Loudoun Now for March 21, 2024

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Although the Board of Supervisors made few substantial cuts to County Administrator Tim Hemstreet’s proposed $5.2 billion fiscal year 2025 budget during a series of markup sessions, it voted to lower the real estate tax rate by one cent, to 86.5 cents per $100 of assessed value, during a meeting March 14.

The change was made possible by a decision to assume that Loudoun County Public Schools would receive an additional $19 million in state funding as the budget maneuvering continues in Richmond.

The board also voted to maintain the $4.15 personal property tax rate, forgoing

Hemstreet’s suggestion to lower it to $4.10 in calendar year 2025.

The School Board had requested a $131 million increase in local tax funding for its $1.8 billion budget. That was $10 million more than Hemstreet allocated in his budget. In anticipation of a $19 million school funding boost from the state, supervisors reduced its proposed $121 million local tax revenue allocation to the school system by $9 million leaving the school budget fully funded.

Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) said it was important to note that if the additional school funding is stripped from the state budget, the county board would figure out a solution to make up the difference.

Ag Census: Small Farms on the Rise While Acreage Falls Across Virginia

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

A drive down Rt. 15 toward Middleburg or along Snickersville Turnpike on the way to Bluemont serves as a reminder that a majority of Loudoun used to be dairy and cattle farms. The most recent agricultural census shows that while Virginia as a whole continues to see a decline in farms and farming acreage, Loudoun has seen an increase in small farms over the past five years.

From 2017, when the last census was conducted, through the 2022 when the just relreased census was conducted, the number of small farms in Loudoun, ranging from 10 to 49 acres, grew by 20%—

increasing from 668 farms to 806— even though the county’s overall farm acreage decreased by 10% during that same period.

Loudoun Farm Bureau President Tia Earman said the growth could be attributed to three things—the proximity of rural Loudoun to an affluent population willing to prioritize locally grown products, high quality soil, and the county’s proximity to a job base allowing one member of the family to hold a more traditional “9 to 5” job while another member manages the farm.

“Loudoun is in a super unique place

SMALL

FARMS

continues on page 39

“We have ways to figure it out, and I’m confident that we have discussed that with staff,” she said.

Hemstreet’s proposed budget recommended reducing the personal property tax rate to $4.10, but the motion made by supervisors during the meeting will hold the tax rate at $4.15 for fiscal year 2025, generating an additional $5.6 million. The tax is applied to vehicles—the “car tax”— as well as to business equipment, such as data centers.

The $9 million savings and the $5.6 million revenue increase, along with a series of spending reductions made by supervisors, allowed the board to reduce the real estate tax rate by a full penny, valued at $14.8 million.

Supervisors Bet on State Funding to Lower Real Tax Rate

Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said he was willing to “trade” keeping the personal property tax rate steady for lowering the real property tax rate by a full penny.

Briskman said there is a possibility the board could lower the car tax rate later.

“We have some time to do that in the fall. We’re not going to do that right now, but we will have some time to discuss that in the fall,” she said.

During the budget public hearings, residents expressed concerns about affordable housing in the county and requested supervisors double the proposed

on page 37

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Pamela Jones and Sarah Obuchowicz stand in one of their greenhouses at their Middleburg area farm. Both have young children they are raising while managing their business, which often means doing chores with the kids nearby.

‘Tipping Point’ Plan for Larger Data Center Campus Rejected

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Plans to build Loudoun County’s largest data center campus were scaled down significantly March 13 when a divided Board of Supervisors handed down a rare denial of a request for a density increase.

The 112-acre Belmont Innovation Campus, located between Belmont Ridge Road and Goose Creek just west of the Belmont Country Club neighborhood, was originally envisioned to have 4.8 million square feet of data center space.

While the proposal cleared review by the Planning Commission last year, it met strong public opposition during a Board of Supervisors’ public hearing in January. That heightened level of public concern after plans surfaced for a new high-voltage transmission line that would cross western Loudoun to provide energy to eastern Loudoun’s growing hub of data centers. Citing an inadequate electrical

grid, dozens of speakers lined up to urge the board to stop approving the projects. Supervisors decided to delay their vote until March.

The March 13 meeting opened with the announcement the developer had reduced the project to 2.9 million square feet, added space to extend Gloucester Parkway across the tract, and committed to installing 70,000 square feet of solar panels. Approval of rezoning and special exception applications would permit development above the 1.3 million square feet permitted under current zoning, county planners said.

Also, County Attorney Leo Rogers cautioned supervisors that the availability of electricity was not a factor to be weighed in review of the applications because the power company had a legal obligation to provide the service.

Over the next three hours, most of the more than three dozen speakers, many wearing red and displaying large stop sign

“The applications filed awaiting approval would use an astonishing 58,400 megawatts. That’s 14.6 million homes—more homes than exist in New York City; Washington, DC; Los Angles; and London, England combined.”

— Tia Earman of the Piedmont Environmental Council

stickers, argued it made no sense to approve more data center development amid a known power supply crisis.

