Loudoun Now for March 14, 2019 by Loudoun Now

LOUDOUN COUNTY’S COMMUNITY-OWNED NEWS SOURCE

LoudounNow

[ Vol. 4, No. 17 ]

[ loudounnow.com ]

Walsh wines find a home

[ March 14, 2019 ]

Villages Team Up to Tackle Comp Plan BY PATRICK SZABO

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Residents of Goose Creek Bend near Leesburg—next to undeveloped farmland—say they’d prefer data centers to more houses.

Planning Commission Wrapping Up Work On Housing-Focused Comprehensive Plan BY RENSS GREENE After years of work, a project that has simmered in the background of almost all of this Board of Supervisors’ term and will define Loudoun’s future for decades is almost ready to enter the final round of review. The Planning Commission has spent months laboring over Loudoun 2040, more than 700 pages of policy to replace the county’s nearly 20-year-old Revised General Plan. When that comprehensive plan was written in 2001, there were around 190,000 people in Loudoun County. Today, there are more than 400,000. And as that growth continues, and studies project demands for tens of thousands more homes in an already-expensive Loudoun housing market, people working on the plan say it is focused on

housing and growth—although there remains disagreement about how to handle both. “I see a plan about growth, and I think that’s a lot of housing, but also a lot of data center growth,” said Gem Bingol, the Piedmont Environmental Council’s representative in Loudoun and Clarke counties. She also served on the stakeholder steering committee that wrote the first draft of the plan, which the Planning Commission has edited further. She said the plan continues a pattern of growth and sprawl. “You need additional housing to support more economic growth,” said Planning Commissioner Jeff Salmon (Dulles). “Without more houses, you’re not going to get the economic growth that you need, and we just signed up for Metro. Metro assumes that we’re going to have economic growth, it’s a big help

to economic growth, but you can’t do everything in a vacuum. It’s got to be a balance.” Indeed, the county is counting on development and growth in the Metro area to pay for Loudoun’s obligations to Metrorail. But one of the biggest areas of change, the county’s new urban area around its future Metrorail stops, is already being planned, in large part, outside of the comprehensive plan process. Already under consideration by the Board of Supervisors is the rezoning application for Silver District West, a proposal by Detroit-based Soave Enterprises, the developer of Brambleton. The project would cover 158 acres along most of the south side of the Dulles Greenway between the Ashburn and Loudoun Gateway Metro stations. Representing a COMPREHENSIVE PLAN >> 46

Loudoun’s nearly 30 unincorporatedvillages might not have formal municipal governments or the power to make decisions on land use, but six of them have banded together to create a united front with an amplified voice. The villages of Aldie, Bluemont, Lincoln, Taylorstown, Unison and Waterford recently formed the Loudoun Historic Village Alliance to take a unified stand on Envision Loudoun—the county’s rewrite process of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan that includes draft language allowing for increased development in the county’s rural areas. The alliance is specifically focused on addressing concerns of increased traffic, encroaching development, zoning enforcement, utility system functionality, proposed construction of public buildings and pressure from the county to close smaller schools. The six signing members of the alliance are the Aldie Heritage Association, the Bluemont Citizens Association, the Lincoln Preservation Foundation, the Taylorstown Community Association, the Unison Preservation Foundation and the Waterford Foundation—all tax-exempt nonprofits. The villages of Philomont and Lucketts also plan to join the alliance, with their representatives having already attended a few meetings. According to Peter Weeks, the alliance’s vice chairman and the president of the Bluemont Citizens Association, the idea to form a multi-village group arose about six months ago, when he and other residents felt the urgency to get more involved as the Planning Commission was busy drafting and holding public input sessions on Loudoun 2040. He said that urgency translated into the formation of the alliance about a month ago. “It’s important that we have one unifying voice for each of these villages,” he said. “We feel that together we can accomplish a lot more.” So far, the alliance has met three times, with another meeting planned for this LOUDOUN VILLAGES >> 37

Give your child a competitive advantage. New Dulles Campus!

Admissions Information Session

Saturday, March 16 ˀ at 10:00am

Near the intersection Lower School Middle School High School of Routes 28 & 606 703 759 5100 www.FairfaxChristianSchool.com

ECRWSS Postal Customer

Permit #1401 Southern MD

PAID

U.S. Postage PRESRT STD

March 14, 2019

SHOP BELFORT FURNITURE FOR

Amazing Deals & Instant Rebates!

Grand Opening C E L E B R AT I O N

* Select items.

STOP IN, EXPLORE OUR FABULOUS NEW SHOWROOM

SOFA JUST

399

GREAT PRICE! LIMITED QUANTITIES

MANAGER SPECIAL

85” BENISSA SOFA SPECIAL $399

List $799. Tufted back pillows and tapered arms lend style to any room.

Find All the Styles You Love in One Location Belfort is Bigger & Better • Over 150,000 Sq. Ft. of Showrooms CUSTOMIZE IT! Choose Your Table Style Choose Your Chair Style Choose From 36 Finish Options

JOHN THOMAS SELECT

CRESENT COTTAGE BED SPECIAL

SAVE 50 FOR EVERY 500

INSTANT REBATE 100

JOHN THOMAS SELECT TABLE $965

96” CANDACE SOFA SPECIAL FROM $1759

Dining Table $965, list $1482; side chair with Sunbrella fabric $239, list $366; bench with Sunbrella fabric $389, list $600.

80+% SAVE UP TO

SOLID WOOD SLEIGH BED SPECIAL $499

Reg. $1859, list $3099. Sophisticated and elegant curved conversation sofa is available in hundreds of fabrics including Sunbrella. H Made in the USA.

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION NOW ED O L CAT G D L B IN

INSTANT REBATE UP TO $600

OFF LIST

Save Up To 1000 More! $

For every delivery we plant a tree. Hours: Mon - Sat 10 - 9 • Sun 12 - 6 belfortfurniture.com • 703-406-7600 22250 & 22267 Shaw Road • Dulles, VA * Coupons valid on Blue Tag clearance items only. Excludes Red Tag merchandise and Manager Specials. Cannot be combined with any other discount or offer. Offer valid March 7 - 31, 2019. Art is representative. See store for details.

Reg $999, list $1800; king special $699, reg. $1299, list $2250. Night stand with power port $589, list $885.

* N O P E COU C N A R A E L C 100 on purchases 500 - 999 $

$ $ - $1499 SAVE hases 1000 $ $ 00 on purc $ 0 - 1999 SAVE 2 hases 150 $ $ 00 on purc $ 0 - 2499 SAVE 3 hases 200 $ $ 00 on purc $ 0 - 2999 SAVE 4 hases 250 $ $ 00 on purc $ 0 - 3999 SAVE 5 hases 300 $ $ 00 on purc $ 0 - 4999 SAVE 6 hases 400 $ 00 on purc $ 0 and up SAVE 8 hases 500 $ 000 on purc SAVE 1

FLOOR SAMPLES • MATTRESSES RUGS • SPECIAL BUYS ONE-OF-A KINDS • MORE

Hurry In, First Come, First Save LIMITED QUANTITIES HUGE MARKDOWNS ACCENT CHAIRS FROM $99 SOFAS FROM $359 BEDS FROM $259 DINING CHAIRS FROM $19 DINING TABLES FROM $99 MATTRESS SETS FROM $299 * Coupons valid on Blue Tag clearance items only. Excludes Red Tag merchandise and Manager Specials. Cannot be combined with any other discount or offer. Offer valid March 7 - 31, 2019. Art is representative. See store for details.

Shop All Showrooms for Blue Tag Savings!

BY RENSS GREENE

Commission votes against Westpark plan

Getting hands on with STEM

Marshall Center honors internet co-creator

Weona affordable homes plan delayed

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

The scene on Evergreen Mills Road where a car with three bodies was found overturned in Sycolin Creek near Leesburg in July 2017.

timated $12.3 million. Supervisors also unanimously voted at the last minute to go ahead and plan for funding for roundabouts at those intersections in their capital plans, although the study is not yet done. That will mean during next year’s budget work, county staff members will try to find room for another $17.4 million.

Because the county operates on a sixyear capital schedule, that funding will not come available before fiscal year 2025, which begins in 2024, unless supervisors take further action to push other county projects back. EVERGREEN MILL >> 31

Round Hill to Convert Entirely to LED Streetlights BY PATRICK SZABO One of Loudoun’s smallest towns is leading the way in embracing new technology. The Town Council voted unanimously Thursday night to direct project specialist Rob Lohr to contract with Dominion Energy to replace all of the town’s existing sodium and mercury vapor streetlights with 70-watt LED lights, making it the first Virginia locality to fully convert to LED streetlights through the company’s program. Lohr said that Dominion would replace the town’s 56 “shoebox” streetlights and 11 decorative acorn lights in Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now two phases. The first step will be the replacement of 32 streetlights in the Project Specialist Rob Lohr examines the LED acorn streetlight that Dominion Energy installed in older section of town and in the Lake the Lake Ridge Estates neighborhood earlier this month. Ridge Estates neighborhood within two to three months. It takes about 45 project on its own, it could have paid along the full length of Main Street. In 2015, Middleburg received a grant minutes to change out each light. After up to $234,000 to replace all 67 streetphase one is complete, residents, staff- lights, at up to $3,000 for “shoebox” from the Community Foundation and ers and Town Council members will streetlights and up to $6,000 for acorn a donation from Middleburg Beautification and Preservation to install 21 have about 48 hours to examine the lights. “It’s going to turn out to be a really LED streetlights along Washington lights to determine whether they’re too Street from Jay Street to the communibright or dim. The second phase to re- great program,” Lohr said. While Round Hill will become the ty center. place the town’s remaining streetlights Lovettsville also installed several first Virginia town to convert entirely is expected to wrap up by August. LED streetlights along Broad Way from to LED streetlighting, it won’t be the Under the Dominion program, the the community center to Park Place as only Loudoun town using the technoltown will pay $149 per light replacepart of phase one of its Broad Way Imment, $9,983 in all. That total is about 4 ogy. In 2009, Dominion selected Purcell- provement Project in 2016. NV Retail percent of what it would have cost if the ville as the first town in the state to par- and 7-Eleven additionally installed a town had replaced the lights on its own. ticipate in an LED pilot project that in- few of the lights in recent years on their Moving forward, Dominion will be responsible for streetlight maintenance stalled 10 of the streetlights along South properties in town. Leesburg’s 24 new streetlights in the and replacement. Lohr said the lights 20th Street between G Street and Main would pay themselves off in two years Street. Two years later, the town part- downtown area are also LEDs. nered with Dominion and the county through energy cost savings. pszabo@loudounnow.com If the town had opted to handle the to install another 42 LED streetlights

INDEX Loudoun Gov........................... 4 Leesburg................................. 8 Politics................................. 10 Education.............................. 12 Public Safety......................... 16 Nonprofit............................... 18 Biz........................................ 22 Our Towns............................. 26 LoCo Living........................... 32 Public and Legal Notices....... 37 Help Wanted.......................... 40 Obituaries............................. 41 Resource Directory................ 42 Opinion................................. 44

County supervisors have followed up a vote last summer authorizing $1.2 million in safety work on Evergreen Mills Road with another vote for major projects on the road—although it will be years before drivers see them. Evergreen Mills Road, a two-lane rural road, is now a heavily-trafficked route between Rt. 15 in Leesburg and Loudoun County Parkway near Arcola. Watson Road, another rural twolane road, links Evergreen Mills Road and Rt. 50. On March 5, supervisors heard the results of an extensive road safety study and series of community meetings on the two roads. They had already set aside funding for improvements including installing reflective material on guardrails, wider edge striping, speed display signs and other road signs, and after a unanimous vote on Tuesday, will channel millions more dollars into work on the road. That will fund a new left-turn lane near the Evergreen SportsPlex, a rumble strip on a particularly accident-prone stretch of Evergreen Mills Road, and a study of the possibility of adding traffic signals or roundabouts at Evergreen Mills Road’s intersections with Crimson Place/Red Cedar Drive and Shreve Mill Road. That work adds up to an es-

3 March 14, 2019

$30M Evergreen Mills Road Safety Initiative Advances

INSIDE

March 14, 2019

[ LOUDOUN GOV ]

Supervisors, Sheriff Again Spar Over Elementary School Deputies

BY RENSS GREENE As they work on the county government’s next annual budget, supervisors have for a second time debated the merits of putting sheriff ’s deputies in all 58 public elementary schools in Loudoun. The idea was first voiced in a joint press release between Sheriff Michael Chapman and John Whitbeck, the candidate seeking to unseat County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (DAt Large). Chapman did not actually include the idea in his budget request to county supervisors, answering questions before the meeting that “this item will be for a future Board of Supervisors and it is not relevant to this year’s budget request.” During a March 4 budget work session, Randall pushed Chapman to request the funding and offered

to make a motion on the board to support it, pointing out the current Board of Supervisors has never declined to provide funding for a school resource officer. As recently as March 8, Chapman’s office called the proposal “speculative,” and said the office had not yet coordinated with the school board or county administration, and that the idea “needs to be implemented in a responsible, incremental, and methodical fashion.” And during a work session Monday night Randall’s push continued. “If we had been asked in the past for school resource officers in the elementary schools, we would have approved them, because you have never brought a request for an SRO that we did not say yes to,” Randall said. She requested adding more than $2 million to the county budget to start

the program with 13 school resource officers and one program supervisor. Other supervisors were skeptical of the election-year sparring. Vice Chairman Ralph Buona (R-Ashburn) called the proposal “a false sense of security,” and suggested offsetting that cost by taking it out of the proposed school budget appropriation. “Children’s safety is incredibly important, and this only benefits our children and only benefits our schools,” he said. “However, if there is any price tag associated with it, I’m going to offset it somewhere else.” Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) was likewise skeptical. “I just don’t see the SROs at the elementary schools being very busy,” Letourneau said. He and Buona pointed out the School Board has not yet been consulted—or indeed had a meeting since the last budget work

session a week before. Buona suggested a more systematic approach, starting with the Joint School Board/ Board of Supervisors Committee, which meets again in May. “Why can’t we do this at a later meeting and decide after the School Board’s had a chance to look at it?” asked Supervisor Geary M. Higgins (R-Catoctin). He moved to table the discussion until later, which supervisors supported 4-3-2, with Supervisor Suzanne M. Volpe (R-Algonkian) and Ron A. Meyer Jr. (R-Broad Run) having left. So far, supervisors are still on track for a real estate tax rate of $1.045 per $100 of assessed value, a 4-cent tax rate cut from the current rate of $1.085. rgreene@loudounnow.com

Supervisors Create Census Committee to Promote Complete Count BY RENSS GREENE

MWAA

A comparision of the current and new noise projections around Dulles International Airport.

Airports Officials Brief County Board on Noise BY RENSS GREENE Officials from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority have briefed county supervisors on new projections of noise around Dulles International Airport—but supervisors will not take any action to protect residents around the airport from noise for now. The airports authority recently finished a new study on noise expected around Dulles Airport when it is eventually fully built out, with a fifth runway that is not yet built, and more than a million flights a year—about four times the number of flights last year. That study, compared to previous projections, shows more of Loudoun

hearing substantial jet noise. That includes jet noise stretching as far north as Selden Island and the Potomac River, crossing over the 1757 Golf Club, One Loudoun, and Bles Park, where previously that level of noise stopped short near the Barn at One Loudoun and Savin Hill Drive off Russell Branch Parkway. There is also slightly more noise expected near Loudoun’s easternmost Metro station, and further south and west of the airport, such as over Mercer Middle School. Historically, the county government has generally forbidden residential development in the areas expected to be most affected by jet noise, both to protect the quality of life of those res-

idents and to protect the airport from complaints to the Federal Aviation Administration. “The really good news for Loudoun County right now is you have been so effective with your land use policies up to his point that you can easily accommodate the existing noise contours, and overlay these new future noise contours without any significant upset in what you’ve been doing so far,” said airports authority state and local government affairs manager Michael Cooper. The advent of new GPS air traffic control technology is expected to open NOISE >> 7

Supervisors have appointed an 18-member committee chaired by County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) to make sure as many people as possible are counted in the 2020 decennial United States Census. The Complete Count Committee was designed according to recommendations from the Census Bureau. Its members include county employees in human services; leaders of community organizations including the YMCA, the Arc of Loudoun and the Loudoun NAACP; and leaders from faith communities, nonprofit organizations, the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, the school system, and the public library. The committee will be tasked with finding hard-to-count and historically under-counted populations, like minority populations, immigrants, renters, and low-income households, in part through building awareness of the census before it begins. Randall said the people who are most often undercounted are children under five years old. “The more people are told ahead of time, so that when the envelope CENSUS >> 6

Trump National

Loudoun County government has issued a Notice of Violation of the county’s zoning ordinance to the Trump National Golf Course at Lowes Island in Sterling, after a forested area along the Potomac River was clear-cut without a permit. According to the county, on Feb. 28, county officials inspected the golf course property and found about 31,000 square feet—just under three-quarters of an acre—had been altered, its trees cut down inside a floodplain without first getting county permits, violating three county zoning ordinances. The county has also given the course directions of what it must do to correct the situation. In the case of Trump National Golf Course, that includes stopping all development activities until they have gone through all necessary applications and won the appropriate approvals; obtain and comply with a floodplain alteration application; and obtain and comply with a zoning permit.

The property owner has the option to appeal the county’s Notice of Violation to the Board of Zoning Appeals within 30 days, during which time any enforcement actions are put on hold pending the outcome of the appeal. If the corrective actions are not taken, the county says it will fine the owners $200. After that, county officials will inspect the property every 10 days, adding another $500 each time its inspectors find it is still in violation. Altering land in a floodplain can impact properties nearby or downstream. In the case of Trump National Golf Course, the trees cut from the property were reportedly dumped in the Potomac River. The golf course is spared stricter regulation because a previous Board of Supervisors chose not to implement the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act locally, after a previous incident in 2010 saw hundreds of trees removed from the property.

In this report you'll discover how to avoid financial disappointment or worse, a financial disaster when selling your home. Using a common-sense approach, you will get the straight facts about what can make or break the sale of your home. You owe it to yourself to learn how these important tips will give you the competitive edge to get your home sold fast and for the most amount of money. Order your free report today. To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1-888-302-3341 and enter 1052. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get your free special report NOW.

*This is a paid advertisement.

“Dentistry with a Gentle Touch.”

Atiyeh Emam, DDS, PLLC Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

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

703.858.9200

www.lansdownedental.com

Introducing Emsculpt

Non-Invasive Body Contouring

model

Beach Bodies Are Made in the Winter AVIE! is the first in Loudoun County to offer Emsculpt® body contouring treatments! This revolutionary, non-invasive treatment induces muscle contractions, helping to create more defined abs, a more toned tummy, and rounder, firmer buttocks with 30-minute treatments and no downtime!

25% Off Emsculpt Treatments (package of 4) Book Your Free Consultation Today! 703.348.8159 AVIE! has been providing amazing results in Loudoun County and Northern Virginia since 2009! Medical Director: Khalique Zahir, MD aviemedspa.com ®

to life! your life!

552 Fort Evans Road, Suite 110 Leesburg, Virginia

Special promotion valid until 3.31.19 and may not be combined with other offers. Individual results vary. Other restrictions may apply.

County Cites Trump Golf Course for Illegal Clearcutting

Loudoun - Because your home may well be your largest asset, selling it is probably one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. And once you have made that decision, you'll want to sell your home for the highest price in the shortest time possible without compromising your sanity. Before you place your home on the market, here's a way to help you to be as prepared as possible. To assist homesellers, a new industry report has just been released called "27 Valuable Tips That You Should Know to Get Your Home Sold Fast and for Top Dollar." It tackles the important issues you need to know to make your home competitive in today's tough, aggressive marketplace. Through these 27 tips you will discover how to protect and capitalize on your most important investment, reduce stress, be in control of your situation, and make the best profit possible.

5 March 14, 2019

27 Quick and Easy Fix Ups to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar

March 14, 2019

Census << FROM 4 comes to their home in the mail that they will fill it out and return it, that makes it easier,” said Supervisors Suzanne M. Volpe (R-Algonkian). Vice Chairman Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn) warned against making political appointments to the panel— or making it unmanageably big. “This is not about us putting our friends on it, this was a process that that the Census Bureau recommends for us to reach out to certain segments and sectors of our community and to get a broad reach out to our community, and try to get as much participation as possible,” Buona said. He said the Complete Count Committee should not get too large. He warned against what he saw as the cautionary lesson of the 26-member stakeholder steering committee that oversaw the first step of the county’s efforts to rewrite its comprehensive plan, now more than a year behind its original schedule. “It got so big, and yeah, we tried to get everybody with all diverse opinions, but in many ways that kind of slowed the process down by probably an entire year, because eventually we got paralysis because the conflicting views could never iron things out,” Buona said. Supervisor Ron A. Meyer Jr. (R-Broad Run) wondered about counting undocumented residents in the

census. “I think we just need to go with eyes wide open if we’re going to talk about this, because we’re going to get questions from the public about whether we’re advocating for people who don’t currently have legal status to be counted in the census,” Meyer said. The U.S. Census counts all people in the country regardless of age, immigration status, or other factors. “Part of the complete count committee’s primary responsibility is to do outreach to ensure that we are counting every individual,” said Assistant County Administrator Valmarie Turner. “And the reason why the county is so important is because it impacts our federal funding, it can impact any type of seats that we have at the state level, the federal level and so forth. So our goal is to count everyone, pursuant to the guidelines established by the Census Bureau.” Meyer also theorized that, because some federal resources are allocated accounting to population as counted by the census, localities will try to attract as many undocumented immigrants as possible. “I think, as a county, I think we probably have a pretty low per capita versus other parts of the country, and obviously if federal resources are allocated based on total persons, it does give an adverse incentive to try to attract people who are not here legally to their jurisdictions,” Meyer said. This year’s census has been overshadowed by attempts by the admin-

The Complete Count Committee’s members include: Loudoun County Chairwoman PHYLLIS J. RANDALL (D-At Large) VALMARIE TURNER, Assistant County Administrator, County of Loudoun GLENDA BLAKE, Director, Loudoun County Department of Family Services CHERYL WATSON, Assistant Director, Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse & Developmental Services ANGEL CERRITOS, Executive Director, YMCA Loudoun County CHARLOTTE FOSQUE, Executive Director, Blue Ridge Speech & Hearing Center LISA KIMBALL, Chief Executive Officer, The ARC of Loudoun PASTOR MICHELLE THOMAS, President, Loudoun NAACP SYED M. ASHRAF, Co-Chair, ADAMS Civic Engagement PASTOR MIKE TAYLOR, Community Church (Ashburn)

istration of President Donald J. Trump to add a question about citizenship to the census questionnaire, prompting concerns that would discourage some people from answering the census and skewing its results. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently deliberating whether to allow that question on the census. “The census really is about who is here, and we want to count everybody who is here despite their legal status, because each county is probably spend-

TONY HOWARD, President and CEO,

Loudoun Chamber

SREEDHAR NAGIREDDI, Loudoun County

Representative, Virginia State CCC NICOLE ACOSTA, Grants and Nonprofit Programs Director, Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties ROBERT W. LAZARO, JR., Executive Director, Northern Virginia Regional Commission BEVERLY TATE, Director of Planning, Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) RAJESH (RAJ) KASARANENI, Board Chair, Loudoun Valley Estates II (Cardinal Management) PILAR ACOSTA, Teacher Assistant, Loudoun County Public Schools. MARK MILLER, Chairman, At-Large, Loudoun County Public Library Board of Trustees

ing money on everyone who is here despite their legal status,” Randall said. “And so since the census actually gives out federal money, we want to count everyone so we can receive the funds.” “I’m excited about this and know that this is going to be a good process,” Volpe said. “And I think it’s important for us to do this, and half of it is literally educating the community ahead of time.” rgreene@loudounnow.com

Serving Northern Virginia since 2001

POLAR BEAR

• • • • • •

Residential & Light Commercial Highly Experienced Technicians Low Prices Free Estimates On Replacements Convenient Financing Licensed, Bonded & Insured

Fast Service Fast Installation

AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING

703-333-2800

www.polarbearairconditioning.com

$25 Off

10% Off

Any Service Call

New HVAC System Installation or Replacement

Cannot be combined with other offers, does not apply to maintenance contracts

Noise

MIDDLEBURG REAL ESTATE

ATOKA

PROPERTIES

S I M P LY B E T T E R .

S I M P LY B E T T E R . ATOKAPROPERTIES .COM

— Airports authority state and local government affairs manager Michael Cooper

recommended referencing the noise study in the county’s new comprehensive plan, which would allow future Boards of Supervisors to consider its noise impacts when considering applications for residential development. Staff members have also recommended updating the county’s zoning when the airport approaches the full buildout reflected in the study’s projections—although airport officials have warned in the past that county supervisors should plan based on the airport’s growth, rather than its state today.

