoom meetings, do we take advantage of that and have fewer in-person meetings? […] We just don’t know what will happen in the future.”

Since the pandemic began, so many things have changed—for example, in the beginning, the advice from public health officials was to leave the masks on the shelf for the doctors to use. Now they are ubiquitous.

Similarly, today school and government leaders are debating how to reopen schools safely, amid evidence that young people may be less likely to transmit the virus, and that schools may be able to take precautions to prevent its spread in the classroom.

“There was just so much learning that had to go on in the middle of this,” Goodfriend said. “I think given that, I think public health got a lot of things right. Modeling was always the challenge, but even with that, it is playing out a bit like the Spanish Flu a hundred years ago, where you had the first wave and then you had a bad second wave in the winter.

“Fortunately, we’re in a better position by the second winter.”

Since then, the practice of medicine has had 100 years to improve, and can do things now never imagined during the Spanish Flu. “That helped save a lot of lives,” Goodfriend said. n

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

PAGE 35

Reliving COVID continued from page 33 spike in cases and hospitalizations began to subside. Northern moved to ease business restrictions in mid-May. With that action, he also imposed a requirement for face coverings to be worn in indoors public spaces, reflecting new evidence that masks were highly effective in limiting the spread of the virus.

However, the Loudoun Board of Supervisors, along with other Northern Virginia leaders, requested a delay in reopening, citing higher case rates than other areas of the commonwealth and continued concerns about the availability of testing. That action sparked protests from critics of the business and school closures that continued through the summer.

The restrictions were eased just before Memorial Day weekend, allowing restaurants, wineries and breweries to host customers outside and at half the normal capacity. Two weeks later, indoor dining reopened at 50% capacity and other businesses, such as retail shops and hair salons.

Loudoun’s high school seniors did graduate in June, albeit one at a time in carefully planned ceremonies spaced out over several weeks.

Starting July 1, restaurants and retailers were permitted to return to full capacity; community swimming pools, childcare centers and entertainment venues opened; and visitation at senior care communities was allowed under certain conditions.

As school leaders in July began to prepare for a return to classrooms, educators raised concerns about safety and the Loudoun Education Association pushed to postpone in-person learning until the second semester in January. It was a debate that would continue through the rest of the year.

In a survey of parents, about half signed their children up the proposed hybrid plan with two days of in-person learning expected to be offered in the fall. However, Williams announced that the year would open with 100% distance learning.

By mid-July, Loudoun was seeing the lowest caseloads since the pandemic began in March, however, it also recorded the 100th death attributed to the virus. The county reported its 5,000th case in early August.

When schools reopened in September, all students participated in classes online.

And, for the first time, there were fewer students than the year before, as many families held back their rising kindergarteners, and others opted for private or home-school options. Kindergarteners and first and second graders returned to classrooms part-time Oct. 27. Hybrid classes for third through fifth graders and seniors at the Academies

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Runs on items like toilet paper and hand sanitizer early in the pandemic led to empty shelves in stores.

of Loudoun were pushed to Dec. 1.

The delay in offering in-person learning brought strong criticism from a cadre of parents who appeared at each School Board meeting pushing for classrooms to reopen.

Another Spike In November, in anticipation of the approval of rapidly developed vaccines, the Health Department began building a shot distribution system based on plans used for vaccinations of another type of respiratory virus, H1N1 or swine flu, in 2009.

At the same time, public health officials were bracing for another spike in coronavirus cases as cooling temperatures moved gatherings indoors, the arrival of the traditional flu season, and the holidays.

Goodfriend warned the coming months could resemble the lockdown environment of April and May, if recent surges in other states and in Europe are to be any kind of forewarning. “We may get lucky,” he said, “but we want to make sure we’re prepared.”

Within days, Northam imposed new crowd limits and expanded requirement for people to wear masks in indoor public places to children as young a 5.

“As opposed to April, May and June, there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” Goodfriend said. “That’s vaccination. But there’s going to be, unfortunately, significant darkness before we get to that light, and we really need everyone to participate in these next couple months.”

By the end of November, Loudoun recorded its 10,000th case of COVID-19 as cases began to increase by more than 100 per day and the number of hospitalized patients also began to surge.

With that increase in community

spread, Loudoun’s expanded hybrid learning program was shuttered, putting all students back to distance learning before their winter break.

The first vaccinations arrived in late December and were administered to public employees on the frontlines of the pandemic, including as EMTs and other healthcare workers.

On Jan. 7, Loudoun recorded its 15,000th case as the death toll reached 162.

By mid-January, the vaccine eligibility was expanded to include all residents age 65 and older. And, in Loudoun, educators were moved to the front of the line, with a dedicated clinic established to administer the shots. All school employees—more than 10,000—who wanted shots were fully vaccinated by March.

Before the end of January, the state Department of Health reported the first case of UK-based variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 had been identified in a sample from an adult resident of Northern Virginia with no reported recent travel history. The B.1.1.7 variant’s increased person-to-person transmission is expected to cause a new surge in cases this spring, ramping up pressure on the race to vaccinate.

With a decline in the post-holiday spike, the School Board approved a return to hybrid learning starting Feb. 16, and middle and high school students returning to classrooms March 3 for the first time in nearly a year. Only about one-third of Loudoun students opted for the in-person learning program.

In mid-February the county reached the threshold of administering more than 50,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines. It also recorded its 200th COVID-related death.

The death toll passed 250 in early March, including the first fatal case of a patient under age 30. Some of those cases, Goodfriend said, dated back to the holidays, due to lags in the state’s reporting system.

He also warned with the holidays ahead—and more strains of the virus on the loose—that it is important for people to keep taking COVID-19 precautions.

“It is troubling, because we do have St. Patrick’s Day coming up, we have Easter coming up, and what we’re being warned about is a concern with new variants coming and the risk that they pose in terms of increased transmission,” he said. “And, potentially, if that right new variant comes along, that it might not be as affected by the vaccine.”

With that in mind, he said, “it’s really incumbent on everyone to maintain those mitigation strategies.”

As of this week, Loudoun County has reported 23,589 COVID-19 cases, 882 of which required hospitalization. There have been 259 COVID-related deaths. More than 61,000 residents had received at least one dose of a vaccine and 32,000 were fully vaccinated.

“This is a once in a lifetime event, hopefully,” Goodfriend said. “Since I’ve been here, we had SARS, we had Ebola, we had H1N1, and at the end of those, the hit on public health was that that we overhyped it, overblew it, and that it really was not that bad. And that’s why we’re always over-cautious in the beginning, because you don’t know if it will turn into a SARS, that fizzles out on its own, or will turn to COVID and become a year, year-and-a-half-long pandemic with [259] folks dead in Loudoun County.” n

PAGE 36

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 11, 2021

DESIGN • REMODEL • BUILD

Does looking at the same old kitchen and bathrooms during the stay at home order have you feeling down?

We do inspired remodels that make you WANT to stay in your kitchen and relax in your baths!

Call us for a FREE estimate: 703.793.8307

Visit our showroom in Leesburg, meet with an expert and find your inspiration.

213 Crescent Station Terrace SE Leesburg | 703.793.8307 | VIRGINIAKITCHENANDBATH.COM