A common theme urged supervisors not to approve additional applications to increase the size of data centers beyond what is permitted by-right under the current zoning regulations until new policies can be developed at the state and local levels. The General Assembly this year rolled numerous proposed data center bills into a comprehensive study to be conducted by the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission. Also, the Board of Supervisors has launched a process to rewrite Loudoun’s planning policies and zoning rules for data centers. Both are expected to take at least a year to complete.

“It is irresponsible to continue to approve data center applications,” environmental activist Natalie Pien said.

TIPPING POINT continues on page 36

Parents, Students Continue to Wrestle with Early School Start Times

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

Two years after the school division implemented new school schedules to face the bus driver shortage, one School Board member is hoping to reconsider those decisions, especially the early bus rides for 29 elementary schools who start class at 7:30 a.m.

Lauren Shernoff (Leesburg) asked for parent input on the staggered start times in a March 11 Facebook post after asking administrators to prepare a presentation on how the earlier start times are impacting students. That presentation is expected April 9.

Shernoff said she began looking into the concern when campaigning for the seat last year and has been digging more deeply into the issue during the past 10 weeks.

“This is a day-to-day issue that impacts kids learning and impacts families. It has a lot of unintended consequences,” Shernoff said.

A 7:30 a.m. start time means the doors open for students at 7:10 a.m., and students must be in the building by 7:30 in order to be marked on time.

time, Ziegler said bus driver shortages, making fewer bus runs and providing a more reliable schedule for students and their families were priorities. He said the proximity of schools to one another, the size of the area being served, and traffic patterns also were determining factors.

Shernoff said she wants people to know why the decisions were made and administrators to hear the problems it has created and to see if they can be solved.

Eight of the top 10 schools with the highest tardy rates for the first three quarters of the 2024-25 school year had an earlier start time, according to the division’s dashboard data website. The data also showed that six of the 10 schools with the lowest tardy rates were schools that started at the standard time of 8 a.m.

Many parents have argued the plan is not equitable and have asked for it to be reviewed.

The changes were adopted by then superintendent Scott Ziegler in January 2022 after getting an update at a budget work session where Chief Operations Officer Kevin Lewis said the division was “looking to stagger” bell times. No official School Board action was taken, but Ziegler sent an email to families that night

informing them of the changes. Twenty-nine elementary schools start times were pushed 20 minutes earlier, to 7:30 a.m. and 30 were shifted to a later start time of 8 a.m. with a dismissal time of 2:45 p.m. Middle and high schools also saw start and dismissal times change, with high schools starting at 9:30 a.m. At the

“I agree this is not equitable for the groups that were randomly chosen to bear this burden. I want to open it up,” Shernoff said.

At a Leesburg neighborhood bus stop Thursday morning, a group of parents

EARLY START continues on page 36

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

A school bus makes its way down a dark Leesburg street March 14 to pick up elementary school students. Twenty-nine division schools start at 7:30 a.m. causing students to catch the bus at early hours and often in the dark.

Loudoun Debate Continues Over Fare-Free Bus Rides

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

In preparation for a transit summit planned in May, the Board of Supervisors’ finance committee last week took another deep dive into the ridership and costs of the county’s Local Fixed Route bus system.

County staff members proposed a free-fare transit system to the committee in January. That session resulted in supervisors tasking the staff with providing a comprehensive update on the status of the system, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority LIFT program, and fares of similar jurisdictions.

Director of General Services Ernie Brown said supervisors should decide whether they want the bus system to focus on coverage or ridership.

“The fare-free conversation that we

brought to you was, in fact, a maximizing ridership conversation, OK?” Brown said. “So, every conversation has a little tension between this coverage or ridership debate, but as we move through this proves there really needs to be some sort of clarity around what does the board want the transit system to be?”

Transit Operations Administrator Scott Gross said the county operates 29 fixed routes—10 “legacy” routes that have been in place for 24 years and serve Leesburg, Sterling, Ashburn, Sugarland and Countryside, and 19 new Silver Line connecting routes serving Ashburn Farm, Ashburn Village, Brambleton, Broadlands, Sterling Park, Potomac Falls, Stone Ridge, South Riding, One Loudoun, Leesburg and the Dulles Town Center Mall.

The most common type of transportation used are the local busses. The average

local passenger count for the legacy routes is 110 people a day and 19 people a day for the silver line routes. All of the routes combined had 348,000 riders in 2023, less than half of the number of rides in 2019.

“The majority of that ridership loss is the Silver Line routes,” Gross said.

Brown said that the Silver Line connecting routes were still new and the industry standard is to wait 24 to 36 months for them to experience full usage potential.

“That does have an effect on [ridership] however, we believe there are other factors that are coming into play with those routes and we can’t blame it on that,” Brown said.

Supervisor Kristen C. Umsttatd (D-Leesburg) asked if the other reasons

TRANSIT DEBATE continues on page 6

Arts Center Estimated at $112M

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The Board of Supervisors’ finance committee last week heard plans for a $112 million eastern Loudoun Community Arts Center that was proposed for inclusion in the county’s long-term construction program.

Deputy Director of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure Scott Worrest said they envisioned an eight-acre campus with a building of approximately 67,550 square feet that would seat an audience of 600 people in a two-level auditorium. The center would include a public circulation hall, multipurpose room, auditorium, stage area, orchestra pit, performer spaces, storage areas and a visual art collection exhibit area.