19290 TELEGRAPH SPRINGS RD 11555 HEREFORD CT | HUME PURCELLVILLE | $7,995,000 $790,000 | Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, Renovated in 2004, this 22,000+ s/f home consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam nulla is an entertainer’s dream with indoor metus, rutrum et vestibulum sit amet, pool, hot tub, bowling alley, home theater, bibendum nec diam. In ut porttitor felis. basketball court, two lakes and a dock. Phasellus enim erat, blandit eget vulpuLight-filled, scenic views from every angle. tate in metus.

518 CLIFTON FARM RD 11555 HEREFORD CT | HUME BERRYVILLE | $4,700,000 $790,000 | Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, 400+ acres in a bucolic setting! Original consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam nulla ice house and outdoor kitchen. Perimeter metus, rutrum et vestibulum sit amet, fully fenced making it ideal for horses & bibendum nec diam. In ut porttitor felis. cattle. 20+ wooded acres. Stunning stone Phasellus enim erat, blandit eget vulpuguest house, outbuildings & barns with tate in metus. gorgeous views!

22443 CREIGHTONCT FARMS DR 11555 HEREFORD | HUME LEESBURG | $3,395,000 $790,000 | Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, Elegant custom-built 11,000+ s/f home in consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam nulla lovely Farms. Doublesit sized lot metus,Creighton rutrum et vestibulum amet, on the 16thnec hole withIn panoramic bibendum diam. ut porttitorviews. felis. First floor enim master suite, gourmet Phasellus erat, blandit egetkitchen, vulpusunroom and private indoor pool. tate in metus.

38085 HOMESTEAD LN 11555 HEREFORD CTFARM | HUME MIDDLEBURG | $1,200,000 $790,000 | Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, Private and well-protected conconsectetur adipiscing elit.property Nam nulla sisting four lots with three charming, metus, ofrutrum et vestibulum sit amet, restored & nec renovated A unique bibendum diam. Inhouses. ut porttitor felis. opportunity for investors or those Phasellus enim erat, blandit eget looking vulputo share country life, but with separate livtate in metus. ing quarters. Endless possibilities!

rgreene@loudounnow.com

1155523517 HEREFORD CT |RD HUME PARSONS MIDDLEBURG | $999,990 $790,000 | Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consecteturCape adipiscing Nam nulla Renovated Cod withelit. gorgeous views metus, rutrum vestibulum amet, boasting a main et level bedroom,sit gourmet bibendum nec diam. In ut porttitor felis. kitchen, updated baths, hardwoods, and Phasellus enim erat, blandit vulpumudroom. Unfinished attic eget space and tate in metus. basement. Beautiful vineyard views!

11555 HEREFORD CT | CT HUME 11555 HEREFORD

$775,000 $790,000 |HUME Lorem| ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.onNam nulla Stunning custom Colonial 10 rolling metus,with rutrum vestibulum amet, acres lushetpaddocks & sit sweeping bibendum nec diam. In ut porttitor felis.A manicured lawns in an idyllic setting. Phasellus erat, blandit you egetinto vulpugrand frontenim porch welcomes this tate in metus. gracious 6000 s/f home. Six stall stable & board fenced paddocks.

PETER PEJACSEVICH PARTNER + REALTOR® 540.270.3835 peter@atokaproperties.com

SCOTT BUZZELLI PARTNER + REALTOR® 540.454.1399 scott@atokaproperties.com

M I D D L E B U R G | L E E S B U R G | P U R C E L LV I L L E | A S H B U R N

up new air travel routes around the airport, and new possibilities, such as three airplanes landing at once on three parallel runways—meaning, in some places, three airplanes at once passing overhead. That includes over some of Loudoun’s major developments, like Silver District West, a planned development along the Dulles Greenway between Loudoun’s two future Metro stations. “Around Silver District West, you’re in the simultaneous arrivals path, and those arrivals are coming past that property at an altitude of about 400 to 600 feet,” Cooper said. “The Washington Monument is 550 feet high, just as a point of reference.” Residential is not proposed for much of that development, based on expected jet noise. Board of Supervisor Vice Chairman Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn) said previous boards have been protective of the airport, “as we should be.” “I’ve seen so many cases around the world—and even Regan National is an example—where traffic changes, patterns change, noise complaints rise, and then next thing you know, there’s restrictions on the airport because so many people are complaining to the FAA.” But while the old noise projections are incorporated into Loudoun County’s zoning rules, the new projections are not yet. County staff members have

Around Silver District West, you’re in the simultaneous arrivals path, and those arrivals are coming past that property at an altitude of about 400 to 600 feet.”

March 14, 2019

<< FROM 4

[ LEESBURG ]

[ BRIEFS ] Biosolids Production Suspended

March 14, 2019

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Councilman Tom Dunn was alone Monday night in his efforts to strip all additions from Town Manager Kaj Dentler’s proposed budget.

Budget Remains Intact as Council Members Offer Mark-ups BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ The Leesburg Town Council’s first budget-markup session for the proposed fiscal year 2020 budget ended as it began—with a 19.4-cent tax rate and Town Manager Kaj Dentler’s proposed enhancements intact. During its mark-up session Monday night, council members offered several suggestions for additions or deletions to the budget, but no straw vote found majority support. Councilman Tom Dunn found no support for nixing the entirety of Dentler’s proposed $734,000 budget additions, which include seven new full-time positions in the General Fund. Councilwoman Suzanne Fox had slightly more support for her proposal to eliminate all enhancements except the

new position of emergency management director, but still fell short of the four votes needed. Dunn and Councilman Josh Thiel supported her on that straw vote. Dunn also did not have any of his colleagues’ support for expanding health insurance benefits to Town Council members, aligning their benefits with full-time town employees. That would mean a budget increase of about $85,000. A proposal to look into renting office space for Town Council members also fell flat, at least for now. Councilman Neil Steinberg put that forward for consideration, but only found support from Mayor Kelly Burk and Vice Mayor Marty Martinez. Dentler has maintained that there is not any room in Town Hall to provide office space for council mem-

bers, so the town would have to look to rent private space if so desired. Thiel proposed eliminating the $500,000 combined contribution to both the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company and Loudoun Fire-Rescue Squad, rather than beginning year one of a three-year phase-out proposed by Dentler. Only Dunn and Fox supported him in that straw vote. Burk’s proposal to add $10,000 into the budget for public art in town drew the support only of Martinez and Steinberg. Dunn, who has in budget years’ past advocated adopting a budget at or near the equalized rate, asked the town staff for suggested cuts to bring the real estate tax rate to 17.7 cents, a rate that would, BUDGET >> 9

Commission Recommends Denial of Westpark Plan BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ It looks to be an uphill battle for the developer behind the Westpark Golf Club project. Representatives of Lennar Homes were before the Leesburg Planning Commission March 7 for the first step in the legislative review process, hoping to win commissioners’ stamp of approval on a Town Plan amendment required before for a rezoning application they submitted can advance. They didn’t get what they hoped for, though, with the commission unanimously recommending denial of the amendment. The proposed Town Plan amendment would convert just under 14 acres designated for community office development and open space to allow for medium-density residential develop-

ment. Also proposed is an amendment to convert 4.39 acres from community office designation to open space. It was a standing-room-only environment in Council Chambers on Thursday night as dozens of residents turned out, many with homes bordering the golf course. While opinions were split on whether the 96 townhomes proposed in the rezoning were the right fit for the property, they were united in a desire to see the golf course land preserved either as a golf course or as open space. As part of Lennar’s proposal in the rezoning, 125 acres that encompass much of the golf course land would be given to the town. It was the proposal of the gift of land—although not part of the consideration for the Town Plan amendment—that made the proposed devel-

opment easier to swallow for many. “If that’s the price to save the rest of the golf course, that’s great,” Chancellor Street resident Mike Sierra said. “As long as [the land] is empty and open, something is going to go there.” Paul Boyer, a Woodlea Manor resident and an employee of the golf club, presented the commission with a petition containing 270 signatures of residents who wanted to see the golf course saved. He said he supported the townhouse development and gift of land if the town continued to operate the property as a golf course. Chris Reynolds, the listing agent for the property, noted that the preservation of the golf course land pleased the family that owns the golf club greatly WESTPARK >> 9

Production of a biosolids fertilizer regularly available to town utility customers has been temporarily suspended. Since 2001, the Utilities Department has produced an organic soil amendment product known as Tuscarora Landscapers Choice. TLC is produced at the town’s biosolids processing facility as part of the Water Pollution Control Division’s wastewater treatment program. The town sells TLC in bulk to commercial users and offers 25- and 50-pound bags free to utility customers. The dryer system at the processing center is shut down for maintenance and upgrades. TLC production is suspended until the dryer is brought back on line, expected in early next year. Bags of TLC are available for free pickup from the shed in front of the Water Pollution Control Facility, 1391 Russell Branch Pkwy SE, while supplies last.

Town Accepts Water Conservation Challenge Leesburg residents again are urged to do their part to conserve water as part of a national challenge. During April, residents can make online pledges to conserve water and, in return, will be eligible to win $5,000 toward their home utility payments, water saving fixtures, and hundreds of other prizes. Plus, one charity will receive a 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid to serve the community. It’s a part of the eighth National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, an annual community service campaign intended to inspire municipal leaders to engage their residents in making lifestyle changes that add up to big reductions in water and energy consumption. “Water is an essential part of this world,” stated Mayor Kelly Burk. “This pledge is such a small step to not only spread awareness but to ensure our water remains both clean and abundant in the future. When you conserve water, you conserve life.” Last year, residents from over 4,800 cities in all 50 states pledged to reduce their annual consumption of freshwater by 2.2 billion gallons; reduce waste sent to landfills by 52 million pounds; and prevent more than 114,000 pounds of hazardous waste from entering watersheds. To participate in the challenge, or for water-saving tips, go to mywaterpledge.com.

Budget

Westpark << FROM 8 and called it a “rare opportunity” to preserve such a large amount of open space. Some of those who spoke during the lengthy public hearing questioned whether there were more compatible uses for the land that should be pursued, such as commercial development. Reynolds said the town would be looking at high-density office development, like a six- or eight-story building, to make that type of development financially feasible there. A portion of the property is zoned exclusively for a

krodriguez@loudounnow.com hotel, but Reynolds noted that during the months the property was listed for sale, no potential buyers looked at developing a hotel there. However, John Schneider, who identified himself as a developer from Ashburn, said he believed a hotel would be a viable option on the property. With its recommendation of denial, the proposed Town Plan amendment now goes on to the Town Council for its final verdict. The Town Plan amendment would need to be approved by the council before it could consider the rezoning application, which town planner Rich Klusek said is under review by town staff. krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Looking for tips on your bracket? One thing you can't predict is when your HVAC will stop working!

Per System

Regular $112

C TUNE-UP

PRESEASON SPECIAL!

Ex 3/31/19

Don’t let your HVAC system get you at the buzzer...Call M.E. Flow today for the BUZZER BEATING win!!

Replacing Your HVAC System?

HVAC: Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning

FREE ESTIMATE

for HVAC System Replacement FREE PERFORMANCE UPGRADE! We include an Aprilaire highefficiency air purifier on most every system we install! $295 Value

M.E. Flow offers FINANCING with Approved Credit. REBATES available too! A+ Rated with the BBB! Your Satisfaction is Guaranteed!

HVAC or PLUMBING

Repair Coupon

12 Cardinal Park Dr. #107 Leesburg, Va 20175

Call Today!

High School Graduates... Career Opportunities Await!!

703-537-590

We're Hiring!

www.meflow.com WELCOME TO THE DANCE!

meflow.com/about/careers

$35 off Limit 1. Does not apply to diagnostic. Not valid w/ other offers or discounts. Expires 3/31/19 | 703-537-5902

on average, keep tax bills level. Councilman Ron Campbell did not support any of the straw votes, or propose any additions or deletions of his own, but noted that he supported all of Dentler’s proposed enhancements. To drop the tax rate down by a penny, the council would have to find almost $800,000 in budget cuts. The currently proposed 19.4-cent tax would be 1 cent above the current fiscal year 2019 rate of 18.4 cents and will mean a tax bill increase of about $72 annually for the average residential town taxpayer. There was an acknowledgement by some council members Monday that the

March 14, 2019

<< FROM 8

town has some catching up to do with its unmet needs. “Tax increases really haven’t kept pace with the growth of the town. There is a consequence to growth,” Campbell said. Dunn, however, questioned the justification of the town’s increasing population and the need to expand the budget, with him pointing to how services in some areas have decreased. The council was scheduled to hold a public hearing on the budget Tuesday, after this paper’s deadline. The final budget mark-up session is scheduled for Monday, March 25, with budget and tax rate adoption eyed for the following evening. For more information on the budget, go to leesburgva.gov/budget.

March 14, 2019

This year’s

[ POLITICS ]

HEALTHY LAWN starts NOW!

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Sam Kroiz on his family farm, Georges Mill, near Lovettsville.

Schedule Your FREE Lawn Consultation Today! Lawn Care / Maintenance / Mowing 30 Years • 18 Trucks • 35 Professionals • 700+ Properties

PURCELLVILLE CHURCH OF CHRIST Please join us in welcoming Brandon Starling as our new minister Sunday, March 17 9:00 a.m. -- “God is Good” 10:00 a.m. -- Bible Study 11:00 a.m. -- “He Comforts” “Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

Brandon Starling comes to Purcellville from Marshall, Texas. He is a 2013 graduate of the Memphis School of Preaching and has served in congregations from Alabama to Texas. He joins the Purcellville congregation with his wife Candice and his children Faith, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Eve.

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN PURCELLVILLE 604 YAXLEY DRIVE PURCELLVILLE, VA 20132 540.338.0070 https://www.facebook.com/PurcellvilleCoC/ @PurcellvilleCoC.org www.purcellvillecoc.org

Farmer Launches Independent Bid for Catoctin Supervisor BY RENSS GREENE Lovettsville-area farmer and community activist Sam Kroiz has announced he is running for the Catoctin District seat on the county Board of Supervisors as an independent. Kroiz said he feels “called to serve.” “Just way the politics are so ugly these days, it’s like people need to step up and get involved,” Kroiz said. Kroiz is a familiar face to many in western Loudoun, as an eighth generation farmer on his family’s farm Georges Mill, as the fiddle player and vocalist for the old-time bluegrass trio Short Hill Mountain Boys, and as one of the most prominent voices in the opposition to plans to put what was apparently an AT&T data center on top of Short Hill Mountain. He said he wants to use the campaign, as much as anything, as a tool to connect people, and said even if he loses, “at least I’m getting the word out about all these things, organizing, so whoever does win we can hold accountable on all these types of things.” “I’m educated on the issues, but at the same time, the challenges are so big, I can’t do it myself,” Kroiz said. “No person can do it themselves. So, I’m really going to need a lot of help on the campaign, but I’m going to need a lot of help governing also, and bringing people out to do the things that need to be done for Catoctin and the county altogether.” He stands out from the other candidates for more than his lack of party affiliation. If elected, Kroiz would be the first full-time farmer on the county board since Helen Marcum represented the district in the 1990s. Kroiz is in a race against DC government official and Democrat Forest Hayes, and Leesburg attorney and Republican Caleb Kershner. The incumbent supervisor, Geary M. Higgins

(R-Catoctin), is locked in a three-way primary race for the 13th State Senate district seat. Kroiz said, “local politics are the most important politics,” and that he hopes to elevate the level of discussion on the county board. “I have opinions on things, I have a moral compass, but there’s a lot of issues that I can see both sides of,” Kroiz said. “They’re tough issues to deal with and we just need to have a good, honest discussion about them.” In particular, he voiced concern about the difficulty of keeping a farm in business in Loudoun, and about proposals to allow more development, including data centers, in the Transition Policy Area buffering suburban east from rural west. “The rural area is under threat. People are like, ‘oh, people out there, they’ll never sell’… I don’t think people realize how quickly it all can change, and the point of no return will come faster than we know.” In an email, Kroiz wrote, “we are under no obligation to accommodate every new home that developers project they would be able to sell if we let them build, yet this concept is currently driving our Comprehensive Plan Review. County leaders should instead determine how many new residents we can accommodate while maintaining our high quality of life and getting our tax rate under control, and use this as the basis for development planning.” He said he is running as an independent “because both parties are distracted from this basic concept by other partisan issues and interests.” Find out more at samforsupervisor. com, by emailing samkroizforsupervisor@gmail.com or on the campaign Facebook page, Sam Kroiz for Catoctin Supervisor. rgreene@loudounnow.com

Fox Announces State Senate Run BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

Contributed

Leesburg Town Council member Suzanne Fox has announced she will run for state senate.

I’ve got to do something about it. I’m seeing people too scared to speak out,” Fox said. School choice is another important issue for Fox, as is ensuring that Northern Virginia get its share of transportation dollars. On the latter, she points to her years serving on the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority’s advisory board. “It seems that when [legislators] go to Richmond they don’t bring the tax money back here. I have to get down there and find out why,” she said. Fox said she will seek the Loudoun County Republican Committee nomination for this race, something she chose not to do in her recent Town Council re-election bid. Regarding that decision, Fox said it was a hard one to make, but

she wanted to follow the Town Charter which notes that council seats are to be non-partisan. “I’m a proud Republican, but I will act on principle, not party,” she noted. Fox acknowledged that the political environment for Republican candidates in Northern Virginia is difficult, as the state turns more blue and fewer Republicans are being elected or re-elected. “I know what I’m up against,” she said. “But I’m more afraid not to run. This is a call to service.” Fox has served on the Town Council since 2014. She and her husband, Bill, have been Leesburg residents since 2003. krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Candidates who plan to run for local government office on the Republican ticket this fall have until March 17 to file paperwork required to participate in the party’s nominating convention. Delegates at the May 4 convention at Stone Bridge High School will select candidates for the Board of Supervisors, sheriff, commissioner of the revenue, treasurer, and commonwealth’s attorney. School Board elections are non-partisan, the committee will consider endorsements in those races after the June 11 candidate filing deadline. Convention candidates must complete their forms and pay the filing fee—$1,000 for constitutional offices and county chairman at-large, and $500 for district Board of Supervisors seats—by 5 p.m. Sunday, March 17. Those wishing to participate in the selection process as convention delegates must file by 5 p.m. Sunday, April 14. Registration forms and additional details can be found at loudoungop.com.

Dr. Andrew Bluhm

Dr. Steve Dorsch

Dr. Jay Vandervort

Loudoun’s Most Experienced and Trusted Dental Implant Surgeons If you are missing teeth, or your teeth aren’t aging as gracefully as you are, call Loudoun OMS. Our boardcertified surgeons Drs. Bluhm, Dorsch and Vandervort have placed over 10,000 implants. We can help you to enjoy food again, smile confidently, and improve your quality of life.

Call us today for a consultation.

703-771-4841

Ashburn: 44340 Premiere Plaza, #100

www.LoudounOMS.com Facebook.com/loudounoms

Committed to a Higher Standard of Care Leesburg: 821-F South King Street

Fresh off a November victory, Leesburg Town Councilwoman Suzanne Fox is hoping for another win on Election Day 2019. Fox announced this week she will challenge State Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D33), who herself just recently won her seat in a January special election to fill the unexpired term of Jennifer Wexton. Fox said recent General Assembly headlines and a bill regarding late-term abortion, which was co-sponsored by her opponent, prompted her to throw her hat in the ring for the state seat. She also noted that becoming a grandmother for the first time in October made the abortion debate all the more real to her. “I’m a heartbeat to heartbeat person,” she said. In addition to her pro-life position, Fox said her campaign will be about combating extremism—on both sides of the political aisle. “There is a disregard for the rule of law. I’m having a tough time with that. I’m seeing people go way to the left and the right, and that extremism is trickling down to the local level,” she said. She said individual freedoms are slowly being eroded, something that is of great concern. “I see the Constitution being kicked to the wayside. Liberty is a big thing for me. I’m seeing life and liberty being assaulted. There are lots of regulations against the pursuit of happiness.

11 March 14, 2019

Republicans Plan May 4 Nominating Convention

[ E D U C AT I O N ]

[ SCHOOL NOTES ] Woodgrove Provides Leadership Training

March 14, 2019

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Students at Eagle Ridge Middle School, with guidance from Verizon engineers, assemble and program robots as part of an after-school program aimed at promoting early STEM learning.

Robo-class: Elementary School Students Get Hands on with STEM BY NORMAN K. STYER Every Friday afternoon at Eagle Ridge Middle School, 20 students file into a laboratory classroom for a couple of hours of hands on STEM study—building and programming robots—with the help of a team of Verizon engineers. The 10-week program is organized by eighth-grade twins Niyati and Nirav Kottury, who have been the student leaders for the school’s STEM club, the Technology Student Association, for the past two years. Their rookie team made it to TSA Nationals semifinals in the Biotechnology category with a bac-

teriophage research project. Last year, the teens established a nonprofit, STEMStart, with the goal of closing the STEM gap. The idea for a robot course came from their participation in a Verizon Innovative Learning event in 2018. Back home, they reached out to Verizon with a proposal requesting that the company provide the sponsorship and volunteers needed to establish the program at Eagle Ridge. Verizon Executive Director Saivivek Thiyagarajan signed off, agreeing to fund the project and provide volunteers to help run Verizon’s Red and Black Robotics at the Ashburn school.

Niyati and Nirav worked with the Verizon team to develop 30 hours of PBASIC training lessons. During the March 1 session, the students completed the final steps in assembling their $400 robot kits and began uploading programming commands that direct the machines to roll and turn. They’ll have to become proficient in the coding, as the 10-week program will culminate with a robot parade through the school. Niyati and Nirav hope the Eagle Ridge program can be a model to be offered at other Loudoun schools. nstyer@loudounnow.com

Hamilton Resident Enters School Board Race Jenna Alexander, an 11-year Hamilton resident who has been active in school issues at the local, state and national level, is the latest candidate to jump into this year’s school board race. She is seeking the Catoctin District seat. “Over the years, while working to create opportunities for parents to find community in their schools and for volunteers to collaborate and support each other, I have developed a deep understanding of the concerns many of our students and parents face here in Loudoun and across Virginia,” Alexander said in her campaign announcement. “I have been a trusted voice and advocate for our Western Loudoun community schools for the past five years and I also represent the needs of students, teachers and schools across Loudoun at the local, state and nation-

al level as the director of the Hunt District PTA. Currently, as the vice president of Advocacy for the Virginia PTA, and a leader in the parent volunteer community, I help parents across the state understand legislation and policies that impact their students and help them advocate for changes to support their students or school community,” she said. Alexander’s priorities include re-writing the school district’s strategic plan. “As a county, we have made great strides providing students with the technology they need to be successful in tomorrow’s workforce. However, we need a new strategy that integrates the arts and K-12 world languages into the curriculum. We need to provide opportunities for our students to connect with nature and explore career ALEXANDER >> 14

Woodgrove High School held its first Student Leadership Training Day on March 2, a program designed to help students improve their skills to create shared beliefs within a group or club, run successful meetings, and know just enough parliamentary procedure to be productive. The event was organized by Student Council Association co-advisors Tom Acquino and Jeff Schutte and was attended by nine Woodgrove students and one from Harmony Middle School. The students spent the four-hour training session making lists of qualities they wish to find in a leader, creating a purposeful meeting agenda, role playing how to take efficient and meaningful minutes, and discussing networking among one another within a school of over 1,600 students. A large amount of time was devoted to Google tools, including shared drives, hangouts, group calendars, and editing sites, and social media apps such as WeVideo, Canva, and Hootsuite. Later this school year, a similar all-day training session will be held for the incoming class and Student Council officers. Organizers hope to continue the training into the fall of next school year, as well.

U-Nite Planned at Tuscarora High Tuscarora High School on Thursday will host U-Nite, an annual celebration of diversity and culture in the Leesburg community. The March 21 event will include of performances, displays and samples of ethnic foods. The event is free and open to the public; donations are welcome. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with performances beginning in the auditorium promptly at 7 p.m. Donations of ethnic food, as well as paper products and bottled water, are appreciated. For details, contact organizer Tammy Carter at 571-252-1900 ext. 81424.