Architectural consultant Page Southerland Page was contracted last year to produce a study that investigated the need in eastern Loudoun County for such a center. The study identified a gap in similar community arts venues in the area

County of Loudoun A preliminary layout shows what the proposed eastern Loudoun arts center

and found there was a need for a venue to serve the community by acting as a cultural hub that fosters artistic expression and promotes community engagement.

“While a site has not been identified

ON THE Agenda

Comment Period Opens for Sterling Blvd. Intersection

The county is hosting an online public comment period through April 12 for the proposed Sterling Boulevard and Williamsburg Road/ Chase Heritage Circle Intersection Improvements.

The project intends to create improved turning movements at the intersection.

To watch a presentation on the project or leave a comment go to loudoun.gov/ intersectionimprovement.

Master Gardeners

Partner with County on Gravel Beds

Virginia Cooperative Extension and VCE Loudoun Master Gardeners are partnering with the Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services in two community gravel bed projects to improve tree root health and serve as educational demonstration beds.

for this facility, the study does note the advantage of being close to multi-modal transportation including the Metro,” Worrest said.

Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) said she was concerned about the cost of the facility, adding that the Ion Arena in Leesburg seats 5,000 people on 15 acres and is estimated to be worth $16 million.

“Do you believe this is the cheapest route we could go to create a 600-seat venue?” she asked.

Sub-consultant AMS Planning and Research representative Michelle Walter said it was not.

“We work all over the country,” she said. “It was positioned to us that Loudoun County likes things of quality and we were also shown the quality of high schools that you build and the auditoriums that you build and so no, bluntly said, this is not the cheapest.”

Last March, VCE Loudoun was awarded a $10,000 grant from Amazon InCommunities to fund the gravel bed project. Additionally, PRCS allocated plots at Claude Moore Park and Franklin Park for the installation of gravel beds.

In July, VCE Loudoun Master Gardener Tree Stewards designed the prototype 10-by-10-foot gravel bed and constructed it at Claude Moore Recreation Center. At the end of July, the first bare root native saplings, including river birch, ironwood and black cherry, were placed in the bed.

After three months, the 24 saplings were transplanted in the nearby woods at Claude Moore Park. Over the span of three months, 17 saplings had an increase of an inch or more in width.

But Supervisor Koran T. Saines

include. ARTS CENTER continues on page 5

Starting in April, up to 75 new bare root saplings will be installed annually in the gravel beds. This will provide six months of fibrous root growth opportunity until the trees are planted in the fall. n

could

Ashburn Rezoning Denied Amid Neighbor Objections

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnnow.com

The Board of Supervisors on March 13 denied plans for a 397-home Ashburn development that drew the ire of neighbors concerned about traffic safety and the scale of the project and a sharp rebuke of the speakers from the county chair.

The Pulte Home Company was seeking to rezone 50 acres adjacent to Waxpool Elementary School to permit the construction of 103 single family detached homes, 184 townhouses and 110 multifamily stacked units.

County planners said the proposed eight units per acre density for the Tillett’s View subdivision was in line with the county’s comprehensive plan polices for the area.

But neighbors living in single family detached neighborhoods next to the property opposed the higher density planned for the lot and said Waxpool Road could not safely handle increased traffic, especially with a school nearby.

Additionally, John Ellis, of Save Rural

Arts Center

continued from page 4

(D-Sterling) said he didn’t think the project was big enough since the groups that would be using the center currently perform at high schools that often have 800to 1,000-seat auditoriums.

He compared Loudoun County’s population of more than 435,000 residents to Richmond’s 229,395. He said Richmond had many more performance venues.

“If Richmond can sustain that amount of performing arts venues, and they are doing pretty well with their activities, I think Loudoun and the Northern Virginia area as a whole can sustain having a performing arts center that can do 1,000, 1,300 or 1,600,” he said, adding that he would like something similar to Capital One Hall in Tysons Corner.

Saines said having a large venue could attract larger competitions to the county.

Walter said the cost for a project of that size was the concern.

“The issue, unlike Richmond, is that you are in an extremely competitive marketplace. You won’t be able to bring in a lot of commercial product, which subsidizes the cost of operating the building,” she said. “… The larger the building gets, the

Loudoun, urged the board to oppose “discretionary upzonings” in general because of the impacts larger developments could have on the county budget and the demand for new facilities including school seats. He suggested supervisors purchase the land for park use.

Supervisor Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad

more expensive it is to run.”

County Administrator Tim Hemstreet said a project of that size was not what staff had understood the scope to be.

“I’m not sure we have a complete understanding of the scope that the board wants for this project. So, is it a performing arts facility, which is kind of what was just described?” he said referencing Saines’ comments. “Or is it a community arts facility, which is what this feasibility study more or less focused on?”

Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) said the county should look at purchasing more land in case they wanted to expand the facility later.

Committee Chair Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said they needed to decide if the purpose of the facility was to showcase local performers or to draw visitors into the county.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said residents were not looking for something on the larger scale.

“This is really for the eastern Loudoun County community,” she said.