Rock Hill Women’s Leadership Summit March 23

Contributed

Jenna Alexander

Some of the region’s top women leaders will visit Rock Ridge High School in Ashburn on March 23 for the Rise To Summit. The event is organized by Jessica Berg, an English teacher who is piloting a Women’s StudSCHOOL NOTES >> 14

13 March 14, 2019

Quartz & Granite BEAUTIFUL DESIGN SHOWROOM Countertops & Kitchen Cabinets

Mon. – Sat. 8am - 6pm

SPRING SALE 50 sq ft of QUARTZ or GRANITE Countertops for only $1,999 FREE Laser Template FREE Sink Cutout FREE Sink Attachment FREE Removal of Existing Countertops FREE Sealing Limited number of colors and slabs available

Call us today to reserve your slab

22446 Davis Dr. #109 • Sterling Mon. – Sat. 8am - 6pm

703-956-9470

www.GraniteCenterVa.com

Largest Selection Of

SHOP HANDCRAFTED

am ara &S

hS pe cto r

300+ AMERICAN ARTISTS LIVE! FREE PAINTING CLASS!

•Exciting Demos •Tasty Treats •Kids’ Entertainment DISCOUNT TICKETS, show info, exhibitor lists, directions and more at:

Alexander << FROM 12 pathways that support Loudoun’s rural economy,” she said. She also wants to accelerate plans to renovate older school buildings, re-evaluate bus routes to provide students more direct commutes and safer walking conditions, particularly on gravel roads, hire a more diverse workforce, support teachers with mentors and professional development, and create a communication strategy that empowers principals and engages parents as partners when policies are being developed. “I’ve spent 15 years developing strategies and managing the implementation of new ideas, both in my professional career and in my volunteer work. I’ve worked directly with parents across Loudoun and across Virginia to address a wide range of education issues that impact our students and I am passionate about supporting our com-

B y Ad

March 14, 2019

MAR 22, 23, 24 Dulles Expo Center

CHANTILLY, VA • RT. 28 AT WILLARD RD Admission: $8 online; $10 at the door Admission good all 3 days Children under 12 & parking are FREE Fri. & Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5

SugarloafCrafts.com SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN WORKS, INC. • 800-210-9900

Experience Country Life with Joy! Your Local Expert!

munities,” she said. Prior to serving as the director of the Hunt District PTA, she served as treasurer and then as president of the Hamilton Elementary PTA for two years, a time when she helped form a coalition to keep small rural schools open and ensure all schools in Loudoun have a full-time principal. “Just as I have in supporting school communities and volunteers across Loudoun, as a member of the Loudoun County School Board, I will dig deep into the details, listen to the concerns of our communities, ensure that you are educated on the issues, and look for creative ways to ensure that our children have safe schools, mental health support, academic opportunities to meet the needs of every learner, and that policies are respectful of the beliefs of every family and our tax dollars are used in a fiscally responsible manner,” she said. Find out more on her campaign at facebook.com/JennaAlexander4Catoctin.

[ SCHOOL NOTES ] << FROM 12 ies course. The event is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The lineup includes keynote speaker Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-10-VA), County Chairwoman Phyllis Randall (D-At Large), representatives of the National Organization

for Women, Emily’s List Director of Strategic Communications Tonya Williams, and VAratifyERA Campaign Coordinator Kati Hornung, among many others. Also planned are breakout sessions and a special panel discussion with the Commission on Women and Girls’ Domestic/Sexual Violence Prevention Committee.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW ... A special “Eat, Drink and Be Literary” evening with ...

ANDREA WULF

**Comcast cable/internet, high speed internet in the Country! **

5 Bd, 3.5 Ba. Completely renovated / updated Spring 2018. All major mechanical systems recently replaced and upgraded including 4-zone HVAC and furnace, well pump. Media room professionally designed. Septic pumped and serviced Spring 2018. Professionally designed landscape. 15 minutes to Purcellville, 25 minutes to Leesburg, 35 minutes to Dulles Airport via the Greenway.

Award-winning winning author of The Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Founding of the American Nation

**$714,000**

Friday, April 26, 2019

Doors open at 5 p.m., program begins at 7 p.m. **Lovely 10 Acre Lot just outside of Middleburg!**

HIL

Well and Septic Already installed!! Private, Partially Wooded and on a cul-de-sac! Absolutely Gorgeous!! A very short drive to fine dining and shops of Middleburg!!!

L S B O RO ’ S 2 0 1 9

GARDENS in The GAP

**$475,000**

A celebration of Spring in Historic Hillsboro, Virginia

Garden Tours Southern Tea Artisan Fair Lecture ADVANCE TICKETS NOW ON SALE

at OldStoneSchool.org

Joy Thompson

540-729-3428

www.joythompsonhomes.com

For more information: 540-486-8001

HILLSBORO’S HISTORIC OLD STONE SCHOOL 37098 Charles Town Pike 9 Hillsboro, VA 20132

Equity Committee Taking Shape BY NORMAN K. STYER

• School Board members: Brenda Sheridan (Chair), Beth Huck, Chris Croll • A Head Start or STEP Parent: Veronica Orosco Jimenez • School and non-school based staff: Dr. Charles Barrett, School Psychologist; Shontel Simon, principal of Forrest Grove Elementary School; • Kevin Tyson, principal of John Champe High School; Tara Hewan, elementary school instructional facilitator; Perla Arias, secretary at Rock Ridge High School; and Fatima Scherer, English teacher at Sterling Middle School. • Parents selected for their experience and/or education: Charlotte McConnell, Zerell Johnson-Welch, and TBD

• Gifted Education Advisory Committee member: Jill Rodeffer • Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee representatives: Wendy Caudle Hodge, Katrecia Nolan, Natalia Beardslee, and Kellee Jenkins • Special Education Advisory Committee member: TBD • All Dulles Area Muslim Society representative: Rizwan Jaka • Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington representative: TBD • Hindu community representative: Rajesh Gooty • Hunt District PTA representative: Tiffany Feagin • Loudoun Chapter of the NAACP representative: Robin Burke • Latinx community representative: TBD

Mayor Fraser will be here for a ribbon cutting at 2pm

GRAND OPENING EXCLUSIVE GRAND OPENING

March 17, 2018 OFFERS! EXCLUSIVE JOIN US IN CELEBRATING OUR 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY! OFFERS 1201 Wolf Rock Road, Ste 155 Purcellville, VA

18SC0072_0122_JUDITHL_7x5_Flyer.indd 1

½PRICE 1/2 PRICE HAIRCUTS HAIRCUTS

FREE GREEN $ 2OFF FREE $2 OFF HAIR ANYSERVICE ANY GREEN HAIR to celebrate

St. SERVICE onPatrick’s Saturdayday for Discounts on products purchased St. Patrick’s Daywith services

1201 WOLF ROCK ROAD, STE 155, PURCELLVILLE, VA

571-707-7999 • supercuts.com

Discounts on products purchased with services

1201 Wolf Rock Drive, STE 133 Purcellville, VA 571-707-7999 • supercuts.com

The proposed Ad Hoc Committee on Equity membership:

nstyer@loudounnow.com

March 14, 2019

The School Board on Tuesday night delayed a vote to appoint the members of the 25-seat Ad Hoc Committee on Equity. The creation of the panel was approved unanimously Feb. 26, and the panel was charged with examining ways to ensure marginalized and historically disenfranchised groups receive equitable treatment in the school district. The panel will hold its organizational meeting April 4 and meet with the consultant hired to investigate equity concerns district-wide at its April 11 meeting. A proposal to appoint members to most of the 25 seats was on the School Board’s agenda Tuesday night, but members agreed to delay action because

names had not been proposed for each of the positions. While the board has been under pressure to move quickly to establish the panel, members said that only having a partial list of members could result in some areas being underrepresented. “I will not approve a partial list. I don’t think that is the responsible way to go about it,” said Jill Turgeon (Blue Ridge). Robin Burke, who is slated to represent the Loudoun chapter of the NAACP on the panel, told the board she plans to move quickly to form a task force among the committee members to immediately begin a study of specific issues facing black students. A vote on the committee appointments is expected at the March 26 meeting.

1/26/18 12:18 PM

March 14, 2019

[ PUBLIC SAFETY ]

Publisher Charged by Feds in $500K Fraud Case LOUDOUN NOW STAFF Federal officers arrested Brian Thomas Reynolds March 7 at his Leesburg-area home after a grand jury handed up indictments on 11 counts of wire fraud related to Reynolds his efforts to recruit investors for The Loudoun Tribune newspaper. According to the indictment and a statement by the Department of Justice, Reynolds is accused of making several materially false and fraudulent representations to actual and potential investors and lenders regarding the existence and value of advertising contracts held by the company, and that he created fake advertising contracts when no such agreements existed. Reynolds also allegedly made materially false and fraudulent representations regarding the company’s historical advertising revenues and the amount of money that Reynolds and others had invested in the company, falsely claimed that another individual had agreed to “match” the investments of certain investors, falsely claimed to

at least one investor that the company lacked any debt, understated the amount of debt owed by the company to other investors, and materially overstated the amount of money held by the company in its bank accounts. Prosecutors say Reynolds fraudulently raised at least $512,500 through this conduct. Reynolds, who was previously convicted on federal wire fraud charges in 1996, also was charged with unlawful possession of eight firearms by a convicted felon and with making false statementss to the FBI. The indictment also alleges that Reynolds created altered loan documentation to defraud an individual who had lent money to the company by changing the language of the loan agreement to conditions that were materially more favorable to Reynolds and his company than had actually been agreed to by the lender. According to the indictment, Reynolds also made materially false representations regarding the number of issues previously distributed by the newspaper, and falsely claimed that a prominent businessperson served on the company’s advisory board, when in fact that individual held no position on the board and played no role in the operation of the business. If convicted, Reynolds faces a maxi-

mum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the unlawful possession of firearms, and a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison for making false statements. The investigation began more than a year ago, when federal agents executed a search warrant on the Tribune office in Sterling. Later, agents visited several Loudoun businesses asking if they had signed contracts with the newspaper committing to purchase advertising during 2017. Several business owners interviewed by Loudoun Now at the time said they were shown contracts purported to have been signed by them, but disavowed any knowledge of the contract and denied their intent to purchase advertising. According to the indictment, Reynolds used the false contracts to support his claim to investors and potential investors that the newspaper had $1 million or more in advertising commitments. While the allegedly defrauded investors are identified only by their initials in the indictment, one couple filed a civil lawsuit last year alleging that, after they invested $25,000 in the company, they provided an additional $25,000 loan. David and Lisa Butcher claim that Reynolds failed to repay the loan

and then altered or fabricated the loan agreement to include terms favorable to the company. That allegation also is included in the federal indictment. The Butchers’ lawsuit, which has not been served nearly a year after its filing, seeks $50,000 in damages and $100,000 in punitive damages. The Loudoun Tribune, which has continued to operate as a website, printed and mailed two issues in 2016. A third issue was printed, but was not mailed because of lack of funding. According to the indictment, Reynolds touted the three issues as a “proof of concept” in his pitch to investors, however, he also misled them on the amount of revenue the newspaper had secured. This case was investigated as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

[ SAFETY NOTES ] Judge Imposes Life Sentence in Loudoun Murder Cold Case Timothy William Warnick, 60, was back in Loudoun County Circuit Court one last time on Monday to hear Judge Douglas L. Fleming Jr. formally sentence him to life in Warnick prison. Warnick was convicted by a Loudoun jury in April of first-degree murder and robbery in the 1988 death of Henry E. “Ricky” Ryan. During the course of the week-long trial, Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Jason Faw and Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Ryan Perry presented evidence that Warnick was one of the last people seen with Ryan the night of his death. Amid a night of partying near the Shenandoah River in West Virginia, the two went on a beer run with a third, unknown man. Warnick’s son and ex-girlfriend testified that Warnick had confessed to them that he had killed Ryan. A pill bottle with Warnick’s name was found in Ryan’s hand when his body was recovered by Loudoun County Sheriff ’s deputies in 1989. The jury deliberated for two days before returning a guilty verdict. Fleming upheld the jury’s sentence of life in prison plus five years and a $100,000 fine. He also imposed a three-

year period of post-release supervision. The case had been investigated several times since Ryan disappeared in 1988 and the discovery of his body on the Blue Ridge near the Loudoun County boundary the next year. “This case is testament to the unending dedication to justice of the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office and the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney. We are pleased that through hard work and unwavering determination, the victim’s family has closure,” stated Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Nicole Wittmann.

Middleburg Retailer Jailed For Import Violations An Upperville man was sentenced March 8 to serve 30 days in prison and one year of supervised release for selling endangered species and other wildlife parts that were illegally imported into the United States. According to court documents, Keith R. Foster, 60, is a golf course architect who also operated a store in Middleburg known as “The Outpost.” Between 2014 and 2018, Foster imported at least 35 shipments of merchandise for resale at the Outpost, some of which contained wildlife and wildlife parts, but he failed to declare any of the wildlife within those shipments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service upon import, as required by law. To conceal the existence of wildlife pieces in the shipments and evade detection by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, he caused many pieces to be

labeled in a manner that obscured their true nature. Foster then sold at his store the wildlife pieces that he illegally imported. During the five-year period, Foster sold nearly $400,000 worth of items that constituted or contained parts of endangered species and other wildlife that he illegally imported into the United States. These included Endangered Species Act items such as sawfish blades, crocodile skin bags, wallets and flasks, and handicrafts made of sea turtle shell. Among the evidence used to secure the conviction was a telephone call with a customer in January 2017, when Foster admitted that he should not be importing sawfish blades. Foster stated, “Rest assured, I’m gonna bring more in, ‘cause I’m the only fool in the States that probably wants to risk it.” In December, Foster was ordered to perform community service and forfeit scores of individual pieces of wildlife and wildlife parts, and ordered to forfeit $275,000

Incubator Light, Improperly Installed Wood Stove Blamed in House Fires Two house fires occurring within eight hours of each other resulted in a half million dollars in damages and prompted safety reminders from fire-rescue administrators. The first fire occurred just after 5:30 p.m., March 5. The dispatching center received a 911 call from the occupant reporting a structure fire on Kidwell Road

near Hillsboro. The homeowner arrived home to find smoke coming from the roof and fire visible through the windows. Crews from Loudoun Heights, Purcellville, Round Hill, Lovettsville, Hamilton, and Frederick County, MD, were dispatched to the scene. Fire crews initially tried to fight the fire inside the home, but finding that areas of the first floor had burned through and active fire in the basement, they retreated to an exterior attack, extinguishing the flames through windows and doorways. Once the fire was under control and visibility improved, crews re-entered the structure to check for extension and extinguish any remaining fire. The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire was caused when a heat lamp used to warm chicks ignited bedding materials. Smoke alarms were present and sounding when the homeowner discovered the fire. Damages are estimated to be $420,000. The single occupant of the home will be displaced. Three horses housed in a stable on the property were uninjured and are being relocated. No injuries were reported. The second fire occurred just after 12:25 a.m., March 6. Dispatchers received a 911 call reporting smoke in a townhome on Millard Drive in Sterling. The resident advised that they had tried to shut down a wood burning fireplace and that the home and the home next door both filled with smoke. Fire and rescue units from Cascades, Kincora, SAFETY NOTES >> 17

[ SAFETY NOTES ]

Former Fire Captain Convicted of DWI A former Loudoun County fire captain who crashed a department car near his home in Montgomery County, MD, was found guilty last week of DWI, negligent driving and failure to drive on the right half of a roadway. Montgomery County police arrested Brandon Billingsley on Nov. 11 after a three-car crash that ended with his Loudoun County Fire and Rescue SUV crashed in the front yard of a Damascus, MD, home. Billingsley turned right onto Hawkins Creamery when he lost control, hit two occupied vehicles and continued into the yard. His airbag deployed and emergency lights and sirens were set off in the crash. Witnesses said Billingsley attempted to flee, but was chased down by a neighbor. Investigators said he was under the influence of prescription drugs and alcohol. Billingsley resigned his post in Loudoun on Feb. 27.

BROAD SHADOW FARMS We are a new Private eventing barn based in Leesburg, VA, close to Morven Park Come board your horse & take lessons from our ICP certified instructor with many years of experience competing in the upper levels & training future event riders. We welcome haul-ins for lessons as well

BROAD SHADOW FARMS Check out our website: www.broadshadowfarms.com or call Madison for more information: 517-712-7049

STEP INTO SPRING

SALE SAVE UP TO

$1,000

Special Financing Available! Call for your FREE estimate.

Savings on select hard and soft flooring now through March 28th, 2019

Retailer Name & Logo

Complete Carpet, Hardwood and Vinyl Services

Ashburn 703.724.4300 • Purcellville 540.338.4300 • www.LoudounValleyFloors.com

Sterling, Lansdowne, and Fairfax County were dispatched to the scene. The first unit arrived to find a three-story, middle unit townhouse with smoke coming from the front of the townhome. Once firefighters determined that this was a working fire with many exposures, additional units from Leesburg and Fairfax County were dispatched to the scene. Crews discovered fire in the floor space next to a woodstove that had also spread into the chimney space. Firefighters worked to uncover and extinguish the fire with the scene deemed under control within 25 minutes. Firefighters remained on the scene performing salvage and overhaul measures in the building of origin and checking on neighboring homes and residents. Investigators found that the fire resulted from the improper installation of the wood stove inside the townhouse. Two adults were displaced and will be staying locally. Smoke alarms were present and functioning on all floors, but homeowners exited prior to activation. Damages resulting from the fire are estimated at $150,000. The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office reminds residents to stay diligent about fire safety during the closing months of winter. Qualified professionals should be called to install stoves, chimney connectors, and chimneys. The inside of wood stoves should be cleaned periodically using a wire brush. Allow all ashes to cool

before disposing of them in a covered metal container, kept at least 10 feet away from any structure or residence. Portable space heaters, heat lamps, fireplaces and stoves all need to be kept a safe distance away from anything that can burn. It is recommended to have at least a three-foot safe space around heating devices to ensure they are operating safely. For more fire safety tips, go to loudoun.gov/firemarshal.

March 14, 2019

<< FROM 16

March 14, 2019

[ NONPROFIT ]

[ NONPROFIT NOTES ]

Vinton Cerf Presented Marshall Innovation Award

BY NORMAN K. STYER The George C. Marshall International Center on Saturday, March 9 honored internet pioneer Vinton G. Cerf with its inaugural Innovation Award during a gala at the Army-Navy Country Club in Arlington. The award is designed to recognize leaders who, like George C. Marshall, had a profound impact on how we live our lives. The center’s mission is to preserve Marshall’s legacy by interpreting and propagating its relevance today through community and international education programs and events, and by continuing to restore and preserve his home, The Marshall House and garden, in Leesburg. Cerf was a Stanford professor in 1968 when he joined a team at what is today the nation’s Defense Advance Research Project Agency to explore ways to allow communication among military computers. Conventional alternatives proved unworkable—switching systems were too slow and AT&T’s suggestion of connecting every computer with every other computer through its wires was too expensive and impractical. By 1974, he and Bob Kahn developed the Transmission Control Protocol that would form the foundation of the internet. “It shows what happens when you put an innovator in an innovation culture. What you get is magic,” said current DARPA Director Steven H. Walker, who delivered the keynote address. “By inventing the basics of the internet, Vint set the next three decades in motion, which is the creation of the internet, and the early adoption of its

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Father of the internet Vinton Cerf addresses the crowd after being presented the George C. Marshall Innovation Award during a March 9 ceremony.

impact has been the core storyline for American economic and technical supremacy for these last four decades. From healthcare to design to science to the delivery of goods, Vint and the DARPA project changed every aspect of our world.” “One can argue what is the greatest invention of modern time, the light bulb, the radio, the transistor, the internet—it’s a great debate, but no matter where you fall, the internet is always part of that discussion,” Walker said. Joe May, the vice chairman of the Marshall center, presented the award. “Dr. Cerf ’s innovation was in creating a language which connected the computers of the world and allows them to communicate rapidly and efficiently with each other. Gen. Marshall’s innovation was changing how defeated nations were treated after a major conflict. Both innovations produced pro-

found positive impacts on the world as we know it,” he said. Cerf also highlighted Marshall’s contributions. “You talk about innovation, you have to talk about the uniqueness of the Marshall Plan. This was simply totally counterintuitive. We had just fought a terrible war in Europe and in Japan. Many, many people were killed on both sides. Normally, after a conflict of that scale, the winning nation or nations would demand reparations, would suppress activities in those countries which had been defeated. What did George Marshall decide to do? He decided to rebuild those countries that had been largely destroyed. How do you get there? You get there because there is real value in rebuilding what had been destroyed.” “However, I do have to point out something. First, we had to win. We shouldn’t forget that,” he said. “It’s not clear what would have happened if we had failed, but I can guarantee you there wasn’t any Adolf Hitler plan that looked anything like the Marshall Plan,” Cerf said. “That tells us we need to build the capability so that if we are forced to conflict again that we will succeed and, in fact, it may be even smarter to build a capacity that is so significant that nobody wants to fight with you at all. That’s a heck of a good way to keep peace.” Cerf thanked the center for selecting him to receive its first innovation award and for working to remind people of Marshall’s work. “We need more people like that,” he said. nstyer@loudounnow.com

Claude Moore Foundation Awards $1.6M in Grants The trustees of the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation have wrapped up their 2019 grant cycle, awarding more than $1.6 million to 13 Loudoun community support agencies. The foundation was created in 1987 by Loudoun resident Dr. Claude Moore to support community charities, especially programs focused on education. To date, Loudounbased charities and organizations received over $19.5 million, including $1,612,900 for 2019. “Dr. Moore spent most of his adult life in Loudoun County and was defined by his belief that education is the key, and that everyone deserved the opportunity to get a quality education,” stated Deputy Executive Director K. Lynn Tadlock. “The Trustees strive to fulfill his wishes by concentrating a large portion of the grant budget on educational organizations in and around the place he called his home.”

2019 Grant Awards: • A Place To Be - $84,000 • The Arc of Loudoun, Paxton Campus – $50,000 • Inova Nursing Scholarships $100,000 • Inova Clinical Technician Program - $105,000 • Loudoun Youth, Inc. - $85,000 • Loudoun Education Foundation $258,000 • ECHO - $70,000

“Over the years, the Foundation has pledged or donated over $20 million in charitable grants to nonprofits in Loudoun County, we are deeply committed to making an impact on the quality of life in the county,” stated Executive Director J. Hamilton Lambert. “Those gifts together with the more than the $1.8 million in real

• Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties - $175,000 • INMED Partnerships for Children - $71,000 • Loudoun County General Distributions - $500,000 • Loudoun Literacy Council $60,000 • Loudoun Symphony - $4,900 • Northern Virginia Family Service - $50,000

estate taxes we pay annually, demonstrates the Foundation’s commitment to Loudoun County.” Also, the foundation contributes the use of over 50 acres of open space to the National Capital Area Council of Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scout Council of Nation’s Capital for camping use by local troops.

Step Up Finalist Sees Success for Nonprofit Last year, Shreyaa Venkat led a team that advanced to the final round of Loudoun Youth’s Step Up competition with the formation of the nonprofit NEST4US. Virginia General Assembly adopted a Joint Resolution commending the Broad Run High School junior for her efforts and NEST4US was recently named the #Digital4Good award winner from #icanhelp, a national organization that educates and empowers students to use social media positively. As a result, Shreyaa will have the opportunity to showcase NEST4US in a presentation at Facebook headquarters in Silicon Valley in September. Today, NEST4US has grown with the support of 350 volunteers who help increase awareness and action around reducing food waste and redistributing food to the hungry; offer free tutoring for kids in pre-K up through middle school; and provide free school supply kits for students in need as well as care packages to benefit the homeless. Her mother, Anu Raghunathan, credits Loudoun Youth with giving Shreyaa and her younger sister, Esha, an outlet to develop NEST and a put their ideas in motion. “Loudoun Youth’s Step Up Competition is an amazing opportunity for all the youth in the community to step up and make a difference,” she said. “NEST started off as a small project, and now it has grown to an impactful organization with over 350 dedicated volunteers.” This year’s Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition will take place on March 28 at the Loudoun County Public Schools Administration Building in Ashburn. There are 73 teams registered, comprising 222 students. Learn more at loudounyouth. org.