Letourneau said the facility would likely end up on a bond referendum ballot for residents to vote on whether they wanted to move forward with the project.

The committee took no action on the item. n

(R-Dulles) and Laura A. TeKrony (D-Little River) agreed with her concerns.

Supervisors Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) and Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) said the proposal complied with the development guidelines in the county’s plans and should be approved.

Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) said approving the project was critical to the board’s goals to increase residential development. “We tragically need housing,” she said.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) decided to abstain, but not before criticizing the neighbors for opposing new development.

Run), whose district includes the property, made the motion to deny the rezoning. She cited concerns over the density and the road network. She also suggested the board take a new look the county’s planning policies for the area.

Supervisors Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg), Matthew F. Letourneau

She called their remarks raising concerns that the development would change the character of the community, impact wildlife, and potentially threaten health “shameful,” “insulting,” and “hypocritical.” She said area residents had the same concerns when their homes were first proposed.

“No one wants anyone else to move here,” she said.

The rezoning was denied on a 5-3-1 vote. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

The former Tillett’s Auction House along Belmont Ridge Road. The board of supervisors on March 13 denied a rezoning residential rezoning application for the 50-acre Tillett’s View subdivision.

Transit debate

continued from page 4

eliminate the fare, the county would not need to replace as many boxes and would cost $387,345.

included residents preferring to drive to Metro over taking a bus.

Brown said that seems to be the case, but that there is also a decline in residents going to a workplace to begin with.

“A lot of the neighborhoods that we’re trying to capture ridership in are likely federal employees or employees of organizations down into DC that now have maximized telework,” he said.

Committee Chair Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), who serves on the board of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, said the drop in commuting residents could not be ignored. He said the number of Metro riders who live nearby the station has recovered after the decline during COVID but the riders commuting from places like Springfield and Vienna have not.

“So, we’re running an awful lot of service for, I believe, a ridership that just doesn’t really exist at this point,” he said.

Paratransit ridership, serving handicapped residents, is increasing after a dop in 2021, a change which Gross attributed to the county expanding the services.

“We were running around between 10,000 and 12,000 rides prior to 2019. In 2023, we hit about 15,000 and in 2024 we’re projected to eclipse 18,000,” he said.

In the fiscal year 2025 budget each legacy route is estimated to cost the county between $340,000 to $444,000 a year, each silver line connecting route averages $427,000, and each paratransit route $234,000.

“In 2024, we are currently running [at a cost of] $68.97 a passenger for paratransit,” he said.

Supervisors heard about WMATA’s Low-Income Fare program that provides a 50% discount on the fares for eligible residents.

Gross said the county could incorporate a similar system with only a 90-day notice.

“With the existing fare structure, it goes from a dollar a ride to 50 cents a ride,” Brown said.

Gross said Loudoun’s $1 fare falls within the range of other comparable localities.

Part of the supervisors’ debate over doing away with fares on local routes is spurred by the expense of replacing outdated fare collection systems on the busses.

Gross said the replacements would cost the county $775,836 if they kept the one-dollar fare. If the board decided to

“What this shows us is if we do replace all the fare boxes, we would recover all of our costs of doing that in just about a year,” Letourneau said.

Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) continued to push for a program that would allow high school students to ride for free when they presented a student ID.

Staff members continued to say that implementing that request would be complicated.

“The challenge we have in Loudoun County particularly, is not all schools have IDs. So, we would have to revert back to a SMARTRIP card, which then means we’re issuing them to underage children,” Brown said.

Briskman said the supervisors could ask the School Board to issue school IDs to every high school student, while Letourneau said the board had already been approached about that and did not agree to it.

“They believe it’s a liability issue to start encouraging children who are minors to go out into the system and DC and everywhere else. They didn’t want any part of that,” Letourneau said.

Briskman said with the new School Board and the new superintendent the question should be asked again.

Letourneau said he thought they were looking at the issue incorrectly.

“There’s two types of customers— cost-sensitive customers and there are those who are not. On our legacy routes we have cost-sensitive customers for whom the fare could actually be an obstacle. For the most part, I doubt that’s the case for teenagers,” he said.

Briskman disagreed.

Letourneau said it would make the most sense to go fare free where the transportation is bringing residents of lower income areas to job centers.

Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) said the county could develop a program that would allow high school students to sign up with parental consent to receive a free transit card.

Brown said the county staff had considered a program like that and the startup cost was estimated to be at least $90,000.

“It was not insurmountable, but it was a little over $100,000 a year to manage that, to be able to provide that service if the board could decide the age they wanted to do it,” he said.

Saines asked staff to look into that program more and bring back an update at the May 29 summit. n

Public Safety

Murder Suspect Granted Unsupervised Community Visits After Insanity Plea

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

A Fairfax area man, who has been receiving treatment since being found not guilty by reason of insanity in the fatal-home invasion stabbing of a man and his fiancée in 2021, was granted authority for unsupervised community visits earlier this month.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert D. Anderson said his office raised concerns about the action and asked the release order be revoked.

er of Behavioral Health and have Wasike reevaluated, and his community visits stopped.

Given the violent, brutal nature of the murder, Commonwealth’s Attorney Bob Anderson said it is unlikely that Wasike will be released when his case is next up for review April 25, however he is concerned that the furlough authority had been granted in the first place.