Cancer Survivor Joins Step Sisters Board Janet Gustin has joined the board of directors for the breast cancer fighting nonprofit Step Sisters. Gustin, a Brambleton resident, is a senior contracts manager at a large government contractor and brings her skills in the areas of fundraising and legal support. The Step Sisters work to improve the quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer. Partnering with local hospitals, the group funds support services NONPROFIT NOTES >> 21

19 March 14, 2019

$12/unit regularly Monday and Wednesdays dermal fillers also available:

Juvederm and Restylane

$525/1 syringe • $999/2 syringes 44095 Pipeline Plaza Suite 130 Ashburn VA 20147

CALL TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULT • 571 - 266 - 1776

$10/unit

March 14, 2019

EATLOCO IS COMING

TO CHEFSCAPE

MARCH 21ST 2019 Every Thursday 3pm - 7pm 1602 VILLAGE MARKET BLVD. LEESBURG VA SOME OF OUR VENDORS SMITHS OF MECKLECKBURG

PINKAVA

WILLOWFORD FARM

NOTHING BUNDT CAKES

TUCKEY'S MOUNTAIN GROWN FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

TASTE OF OLD COUNTRY

www.eatloco.org/chefscape-market

Lost Rhino to Host Buzzed at the Bee, Book Drive Lost Rhino Brewing Company in Ashburn will host Buzzed at the Bee, Loudoun Literacy Council’s evening of spelling, trivia and drinks, Thursday, March 28 at 7 p.m. Leading up to the bee, the brewery will also host a book drive. “At Lost Rhino, we care about our community, and are dedicated to helping our neighbors,” said Melissa Hoffman of Lost Rhino. “We are proud to a support Loudoun Hunger Relief with our monthly Family Meal, and are excited to add Buzzed at the Bee to benefit Loudoun Literacy Council.” This year, Buzzed at the Bee is making a tour of Loudoun breweries and restaurants, with stops on the last Thursday of each month leading up to the grand Not-Your-Kid’s spelling Bee in October. Lost Rhino is the third stop on the tour. When the brewery offered to host the event, they also suggested running a book drive leading up to it. “We are currently most in need of gently-used and new books for children of all ages,” said Tanya Bosse, Loudoun Literacy Council’s Family Literacy Program Director. “We work with children from infancy up through high school, so any reading level is useful. Please no textbooks or adult books.” Books collected for Loudoun Literacy are distributed throughout the year to children living in homeless shelters, through the Head Start and STEP preschool programs serving low-income families through Loudoun County Public Schools, families participating

Lauren Fleming

Hosts Eric Byrd and Renss Greene quiz contestants at the last Buzzed at the Bee at Black Hoof Brewing Company in Leesburg.

in the summer free lunch program, and many other children who might not have any books of their own. Last year, Loudoun Literacy provided more than 4,000 books to low-income families in Loudoun. Eric Byrd of the Mason Enterprise Center Small Business Development Center and Renss Greene of Loudoun Now will quiz contestants at a grownup spelling bee and trivia night. It’s free to attend and heckle your friends, and $20 to participate for a chance at prizes and spelling and trivia glory. All proceeds benefit Loudoun Literacy Council, which works to improve the lives of the 32,000 Loudouners who struggle with the English language with classes for both children and adults. Lost Rhino Brewing Company is at 21730 Red Rum Drive in Ashburn. See more at facebook.com/ events/251286982490803/.

You get more for your money at Thompson Creek.

CALL TODAY FOR FREE QUOTE

(703) 436-1359

ALL DOORS

GUTTER Protection System

JOIN THE THOMPSON CREEK TEAM

We’re Hiring: Sales Representatives, Marketing Representatives & Installation Teams

25% OFF All Windows PLUS NO INTEREST UNTIL OCTOBER 2020

ALL SIDING (240) 316-1023

ALL ROOFING Careers@ThompsonCreek.com

Discount applied at time of contract execution. All purchase prices to be calculated prior to application of discount. Excludes previous orders and installations. All products include professional installation. Offer is not valid with any other advertised or unadvertised discounts or promotions. Limit of one discount per purchase contract.Void where prohibited by law or regulation. Offer expires 03/31/19. Offer may be cancelled without prior notice. Offer has no cash value and is open to new customers only. MHIC #125294, VA # 2705-117858-A, DC Permanent # 8246. Thompson Creek is neither a broker nor a lender. Financing is provided by Greensky, LLC under terms and conditions arranged directly between the customer and Greensky, LLC, all subject to credit requirements and satisfactory completion of finance documents. Thompson Creek does not assist with, counsel or negotiate financing. *Subject to credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required during the promotional period. Making minimum monthly payments during the promotional period will not pay off the entire principal balance. Interest is billed during the promotional period, but all interest is waived if the purchase amount is paid in full before the expiration of the promotional period. Financing for GreenSky® consumer loan programs is provided by federally insured, federal and state chartered financial institutions without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, or familial status.

[ NONPROFIT NOTES ]

United Bank Donates to Children’s Science Center For the second year, United Bank will donate $25,000 to the Children’s Science Center, a nonprofit whose mission is to inspire a love of STEM learning by providing unique opportunities to explore and create. The Children’s Science Center is Northern Virginia’s first interactive museum where children, families and school groups can explore STEM concepts through fun, engaging hands-on exhibits, activities and programs. It is working to establish a permanent location at Kincora in Sterling. United’s sponsorship will support the Family Science Night program at

that directly benefit patients in Northern Virginia. Gustin joins the group after her own fight with breast cancer last year. “During my treatment, I had help and support from family and friends, but I know not everyone is that fortunate. I want to give back by helping local area residents who are facing this terrible disease,” she said. “As a breast cancer survivor, Janet brings a close understanding of patient need,” stated founders Ashley Campolattaro and Angela Fuentes. “Her experience and energy will be such a positive force for the group.”

Northern Virginia elementary schools, which is designed for parents to selfguide their K-6 grade students through 12 engaging, hands-on STEM activities in alignment with the Virginia Standards of Science Learning. A team of Children’s Science Center coordinators and community volunteers, including United employees, facilitate these two-hour evening events twice a week, supporting family-learning experiences that encourage children to pursue STEM subjects through higher academic levels. By the end of the 20182019 school year, Family Science Night will have traveled to 57 schools. “We are thrilled to partner with an organization that engages local children in STEM learning, especially economically disadvantaged youth and groups underrepresented in STEM,” said Kevin Reynolds, regional president and director of sales for United Bank. “We are proud to help deliver these opportunities and inspire our future leaders while creating memorable family experiences that build a stronger community.” The Children’s Science Center was founded in 2004. Each year, it engages more than 70,000 children at the Children’s Science Center Lab in Fair Oaks Mall and off-site throughout the region. The Center’s vision is to create a world-class, interactive science center at Kincora.

March 14, 2019

<< FROM 18

[ BIZ ]

[ BIZ BRIEFS ] Woofie’s Launches Franchises In Expansion

March 14, 2019

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Yummyworks Owner Larry Waters shows one of his 16-piece box of artisan chocolates, which are sold at the Very Virginia Shop in downtown Leesburg.

Yummyworks Offers Artisan Chocolates for All Occasions BY PATRICK SZABO With Loudouners’ mouths watering for desserts and tasty treats of all kinds, one chocolate maker is stepping onto the scene in a more personalized way. Four months ago, 10-year Loudoun resident Larry Waters began selling artisan chocolates as part of his newest business venture, Yummyworks. Absent a physical storefront, he’s been selling his creations on Saturday mornings at the Leesburg Farmers’ Market and daily at the Very Virginia Shop in downtown Leesburg, featuring a chocolate lineup that includes raspberry coconut, lemon, lime margarita, espresso and mango habanero. Waters, 48, said that it’s his customization of the sweets that sets him apart from other confection makers in the area. Waters’ ability to tailor the design, shape and colors of his chocolates is a product of his kitchen location—in his Beacon Hill home. After obtaining a business license, spending $25,000 on a customized kitchen and passing a Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services inspection last April, Waters began experimenting with his newfound passion for chocolate making, something he said had fascinated him for years. Now, the stay-at-home father of three concocts chocolates as his fulltime job whenever he has the time— often in the wee hours of the morning. “I’ve learned so much in those nine

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Larry Waters, along side his wife Mo, talks about his Yummyworks artisan chocolate that’s sold at the Very Virginia Shop in downtown Leesburg.

months and a lot of it’s just trial and error,” he said. Waters’ chocolate-making process is fine-tuned and time-intensive. He begins by creating a 25-chocolate mold out of Valrhona chocolate and other high-end ingredients. Then, he mixes the ganache, which is a chocolate and cream filling, pours it into the chocolate molds, sets them aside for eight hours to crystalize and polishes them with a cocoa butter for a shiny finish. “It’s a very tedious process, it’s not something you can just do in an hour,” he said. “You get this really cool, artis-

tic piece of chocolate.” Waters’ concentration on the intricacies of each chocolate is something he feels gives him a leg up on the competition. While larger producers don’t have the time to customize each batch of chocolates, Waters has plenty of time working out of his home kitchen. He said that doing something like customizing chocolates to match bridesmaids’ dresses would be a cinch for him to pull off. YUMMYWORKS >> 25

Fifteen years after setting up the innovative pet sitting, dog walking, and mobile pet spa company in Ashburn, Woofie’s is expanding with plans to license at least five franchisee-owned locations this year. The owners expect the company’s specialized approach to serving the needs of pet owners to be in demand in other markets. “It’s about providing a highly-personalized pet care service to clients while emphasizing a relationship built on convenience, trust and peace of mind. We strive to ensure that every customer experience is an exceptional one, which is why we’ve focused on building a model that positions our franchisees for success,” stated co-founder and co-owner Amy Reed. Woofie’s offers personalized pet sitting and dog walking services that includes consultations with a member of the management team, in-home overnight care and bed and biscuit overnight care. Their mobile pet spa provides one-on-one, cage-free grooming services such as: breed-specific haircuts, nail trims, hydrosurge baths and specialized de-matting and de-shedding treatments. “As pet owners ourselves, Amy and I saw a need for professional pet care services in our local market,” stated co-founder and co-owner Leslie Barron. “Compared to other app-based services, Woofie’s offers unparalleled customer service and individualized focus for each pet in our care.” Including a franchise fee of $37,500, the initial investment necessary to open a single location ranges between $102,000 and $172,000. Each Woofie’s franchise will employ a team of pet sitters, dog walkers, mobile groomers and back-office administrators. For more information, go to woofies.com.

Catoctin Creek Distilling Celebrates 10 Years Catoctin Creek Distilling Company in Purcellville is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a Southern soirée at the distillery Saturday, March 23 from 7 to 10 p.m. The event includes live Dixieland jazz music by Lasseiz Foure, Southern-inspired bites by Justin Thyme Catering and original cocktails. Founder and general manager Scott Harris will also host a special Q&A. Catoctin Creek marked 10 years of success on Feb. 16 with the launch of two limited-ediBIZ BRIEFS >> 23

Early Bird Tickets now on sale | Use promo code NOW to save $25

[ BIZ BRIEFS ] tion Bottled in Bond spirits, Rabble Rouser Rye Whisky and 1757 Virginia XO Brandy. Both products sold out at the distillery in under 40 minutes. The cost of the event is $65 per guest. For reservations, call 540-751-8404 or go to catoctincreekdistilling.com.

The Loudoun County U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency will hold a workshop from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, March 28 at the Purcellville Library. Although the workshop is especially designed for women in agriculture, all agricultural producers are invited to attend. The workshop will feature presentations on FSA’s farm loan programs, as well as the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. There will also be information presented on high tunnels from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Those interested in attending should RSVP by March 26 by contacting Sarah Costella at 540-347-4402 Ext. 2 or Sarah.Costella@va.usda.gov.

Addo Among Top African American Healthcare Leaders As part of its effort to highlight the diverse backgrounds and experiences needed to provide leadership in the in-

The Summit is a one-day event bringing women together to provide them with the tools and resources to help achieve better health through better living.

April 26, 2019 Washington Dulles Airport Marriott Dulles, VA

N AT U R A L A N D H O L I S T I C L I V I N G Sponsored by

Jill Cruz, MS, CNS

BodyWise, FoodSmart

Boost Health, Gain Energy, and Lean Up With “SIRI Foods”

Tamara Wolfe

Full Spectrum Living, LLC

Three Daily Mindset Vitamins: A Prescription for a Vibrant Day, a Vibrant Week, and a Vibrant Life!

Bouweiri Joins Potomac Bancshares Board Potomac Bancshares, Inc., the holding company of BCT-Bank of Charles Town, announced the appointment of Kristina Bouweiri to its board of directors, effective March 12. Bouweiri is the CEO and president BIZ BRIEFS >> 24

The Natural and Holistic Approach to Personal Health and Wellness Care Panel featuring...

Bobbi Elliott

Healthy By Nature

Dress Warm With Our * WINTER CLOTHING SALE

Dr. Sarah Giardenelli

Collective Health Center

Dr. Misty Paul

Basic First Chiropractic

W o m e n s H e a lt H a n d W e l l n e s s s u m m i t . c o m

75% OFF

WOMENS•MENS•TEENS•KIDS

Proudly Produced by

*Tagged items Sale ends 3/31/2019

ANN TAYLOR NE JO S NEW YORK REPUBLIC CHICOS • BANANA A. BANKS S. RALPH LAUREN • JO UER BA DIE J. CREW • ED STICE JU • E GL EA AMERICAN RE MO NY MA NY AND MA S POPULAR LABLE

Gold Sponsor

Official Print Partner

Silver Sponsors

Media Partners

138 N. 21ST STREET PURCELLVILLE VA 540.751.0707 Email us at: reloveit@aol.com

WWW.RELOVEIT.COM

Like and Follow us on Facebook @HealthandWellnessSummit Visit WomensHealthAndWellnessSummit.com More info: 703.777.8577 | events@jpevents.biz Call or Email for Sponsorship, Exhibitor, and Advertising Opportunities

Farm Service Agency Plans Women’s Circle Workshop

dustry, Becker’s Hospital Review recently released a list of African Americans who have taken on leadership roles across the country at hospitals and health systems. Addo D e b or a h Addo, CEO of Inova Loudoun Hospital, was among the 68 executives highlighted. Addo served as COO and senior vice president of Hagerstown, MD-based Meritus Health from 2014-17 before joining Inova. She previously spent time as vice president of patient care services at the 300-bed Washington (PA) County Health System. “Throughout her career, Ms. Addo has prioritized financial management and has a background in physician engagement, population health and organization re-engineering,” Becker’s stated.

March 14, 2019

<< FROM 22

March 14, 2019

[ BIZ BRIEFS ] << FROM 23 of Reston Limousine, ranked as the eighth largest chauffeured fleet in the nation. Starting with only five vehicles in 1990, Bouweiri diversified the business and developed Reston Bouweiri Limousine into to a $28 million company with 250 vehicles ranging from sedans to coach buses. “She is a successful entrepreneur who has grown her business to premier levels in the markets she serves,” stated Alice Frazier, BCT president and CEO. “Her guidance, expertise and community relationships will be instrumental in helping us meet our full potential in Loudoun County, Virginia and beyond.” Bouweiri is the founder of the monthly networking luncheon Sterling Women and co-founder of the annual Virginia Women’s Business Conference. She is a board member of the DC Chamber of Commerce, Washington DC Economic Partnership, Northern Virginia Community College, Inova Loudoun Hospital Foundation and Enterprising Women magazine, among others. She is also a member of the Dean’s Council of the George Mason School of Business, where she helped

launch a Women in Business Initiative program to support students, alumnae and other businesswomen.

Budhrani Tapped to Lead Innovation Health Dr. Sunil Budhrani is the new CEO of Innovation Health. He served as the chief medical officer for the past three years and will continue in the role, as well. As CEO, Budhrani will report directly to Budhrani the Innovation Health Board of Directors and will be responsible for the overall success of the health plan that serves more than 130,000 consumers in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. “Dr. Budhrani’s distinguished career makes him the ideal CEO for Innovation Health,” stated Mike Bucci, Aetna’s market president for Virginia, Maryland and DC. “His proven leadership over the last three years as the Innovation Health CMO, coupled with his deep understanding of health care overall, will ensure the organization’s success as it continues to improve health care outcomes and offer more affordable options in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.”

Budhrani has practiced at several institutions including Inova Health System in Falls Church; Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach, FL; Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey; and Baystate Medical Center in Massachusetts. He also founded CareClix Telemedicine, a national endto-end telemedicine solutions company, as well as PrimeMed Urgent Care Systems, which operated urgent care facilities throughout the metropolitan Washington DC. area. He also served as the CMO of the Affordable Care Act’s Health Plan, Evergreen Health Care. Innovation Health, which was launched in 2013, is a joint venture between Aetna, a CVS Health business, and Inova Health System.

Contributed

Justin Pollington-Woods, global director of Opti-Shield Sprayable Paint Protection, makes an application in Automotive Quality Solutions’ Ashburn shop.

paint withstand the wear and tear of everyday life on the roads. Learn more at automotivequalitysolutions.com.

Optimum Polymer Technologies Marathon TS Expands Picks AQS for Opti-Shield Atlanta Office Program Automotive Quality Solutions in Ashburn was selected by Optimum Polymer Technologies to be the first detail shop in the world to be trained to apply the company’s newest product, Opti-Shield. “This is a game changer in the industry,” stated owner Daryl Collette. “Opti-Shield is a unique product. It’s a sprayable paint protection that allows for more flexibility than traditional paint protection films.” The product, which comes with fiveto seven-year warrantees, helps vehicle

Sterling-based IT recruitment firm Marathon TS has added three industry veterans to its Atlanta office. The announcement comes one year after Marathon TS opened its Atlanta area office. At the time, Siek tasked Branch Manager and Professional Technical Recruiter Kelly Lester with building the team to serve the burgeoning tech hub of the South. When forming the Atlanta team, Lester said she wanted to trust that she was bringing on excellent people who BIZ BRIEFS >> 25

YOU’RE INVITED LOUDOUN CHAMBER’S 2018 ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

We do the work. You get the credit. MARCH 23, 2019 L A N S D OW N E R E S O RT A N D S PA

Join us for this inspiring celebration as we rally together to

embrace, educate, engage and empower people with disabilities and their families.

A family* fundraising celebration for all ages to support The Arc of Loudoun’s mission. Evening includes a four-course dinner, Sherwood R. Simons Achievement Award and The Arc of Loudoun Courage Award presentations, live and silent auctions, raffle, music by Mangione & Benton Jazz Quartet, and dancing with the ‘80’s Band Sensation, The Reflex! Sponsorships Available. Reserved Seats: $150 General Admission: $85 *A calming room will be available for those with sensory sensitivities

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

Thank you to our generous sponsors: Beatriz McNelly Jeff & Kathy Lubitz

Is your charitable giving strategic, nimble, informed? Work with us to ensure the fabric and values of our community knit together when it comes to charitable giving. You’ll get the joy of knowing you’re helping quality charities you care about most—and we’ll manage the due-diligence details.

Amanda Nordhoff

BUY TICKETS: THEARCOFLOUDOUN.ORG/GALA

Won’t You Join Us?

CommunityFoundationLF.org  (703) 779-3505

pszabo@loudounnow.com

ous companies, and she knew Ryan through a mutual acquaintance. “It really worked out that I knew each of their backgrounds, either first hand or through a mutual acquaintance,” Lester said. “I wanted to hire people I truly felt I could stand up for and say to the Marathon TS leadership team, ‘this is the right person for the job.’”

Loudoun County Equine Alliance 4th Annual

Equine Expo

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

STONE TOWER WINERY

19925 Hogback Mountain Rd., Leesburg, VA

Everyone is Welcome

• Delivers operational system flexibility to meet future needs • Complies with mandatory standards to ensure safety and reliability • Minimizes impact to the local area and environment The initial plan includes a new transmission line approximately one-half mile long. If approved by the State Corporation Commission (SCC), it will connect to an existing transmission line near Loudoun County Parkway. We want to share our plans and hear your views prior to submitting our project application. Stop by our open house to learn more about what this project will mean for you and your community. Community involvement is an important part of our project planning and development.

Proposed Transmission Line

oun ty

L ou

a ol

rc A

re e nM

Dulles Airport

Rd. ills

Loudoun County Equine Alliance

606

er g

• Mor ven Park

YARDLEY RIDGE SUBSTATION

• Southern States

• Visit Loudoun • National Sporting Library & Museum • Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center

(drop by anytime during these hours)

842

THANK YOU to these Event Sponsors -

• Loudoun Dept. of Economic Development

Arcola United Methodist Church Ruth Hall 24757 Evergreen Mills Road Dulles, VA 20166

Existing Transmission Line

FREE Glass of Wine for first 50 Guests! Light Refreshments Served

Tuesday, March 19, 2019 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

For more information, please contact us by calling 888-291-0190 or sending an email to powerline@dominionenergy.com. You can also visit our website at DominionEnergy.com/virtualopenhouse.

Join us to visit more than 60 Vendors!!

-DOOR PRIZES-

OPEN HOUSE

-FREE-

• Provides long-term reliability and durability without excessive maintenance

Pk w

5:00 to 9:00 p.m.

We are in the planning stages to build a new 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line and switching station near the intersection of Evergreen Mills Road and Arcola Road in eastern Loudoun County — across from Dulles Airport. The switching station, along with new transmission infrastructure, is needed to accommodate increased demand and to maintain reliable electric service in the area.

had experience in the staffing industry, and specifically technical recruiting. The new staff members are Professional Technical Recruiter and Branch Manager Kelly Lester, Account Manager Ryan McConnell, Account Manager Brandon Sanders, and Technical Recruiter Melissa Ryan. Lester knew MacDonald and Sanders from working together at previ-

DOMINION ENERGY IS PLANNING A NEW TRANSMISSION PROJECT IN YOUR AREA.

Our plan is to build this new switching station and associated infrastructure line in a manner that:

[ BIZ BRIEFS ] << FROM 24

COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE

621

PROPOSED EVERGREEN MILLS SWITCHING STATION

This map is intended to serve as a representation of the project area and is not intended for detailed engineering purposes.

P O Box 293 - Purcellville, VA 20134

www.LoudounEquine.org • information@LoudounEquine.org Dom_Loudoun_EvergrenMills_4.45x13.5.indd 1

3/4/19 1:14 PM

His weekly production typically consists of making 100 chocolates a day from Wednesday to Friday before taking them to the Leesburg Farmers’ Market and the Very Virginia Shop. While the chocolates go for $1.25 a piece, customers have the option to purchase them individually or to pick out their favorites to buy as a box set. Waters also sells 4-ounce chocolate bars for $7, caramels and seasonal chocolate creations. This weekend at the Very Virginia Shop, Waters will have clover chocolates available for purchase for St. Patrick’s Day. “As more people know, we’ll be carrying more lines,” said shop owner Sola Pallotta. Pallotta said she would also soon be including Waters’ chocolates in her

March 14, 2019

<< FROM 22

dou

Yummyworks

shop’s wedding welcome bags, which customers buy to hand out as wedding favors. As for ratings and reviews, Waters said a common sentiment among his customers is that the chocolates are “too pretty to eat.” To that end, he said that while he puts a lot of time and effort into making them, “they’re good to eat, too.” His wife, Mo, said that it’s “art made from the heart.” Waters is spreading the word about Yummyworks and looking to set up online sales and partner with area wineries, which he hopes will provide him with weekly orders. He said that after that, once he starts seeing a consistent revenue stream, he’ll focus on opening a storefront in downtown Leesburg. “That would be the ultimate goal,” he said. “We’re just taking it slow.”

[ OUR TOWNS ]

[ TOWN NOTES ] BLUEMONT

March 14, 2019

5th Annual Shamrock Race This Saturday

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

A wooded 23-acre property just south of Round Hill’s corporate limits could be annexed by the town and developed into a 20-home subdivision in the coming years.

Round Hill Eyes Affordable Housing Opportunities in JLMA BY PATRICK SZABO Tree of Life Ministries’ drive to build a micro-cottage community for low-income residents on the long-abandoned Weona Villa Motel property near Round Hill isn’t on a fast track. The Round Hill Town Council last week decided to push back a vote that would have directed the Planning Commission to review and consider amending the town’s Comprehensive Plan to extend utility service to the 7-acre motel property, along other nearby tracts, by bringing them within the town’s Joint Land Management Area—an area outside the town limits where the town provides water and sewer service. The delay came four weeks after Tree of Life Ministries Executive Director Paul Smith asked the Town Council to consider extending municipal utility service to the motel property so that he could set up a 32 micro-cottage community to house low-income residents, specifically senior citizens. The council at that point told Smith that the town and county would need to update their Comprehensive Plans to include additional property in the JLMA to make that happen. While the Intent to Amend the Comprehensive Plan resolution on the council’s March 7 agenda would have directed the Planning Commission to review the plan in regard to elderly, affordable and smaller-sized housing options within the JLMA, Vice Mayor Mary Anne Graham and Councilman Fred Lyne said the document was too vague. Graham also said that the Planning Commission could take three years to make a recommendation on a Com-

Bluemont will hold its fifth annual Shamrock 5K/10K race beginning at 9 a.m. this Saturday, March 16 at Great Country Farms. Runners of all skill levels are invited to participate in either race, which will lead them on picturesque courses through the western Loudoun countryside. All participants will receive a commemorative race shirt and finishers medal. Awards will be given to the top three overall male and female race finishers. A post-race celebration will be held at Dirt Farm Brewing. Registration is $45 for the 5K and $50 for the 10K. In-person registration will be held from 4-7 p.m. this Thursday, March 14 at the Potomac River Running store in the Villages at Leesburg, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, March 15 at the Bluemont Community Center and on race day at 8 a.m. at the starting line. The Bluemont Community Center Advisory Board will use all proceeds from registration fees to benefit scholarships and other educational support programs at the community center. For more information, or to register online, go to bluemontshamrockrace.com.

LOVETTSVILLE Painted Pig to Host Peeps Diorama Contest

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Tree of Life Ministries in February proposed to build a 32-unit micro-cottage community on the 7-acre Weona Villa Motel property near Round Hill.

prehensive Plan amendment without the proper guidance from the Town Council. Mayor Scott Ramsey said that, while there needs to be “another level of detail” in the Town Council’s direction for the Planning Commission, it's not the role of the council to write the Comprehensive Plan amendment. Councilwoman Amy Evers said she was concerned that the council might be rushing the process. She said that just because Tree of Life faces a June deadline to prove to the motel property owner that a micro-cottage community is feasible, doesn’t mean the town has to acquiesce. “That shouldn’t be part of our consideration,” she said. “There is a clock ticking that is not our clock.”

Ramsey clarified that the nonprofit’s micro-cottage proposal was not the driving force behind the Town Council’s desire to direct the Planning Commission to review the Comprehensive Plan, but that it merely underscored the plan’s lack of language related to affordable housing in the JLMA. “I don’t want to think about this purely as a Tree of Life situation,” he said. The Town Council directed the staff to include additional details in the resolution to better guide the Planning Commission’s review. Town Administrator Melissa Hynes will present a revised document to the council at its March 21 meeting. Also during last week’s meeting, AFFORDABLE HOUSING >> 28

The Painted Pig will host its inaugural Peeps Diorama contest next month to showcase artistic interpretations of the classic Easter treat. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 4-5 and April 11-12 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 6 and 13 for visitors to view and vote on their favorite Peep dioramas. Winners will be announced on April 22 for “Favorite Adult Entry,” “Favorite Children’s Entry” and “Most Creative.” An awards ceremony will be held at noon on Saturday, April 27. Artists of all ages are required to preregister by Friday, March 22 and drop their dioramas off at the shop at 11 E. Pennsylvania Ave. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 28-30. Entries must be no larger than a shoebox size, should be built so they can be easily moved, should not require attachment to the wall or ceiling and should not contain hazardous materials. To enter, TOWN NOTES >> 28

Round Hill Preps for 2019 Appalachian Trail-Themed Events

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

A painting of Shenandoah National Park will hang on display at the Appalachian Trail Art Show exhibit at the Round hill Arts Center until March 31.

would be a chance to teach residents about hiking and the Leave No Trace program. The town and brewery will encourage Appalachian Trail hikers to trek 1.5 miles from the trail to the

CABINET SHOWPLACE Fine Cabinetry for the Entire Home

www.cabinetshowplace.com

Design and Sales 540.338.9661

210 N. 21st St., #E, Purcellville, Virginia 20132 Valley Business Park behind the Purcellville Train Station

brewery to join the celebration. Round Hill Outdoors set a goal to raise the next generation of hikers by promoting healthy living, active recreation, nature education and park and

pszabo@loudounnow.com

Four months after Round Hill was designated an Appalachian Trail Community, the town leaders are prepped to kick off multiple trail-themed events in 2019. In November, the town became one of 47 communities along the 2,190-mile-long trail, and one of 16 in Virginia, to receive the designation through its commitment to promote and protect the Appalachian Trail. In its application to be included in the program, the town outlined four goals—to form an advisory committee and include language in its Comprehensive Plan that protects the trail; to host an educational event; and to host an annual celebration. The town already has created the trail committee and amended its plan. Now, it is ready to follow through with the second half of its vision and host some events. Throughout the month of March, Round Hill Outdoors, the name of the town’s trail advisory committee, will host its second annual Appalachian Trail Art Show at the Round Hill Arts Center, with 45 pieces of artwork on display each day from 12-4 p.m. The town also is preparing to host its first annual Round Hill Appalachian Trail Festival on June 15 at the B Chord Brewing Company. Town Administrator Melissa Hynes said the event

trail development and the panel has organized a Screen Free Week from Sunday, April 28 to Friday, May 3 to get kids outdoors. During the week of no TV, phones, tablets and all other electronic screens, Round Hill Elementary School students will find themselves at an Earth Day Festival, an Outdoor Family Night, a Family Book Fair Night, a Hike Night, a Spirit Night and a Family and Neighbor Game Night. The week will wrap up with a scavenger hunt at Atomic Trampoline for all the students who took the screen-free pledge. The town also is planning a few educational events this year, which will include setting up an Appalachian Trail booth at the 17th annual Hometown Festival on May 25 and several community hikes between April and September. The Town Council last year also wrote language into the town’s 20172037 Comprehensive Plan aimed to maintain Round Hill’s natural resources, scenic vistas and wildlife habitats. According to the plan, the town’s objective is to “promote community awareness and increase knowledge of the trail as a local asset.” To learn more about the events and Round Hill Outdoor’s mission, go to roundhill.at.

March 14, 2019

BY PATRICK SZABO

March 14, 2019

Affordable housing On e Sm O S il i l e At A T im i e

<< FROM 26

developer John Clark told the council that he wants to build 20 homes on a 23-acre property at the corner of Yatton and Airmont Roads. Because the property is located in the county’s AgDodona consultation Terrace SE Ste 201, Russell a free 703-771-9887 Mullen Call orCall text us us for a for 1509 ricultural Rural zoning district, which complimentary consultation! Leesburg, VA 20175 DDS, MS restricts residential development to Next to the one lot per 20 acres, Clark requested (703) 771-9887 Leesburg Wegmans! the council to consider bringing the property into the town limits within its Low Density Residential zoning www. mullenortho. com Find us! district, which allows for homes to be built at a density of one unit per acre. Clark said the 1,000- to 2,800-squarefoot houses would cost from $150,000 to $500,000 and would accommodate seniors and first-time homebuyers who otherwise couldn’t afford to live in Always Welcoming New Patients! Welcoming all new patients! Welcoming allall new patients! Loudoun County. He said the houses Welcoming new patients! Cochran Family Dental Welcoming Welcomingallallnew newpatients! patients! would be built with energy-efficient Dr.Brian BrianCochran Cochranand andhis hisstaff staffatat What we offer Dr. materials and appliances to make them Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at Conveniently located in Conveniently located in Discounts Available Cochran Family Dental are Conveniently located Family Dental are • Cheerful, serene, state ofCochran the art office Cochran Family Dental are in more affordable for prospective buyers. For Patients Without TheVillage Village Leesburg The ofofLeesburg The Village ofcomprehensive Leesburg Welcoming all new patients! committed providing dental office committed toto providing a acomprehensive dental office committed to providing a comprehensive dental office • Digital x-rays (reduces radiation by 90%) “People will be able to live and reside Insurance! 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 with a gentle caring and gentle stylewill that will serve mostall all ofof with acaring caring and gentle style that willserve serve most allof aand and style that most where they work—that’s our intenWe file all dental benefitwith claims Dr.• Brian Cochran his staff at Leesburg, VA 20175 Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at your family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance Leesburg, VA 20175 Dr.Brian BrianCochran Cochran and his staff at Leesburg, VA 20175 Dr. and his staff atunder your family’s dental needs one roof. Insurance your family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance tion, ” he said. 703-771-9034 • Cosmetic Dentistry (veneers, white fillings, and Zoom Whitening) Cochran Family Dental are budget wise payment options. Dr. friendly office offering 703-771-9034 703-771-9034 Cochran Family Dental are Cochran Family Dental are friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Dr. Clark said that if the town annexes Cochran Family Dental are friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Dr. Cochran has provided trusted dental care to the citizens • Crowns and Bridges, all phases of Implants, Root Canals and Dentures committed to providing a comprehensive dental office of Loudoun trusted for 13 years. the property, he would work with staff Cochran has provided trusted dental care to the citizens Cochran has provided dental care to the citizens HOURS: • We offer periodontal therapy to arestore your oral health as style well asthat oral willdental WHITENING SPECIAL committed providing acomprehensive comprehensive dental office committed to providing aand dental office committed toto providing acomprehensive office with caring gentle serve most all of WHITENING Conveniently located FREE Teeth Whitening Kit and council members to develop the Mon. & Wed.: 8amin- 6pm ofLoudoun Loudounfor for 13 years. cancer screening. of 13 years. SPECIAL withInsurance every scheduled The Village Leesburg facing HOURS: your family’s dental needs under one roof. WHITENING SPECIAL HOURS: WHITENING SPECIAL Tues. - at Thurs.: 7am - 4pm with a caring and gentle style that will serve most all of Use your benefits before the end with a caring and gentle style that will serve most all of housing community in accordance cleaning or procedure. WHITENING Route 7 between andWHITENING withLoudounNow a caring and gentle that will serve most all of 1503 Dodona Terrace&style Conveniently located inWegmans FREE Teeth Whitening Kit of theTeeth year and receive a FREE Conveniently located Whitening Kit Fri.:in - 1pm Mon. Wed.: 8am - 6pm Offer Expires 8/31/16. Mon. & inWed.: 8am -8am 6pm LA Fitness friendly office offering budget wiseFREE payment options. Dr. Teeth Whitening Kit with every with the Comprehensive Plan. Suite 210 Conveniently located the Village of Leesburg SPECIAL SPECIAL with every scheduled The Village Leesburg facing Please present coupon to Sat.: 8am -Wed: 1pm (once/month) with every scheduled The Village at Leesburg Mon &facing 8-6pm yourfamily’s family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance your dental needs under one roof. Insurance scheduled cleaning or procedure. Tues. - at Thurs.: 7am -7-4pm 4pm Tues. -#210 Thurs.: 7am - 4pm Leesburg, VA Use your benefits before theend end receive the offer. Not to be Cochran has provided trusted dental care toor the citizens Use your benefits before the Tues & Thurs: your1503 family’s dental under one roof. Insurance Offer Expires January 1, 2016. cleaning or procedure. Ramsey said that if the council votes Route 720175 between Wegmans and 24hr Emergency cleaning procedure. 1503 Dodona Terrace •8-1pm Leesburg, VA Service 20175 Route 7needs between Wegmans and 1503 Dodona Terrace Dodona Terrace Please present coupon to w/any receive the offer. combined other Fri: • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) FREE of the year and receive aFREE of the year and receive a Fri.: 8am 1pm Fri.: 8am 1pm Offer Expires 8/31/16. LA Fitness Offer Expires 8/31/16. Not to be combined with any other offer. friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Dr. 703-771-9034 LA Fitness friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Dr. 24hryears. Emergency Service Teeth of Loudoun for 13 to refer a Comprehensive Plan review Teeth Whitening Kit with every Suite 210 Whitening Kit with every Suite 210 offering 703-771-9034 Please present coupontotoDr. Sat.: 8am -Wed: 1pm (once/month) Please present coupon Mon &1pm 8-6pm friendly office budget wise payment options. Sat.: 8am (once/month) Mon & -Wed: 8-6pm scheduled cleaning procedure. scheduled cleaning ororprocedure. WHITENING to the Planning Commission this Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Leesburg, VA 20175 Visit our website: TheLeesburgVADentist.com LOUDOUN’S Leesburg, VA 20175 receive the offer. Not to be Conveniently located in Mon. & Wed.: 8am 6pm • Tues. Thurs.: 7am 4pm Cochran has provided trusted dental care to the citizens Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm receive the offer. Not to be Offer Expires January 1, 2016. Cochran has provided trusted dentalPlease care tocoupon the citizens TuesEmergency &Emergency Thurs: 7-4pm Service Offer Expires January 1, 2016. 24hr Service 24hr FAVORITE SPECIAL month, it could take the commission present to receive the offer. combined w/any other Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) The Village at Leesburg facing present coupon receivecitizens the offer. combined w/any other Fri.: 8am - 1pm• Sat: •trusted 24hr Emergency ServicePlease Fri: 8-1pm 8-1pm (Once/month) Cochran has provided dental care towithtothe 2018 Not be combined with any other offer. your benefits before theoffer. end 703-771-9034 to to be combined any other Emergency Service and NotUse of Loudoun for13 13 years. 703-771-9034 24hr Emergency Service of Loudoun years. Route 724hr between Wegmans up to 90 days to bring a recommenda1503 Dodona Terrace for of the year and receive a FREE LA Fitness tion back to the council. Teeth Whitening Kit with every of Loudoun for 13 years. Suite 210 Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com VisitConveniently our website at: Conveniently located Mon &TheLeesburgVADentist.com Wed: located inin8-6pm scheduled cleaning or procedure. Even if the Town Council could Leesburg, VA 20175 Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm Offer Expires January 1, 2016. TheVillage Villageatlocated atLeesburg Leesburg facing The facing Please present coupon to receive the offer. vote to approve a Comprehensive Plan Conveniently in Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) Use your benefits before the end before Not tobenefits be combined with any the other end offer. Route7 7between betweenWegmans Wegmans and 703-771-9034 24hr Emergency Service Use your Route and 1503 DodonaTerrace Terrace amendment before June, Tree of Life’s 03 Dodona theyear yearand andreceive receiveaaFREE FREE The Village atLA Leesburg facing ofofthe LAFitness Fitness attempt to be included in the town’s Teeth Whitening Kit with every Use your benefits before the end Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Suite 210 Teeth Whitening Kit with every Suite 210 Route 7 between Mon&Wegmans & Wed:8-6pm 8-6pm and Mon Wed: na Terrace JLMA seems distant at this point, since scheduled cleaning or procedure. scheduled cleaning or procedure. of the year and receive a FREE Leesburg,VA VA20175 20175 eesburg, Tues Thurs:7-4pm 7-4pm LATues Fitness OfferExpires ExpiresJanuary January1,1,2016. 2016. && Thurs: Offer Teeth Whitening Kit with every e 210 Pleasepresent present coupontoto receive theoffer. offer. Fri: 8-1pm • Sat:8-1pm 8-1pm(Once/month) (Once/month) Please coupon receive the Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: Mon & Wed: 8-6pm scheduled cleaning or procedure. Not to be combined with any other offer. Not to be combined with any other offer. 24hr Emergency Service Emergency Service VA 20175 Tues24hr & Thurs: 7-4pm Offer Expires January 1, 2016. [ TOWN Please present couponbefore to receivethe the offer. Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) Use your benefits end Use your theoffer. end Not tobenefits be combinedbefore with any other 24hr Emergency Service of the year and receive a FREE<< FROM 26 Offering the latest technologies & newest treatment options Invisalign™ - Digital Imaging

Cochran Family Dental Family Dental Family Dental chran Family Dental

Cochran Dental Cochran Family Dental Cochran Family CochranFamily FamilyDental Dental

Cochran Family Dental Cochran Family Dental gWelcoming all new patients! all new patients! Cochran Family Dental all new patients! Welcomingall allnew newpatients! patients! Welcoming

BrianCochran Cochranand andhis hisstaff staff atat Brian hranFamily FamilyDental Dentalare are hran mmitted providingaacomprehensive comprehensivedental dentaloffice office mitted totoproviding haacaring caringand andgentle gentlestyle stylethat thatwill willserve servemost mostall allof of rfamily’s family’sdental dentalneeds needsunder underone oneroof. roof.Insurance Insurance ndly officeoffering offering budgetTheLeesburgVADentist.com wisepayment payment options.Dr. Dr. dly office budget wise options. WHITENING WHITENING Visitour ourwebsite: website:TheLeesburgVADentist.com Visit SPECIAL WHITENING SPECIAL hranhas hasprovided providedtrusted trusteddental dentalcare care tothe thecitizens citizens hran to SPECIAL Loudoun for13 13years. years. oudoun for W I N N E R

Staycation suites at Thrive. WHITENING WHITENING Convenientlylocated locatedinin Conveniently 703-771-9034 SPECIAL SPECIAL e03-771-9034 VillageShort Leesburgfacing facing term Village atatLeesburg Visit ourwebsite website at:TheLeesburgVADentist.com TheLeesburgVADentist.com Visit our at: ute between Wegmans and te 77between Wegmans and 1-9034 Staycation of the year and receive a FREE LA Fitness long LA Fitness Teeth WhiteningKit Kitwith withevery every stay, term Teeth Whitening ourMon website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Mon Wed:8-6pm 8-6pm suites atscheduled Thrive. &&Wed: scheduledcleaning cleaningor orprocedure. procedure. Tues&&Thurs: Thurs:7-4pm 7-4pm Tues : 8-1pm• •Sat: Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month)term Short benefits. 8-1pm 8-1pm (Once/month) 24hr Emergency Service 24hr Emergency Service

complete a registration form at the Painted Pig Facebook page and pay a Offer Expires January 1, 2016. Offer Expires January 1, 2016. $10 fee via credit card. Please presentcoupon coupontotoreceive receivethe theoffer. offer.For more information, call 703-727Please present 7838. Not to be combined with any other offer.

Not to be combined with any other offer. DMV to Visit Community Center When you take a Thrive Staycation, you don’t just stay…

stay, long term iteat: at:TheLeesburgVADentist.com TheLeesburgVADentist.com te benefits.

you actively engage in a community of new friends. YouThe DMV2GO bus will set up at the don’t really need a reason to join us; just the opportunity Lovettsville Community Center from 9 to reenergize is enough. You’ll have a ball, regardless of a.m. to 4 p.m. this Thursday, March 14. whether your need is assisted living or for older adults Residents will have the chance to living dementia. Whenwith you take a Thrive Staycation, you don’t just stay… When you take a Thrive Staycation, you don’t just stay… you actively engage in a community of new friends. You you actively engage in a community of new friends. You

While you’re with us, you’ll enjoy a private suite with don’t really need a reason to join us; just the opportunity don’t really need a reason to join us; just the opportunity to reenergize is enough. You’ll have a ball, of local campus-wide Wifi, library and artregardless room, and to reenergize is enough. You’ll have a ball, regardless of whether your need is assisted living or for older adults whether your needYou’re is assisted living or forwith older adults transportation. a member all privileges living livingwith with dementia. dementia. accorded. While Whileyou’re you’re with with us, us, you’ll you’ll enjoy enjoy aa private private suite suite with with campus-wide Wifi, library and art room, and local

campus-wide Wifi, library and art room, local Come, join us. You might just be and tempted to move transportation. transportation. You’re You’re aa member member with with all all privileges privileges inaccorded. permanently! accorded.

Come, Come,join join us. us. You You might might just just be be tempted tempted to to move move in inpermanently! permanently!

Tribute at One Loudoun

20335 Savin Hill Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147 Tribute at One Loudoun

Tribute at One Loudoun 571.252.8292 | ThriveSL.com/OneLoudoun

20335 Savin Hill Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147 20335 Savin Hill Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147

Hello@TributeAtOneLoudoun.com 571.252.8292 | ThriveSL.com/OneLoudoun

571.252.8292 | ThriveSL.com/OneLoudoun

A Hello@TributeAtOneLoudoun.com Thrive Senior Living Community Hello@TributeAtOneLoudoun.com A Thrive Senior Living Community A Thrive Senior Living Community

visit the handicapped-accessible officeon-wheels to take care of DMV-related tasks, including renewing ID cards and driver’s licenses, applying for a veteran ID card, obtaining copies of driving records or vehicle titles, getting fishing and hunting licenses, updating mailing addresses or purchasing an E-ZPass transponder.

Inova Mobile Health to Provide Blood Pressure Screenings Inova Loudoun Hospital Mobile Health Services will be at the Lovettsville Community Center to provide residents with free blood pressure

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Tree of Life Ministries’ proposed 32 micro cottages at the abandoned Weona Villa Motel property near Round Hill seems a bit distant now that the Planning Commission won’t review a Comprehensive Plan amendment to adjust the JLMA boundary until at least the end of March.

the county won’t include language of a JLMA boundary adjustment in its Loudoun 2040 General Plan. Alaina Ray, the county’s director of planning and zoning, said that because the town’s October 2018 request to change the JLMA boundary to align with its current utility service area did not include the area where the Weona Villa Motel property is located, the county’s Planning Commission did not include the property in the town’s JLMA boundary in Loudoun 2040. Smith said that his nonprofit is respectful of the process that the town is following and that he understands proper procedures must be followed. “We will continue in our efforts to work with both the town and the county as this procedure unfolds,” he said. pszabo@loudounnow.com

NOTES ] screenings from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, March 21. Inova registered nurses will be on hand to administer the screenings in the fully-equipped bus. To learn more about INOVA’s mobile health services, visit inova.org/mobilehealth or call the hotline at 703-858-8818.

PURCELLVILLE Celtic Music Performance this Weekend at Franklin Park The OCEAN Celtic Quartet, a pan-Celtic band, is set to perform from 8-10 p.m. this Saturday, March 16 at the Franklin Park Arts Center. Residents are invited to the center to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by enjoying the band’s spin on traditional and original compositions that will include sounds of soaring ballads and stirring sea chanteys to blazing fiddle and accordion tunes. The Friends of Franklin Park Arts Center will sponsor the event as part of its GOLD STAR Series. Tickets are $27 per person. For more information, go to franklinparkartscenter.org/full-season-performances.

29 March 14, 2019

Round Hill Amends Zoning to Attract More Food, Beverage Businesses BY PATRICK SZABO Following a vote in January to loosen town zoning regulations and allow residents to rent out their homes, the Town of Round Hill has again made some changes to entice prospective businesses. The Town Council on Thursday unanimously approved zoning amendments to allow for restaurants, convenience stores, breweries, distilleries and wineries to open in the town’s business district by right. Town Administrator Melissa Hynes said the vote comes in response to the town’s lengthy permitting process, which takes up to nine months to approve special exception permits. Carry-out and full-service restaurants without drive-throughs can now move into the business district by right, rather than as a special exception use. Convenience stores and craft beverage establishments—like breweries, distilleries and wineries—are also now allowed to open in that district. Under the regulations, a brewery is allowed to produce up to 500 barrels of beer in town, and distilleries and wineries can to produce up to 5,000 gallons of liquor or wine. At least 25 percent of those beverages must be consumed or

sold on site. Breweries, distilleries and wineries can also have tasting rooms or retail spaces to sell their beverages and packaged or ready-to-eat food items, like sandwiches and crackers. Any food preparation that requires more than cutting, slicing or sandwich assembly would force the business to register as a restaurant. Restaurants and craft beverage establishments are allowed to operate between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday and 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Restaurants located adjacent to residential properties are restricted to operating between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. Restaurants and craft beverage establishments can also contract with food trucks, but must follow a list of regulations that include rules governing operating hours and parking lot sizes. While Mayor Scott Ramsey said the amendments would catch the town up with others that already allow restaurants to open in their business districts by right, Town Administrator Melissa Hynes said that Round Hill’s zoning is still more conservative than that of other towns. pszabo@loudounnow.com

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-9753.

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

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Restaurants, convenience stores, breweries, distilleries and wineries are now allowed to open in the Town of Round Hill’s business district by right.

March 14, 2019

Loudoun United Falls to Nashville in Season Opener Loudoun United played to a 2-0 loss in the franchise’s inaugural game Saturday night in Nashville, but the performance was cause for optimism. Even just days before the game, the team was continuing to add players to its roster—a roster that was largely empty a month ago. Despite the lack of practice time together, the team held Nashville SC scoreless in the first half. Nashville’s two goals came in quick succession, at the 59- and 61-minute marks, during a game in which the home team dominated the time of possession 60 percent to 40 percent. “I thought it was a solid performance for a team that has only been training for three weeks and haven’t spent much time playing together. It was up and down, but to be 0-0 at halftime against an experienced team in the league is a positive. In the second half we played a little better even though we made a few mistakes on the goals,” said Loudoun United FC Head Coach Richie Williams. “It was positive, a lot of young players got their first professional game. I think we can build on it this week moving into Memphis. We’ll continue to help the players get better, keep the team organized and hopefully little by little we get better and better and get some results.” Starting Forward Kyle Murphy also saw good things in the team’s season opening performance. “We had a couple of good spells and we have to learn from our mistakes. There were some positives in there, we just have to break it down and watch

Loudoun United photo

Loudoun United FC starting forward Kyle Murphy, a member of Clemson’s 2014 ACC championship team, leaps for a header during the team’s inaugural game in Nashville, TN, March 9.

the film and work on what we need to. I think it was a positive that some people got their first professional game out of the way ... maybe they were a little nervous at times. We’re gonna look at it, progress, and keep improving every

week,” he said. “I think we are going to continue to get comfortable with each other and learn each other’s tendencies. It’ll be great to sit down and watch film to see where we need to improve.” The next game also will be played in

Tennessee, on Saturday night against Memphis 901 FC (0-1). The opening day loss puts Loudoun United 15th in the standings among the 18 teams in the United Soccer League’s Eastern Conference.