“Large enough to serve, small enough to care”

Circuit Court Judge James E. Plowman found Melvin H. Wasike not guilty of the murder following a two-day bench trial in February of last year and remanded him to the temporary custody of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to undergo hospitalization and psychological evaluation.

On March 6, Director of Psychology and Forensic Services at Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute Azure Baron notified the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office that Wasike had been approved for unsupervised community visits of up to 16 hours by a Forensic Review Panel.

Anderson said, while his office was limited in what it could do to address the issue officially, a member of his office was able to work with the Commission-

“Absolutely, we’re extremely concerned about this program and that could have been extended from 16 hours. They have the authority to extend it from 16 to 40 or 48 hours,” he said.

He said if the staff at the institute grants Wasike unsupervised release privileges in the future, his office will pursue the same steps in response.

During the 2023 trial, it was undisputed that Wasike kicked in the door of Michael Fadely’s Barclay Woods home on Nov. 14, 2021, and stabbed Fadely and his fiancée in the hallway outside their bedroom before fleeing. The attack lasted less than three minutes. Fadely died at the scene.

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

He was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated malicious wounding, and breaking and entering while armed with intent to commit murder.

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

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Wasike

Council Holds 17.74-cent Tax Rate in Budget

Leesburg

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The Leesburg Town Council wrapped up its review of Town Manager Kaj Dentler’s fiscal year 2025 budget Tuesday night with a 5-2 vote for adoption.

The budget totals $159.8 million for general government operations, utilities, and construction projects next year.

Council members Zach Cummings and Patrick Wilt voted against approval.

The action followed a pair of work sessions during which council members added raises for members of the Planning Commission and Board of Architectural Review, boosted funding for the Commission on Public Art, approved the creation of a Performing Arts Commission, and authorized a $25,000 contribution to support construction of a new LAWS shelter for domestic abuse victims in the town. Members voted to make one cut, cancelling plans to hire a facilitator to lead the planning retreat after the next council is seated in January, saving $10,000. Council members also sought to accelerate the construction of pickleball courts, an issue raised during last week’s public hearing on the budget but were told the staff would move ahead with that project as a priority without additional action.

Dentler proposed holding the real estate tax rate steady at 17.74 cents, which would result in a $47 annual tax bill increase for the average single-family detached home because of higher property values.

The council actions would have added about $3 to those bills, with a tax rate of 17.79 cents. However, before the vote on

Balch Names New Director

For the first time in two decades, Leesburg’s Thomas Balch Library will have a new director starting this summer.

Laura Christiansen, who has served as the library’s curator of manuscripts and archives for the past 10 years, will succeed Alexandra Gressitt, who will retire at the end June.

Gressitt has served as library director since 2003.

During her tenure at Balch, Chris-

Tuesday, Dentler said he could make up the $58,000 needed to hold the 17.74 rate by switching the scheduled purchase of a new truck to the current fiscal year.

During Monday’s work session, Wilt proposed a tax rate reduction by eliminating Dentler’s plan for a 3% COLA for town employees. That would have cut $1.2 million from the budget and reduced the tax rate to 16.73 cents. Wilt said he supported providing merit increases, budgeted at an average of 4%. His suggestion found no support from other council members.

Dentler proposed an $81.6 million General Fund, a $3.18 million increase over this year’s budget. Outside of $2 million for compensation increases, new costs include two new office leases as the Department of Public Works and Department of Community Development move out of Town Hall, and the lease of the temporary air traffic control tower at Leesburg Executive Airport. Those three projects total $376,000.

During its budget work sessions, the council also tapped into the town’s unallocated fund balance to accelerate other projects. Those included $630,000 for studies of traffic calming and pedestrian safety improvements along sections of East Market Street and Catoctin Circle, $120,000 to install EV charging stations at the Town Hall parking garage, and $200,000 to fund a new comprehensive Parks Master Plan.

At least one council member wanted to dive deeper into the town’s cash reserves.

On Monday, Cummings proposed a one-year rebate of the personal property taxes for residents and businesses, an initiative expected to cost $3.8 million. The action, on average, would provide $88 back to taxpayers, according to Management and Budget Officer Cole Fazenbaker.

With inflation, higher utility bills and increasing property values, Cummings said, “I think it is time to put some money

tiansen has overseen the acquisitions, processing, and preservation of the library’s special collections including manuscripts, archives, rare books, and other materials.

Christiansen also coordinated outreach programming, including in-person and virtual educational programs, exhibits, and most recently led development of a new exhibit and processing space at the Donaldson Log Cabin including monthly pop-up exhibits for the town’s First Friday events.

back into the pockets of our residents.”

The suggestion was opposed by Dentler and CFO Clark Case.

Dentler called it a “well meaning” proposal but said it would come with significant unintended consequences.

Under the town’s fiscal policies, unallocated funds in excess of those set aside for a 20% General Fund reserve are to be used for one-time expenditures. Currently, the town has about $10 million in cash above that minimum reserve level.

Dentler said using that money to provide a one-time tax rebate would violate the town’s policy and would be an unwelcome surprise to the bond rating agencies that just this month affirmed the town’s triple-A ratings, a rare status among Virginia towns.