Old Bathroom today...New bathroom tomorrow!

IN AS LI TT LE AS ON E DAY! BATHTUB BEFORE

SHOWER AFTER

SAVE!

$ 75 0 PAYMENTS * NO

OFF

PLUS FREE UPGRADE

TO PRE MIUM WA L L SYST EM. OFFER EXPIRES 4/1/19!

Microban® protects all products to inhibit mold and mildew growth Luxsan acrylic is the most durable and easy to clean bath enclosure surface

Specialists in

Bathtub & Shower Renovation Tub-to Shower conversions Walk-in Tubs

FINANCING

703-659-9548

1STJust3in time MONTHS for Tax Season. LuxSeal® glass shower doors are ultrasmooth, optically clear and easy-to-clean Impression Series: Exclusive tile look with the benefits listed above

F I N A N C I N G AVA I L A B L E

*Sold, furnished and installed by an independent Luxury Bath dealer. Not valid with any other offer. Luxury Bath dealers are neither brokers or lenders. Discount available only during initial consultation. Credit approval required for financing. Different lending institutions have different programs and rates. Ask your representative for details. MHIC 136343 VA 2705128866 WV 058033.

Evergreen Mill << FROM 3

— Supervisor Tony R. Buﬃngton (R-Blue Ridge)

toctin) credited the citizen activists, like Kelly McGinn and Stephanie Manning, who helped start the Make Evergreen Mills Road Safe Facebook page and pushed supervisors to take action, for keeping supervisors’ attention on the area. The safety study surveyed almost seven years of crash data, from January 2011 to November 2017, finding 625 accidents on Evergreen Mills and Watson Roads. 564 of those were on Evergreen Mills. The study found that the vast majority of accidents on Evergreen Mills Road involved car collisions including rear-ending other vehicles, hitting animals, or leaving the roadway. On Watson Road, more than half of all accidents involved vehicles leaving the road.

Headlines from our newsroom delivered to your ears, five days a week. Sponsored by:

CommunityFoundationLF.org

loudounnow.com/listen ... or find us where you download your favorite podcasts.

rgreene@loudounnow.com

SATURDAY APRIL 6TH 2019 3PM-6PM BREAUX VINEYARDS

MUSIC & WINE FUNDRAISER benefiting RYAN BARTEL FOUNDATION in support of youth suicide prevention.

BUY TICKETS HERE: www.ryanbartelfoundation.org/events/let-it-be-1

Thanks to our In-Kind Sponsors

Thanks to our generous FORTE sponsors

Thanks to our ‘food tasting’ providers:

CUP CAKE THERAPY

The action comes after a number of highly publicized fatal accidents on those roads in 2017. A Suffolk woman, Courtney Ashe, apparently lost control of her vehicle in a heavy rainstorm while traveling along Evergreen Mills Road and drove into Sycolin Creek. The car was found upside down in the creek three days later, with Ashe’s body and the bodies of her 9-year-old cousin and 5-year-old son inside. Six weeks later, Erin Kaplan, an Ashburn mother of three, was killed when the driver of a food truck ran a stop sign at the end of Watson Road and T-boned her car. That accident also sent her three children, Benjamin, Emma and Sophia, to the hospital. The food truck owner and driver, Tony Dane, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, 18 months in jail and $3,500 in fines for, among other things, reckless driving and failing to get his vehicle inspected. “The combined total of 625 crashes on Evergreen Mills Road and Watson in the last six to eight years is why we’re here,” said Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge). “We can’t talk about this without mentioning the Kaplan family, the Ashe family, and lots of other families who have lost loved ones on these two roads—primarily Evergreen Mills Road, but also Watson. For their sacrifice is why we’re here working on this.” Supervisor Geary M. Higgins (R-Ca-

Loudoun news on the go ...

March 14, 2019

The combined total of 625 crashes on Evergreen Mills Road and Watson in the last six to eight years is why we’re here.”

[ LOCO LIVING ]

[ THINGS TO DO ] HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

March 14, 2019

Saint Patrick’s Day Dance Friday, March 15, 8 p.m.-midnight Lovettsville Game Protective Association, 16 S. Berlin Pike, Lovettsville

Details: lovettsvillegameclub.com Kick off the weekend with music from DJ Ryan Baker and food and drinks for sale. Cover is $5.

Saint Patrick’s Day Weekend at Old 690 Friday, March 15-Sunday, March 17 Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church Road, Hillsboro Details: old690.com The weekend starts with a progressive game night Friday at 6:30 p.m. followed by karaoke Saturday starting at 5 p.m. For Sunday’s big day, festivities include an Irish-inspired menu from Grange and Grub and music from Chris Timbers from 1 to 4 p.m.

SideBar Leprechaun Loop Saturday, March 16, 8 a.m.-2 a.m. and Sunday, March 17, 8 a.m.midnight SideBar, 24 S. Loudoun St., Leesburg Details: facebook.com/sidebarlbg SideBar and 14 Loudoun celebrate with two days of live music, drinks and everything Irish. The event starts with brunch Saturday morning and ends at midnight Sunday. Admission is free, but presale tickets are available online for $12 and include a special cup, shot glass and two drink tokens. Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Nate and Sarah Walsh, the owners of Walsh Family Wine near Hillsboro, take a stroll through their 10-acre vineyard in preparation of their March 15 grand opening.

A Shared Passion and a Sense of Place

Walsh Family Wine Celebrates New Home March 15 BY JAN MERCKER It sounds like a Virginia wine country fairytale: two talented young wine pros fall in love, get married and start their own winery. For Nate and Sarah Walsh, the dream becomes a reality with the opening of Walsh Family Wine near Hillsboro this weekend. Nate Walsh is well known to Loudouners as the longtime winemaker for Sunset Hills Vineyard. Sarah Walsh has a background in fine dining and wine wholesale and importing. When the couple met in 2012, it was a match made in wine industry heaven. “While we never had any grand plans, it always just seemed like we’d make a good team,” Nate Walsh said. “We always said around the dinner table that it seemed like at some point we should work together.” In 2014, the couple eased into their own gig with a lease on the four-acre Bethany Ridge vineyard near Waterford. They produced their first bottles while holding down their day jobs, selling their very limited production to

a handful of local restaurants. “It was a fun project and we viewed it as if we don’t lose any money, we’re getting to spend this time together and she gets to teach me about her side of things and vice versa. We just were enjoying ourselves with it,” Walsh said. In 2016, the Walshes had a chance to kick things up a notch with a lease on an additional 20 acres near Waterford, home of their Twin Notch vineyard wines. “We really spent the last two years expanding and establishing really outstanding vineyard sites,” Walsh said. “The reason we put our eggs in this basket was that, in my experience, if you can find really great sites, it makes the rest of the process a lot easier. It makes it much easier to produce wines that are expressive and interesting and of a high quality. ... We felt like with these sites we had as good as it’s going to get in this area.” The following years were a busy but energizing time for the couple. Their daughter June was born in 2016, and parenthood came along with huge

leaps for their business. Driven by their passion and support from their team, investors and the Loudoun wine industry at large, Walsh was able to leave Sunset Hills in 2017 and focus on the new venture full time. “We have a really great team. We have a great vineyard crew,” Walsh said. “The industry itself has always been really supportive of us. ... That kind of a community and that kind of support goes a long way.” The next challenge was finding a production facility and tasting room after several years operating as what Walsh describes as “homeless winemakers,” borrowing space at Sunset Hills and other wineries in the region. The final piece fell into place last year, as Vicki and Mark Fedor, owners of award-winning North Gate Vineyard, were looking to move out of the industry after more than 15 years. Last March, Walsh and business partner, local philanthropist Mike Wheeler, purchased the 26WALSH WINERY >> 34

Bluemont Shamrock 5K/10K Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m. Great Country Farms, 18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont Details: bluemontshamrockrace. com In its fifth year, this race to benefit the Bluemont Community Center offers scenic views and a fun afterparty at Dirt Farm Brewing. Race day registration is $45 for the 5K and $50 for the 10K.

Saint Patrick’s Day at Market Station Saturday, March 16, 3-7 p.m. 108 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: wildharecider.com Market Station’s businesses are joining forces for a Saint Patrick’s Day block party featuring Irish food, live music in the courtyard, cider, beer, coffee and kombucha from local restaurants and shops.

Courtesy of MacDowell’s Brew Kitchen

MacDowell’s Blarney Bash Saturday, March 16, 5 p.m.-1 a.m. MacDowell’s Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macdowellsbrewkitchen.com

MORE THINGS TO DO >> 33

[ THINGS TO DO ] tunes, mixing up originals and covers.

Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with a special music double header. The All In band kicks off the night with rock covers at 5:30 p.m. The Crown Jewels, led by three familiar female vocalists, follows at 9 p.m. with a fun, energetic mix of rock and country music. Saturday, March 16, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Blackfinn Ameripub, 43805 Central Station Drive, Ashburn Details: blackfinnashburn.com The second annual block party features live music, Irish dance performances, festive cocktails and food. VIP tickets are $50 and include an all-day buffet and four drink tickets. General admission is $10 and includes a drink and a bite. The event is kid-friendly until 4 p.m.

Harper’s Ferry Brewing Saint Patrick’s Day Bash

Saint Patrick’s Day at B Chord Sunday, March 17, 1-9 p.m. B Chord Brewing Company, 34266 Williams Gap Road, Round Hill Details: bchordbrewing.com The afternoon kicks off with the Old Irish Jam Session from 1 to 4 p.m., followed by Irish drinking songs and other great tunes from the Plank Stompers. A traditional corned beef dinner will be served at 4 p.m. Dinner is $20, and advance purchase is recommended.

Saint Patrick’s Day at Tarbender’s

Courtesy of Waterford Concerts Series

Tarbender’s Lounge, 10 S. King St., Leesburg

Waterford Concert Series: Brooklyn Rider

Details: tarbenderslounge.com

Waterford Old School, 40222 Fairfax St., Waterford

Sunday, March 17, 4 p.m.

Celebrate with music from DJ Zee from 4 to 6 p.m. followed by DJ Contagious. Sunday, March 17, 4 p.m.

Harper’s Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Neersville

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

Details: harpersferrybrewing.com

Details: monksq.com

Enjoy tasty corned beef sliders and shepherd’s pie for sale and live music from the North Fork String Bluegrass Band starting at 3:30 p.m.

Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day Monk’s way with traditional bluegrass from the Plate Scrapers and tasty barbecue.

LOCO CULTURE

1836 Kitchen and Taproom, 34 E. Broad Way, Lovettsville Details: 1836kitchenandtaproom.com The talented husband and wife team who make up half of the Furnace Mountain Band offer Irish and traditional American

The Waterford Concert Series kicks off its new season with the high-energy string quartet Brooklyn Rider performing its “Healing Modes” program, intertwining five new works from women composers with Beethoven’s Op. 132 quartet, which celebrates his triumph over deafness and illness. Tickets are $35 for adults, $15 for students. Five concert subscriptions are available for $135.

NIGHTLIFE

Dinner Belles Kitchen Cupboard Grand Opening

That 70s Party with Superflydisco

Saturday, March 16, noon-2 p.m.

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

Dinner Belles Kitchen Cupboard, 24 E. Broad Way, Lovettsville. Details: lovettsvilledinnerbelles.com

Morning Minute Podcast

Details: waterfordconcertseries.org

Sunday, March 17, noon- 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 17, 2-5 p.m.

Start your day with the

Sunday, March 17, 4-11 p.m.

Saint Patrick’s Day with the Plate Scrapers

Live Music: Fiddlin’ Dave and Morgan

Wake up with us!

loudounnow.com/listen

Friday, March 15, 7 p.m.

MORE THINGS TO DO >> 35

Make Your Commute a

SLAM DUNK

Free Rides on Metro Connect Buses EFFECTIVE: March

4 – March 30, 2019

ROUTES: Loudoun County Transit to/from the Wiehle-Reston East

and West Falls Church Metrorail Stations

Loudoun’s ISHARE66 Incentives Program is funded through revenue from the I-66 tolls collected during peak period inside the Beltway in partnership with NVTC.

Visit loudoun.gov/ishare66

Shamrock & Roll Block Party

Lovettsville’s newest shop celebrates its grand opening with wine tastings, snacks and a ribbon cutting at 12:30 p.m.

March 14, 2019

<< FROM 32

March 14, 2019

Walsh winery << FROM 32 acre North Gate property along with its tasting room and production facilities just outside of Hillsboro. The Walshes and their team now

manage 50 acres of vines, including 10 planted acres at North Gate along with leased vineyards in Waterford, Bluemont and Lovettsville. One of the hallmarks of Walsh Family Wine, Walsh said, will be offering wine lovers a sense of place, with a focus on the French concept of terroir, the idea that the place where grapes are grown

brings out unique characteristics. “What became important to us together as we were getting further into our wine careers was that, for us at least, the most interesting and memorable wines, the one thing they have in common is that they’re trying to reflect one single place. They’re usually from one vineyard, and they’re meant to re-

flect that vineyard.” The passion for a sense of place is something the couple shares. Nate Walsh, 36, got his start at pioneering Virginia winery Horton Vineyards near Charlottesville and worked in Oregon and New Zealand before joining Sunset Hills in 2009. Sarah Walsh worked in sales for the respected Virginia-based fine wine distributor The Country Vintner, known for bringing terroir-focused European wines to D.C.-area consumers. Walsh says letting their vineyards and the grapes grown there express themselves will be the backbone of the new company. “When we took over Bethany Ridge [vineyard] and it dawned on us how great of a site that was, we talked about wanting to try to make wines that reflect all of these places,” he said. “It was important to us that we farm the property ourselves and that we farm it in a way that we feel is best to coax these wines out of it—and that we kind of get out of the way in the winery.” WALSH FAMILY WINE celebrates the

grand opening of their tasting room Friday, March 15 through Sunday, March 17 with a full lineup of WFW wines, new releases and crepes from Petite Loulou. Walsh Family Wine is located at 16031 Hillsboro Road, Purcellville. Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Nate and Sarah Walsh stand next to the Walsh Family Wine entrance sign that Sarah’s dad built and installed for them earlier this month.

For more information, go to walshfamilywine.com

UVA Radiology Vein and Vascular Care Gainesville

ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM VARICOSE OR SPIDER VEINS? We can help. No referral needed.

To schedule an appointment, call 703.712.6062.

Love your legs again! 14540 John Marshall Hwy, Suite 104 Gainesville, VA 20155 uvavvc@virginia.edu uvahealth.com/gainesvilleradiology facebook.com/UVA.VeinVascularGainesville

[ THINGS TO DO ] << FROM 33 Details: tallyhotheater.com This 10-piece band with a fabulous horn section recreates the best of the ‘70s from Sly and the Family Stone to the Bee Gees. Bellbottoms and platforms encouraged. Tickets are $15 in advance.

March 14, 2019

bluegrass returns to the Lucketts stage, with zany Little Roy Lewis and his straight man Lizzy Long. Tickets are $17 at the door.

Friday, March 15, 8 p.m. B Chord Brewing Company, 34266 Williams Gap Road, Round Hill Details: bchordbrewing.com The Leesburg-raised, DC-based songwriter travels the East Coast with his band made up of acoustic guitar, upright bass, fiddle, mandolin, and pedal steel. Their live performances play fast and loose with the Americana genre, performing heartfelt ballads followed by raucous bluegrass melodies and even a few hip-hop verses in the mix. Tickets are $10.

Live Music: Juliana MacDowell Saturday, March 16, 7 p.m. Monk’s BBQ, Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville Details: monksq.com Pop/folk/rock with signature velvety vocals from a local favorite poised to hit the big time. No cover charge.

Lucketts Bluegrass: The Little Roy and Lizzy Show Saturday, March 16, 7 p.m. Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Leesburg

Courtesy of Sponge

Live Music: Sponge Saturday, March 16, 7 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com These heavy hitters from Detroit offer a signature rock sound, meshing ‘70s glam with Motor City influences from The Stooges to Motown for a vibe that’s all their own. Tickets are $25 in advance.

Game Club Dance with Steve George and Friends Saturday, March 16, 8 p.m.-midnight Lovettsville Game Protective Association, 16 S. Berlin Pike, Lovettsville Details: lovettsvillegameclub.com One of western Loudoun’s favorites returns to the Game Club for a popular Saturday night dance. Admission is $10.

Details: luckettsbluegrass.org One of the most entertaining acts in

Spring into

SAVINGS!

Direct from our newsroom to your mailbox. Loudoun Now is mailed to 43,000 homes and businesses in selected ZIP codes each week. If you do not receive the newspaper in the mail, you may purchase a subscription. The cost is $39 per 52 issues. For addresses outside Virginia, the cost is $50. To get the paper delivered every week, visit loudounnow.com/subscribe Or mail this form to with your check to:

Loudoun Now

To receive our newsletter every day via email, visit loudounnow.com/newsletter First name _____________________________________________

FINANCING AVAILABLE!

Last name _____________________________________________ Company name ________________________________________

www.falconhvac.com

Telephone _____________________________________________

703-450-7777 • 42731 Trade West Dr, Sterling, VA

Address 1 _____________________________________________

Since 1988, Falcon Heating and Air Conditioning has been a leading residential HVAC company, providing the VA, MD and DC area with exceptional customer service and quality work.

City ___________________________________________________

$58

FURNACE INSPECTION Coupon applicable for 1 system. Inspection does not include filters. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Expires 04/30/19 LN043019

FREE AIR SCRUBBER

SAVE UP TO

$1,000 OFF

WITH QUALIFYING SYSTEM INSTALLATION Destroys up to 99% of all surface and airborne contaminants. Keep Your Family Safe!

FULL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT

Expires 04/30/19

LN043019

Full System Replacement Choice of Carrier COR, Ecobee E4, or NEST. Selection must be made prior to installation date. LN043019

State _______________________________Zip ________________

Loudoun Now PO Box 207 Leesburg, VA 20178

Live Music: Justin Trawick and the Common Good

March 14, 2019

That 70’s party with superflydisco 03/15/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

sponge

03/16/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

LOUDOUN YOUTHFEST’S BATTLE OF THE BANDS FINAL BATTLE! 03/22/19 DOORS: 6:00PM

U.S. Army photo/Rachel Larue

Adam Tianello, a U.S. Air Force bagpiper, will get St. Patrick’s Day revelers in the proper mood with performances at Finnegan’s Grill in Ashburn through the day Sunday.

Going Irish: Pubs Gear Up for Holiday Weekend Carbon Leaf 03/23/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

THE CAPITOL STEPS 03/24/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY 03/27/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

Starting in the 1720s, Irish settlers joined the influx of Germans and Quakers who moved south from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland to make homes in western Loudoun. It’s not clear whether they brought kegs of green beer along with them, but we’re confident that many of Sunday’s revelers will claim at least a distance kinship to those pioneers. St. Patrick’s Day brings a bevy of special activities throughout Loudoun to celebrate Irish and Irish-American culture, with festivities anchored by three establishments that tout Irish food and drink all year ‘round. Spanky’s Pub in Leesburg is the granddaddy, marking its 35th year of “shamrockin’.” They open at 9 a.m. and have a full day of food specials and live music planned. On stage during the day will be Yoko Says No,

Something’s Brewing, the Bryan Fox Duo, the Mike Richards Duo and Oren Polak. In CountrySide, O’Faolain’s plans a five-day bash featuring its Wednesday pub quiz night, a whiskey dinner on Thursday, performances by Mostly Irish and Dad Guys on Friday, and viewing of the Guinness Six Nation final day rugby games and some more Mostly Irish on Saturday. On Sunday, the party moves out to the Guinness tent on the patio for a long day and night of celebration. In Ashburn, Finnegan’s Grill plans to get the day off to a special start with a 9 a.m. performance by Adam Tianello, a bagpiper who performs with the U.S. Air Force Band’s Ceremonial Brass. He’s also scheduled to perform at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Members of the Southern Academy of Irish Dance perform Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Live mu-

sic is planned all day Sunday with two sets each by Joe Bernui, David Thong and Britton James. Before there was a Spanky’s Pub, O’Faolain’s or Finnegan’s, the region’s St. Patrick’s Day thirst was quenched by The Old Brogue in Great Falls. Those who venture to that traditional haunt will find a familiar face on stage. Loudoun’s Ted Garber has been playing marathon shows there on the Irish holiday for the past 17 years. He adds that up to more than 200 hours of stage time. Garber will be back on the stage starting at 1 p.m. and keep the crowd singing along until last call. While those venues boast Irish roots, scores of other area bars, wineries and breweries have special programs on tap for the popular holiday. For a full listing of those options, go to getoutloudoun.com.

Justin Trawick and The Common Good

The Little Roy and Lizzy Show

Brooklyn Rider

Friday, March 15, 8 p.m. B Chord Brewing Company bchordbrewing.com

Saturday, March 16, 7 p.m. Lucketts Community Center luckettsbluegrass.org

Electric Lynne Orchestra:

THE ELO SHOW!

03/29/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

Hot Picks

THE ULTIMATE AC/DC EXPERIENCE:

live wire

03/30/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

DANCE-A-PALOOZA III LOWDOWN’S BIGGEST DANCE PARTY FOR CHARITY - LAWS 04/06/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

PHIL VASSAR 04/11/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

Sunday, March 17, 4 p.m. Waterford Old School waterfordconcertseries.org

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

Contributed

Loudoun Historic Village Alliance Chairwoman Madeline Skinner (Philomont), Catherine Amelink (Aldie), Ard Geller (Lincoln), Patrick Ryan (Taylorstown), Kim Hurst (Bluemont), Vice Chairman Peter Weeks (Bluemont), Cheryl Hutchison (Aldie), Martha Polkey (Lucketts) Margaret Good (Waterford) and Richard Rogers (Waterford) met on March 6 to discuss Loudoun 2040.

the two groups, Skinner said they’ll be joining forces and holding joint meetings “as often as needed.” Weeks said that the alliance and COLT are also preparing a presentation for the Board of Supervisors that will further reveal their opposition to certain language in Envision Loudoun. “There’s a natural alliance [with COLT],” he said. Hillsboro Mayor Roger Vance, who attended the alliance’s first meeting to provide members with an understanding of COLT’s function and goals, said that Loudoun’s seven towns “welcome and encourage the villages to join together” and that COLT would be “very supportive” of the alliance. Moving forward, the alliance is welcoming Loudoun communities, specifically residents in other historic rural

villages, to become members as long as they’re represented by a 501c3. There are more than 25 similar communities, including Airmont, Morrisonville, Neersville, Paeonian Springs, St. Louis, Stumptown, White Pump and Willisville. Moreover, the alliance is working to attract the attention of the Board of Supervisors and Loudoun residents as much as possible leading up to the board’s tentative July 2 vote to adopt Loudoun 2040. “Anything we can do to try to save this landscape is incredibly important,” Skinner said.

All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-

9753.

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

pszabo@loudounnow.com

Employment 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.

Attention Loudoun County!

Regular Full-Time Positions Position

Department

Salary Range

Closing Date

Certified Police Officer (VA DCJS)

Police

$53,233-$96,835 DOQ

Open until filled

Groundskeeper

Parks and Recreation

$42,767-$73,221 DOQ

Open until filled

Utility Plant Technician Trainee or Utility Plant Technician

Utilities

$42,767-$79,129 DOQ

Open until filled

Position

Department

Hourly Rate

Closing Date

Library Associate

Thomas Balch Library

$21.93-$37.55 DOQ

Open until filled

Position

Department

Hourly Rate

Closing Date

GIS Intern

Utilities

$15.00

Open until filled

Maintenance Worker

Utilities

$15.00

Open until filled

Position

Department

Hourly Rate

Closing Date

Maintenance Worker

Public Works and Capital Projects

$15.00

Open until filled

Flexible Part-Time Position

Summer Part-Time Positions

Temporary Part-Time Position

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.

Home Instead Senior Care is looking for caring and compassionate CAREGivers to become a part of our team and join our mission of enhancing the lives of aging adults throughout the Loudoun County community. Home Instead provides a variety of non-medical services that allow seniors to remain in their home and meet the challenges of aging with dignity, care and compassion.

Why should you join Home Instead Senior Care? • Very rewarding - meet wonderful people, build fulfilling relationships, and make a difference in the lives of our clients. • Paid training in healthcare-industrybest practices. • Flexible scheduling - perfect for retirees, stay-at-home moms, or students. • Great supplemental income

Call us today at 703.530.1360 or visit homeinstead.com/507/ home-care-jobs to begin!