“We just met with our rating agencies and they expect the town to strictly adhere to our self-imposed fiscal policy,” Dentler said.

He said there could be other ways to provide help to residents, perhaps through an assistance program, but that would take more time to sort out.

“The personal property tax for vehicles is a complicated issue across the state. The county’s been addressing that as well. But to do as proposed is a conflict and will create a problem with our rating agencies,” Dentler said.

The town on Tuesday completed a general obligation bond issue at a 3.53% interest rate based on the town’s triple-A ratings from each agency.

“The rating agencies were here. They heard this. For us to deviate would raise eyebrows and would put us under scrutiny we should not be under. We fought for many years to get there,” Dentler said.

“This would not be good public policy in any way,” he said.

Case said, while the money is available,

Christiansen previously served as the director of the Clarke County Historical Association; as public relations and development officer for Handley Regional Library; and as the head librarian for the Chrysler Museum of Art. Christiansen holds bachelor’s degrees in art history and history from Berry College; master’s degrees in public history and library and information science from the University of South Carolina.

“Laura’s promotion represents a continuation of the legacy that Alexandra Gressitt has achieved to make the Thomas Balch Library a destination for research and learning. This also represents a unique opportunity in time to

the town has integrated the use of those funds in its long-term planning as it moves ahead with a host of construction projects over the next six years and project the town’s fiscal need during the next decade.

He said a rebate program would be problematic, in part because the county government manages the town’s property tax billing and collections. Case estimated it could cost $250,000 to execute refunds.

“It is not a good deal for the taxpayers to return money in this way. You’d be far better off to reduce the [tax] rate,” Case said.

Council member Kari Nacy said she was looking for ways to reduce the tax burden. “People are struggling really bad. It’s one of the things you hear the most when you go out and talk to people in the community. Raising the tax rate is simply out of the question from my perspective. We’ve got to find it somewhere,” she said.

Cummings questioned the way the fund balance could be earmarked for future construction projects, but not for tax relief.

“It’s only available to use on things that you want us to use it for,” Cummings said.

“With all due respect, I don’t agree with the statement and it is a little professionally offensive to me and to the staff. I know you don’t really mean that. I know you’re frustrated,” Dentler responded.

The rebate plan did not get support from other council members. Dentler and Case said they were willing to discuss alternate assistance programs if the council wanted to pursue them.

The council on Tuesday also established an assistance program for utility customers in light of plans to raise water and sewer rates by 4.1% annually over the next five years. The council set aside $100,000 for that effort and will look to contract with a community nonprofit to manage the program. n

move the library forward to ensure the Balch Library continues to serve the next generation of learners in the digital age,” stated Town Manager Kaj Dentler.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to work to grow the library’s collections and the community around it,” Christiansen said. “I love that Thomas Balch Library is a place where everyone can experience history firsthand by seeing something amazing in the archives, learning about their genealogy, or discovering something new about our shared past.”

Christiansen will take over as director on June 24. n

Christiansen

Loudoun Teen’s Film To Be Shown at L.A. Film Festival

Ashburn resident and high school senior Kashvi Ramani can now add director and filmmaker to her ever growing resume.

The Loudoun author and 2023’s first-ever Virginia Youth Poet Laureate made a short film last summer that has been accepted into two film festivals.

Ramani said she got the inspiration for the film after having a conversation with a friend at Phillips Academy-Andover, a private boarding school in Boston where she attends school. She said as a second generation Indian American she realized her life experiences and family relationships were different than some of her peers and she decided to create a story about breaking cycles and working through generational differences.

Youngkin Signs Hazing Prevention Curriculum Bill

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

A bill that will create standards of learning guidelines on hazing prevention education for Virginia’s ninth and 10th graders has been signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

SB379 sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-38) was created to bring awareness and education on hazing to high school students after the 2021 death of Potomac Falls High School graduate Adam Oakes. An identical bill was sponsored in the House by Del. Atoosa Reaser (D-27).

Oakes died Feb. 27, 2021, in a hazing incident at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Oakes’ cousin Courtney White created a hazing prevention curriculum as part of her doctoral degree in his memory. She then took that curriculum to high schools in Loudoun County and surrounding jurisdictions during 2022.

She said education and raising awareness are only two parts in the fight to end the toxic culture of hazing.

“We need to get the education in place

and shift the thinking to more of the prevention element of it,” she said. “We need to give kids the tools to recognize hazing and to intervene and say ‘no, I’m not going to be hazed and no, I’m not going to haze people.’ It’s part of a vicious cycle where they get hazed then turn around and haze others. We need to put an end to that hazing culture.”

She said teaching them what it is and how to recognize it in high school before they go to college is a key step in ending that culture.

She said she was happy the governor saw the value in the bill and the urgency after recent hazing incidents at University of Virginia and the University of Maryland. The Kappa Sigma chapter and all fraternity events were suspended at UVA after an alleged hazing incident in February that left a student injured. The university of Maryland also recently announced the suspension of fraternities and sororities on its campus after learning activities done by multiple chapters threatened the safety and wellbeing of students.

White said they weren’t present when the governor signed the bill, but hope they

get the opportunity to meet him or be present if he signs HB719.

“It’s a remarkable thing that we had happen and we are the first in the nation to require this in high schools, so I just feel like it’s a special moment for our family,” she said. “We are saying this is not going to be tolerated in Virginia.”

White said there is more to be done to bring education and awareness to hazing.

“This is a huge milestone and we are ready to dig in and dig into the work with high schools to implement this and get kids this information and get them engaged in the work,” she said.

White, along with Oakes’ father Eric worked with Boysko to get Adams Law passed in 2022, which requires universities to provide extensive in-person education and information on hazing to all members and new members of student organizations.

SB379 requires the board of education to develop standards of learning and curriculum guidelines for research-based hazing prevention education as part of health and P.E. classes.

It goes into effect July 1. n

While on break this past summer, Ramani gathered a cast and crew of nine and made the film in a matter of weeks.

She said she loves consolidating her passions, and filmmaking, writing and acting are three of those. Despite this she said she didn’t make the film with the intent to enter it into a film festival.

“Originally, I didn’t think it was going to be that good, but after seeing the cast and the crew and how it all came together, it came out better than I thought,” Ramani said.

She said she entered it into nine festivals, getting accepted into two, Lift-off Film Festival and the Youth Diversity Film Festival for Middle and High School students.

Her film will be shown March 23 during the 14th annual Youth Diversity Film Festival in Los Angeles.

IT Workers Pack Food for Loudoun Students

A team of data center IT workers from the Washington, DC, Chapter of the 7x24 Exchange coordinated a food drive and volunteer event March 12 for the Loudoun Education Foundation’s Fueled program.

SCHOOL NOTEBOOK

Continues on page 12

Courtney White

Eric Oakes, Linda Oakes, Del. Atoosa Reaser (D-27) and Courtney White at the Senate Chambers in Richmond during the passing of HB719 sponsored by Reaser. Reaser and Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-38) presented identical bills to establish standards of learning on hazing prevention education for ninth and 10th graders in memory of Loudoun graduate Adam Oakes who died in a hazing incident in 2021.

Board Committee Defines Process for Transgender Policy Revision

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

A School Board committee Tuesday worked out the details of a plan to hire an outside organization to lead community focus groups to help with the board’s revision of a policy that outlines transgender student rights.

The Student Services Committee on Feb. 15 issued a directive to have the superintendent get an outside organization to form focus groups comprised of students and community members to gather input on possible revisions for Policy 8040. What was not clear during that meeting was the cost, where the money would come from, what the board’s expectations and expected outcomes were, how information gathered in the groups would be disseminated to the board, what oversite the board had, how often the groups would meet, and how long the process would take.

The committee met again to work out those details, setting a cost limit of $50,000.

Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Tedra Richardson said the staff ’s preliminary research found the cost for such a program to vary from zero to $50,0000. Richardson said it was their best estimate at the time. She said they would work with the Department of Business and Financial Services to find unspent year-end funds available to hire a vendor.

Asked by Kari LaBell (Catoctin) how long the process would take from procuring a vendor to getting feedback from the groups, Richardson said she was looking for clarification on that from the committee.

Richardson also briefed the panel on the process to procure a vendor, saying it would likely be well into April before one could be selected. She said the vendor would then need to find participants, assess the community and population, and learn about the current policy, and both model policies from 2021 and 2023. Focus groups were unlikely to start until sometime in May, she said.

LaBell asked if the work could be done by June.

Richardson said it could take several months before feedback would be given to the board, depending on how often the groups meet.

“We are looking at about a six- to seven-month process from beginning to end, should we begin the procurement process

this month, if we can get the request drafted and out this week, which is ambitious but we will do our best,” she said.

LaBell said she was hoping a decision could be made by the time school started in the fall.

“We need to look at possibly other ways of getting information that will help us make a decision because this process of procurement, finding the right people to conduct the focus groups, it’s taking such a long time and I know the community— both sides of the community—are looking for answers sooner than that,” she said.

Melinda Mansfield (Dulles) noted the policy has been a discussion point for three years because the community hasn’t “been able to dive down into it, and so then it just keeps on hanging on.” She said she didn’t want it to keep coming up year after year and said it was possible the groups could wrap up before September.

“I think we have to give people time to come up with these proposals and things like that, but I also don’t know of a completely objective way to get these things answered in a discussion without focus groups,” Mansfield said.

Richardson also asked for clarification on how the focus groups would report their findings to the superintendent. Committee members agreed a written analysis was fine as long as group members could remain anonymous.

The committee didn’t discuss what its expectations were for the groups nor what oversight the School Board would have.

Richardson and the staff are moving forward with the procurement process per the directive from the Feb. 15 meeting and the clarification they received Tuesday. There will be no further update until a vendor is selected. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now Members of the School Board’s Student Services Committee, from left Kari LaBell (Catoctin), Ann Donohue (At-large) and Melinda Mansfield (Dulles).

DATE:

SCHOOL notebook

continued from page 10

Brian Tinsman/Loudoun Education Foundation Members of the 7x24 Exchange helped raise $23,500 for the Loudoun Education Foundation›s Fueled program and rolled up their sleeves to pack weekend meal bags for more than 1,500 Loudoun County Public School students.