<< FROM 1 week. Each meeting includes an overarching discussion on ways to push back on some of Loudoun 2040’s draft policies. Because the alliance also discusses and works to solve specific issues affecting individual villages, such as possible increased traffic and development, it doubles as a support mechanism. “If there’s something that needs to be done as we’re working on the Comprehensive Plan, that will be done,” said Madeline Skinner, the alliance’s chairwoman and the head of the soon-to-be Philomont Village Foundation nonprofit. Alliance members have discussed in detail multiple incidences of low well water levels among Waterford residents, the Board of Supervisors’ drive to demolish three historic buildings to build a $19 million, 18,000-square-foot firehouse in Aldie, and the county’s past discussions of closing the Lincoln Elementary School to save money. “[Lincoln Elementary is] always on the endangered list—it’s an ongoing issue,” Weeks said. The alliance’s efforts to stay involved in the Comprehensive Plan rewrite and to work as a team to sort through specific village issues are what make it so similar to the Coalition of Loudoun Towns—the group of Loudoun’s seven mayors that’s working to accomplish the same goals. With a mirrored mission between

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

March 14, 2019

Loudoun villages

March 14, 2019

Employment DID YOU KNOW? Proper application of mulch is crucial to plant health and pre-emergent (applied before mulching) will help prevent future weeds!

Schedule a spring clean-up today!

Wanted: Office Manager/Bookkeeper

www.EplingLandscaping.com

Lawn Care / Maintenance / Mowing

Job Description • Maintains office services in conjunction with management and staff • Keeps management informed through identifying needs and providing a summarization of reports • Must understand and know Microsoft Office and Quickbooks, being familiar with both accrual and cash methodology • Responsible for A/R, A/P, payroll, billing and resolution of billing issues • Familiar with yearly creating and maintaining yearly budgets • Oversees office policies and procedures

Requirements

30 Years • 18 Trucks • 35 Professionals • 750+ Properties

• Minimum 2 years office experience and 3 years bookkeeping experience • Excellent verbal and written communication skills • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, both individually and within a team • Mature judgment and level of discretion

Benefits • Paid vacation and holidays • Health Insurance • 401K Plan

Please send resumes to: wayne@eplinglandscaping.com or 540-554-8228

PART-TIME OFFICE ASSISTANT W/QUICKBOOKS EXPERIENCE NEEDED Office in Historic Leesburg seeks an Office Assistant who: • Is able to work independently in a small business environment • Has at least one year of QuickBooks and general office experience • Has bookkeeping, reception, and administrative office skills • Has good verbal and written communication skills • Is eager to learn and grow with the position • The successful candidate would be available to work approximately 4 hours per day, 5 days a week, and would be comfortable joining a team of innovative, highly intelligent software engineers. To apply, email jobs@imagemattersllc. com No phone calls or visits please. Image Matters LLC is a federal contractor, and as such, will give all qualified applicants consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

Busy family practice in Lansdowne, VA seeking a full time LPN or MA. Pediatric and or family practice experience preferred. EHR experience highly recommended. We offer 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.

Greenhouse Help Wanted

Ellmore’s Garden Center Must have drivers license and vehicle.

Call 540-338-7760

Now Hiring Experienced Auto Technician Job Description: • Be able to repair or replace worn parts and systems such as spark plugs, wheel bearings, brakes, fuel systems, sensors, timing belts, etc. • Test systems and individual parts to ensure proper working and/or evaluate degree of damage. • Identify mechanical and electrical problems with computerized diagnostic equipment. • Must have your own tools. • Great payment - according to experience.

To apply or schedule an interview, Email: leesburgautoservice@gmail.com Call: (703) 777-6232 Visit the Shop: 306 Industrial Ct. • Leesburg, VA 20175

FULL-TIME HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Purcellville, VA

Required: Bachelor’s Degree and/or 3 yrs related exp. PHR certification desired. See website for complete job description. Apply Online: www.vatransit.org. Questions: Call (877)-777-2708 EOE/M/F/D/V

Loudoun Now Employment Ads Post your job, get responses.

Mailed weekly to over 42,000 households. Online Always.

703-770-9723 Wake up with

LoudounNow

Start your day with the Morning Minute podcast.

We've got you covered.

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION 7.10 (CRESCENT DESIGN DISTRICT) TO INCREASE AVAILABLE MODIFICATIONS IN THE DISTRICT

The Lovettsville Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the following item at their meeting at 7:30 pm on March 20, 2019 at the Lovettsville Town Office located at 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue: LVZA 2018-0003 Zoning Ordinance Amendment to Section 42-2 (Definitions)

1. Definitions are added for the terms: Business incubator center; Camp, day or boarding; Conditional use; Drive-through facility; Duplex; Dwelling; semi-independent; Frontage, lot; Garage, parking or parking structure; Retail or production nurseries and greenhouses; Secondhand store; Spa; and Stable, private. 2. Definitions are deleted for the terms: Boardinghouse; Cellar; Dwelling, group; Dwelling, two-family; Garage, communal; Garage, public; Garden apartment; Health official; Lot, irregular; Professional office; Recreational vehicle; Roominghouse or lodginghouse; Story, half; Structure, outdoor advertising; Tourist home; and Travel trailer. 3. Definitions for the following separate terms are consolidated into single definitions: Automobile graveyard or junkyard; Construction or development; and Dwelling or dwelling unit. 4. Definitions for the following terms are substantively amended as follows: a. Bed and breakfast homestay: Amended to mean a business providing overnight lodging accommodations to transient guests, and which contains less than three (3) guest room or suites in an owner-occupied, single-family dwelling or detached accessory building. b. Bed and breakfast inn or bed and breakfast: Amended to mean a business providing overnight lodging accommodations to transient guests, and which contains no less than three (3) and no more than twelve (12) guest rooms or suites. c. Country inn: Amended to mean a business providing overnight lodging accommodations to transient guests and meals to guests and walk-in customers, and which contains more than twelve (12) guest rooms or suites. d. Hotel and motel: The definition of hotel is amended to mean a building providing temporary lodging to transient persons for compensation, having access to rooms primarily from interior lobbies, courts, or halls, which may include additional services such as restaurants, entertainment, and indoor commercial recreational facilities, and which contains more than twelve (12) guest rooms or suites. The definition of Motel is amended to distinguish motels from hotels such that, in the case of the former, direct independent access to, and adjoining parking for, each guest room is provided. 5. The remaining definitions in Section 42-2 are amended as needed for clarity and comprehensiveness. The proposed zoning amendment is available for review at the Town Office between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm during weekdays or by special appointment, holidays excepted. Call (540) 822-5788 for more information or contact Joshua A. Bateman, Planning Director at jbateman@lovettsvilleva.gov. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened on the next regularly-scheduled meeting at the same time and place. March 7 & March 14

ABC LICENSE Real Pie Bakers, LLC, trading as Broody Mary and the Morning Star, 12226 Harpers Ferry Rd, Purcellville, VA 20132-2606 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Farm Winery and Limited Brewery license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Mary Ellen Diaz 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. 03/14/19 & 03/21/19

ABC LICENSE Wal Mart Stores East LP, trading as Walmart 1904, 19360 Compass Creek Pkwy, Leesburg, Virginia 20175 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine and Beer Off Premises/Keg Permit license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Andrea Lazenby, Secretary 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. 03/14/19 & 03/21/19

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 21, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 W. Market Street, Leesburg VA 20176 to consider the following: Amendments to various subsections of Zoning Ordinance Section 7.10 Crescent Design (CD) District to permit additional 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 are not limited to: 1.

Increase the number of building stories (but no increase in maximum building height); 2. Building setbacks adjacent to residential uses and property lines; 3. Percentage of building frontage on the required Build-to Line; 4. Permit utilization of B-1 parking standards and tandem parking; 5. Street access requirements; 6. Allow uses to be added to the use list of a district; 7. Specify that Town Council shall have authority to decide on all modification requests as part of a rezoning or special exception; and 8. Limit the availability of these proposed modifications to legislative applications. Copies and additional information regarding 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-2019-0003. 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. 3/7/19 & 3/14/19

Town of Hillsboro NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT the Town Council of the Town of Hillsboro will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at the Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro, VA 20132, on the necessity of condemning or otherwise acquiring certain legal interests from John A. Robic from the properties identified as 36923 Charles Town Pike with GPIN 517201407000; and parcels identified as GPIN 517299104, 517299016 and 517299808; for purposes of constructing a certain project known as Route 9 Traffic Calming & Pedestrian Improvements Project as depicted on plans entitled Charles Town Pike (Rte.9) Traffic Calming dated January 21, 2019 prepared by Volkert that are available for review at Town Hall, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro, VA 20132. All persons interested are encouraged to attend and speak during the public hearing. Persons requiring special assistance should contact Christi Maple, Town Recorder at recorder@ hillsborova.gov so that accommodations can be provided. In the case of inclement weather, the public hearing will take place on Friday March 29, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at the same location. 03/14/19, & 03/21/19

LoudounNow.com

Consideration of an amendment to Article I (In General), Section 42-2 (Definitions) in order to add, delete, and modify the definitions of certain terms used in the zoning ordinance. The amendment is described in greater detail below:

March 14, 2019

Notice of Public Hearing Town of Lovettsville Planning Commission

March 14, 2019

Legal Notices NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL The Lovettsville Town Council will hold a public hearing on the following item at their meeting at 7:30 pm on March 28, 2018 at the Lovettsville Town Office located at 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue:

Ordinance to Expand the Boundaries of the Frye Court Service District Consideration of an ordinance to expand the boundaries of the Frye Court Service District for the purpose of adding fourteen (14) parcels created in 2018 by the subdivision of land owned by Timothy E. and James M. Keena, also known as the Keena Subdivision. The Frye Court Service District was created by ordinance in 2003 for the purpose of establishing a special tax on the properties directly served by the Frye Court Sanitary Sewer Pump Station to ensure that the maintenance, inspection, repair and replacement needs of the pump station would be adequately funded by the properties directly served thereby. The additional parcels that will be directly served by the pump station are:

Notice of Public Hearing Town of Lovettsville Planning Commission The Lovettsville Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the following items at their meeting at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at the Lovettsville Town Office located at 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue: LVCP 2019-0001: Amendment to the 2011 Comprehensive Plan for Properties Recently Annexed by the Town of Lovettsville Consideration of an amendment to the adopted 2011 Comprehensive Plan of the Town of Lovettsville as previously amended in 2017 and 2018. Pursuant to Section 15.2-2223 of the Code of Virginia, the Lovettsville Planning Commission has initiated amendments to the comprehensive plan necessary to add three parcels of land owned by the Lovettsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company to the Land Use Plan and Transportation Plan. These three parcels of land are the same three properties annexed by the Town by simple boundary line adjustment in November of 2018. Proposed revisions to specific sections of the plan include: Map 4: Land Use Plan: Amended as follows (category descriptions are found in Table 3 on Page 44): a. The area corresponding to the planned future locations of the Lovettsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Station and the Town elevated water tank is designated (i.e. planned) for future “Public/Governmental” uses; b. The area corresponding to the existing Lovettsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Station and the remaining property frontage along Route 287 (Berlin Turnpike) is designated (i.e. planned) for “General Commercial” uses;

STREET ADDRESS:

TAX MAP #:

PIN #:

22 East Pennsylvania Avenue

//9/H/1/////7/

334-45-5525-000

23 East Pennsylvania Avenue

//9/H/1/////2/

334-45-6435-000

24 East Pennsylvania Avenue

//9/H/1/////8/

334-45-5617-000

26 East Pennsylvania Avenue

//9/H/1/////9/

334-45-6012-000

6 Frye Court

//9/H/1////10/

334-45-6908-000

8 Frye Court

//9/H/1////11/

334-45-6304-000

b. Streetscape and street improvement projects for which policies were added to Chapter 6: Transportation in 2018 are added to the map;

12 Frye Court

//9/H/1////12/

334-45-5800-000

c. The map is updated to include streets planned in 2017 which have since been constructed; and

14 Frye Court

//9/H/1////13/

334-45-5396-000

Keena Subdivision Lot 14

//9/H/1////14/

334-45-4792-000

3 Stone Jail Street

//9/H/1////16/

334-45-4207-000

5 Stone Jail Street

//9/H/1////15/

334-45-4602-000

4 Stone Jail Street

//9/H/1////23/

334-45-2493-000

6 Stone Jail Street

//9/H/1////22/

334-35-2888-000

8 Stone Jail Street

//9/H/1////21/

334-35-3185-000

The proposed ordinance and map are available for review at the Town Office between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm during weekdays or by special appointment, holidays excepted. Call (540) 822-5788 for more information or contact Joshua A. Bateman, Planning Director and Zoning Administrator at jbateman@lovettsvilleva.gov. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened on the next regularly-scheduled meeting at the same time and place. 02/28/19, 03/07/19, & 03/14/19

c. The area corresponding to the property frontage along Lutheran Church Road is designated (i.e. planned) for “Commercial Transitional” uses; and d. The remaining area of land which does not have frontage on an existing public street is designated (i.e. planned) for “Light Industrial” uses. Map 6: Transportation Plan: Amended as follows: a. The proposed extension of the shared-use trail on South Berlin Pike is added to the map showing that it will be extended to the new southern corporate limits of the Town;

d. Sections of sidewalk and shared-use trail constructed since 2017 are added to the map. LVCP 2019-0002: Amendment to the 2011 Comprehensive Plan for Properties Owned by the Lovettsville Game Protective Association (LGPA) Consideration of an amendment to the adopted 2011 Comprehensive Plan of the Town of Lovettsville as previously amended in 2017 and 2018. Pursuant to Section 15.2-2223 of the Code of Virginia, the Lovettsville Planning Commission has initiated amendments to the comprehensive plan necessary to amend Map 4 (Land Use Plan) as it pertains to the two parcels of land owned by the Lovettsville Game Protective Association (i.e. the “Game Club”) located at 16 South Berlin Pike. Currently, the two parcels are designated (i.e. planned) for “Low-Density Residential” uses. The proposed amendment would amend the designation of the area of the property corresponding to the existing baseball field to “Private Open Space” and the designation of the remaining area of the property, including the existing Game Club assembly building, to “Public/Governmental/Civic.” In addition, the proposed amendment amends the Land Use Plan category description for “Public/Governmental” uses in Table 3 (Page 45) to include private, not-for-profit community service and civic organizations such as the Game Club. The proposed comprehensive plan amendment is available for review at the Town Office between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm during weekdays or by special appointment, holidays excepted. Call (540) 822-5788 for more information or contact the Planning Director & Zoning Administrator at jbateman@ lovettsvilleva.gov. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened on the next regularly-scheduled meeting at the same time and place. 03/07/19 & 03/14/19

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE MIDDLEBURG PLANNING COMMISSION The Middleburg Planning Commission will hold a public hearing beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 25, 2019 to hear public comments on the following: Comprehensive Plan Amendment 18-01 Privately filed request of P. Daniel Orlich for amendments to the Town of Middleburg, Virginia Comprehensive Plan 2005 (revised August 2007). The request entails a number of elements, including: 1.

Proposing the Land Use section of the Plan to be amended to add an action suggesting the Zoning Ordinance in turn be amended to include a specific definition for “Independent Living.”

Proposing the Land Use section of the Plan to be amended to add an action suggesting the Zoning Ordinance in turn be amended to add Independent Living as a Special Exception Use in the Agricultural Conservancy District. The language would further require the use to be located on a parcel with a min. size of 15 acres and with frontage on Washington St. Density, setbacks and other “developmental details” would be determined in the special exception process (not by specific standards set forth in the Zoning Ordinance).

Proposing deletion of existing language in the Land Use section of the Plan pertaining to limitation on units in assisted living, independent living apartments and universal design cottages. The hearing will take place at the Town Office, 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia; full and complete copies of the application documents may be reviewed there from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. Questions may be directed to the Deputy Town Administrator at (540) 687-5152 or by email at wmoore@middleburgva.gov The Town of Middleburg strives to make its hearings accessible to all. Please advise of accommodations the Town can make to help you participate in the hearing. 3/7/19 & 3/14/19

Legal Notices

[OBITUARY]

The Town of Leesburg requests proposals for architectural and engineering design services for expansion of the Leesburg Police Station. Proposals shall be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m., Thursday, March 28, 2019, to Mr. Thomas Brandon, Manager, Office of Capital Projects, Town of Leesburg, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176. All proposals must indicate RFP title, number and proposal date on the external shipping material. All questions regarding this request for proposal must be received in writing by email at CapitalBidQuestions@leesburgva.gov until but no later than 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 19, 2019. Interested Offerors should download a copy of the RFP from the bid board on the Town’s website: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard and may be obtained beginning Thursday, February 28, 2019. Contact Cindy Steyer at 703737-2302 or csteyer@leesburgva.gov with questions about obtaining these documents. All addenda issued for this project will only be posted on the Town’s bid board and eVA (https://eva.virginia.gov). Thomas Brandon, Manager Office of Capital Projects 03/07/19 & 03/14/19

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING SETTING TAX RATES ON REAL PROPERTY FOR TAX YEAR 2019 AND AMENDING LEESBURG TOWN CODE, APPENDIX B – FEE SCHEDULE (SECTIONS 20-22; 11-111) In accordance with the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended §§ 15.2-1427, 58.1-3000, 58.1-3007, and 58.1-3200, et seq., the Leesburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on: Tuesday, March 26, 2019, at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA at which time the public shall have the right to present oral and written testimony on the following proposed amendments to the Leesburg Town Code: •

•

The Town Manager proposes an increase of tax rates for real property for tax year 2019 by $0.01 ($0.194 per $100 of assessed value) • Real estate and manufactured or mobile homes = $0.194 • Real estate for public service corporations = $0.194 Appendix B – Fee Schedule (Sec. 11-111. Ida Lee Recreation Center fees / A.V. Symington Aquatic Center fees). Deleting this section from the fee schedule. Fees for Ida Lee Recreation Center and A.V. Symington Aquatic Center are captured on the Town’s Parks and Recreation web page.

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. 3/14/19, 3/21/19

Lorraine Beryl Young Fox Lorraine Beryl Young Fox (Lorrie), the President and CEO of Capital Home Health Care, died peacefully on February 7, 2019 at the age of 71 in Fort Myers, Florida. Lorraine is survived by her husband, Warren Fox; one child, Jessica Maroni; her step-children, Meryl Tseng and Jeremy Fox; her grandchildren, Chelsea Cupp, Bruce Shumway, Matthew Shumway, Sydney Van Orden, Cole Van

Resource Directory LoudounNow Classifieds | In the mail weekly.

Online always. | 703-770-9723 | loudounnow.com

Accounting/Taxes 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

Barber www.ashburnbarbershop.com

703-798-3590 OR 301-340-2951 www.beatsonlaw.com

BOBCAT Bobcat

CLEANING SERVICE Cleaning

* Bobcat Services * * Gravel Driveway Repair *

Br am

hall Trucking

540-822-9011

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

Let us heLp you carry your Load!

Cleaning Customized Special Cleaning Every Time!

SPECIAL CLEANING SERVICE Weekly • Bi-weekly Monthly or Just One Time! FREE ESTIMATES GREAT REFERENCES! Call Maria Today!

703.477.1228

CallMariaToday@gmail.com

Residential and Commercial Excellent reference - Reasonable rates Free in home estimates Family Owned and Operated Licensed, Insured & Bonded 703-901-9142 www.cbmaids.com cleanbreakcleaningcompany@gmail.com

ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES FOR EXPANSION OF THE LEESBURG POLICE STATION RFP NO. 20001-FY19-34

March 14, 2019

TOWN OF LEESBURG, VIRGINIA REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

Orden, Isabella (Gracie) Smith, Alex Tseng, Madeline Tseng, and Birdie Fox; Great grandchildren, Tristin Williams and Serena Shumway. She is predeceased by her daughter, Beth Coefield. Lorraine was born in New York on October 22, 1947 to Betty Mullen and Jack Young. She graduated from Roosevelt Hospital School of Nursing in 1967. On October 23, 1991, she married Warren Fox and was happily married for 27 years. When she wasn’t working, she enjoyed traveling and spending time with her family and her dogs. She will be deeply missed by her friends, family, and all who knew her. A memorial service is scheduled for March 26th, 2019 at 1:00pm. It will be held at Loudoun Funeral Chapel, 158 Catoctin Circle SE, Leesburg, VA 20175. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. Please share condolences with the family www.LoudounFuneralChapel.com

March 14, 2019

Resource Directory LoudounNow Classifieds | In the mail weekly. Online always. | 703-770-9723 | loudounnow.com Cleaning R&D Cleaning Service, LLC Residential - Commercial Move In/Out - Carpet Cleaning

Excellent References - Reasonable Rates Licensed & Insured - FREE ESTIMATE

CALL MARLENE

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

CONSTRUCTION Construction

Cleaning

R&D Cleaning Service LLC RDCleaningservice.com

CONSTRUCTION Construction

Evenezer Cleaning Services, llc RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL

C ustom C onstruCtion A dditions • r epAirs Blue Ridge Remodeling, Inc.

LICENSED/INSURED/BONDED Quality Service at a Great Price!

30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

540-668-6522

*Good References * Reasonable Prices *Satisfaction Guaranteed * Free Estimates phone: 571.206.2875 email: evenezerservices69@yahoo.com • We Go Green!

CONSTRUCTION Construction

0 OFF

www.brrinc.net

• DRIVEWAYS • EXPOSED AGGREGATE • PATIOS • FOOTINGS • SLABS • STAMPED CONCRETE • SIDEWALKS

Purcellville, VA

Since 1976 • Free Estimates Licensed & Insured

Free Estimates

lean

First C

Ph: 703-437-3822 • Cell: 703-795-5621

Construction

LOUDOUN

Kenny Williams Construction, Inc. * Decks & Screen Porches * Additions * Fences * Garages * Finished Basements * Deck Repairs Free Estimates

703-771-8727

CONSTRUCTION GROUP

Licensed & Insured

Finished Basement - Custom Audio/Visual Rooms General Painting - Kitchen & Bath Remodels Finish Carpentry - Sunrooms & Decks General Handyman Services - References Available

Loudoun-Construction.com | Leesburg, VA

HANDYMAN Decks

Baker’s

Licensed • Insured • bonded

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING ROTTED WOOD REPAIR DECKS • BASEMENTS • KITCHENS • BATHS BASEMENT FINISHING & REMODELING

Garage Doors GARAGE DOORS

EXCAVATING Excavating

Loving Fence

NEW INSTALLATION, REPAIRS & PAINTING

Licensed & Insured Contractor who performs “Handyman Services, Rental & Re-sale Turnovers“ Taking orders for spring deck projects *We Accept ALL Major Cards* 571-439-5576

BOBCAT SERVICES LICENSED & INSURED

WESLEY LOVING 1824 HARMONY CHURCH RD HAMILTON, VA 20158

jbremodeling22@gmail.com

Glass Replacement

C2 Operations offers Professional Exterior, Siding, Gutters and Window/Door Services and Repair throughout Loudoun Co and NoVA. Services Include Gutter Replacement • Gutter Repairs • Gutter Screens Leaf Relief Screens • Microguard Screens Copper Gutters • Custom Gutters

All types of glass replacement Residential • Commercial • Auto Broken & Fogged Windows Repaired

571-420-2637 16988 Highland Cr, Paeonian Springs, VA 20129

HANDYMAN Handyman

Perm, Haircut for women, men, and children

9 Fort Evans Rd. NE, Leesburg, VA 20176

(703) 443-1237

Credited upon Acceptance

Please call KELLY for an appointment.

FREE HAIRCUT

Junk Removal

General Contractor

Residential, Farm & Commercial Junk Removal Services, Rolloff Dumpster Services.

Paint & Stain LLC Fully Licensed & Insured Save 50% when you provide your own supplies Excellent References FREE Estimates • Serving DC, VA & MD TEL (202) 910-6083 • CELL (571) 243-9417 paintandstain61@yahoo.com www.paintandstains.com full ins & worker’s comp

703.651.6677

HANDYMAN Handyman Carpentry • Finished Basements Plumbing • Kitchens • Electrical Bathrooms • Tiling Projects Small Additions • Decks

Call Brendan 703-402-0183

With any Color or Hightlights (New clients only)

Handyman

We perform the job you need, when you need it, and at the price that you can afford.

*SDVOSB* c2operations.com

Handyman Services 30 Years Experienced

PROFESSIONAL COLOR AND FOIL HIGHLIGHT PROM, BRIDAL, MAKEUP, UPDO

Landfill Friendly We Donate & Recycle

HAULING

Licensed and Insured

540-454-0415 | PACKRATHAULING.COM

540-338-9580 LOVINGFENCE@AOL.COM

Gutters

Hackney Glass LLC

Hair Salon HAIR SALON

Fencing

Painting & Remodeling

Serving Northern Virginia area for over 10 years.

Class A Contractor

Cell: 571-213-0850 571-235-8304

GENERAL CONTRACTORS

www.kennywilliamsconstruction.com

Serving Loudoun County for 35 years.

Francisco Rojo

LANDSCAPING Landscaping C.L.L.

CORUM’S LAWN & LANDSCAPING • Lawn Maintanence • Landscape & Hardscape • Tree Service • Drainage Solutions • Bobcat Services Senior & Neighborhood Discounts

James Corum (540) 347-3930 or (540) 905-0706 www.corumslandscaping.com

info@c2operations.com

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

Licensed, Bonded & Insured | References Available

Land Clearing Veterans LLC

Lovettsville, VA Veteran Owned & Operated VA, MD & WV Residential & Commercial

Forestry Mulching Land & Brush Clearing 703-718-6789 major@veteransllc.us www.veteransllc.us

Resource Directory

LAWN CARE Lawn Care

Locating Services

Lawn Care

General Yard/Storm Clean-Up, Mowing, Mulching,Weedeating, Bush Trimming, Garden Tilling and more

Licensed & Insured

Bret Flynn, Owner (703) 727-9826

Masonry

UNDERGROUND LOCATING with Ground Radar • Utilities • Septic Systems • Graves • Sinkholes www.geomodel.com • 703-777-9788

North’s Custom Masonry Retaining & Decorative Walls • Stonework Fire pits, Fireplaces & Chimneys, Repointing Brick Concrete and paver driveways

WINTER SPECIAL

20% Discount on Paver Patios & Walkways

Call Brian 540-533-8092

Angie’s list member

ﬂynnslawnmaintenance@gmail.com

Painting

Upgrade your Resource Directory advertisement with an “Enhanced Listing” online!

Call Ashley today for details and incentives!

Realty Services

Interior & Exterior

More Than 20 Years of Experience FREE ESTIMATES

(703) 597-6163

AngelOchoa1103@Yahoo.com

(703) 770-9723

Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/OchoasPainting

Roofing

Basement Finishing Bathroom & Kitchen Remodeling Granite/Marble Installation Interior/Exterior Carpentry Crown Molding Rotted Wood Repair/ Replacement Hardwood Floor Installation, Sanding & Refinishing Carpet Installation Power Washing

ROOFING • SIDING WINDOWS • GUTTERS Roof Repairs · New Roofs· Siding Repairs/Replacement Skylight Repairs/Replacement · Flat Roofs Cedar Shakes · Wood Trim Replacement Flashing Repairs · Ventilation Systems · Attic Insulation No Job Too Small · Owner Supervised Emergency 24 Hour Repairs

Over 12,750 Satisfied Customers

VA Class A lic# 2705-028844A

703-615-8727 | hudsonroofingco@aol.com | FREE Estimates Siding

General Contractor 571-505-5565 ∙ WWW.AQSCONTRACTING.COM Full Remodeling Bathrooms Class A. Basements Additions Licensed Kitchens General Repairs

We perform the job you need, when you need it, and at the price that you can afford.

*SDVOSB* c2operations.com

703.651.6677

info@c2operations.com

Licensed in Virginia #0225020865

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

• Tree Removal • Lot Clearing • SPECIAL • Pruning • Trimming • Clean Up • 25% OFF WITH THIS •Deadlimbing • Uplift Trees • AD! • Grading • Private Fencing • • Masonry Work • Grading Driveways •

Your Complete Tree & Landscaping Company Honest & Dependable Serv. • 24 Hr. Emerg. Serv. Satisfaction Guaranteed

(540) 533-8092

Lic./Ins. • Free Estimates • Angie’s List Member • BBB

Roofing C2 Operations offers Professional Exterior, Siding, Gutters and Window/Door Services and Repair throughout Loudoun Co and NoVA. Services Include Asphalt Shingles • Cedar Shingles/Shakes • Metal Roofing Slate Roof • Flat Roofing • Roof Maintenance Skylights • Attic Insulation We perform the job you need, when you need it, and at the price that you can afford.

*SDVOSB* c2operations.com

703.651.6677

Expert Tree Service C2 Operations offers Professional Exterior, Siding, Gutters and Window/Door Services and Repair throughout Loudoun Co and NoVA. Services Include Siding Repairs • Siding Replacements James Hardie Siding • Vinyl Siding Trim Capping • Insulation

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

Tree Experts For Over 30 Years Family Owned & Operated SPRING

Roof Repair

Roof Inspections Insurance Claims Storm Damage

30 YEARS Realtor® Associate Broker EXPERIENCE

NORTH’S TREE SERVICE & LANDSCAPING

HUDSON ROOFING COMPANY 10% OFF Valid With Coupon

Richard Hamilton

TREERemoval REMOVAL Tree

Remodeling

Over 30 Years Experience We Take Pride in Our Craftsmanship

Free estimates, BBB, Lic/Ins.

info@c2operations.com

Video Production

Expert Tree & Stump Removal Hes Company, LLC Winter Special 15% off

HOA Maintenance • Tree Planting • Lot Clearing • Storm Damage Pruning • Trimming • Crowning •Spring Clean Up • Mulch 703-203-8853 • JohnQueirolo1@gmail.com www.hescompanyllc.com 18 Liberty Street SW

Licensed & Insured • Member Angie’s List & BBB Affordable • All Major Credit Cards Accepted

Windows, Floors Floors && Power PowerWashing Washing

Windows/Doors C2 Operations offers Professional Exterior, Siding, Gutters and Window/Door Services and Repair throughout Loudoun Co and NoVA. Services Include Window Replacements • Door Replacements Vinyl Windows • Provia Windows and Doors Low/E Windows • Custom Doors • Trim Capping We perform the job you need, when you need it, and at the price that you can afford.

*SDVOSB* c2operations.com

703.651.6677

info@c2operations.com

POTOMAC WINDOW CLEANING CO.

Window Cleaning: Inside & Outside • By Hand • Residential Specialist Power Washing: No Damage, Low Pressure. Soft Brushing by Hand Removes Dirt on Brick, Concrete, Wood & Siding

CHASE FLOOR WAXING SERVICE

Buffing & Polishing - Waxing-All Types of Floors All work done by hand using old fashioned paste wax method. No Dust - No Sanding - We work on all floor types.

Working Owners Assures Quality & Knowledgable Workmanship

Family Owned & Operated

(703) 356-4459

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

Flynn’s Lawn Maintenance

March 14, 2019

LoudounNow Classifieds | In the mail weekly. Online always. | 703-770-9723 | loudounnow.com

[ OPINION ]

March 14, 2019

(Still) Your Chance In this space in October 2016, we first urged county residents to play an active role in the development of Loudoun’s next comprehensive plan. The pitch went like this: “Early next month, as our attention turns away from the election battles, county leaders will kick off the public participation element of the county’s comprehensive plan rewrite dubbed “Envision Loudoun,” the 18-month-long program will lay out the policies to guide the community’s development over the next couple of decades. Work that was done in similar exercises in the early 1990s and again in the early 2000s is largely responsible for the Loudoun we enjoy today. The still-open countryside, a fairly functional road network, the emergence of multi-use town centers, and rail service to Ashburn are among today’s features that can be traced back to the debates of those eras. What will it be like to live in Loudoun in 2040? That is what this new discussion is all about.” Well, the process is now in its third year and the election rhetoric is heating back up, but your participation is just as important. Next week, the proposed plan moves from the debate among

[ LETTERS ]

members of advisory bodies to the desk of the decision makers. This is the final step in the process that will set the course of community development in Loudoun County for the next generation. There is still a chance for you to get involved. The reasons haven’t changed: “Here are some reasons you should: There is a loud data center being built next to my home. I hate sitting in traffic on Waxpool Road. I want to build a brewery on my farm, but my neighbors don’t want me to. My neighbors want to open a country inn, but I don’t want them to. I want my kids to be able to live nearby. I want to be able to retire here affordably. I want more things to do locally with my family. There are hundreds of other daily quality-of-life issues that will be influenced by the work that will be done around planning tables in the months ahead.” After receiving the proposed plan from the Planning Commission, the Board of Supervisors will have 90 days to adopt their new vision. The last opportunity for formal comment will be during public hearings scheduled for Wednesday, April 24 and Saturday, April 27.

Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC 15 N. King St., Suite 101 • Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 • Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723 Norman K. Styer Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com

Margaret Morton Senior Writer mmorton@loudounnow.com

Advertising Director Susan Styer sstyer@loudounnow.com

Renss Greene, Reporter rgreene@loudounnow.com

Douglas Graham, Photographer dgraham@loudounnow.com

Display Advertising Tonya Harding tharding@loudounnow.com

Patrick Szabo, Reporter pszabo@loudounnow.com Jan Mercker, Reporter jmerker@loudounnow.com

Editor: The recent Underground Railroad activity held at Madison Trust Elementary caused a lot of uproar. During coverage, it was revealed by one publication that Loudoun school curriculum has replaced the term “slaves” with “enslaved people” in the interest of sensitivity. And, while the broader push for political correctness may be in quest of a polite society, the efforts are making us more fragile. For starters, there’s no way to humanize slavery. Softening the verbiage is an injustice to all those who endured it. Second, the idea should cause discomfort. People were chained and sold as property. Here and in every facet of history, we’re not doing anyone a service trying to revise it. I have ancestors who were slaves and those who were slave-owners. The

words should convey the true conditions of that era, reminding us how far we’ve come. This speaks to our growing affair with censorship, which has actually made it in vogue to be offended. The more acclaim and validation it brings, the more we find offensive. Labeling the Madison incident as “willful ignorance, white privilege, or intentional racism” is remiss. It overlooks the wider use of empathy-building simulations, and the challenge of engaging students. Outside schools have used role-play activities in previous years also covering struggles like the Holocaust, pregnancy, and poverty. Disagreeing with the approach doesn’t mean it’s prejudice. People can’t believe how such events can still happen in Loudoun. I can’t believe how conversation breaks down every time someone cries foul. — Charles Smith, Leesburg

Share Your Views

LoudounNow

Kara C. Rodriguez, Reporter krodriguez@loudounnow.com

In Vogue

Display Advertising Pam Stamper pstamper@loudounnow.com Classified Advertising Ashley Fertig afertig@loudounnow.com

Loudoun Now welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should include the name, address and phone number of the writer and should be a maximum of 500 words. Letters may be sent by email to letters@ loudounnow.com or by mail to PO Box 207, Leesburg, VA 20178.

Start your day with the Morning Minute Podcast

VIEWPOINT

March 14, 2019

BY JOHN ELLIS, HILLSBORO BOARD OF DIRECTORS SAVE RURAL LOUDOUN Loudoun Now’s recent article on the county Board of Supervisors’ debate on potential rural preservation programs (“Supervisors Set to Switch Development Rights Programs,” Feb. 28) quoted several supervisors’ largely negative responses to a proposed Transfer of Development Rights program. Unfortunately, those reactions reflected a number of misperceptions that we must correct. One of the principal concerns raised was that a TDR program might affect the county’s ability to negotiate “proffers” with developers of large suburban properties. TDRs would conserve farms and other open land primarily in the transition and rural areas of the county, while proffers primarily help residents of suburban areas (state law does not allow them in rural areas). Based on the incorrect premise that the two programs cannot co-exist, several supervisors claimed that TDR would only help rural residents and only at the expense of suburban residents. One asked dramatically: “who is standing up for the residents of our suburban districts?” The clear answer to this question is “those who are standing up for TDR and other land conservation programs are, by definition, also standing up for both suburban and rural taxpayers and residents.” The supervisors’ objections to TDR are based on three specific misperceptions. First, they overstate the extent to which proffers would be affected by a well-designed TDR program. Second, they exaggerate the importance of proffers to Loudoun taxpayers and to our suburban residents. Finally, they ignore the tremendous benefits of TDR to residents of both the suburban and rural parts of the county. State law allows the county to design a TDR program that could apply only to industrial developments, such as data centers. This strategy would have no effect on the current practice of requiring legislative approval and proffers for dense residential developments. The county could continue to accept proffers from developers of large residential properties at the same time that it implemented TDR with respect to industrial developments. In fact, the county could also continue to accept proffers from industrial developments that were subject to the TDR program, although the need for industrial proffers might

be lower since they have much less of an impact on roads, schools and other public infrastructure. When worrying about proffers, it is also useful to keep in mind their relatively minor significance relative to the overall cost to taxpayers of building public infrastructure. The county’s current six-year Capital Investment Plan (CIP) calls for over $2 billion in spending on new roads, schools and other projects. During that six-year period, the county expects to receive $46 million in proffers, which will cover less than 3 percent of the total bill. Clearly, that 3 percent will not be the most crucial factor driving our tax bills. The dramatic growth of the county’s capital and other expenditures, on the other hand, is a much more significant issue for our taxpayers. The county’s operating budget increased by an average of 9 percent per year between 1990 and 2015. Ten years ago, the CIP included $7 million for county-funded road-building. In the current CIP, that figure has risen to over $800 million, an increase of more than 11,000 percent. In the county’s FY2020 operating budget, tax-funded debt service on past capital investments exceeds $188 million—12 percent of total expenditures and fourtimes more in one year than the county expects to receive in proffers during the entire six-year period of the CIP. As CIP expenditures continue to grow, rising debt costs will certainly follow. Why is the county’s budget and debt growing so rapidly? Simply because it must keep up with the needs of our rapidly growing population. When the population grows, the County government needs to build more roads to reduce traffic congestion, more schools to educate our children, and more emergency facilities to put out fires and rescue us when injured. And it needs to staff the rapidly expanding schools and other public institutions with employees who can deliver high quality services. What concerned taxpayers should really be focusing on, therefore, is whether the county will continue to allow unconstrained population growth. As things stand, there is no sign that things will change. Under current zoning rules, “by right” development is projected to nearly double our rural residential population over the next twenty years. The Silver Line West project alone would add another 3,700 residences in the east. And the county Planning Commission proposes to double-down on this built-in growth by “up-zoning”

large sections of the Transition Policy Area, including farms and other open spaces, to allow for 22,000 more residences. As it turns out, TDR and other land conservation programs—together with sensible zoning policies—can be highly effective tools for slowing both the growth of the residential population and the county budget. For a small percentage of the amount the county receives in proffers, trying to pick up the pieces after growth has occurred, it could implement land use programs, such as TDR, that constrain growth in the first place. By doing so, it would automatically reduce the future costs to the taxpayer of building more roads, schools and other infrastructure. On a purely financial basis, the benefit:

cost ratio of these programs would be strongly positive. Of course, the advantages of land conservation are not purely financial. All Loudoun residents—including residents of our suburban districts—share the many contributions to our quality of life of preserving land and restraining population growth: including ready access to locally grown food, nearby trails and other outdoor recreation opportunities, world-class wineries and breweries, historic sites, and beautiful scenic vistas. So, in response to the supervisor’s question about who is standing up for Loudoun’s suburban residents, the answer again is—those who are advocating for TDR and other land conservation programs.

Private Furnished Offices in Shared Office Space

Joshua Cagney

Located in the Heart of Historic Leesburg!

(571) 354-6186

Convenient to many Amenities & Shops Easy Access to the Courthouse

Amenities for all Individual Offices Include: •

On-Floor Bathrooms

•

High Speed Internet

• •

•

Conference Room

•

Newly Renovated Common Work Space

Walk to Restaurants, Shops, and Offices Call Today to Learn More! (571) 354-6186

Misperceptions About Rural Preservation: TDR and Proffers

March 14, 2019

Comprehensive plan << FROM 1 major part of Loudoun’s Metro-area development, it includes 381 townhouses, 3,325 multi-family units, an 8.3-acre site to make room for an elementary school, another 23 acres for a Broad Run Trail public park, and more than a hundred million dollars worth of road improvements. County supervisors have scheduled a vote on that project for March 21—the same night they’re scheduled to get their first look at commission’s Loudoun 2040 recommendations. But the biggest, flashiest part of Loudoun’s future has not been the major point of controversy in the comprehensive plan. Although it is a relatively small portion of the county—only about 7 percent of Loudoun’s land area—much of the controversy on comprehensive plan work has been around the Transition Policy Area. It covers about 36 square miles, and divides the county from north to south around Leesburg and runs along the county’s southeastern border. Its western edge is the “Urban Growth Boundary,” beyond which central water and sewer are not allowed, except for town systems. It is also one of the defining features of Loudoun today. When it was added to the county’s general plan in 2001, it was created to “serve as a separation between the suburban and rural policy areas and that has a transition of uses, incorporating elements of both suburban and rural design to create truly unique country-side developments” according to that plan. It marks the boundary between the county’s suburban east and rural west. Salmon, who has had his hands in every part of the comprehensive plan project up to now, having also chaired the stakeholder steering committee that hammered out the first draft of the plan, said there is demand for more than Metro-area apartments—and it will be necessary to expand development in the Transition Policy Area to accommodate it. He said the Transition Policy Area is a “hot-button issue.” “There’s one group of people that feels it should never be touched, but those same people also feel that the Rural Policy Area should never be touched, and you can’t have both,” Salmon said. “There’s 12,000 houses that can today be built in the Rural Policy Area. If you don’t give someone the option to build those houses somewhere else, they’re going to be built in the Rural Policy Area.” Salmon and other commissioners have argued allowing more development in that area, rather than eroding the boundary between rural green spaces and suburban sprawl, better protects the rural area and relieves upward pressure on land and home prices. “A farmer, as much as he doesn’t want to see his land developed into houses, at a certain pricing level, he’s going to

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

From Gulick Mill Road, near Goose Creek Bend, the homes of Red Cedar are visible across undeveloped farmland. The two neighborhoods have very different ideas about how they’d like to see the area between them develop.

cave because he’s going to have to pay too much in taxes,” Salmon said. The commission’s draft of the plan is expected to allow more than 15,000 more homes in Loudoun than the potential full buildout of the current comprehensive plan. Many of those homes—in southeastern Loudoun— are proposed to be delayed until the county’s transportation infrastructure in the area catches up. The Planning Commission has not been unanimous in its work. Notably, Catoctin District Planning Commissioner Eugene Scheel and Leesburg District Planning Commissioner Ad Barnes (Leesburg) have consistently opposed the rest of the commission’s work to expand housing in the Transition Policy Area. “That’s the biggest concern the public has—and I have, too—coming from the smaller towns, that’s going to be entirely too much, too many homes built, and it’s going to be crowded, and it’s not going to be like what was intended to be,” Barnes said. “It’s the Transition Policy Area, not a building area.” But they represent the minority on the commission. Barnes’ concern, raised at a meeting in late February, was dismissed by commission Chairman Fred Jennings (Ashburn): “Duly noted.” “We’ve gone round and round on this. We took the vote on the individual parcels, but I think in general it’s important to underscore, what we don’t want … is a fast, swift development melee in the Rural Policy Area,” Jennings said. He and others have argued that when county supervisors in 2005 authorized central water and sewer service in the Transition Policy Area, it was tantamount to authorizing the development of the area. “There was so much money spent to put in the very first water facilities, if they didn’t expect that area to grow,

that would have been a foolish waste of money,” Jennings said. “There is no other option if you want to address what we believe is one of the primary challenges facing the county, which is affordable housing.” The transition-area debate has been illustrated by two neighborhoods less than a mile apart. Off Evergreen Mills Road behind Loudoun Country Day School and Sycolin Creek Elementary, residents in the Red Cedar neighborhood were alarmed to learn that farmland near them was being targeted for data center development, and organized to oppose it. “We just want to ensure that there’s not another data center alley right outside of our neighborhood,” said Red Cedar resident Carrie Dever at the time. She and her neighbors have asked the county to plan for low-density residential development in that area, and worked to inform and involve others. Meanwhile, less than a mile away across undeveloped farmland, residents of Goose Creek Bend have taken the opposite stance. They have asked county officials to plan for data centers in their area. “The bottom line really is, we don’t want things to change,” said Goose Creek Bend resident Jeff Mach. “But they are going to change. It’s just the way that the region is headed.” Confronted with the possibility of many more houses nearby—illustrated by a change in planning from one house per 10 acres, to four homes per acre—residents decided they’d prefer data centers, which put little traffic onto local roads and can be screened from view. Mach said every single household in his neighborhood is now onboard with the idea. Some of those homes were also part of the proposal to develop the historic farm Holyfield between Red Cedar and

the Academies of Loudoun as a data center complex—the same proposal that first alarmed Red Cedar residents. In the draft of the comprehensive plan that commissioners are voting on this week, much of that area is designated light industrial—a designation that includes data centers, and where data centers are assumed to be the predominant use, since data center companies have been willing to pay top dollar for land. “We already have power, water and fiber for data centers here, so that’s why the Planning Commission said everything on Sycolin [Road] should be light industrial, because everything is already there for it,” Mach said. Bingol said while there is much to like in the new plan—such as a new focus on sustainability—she worried that focus on growth is misguided and doesn’t represent the input of hundreds of Loudouners who came out in the early stages of planning to voice their opinion. The Planning Commission is expected to sign off on a draft of the comprehensive plan Wednesday, March 13, with a formal vote March 26. Once the formal vote is cast, county supervisors have 90 days to review the plan. And when supervisors take up the plan, Bingol—and many others—will be there. “My sense is that a lot of the supervisors aren’t 100 percent onboard with the plan, and so I think I will definitely be there, encouraging them to pay attention to what the public said and be more responsive to that,” Bingol said. “And to sort of tackle the contentious issues, and make it more citizen-focused, frankly.” County supervisors will see the plan at a meeting March 21. rgreene@loudounnow.com

47 March 14, 2019

31 DAY

sale

& patio door Less than t hree week Call before s left! appointme nt

This isn’t one of those ‘limited time’ offers that’s not really limited. We’re only offering this window discount, this patio door discount and this special financing for 31 days!1

s are gone!

There are limited appointments available, and you must book yours before March 31st…

which means you only have LESS THAN three weeks left! Renewal by Andersen is the full-service replacement window division of Andersen, a company that has built windows and patio doors for over 116 years.

PLUS

BUY ONE WINDOW OR PATIO DOOR, GET ONE WINDOW OR PATIO DOOR 1

40% OFF

$100 OFF

% for 1 1 year Interest

EVERY WINDOW AND PATIO DOOR1

Minimum purchase of four.

PLUS

No minimum required.

Down Monthly Payments

Minimum purchase of four. Interest accrues from the purchase date but is waived if paid in full within 12 months.

LESS THAN three weeks left to book your FREE Window and Patio Door Diagnosis. Call before appointments are gone!

571-659-4550

The Better Way to a Better Window™

DETAILS OF OFFER: Offer expires 4/6/2019. You must set your appointment by 3/31/2019 and purchase by 4/6/2019. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Buy one (1) window or patio door, get one (1) window or patio door 40% off, and 12 months zero money down, zero monthly payments, zero interest when you purchase four (4) or more windows or patio doors between 2/24/2019 and 4/6/2019. 40% off windows and patio doors are less than or equal to lowest cost window or patio door in the project. Additional $100 off each window or patio door, no minimum purchase required, when you purchase by 4/6/2019. Military discount applies to all active duty, veterans and retired military personnel. Military discount equals 3% off your entire purchase and applies after all other discounts, no minimum purchase required. Subject to credit approval. Interest is billed during the promotional period, but all interest is waived if the purchase amount is paid before the expiration of the promotional period. Financing for GreenSky® consumer loan programs is provided by federally insured, federal and state chartered financial institutions without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, gender or familial status. Savings comparison based on purchase of a single unit at list price. Available only at participating locations. See your local Renewal by Andersen location for details. MHIC #121441. VA License #2705155684. DC License #420215000125. Some Renewal by Andersen locations are independently owned and operated. “Renewal by Andersen” and all other marks where denoted are trademarks of Andersen Corporation. ©2019 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved. ©2019 Lead Surge LLC. All rights reserved.

window

March 14, 2019

Complete Kitchen & Bath

REMODELING DESIGN BUILD

RECEIVE AL AN ADDITION

$2,5M0O0DOEFL F RE

N & BATH KITCHEm me at sa ejobti$5 0K

LEESBURG LOCATION

* Minimum ned with mbi not to be co or discount other coupon

NOW OPEN!

KITCHEN REMODELING

213 Crescent Station Terrace SE Leesburg, VA 20175

10% OFF not to be combined with other coupon or discount

CALL US FOR A FREE ESTIMATE

703-793-8307

BATHROOM REMODELING

10% OFF not to be combined with other coupon or discount Based on 5’x7’ Bathroom Call for details. Hurry offers end soon.