Formerly known as Backpack Coalition, Fueled provides food to about 1,500 Loudoun County Public School students each week through meal bags and inschool pantries.

March 21.

Jun is a founding member of a national award-winning disability nonprofit called Open Style Lab which focuses on making style accessible for everyone regardless of their cognitive and physical abilities, according to an announcement. Her upcoming book, Fashion Disability and Codesign: A Human-Centered Design Approach is scheduled to be released May 2024.

Jun will spend the day of March 21 with Foxcroft students, speaking to the entire student body in the morning about her career journey, female leadership, and the basics of what a designer does. She will then meet with a smaller group of STEAM students and student leaders.

She will address the community at 7 p.m. in the Audrey Bruce Currier Library at the school. Admission is free, but seating is limited. RSVP by calling 540-6874510.

Members of the 7x24 Exchange gathered at a warehouse in Leesburg last Tuesday to organize and pack the food they had gathered as part of their month-long food drive. The meal bags will be delivered later this week to students at about 30 schools throughout the county.

At the end of the pack event, they presented the LEF team with a $23,500 check to support the Fueled program. The contribution brings 7x24 Exchange’s fouryear total donations to LEF to $100,000.

LEF Executive Director Danielle Nadler recognized their generosity in both sweat equity and monetary donations.

“It was amazing to see so many people working together on a Tuesday afternoon to sort and pack food for Loudoun County’s families in need. LEF’s Fueled program will get that food into the hands of students, ensuring they are prepared to do their best in the classroom and beyond,” she said.

The 7x24 Exchange is a not-for-profit organization that provides continuing education and professional networking for mission-critical industries like data centers.

Author and Inclusive Design Educator to Speak at Foxcroft

Grace Jun, an assistant professor at the University of Georgia, author and inclusive design educator has been named Foxcroft School’s 2024 Alison Harrison Goodyear ’29 Fellow and will speak at the school

The Alison Harrison Goodyear ’29 Fellowship program is offered through the family and friends of Alison Harrison Goodyear, a Foxcroft Class of 1929 graduate. It brings speakers and performers to the school to deliver keynote addresses and conduct small group seminars with students.

Fellowship recipients during the program’s 54-year history include Maya Angelou, James Baker III, Doris Kearns Goodwin, David McCullough, Sally Ride, Barbara Walters, tech entrepreneur Sheena Allen, National Geographic “Adventurer of the Year” Jennifer Pharr Davis, “Hello Fears” founder Michelle Poler, NPR’s Morning Edition host Rachel Martin, GenHERation founder Katlyn Grasso, The Social Institute founder Laura Tierney, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dr. Marcia Chatelain, Former Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James, Haitian-American director and global philanthropist Claudine Oriol, and renowned oceanographer and ocean advocate Dr. Sylvia Earle.

To learn more about the Alison Harrison Goodyear ’29 Fellowship Program, visit Foxcroft.org/goodyear-fellowship

Founded in 1914, Foxcroft School is a college preparatory boarding and day school for girls in grades 9-12 and postgraduate. Foxcroft offers 69-73 courses in six disciplines, including 17 primary Advanced Placement and post-AP courses, and a STEM program. Foxcroft has 10 sports and has a nationally known riding program. For more information about Foxcroft, visit Foxcroft.org or call 540687-5555. n

Russell

Politics

Pio Reelected as Loudoun GOP Chair

Following weeks of divisive campaigning and four hours of voting Saturday, Scott Pio was re-elected to a second twoyear term as chair of the Loudoun County Republican Committee.

The election drew record turnout, with 1,159 votes cast. Pio got 598, beating challenger Paul Lott by 37 votes—a narrow margin that highlighted the deep division over the direction of the party.

In his reelection campaign, Pio highlighted record levels of fundraising and membership and touted support provided to the party’s candidates.

Lott, the party’s unsuccessful candidate in the 28th District House of Delegates race last fall, criticized Pio’s management of the committee, claiming campaign money had been poorly used and was not significantly distributed to candidates.

In a social media post after the votes were tallied, Pio said the election was a grassroots victory.

“Two years ago, we started something that LCRC has never done. With record breaking 650+ members and $430,000

Trump Protesters Put Pressure on LCRC

Republicans arriving in Ashburn to vote for the chairman of the Loudoun County Republican Committee on Saturday were greeted by demonstrators displaying anti-Trump signs.

Participants said they were hoping to break the party’s fealty to the former president because of concerns about authoritarianism and the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol.

“I just would really like an option in 2024. I consider myself a Democracy-first voter and Trump just poses too great of risk to the Constitution, to the wellbeing of society, honestly,” said Bronwen Hale Dearden.

Misty Brough said she began thinking more critically about Trump’s role in government after Jan. 6, saying the scene was similar to that in countries with dictatorships.

raised, we will do it again. I look forward to the long term strategy of Loudoun turning RED,” he wrote. n

The protest was organized by Chris Stevenson, who was expelled from membership in the local party committee earlier this year.

“I’d like to keep the pressure on. We’re working to break the chokehold that Trump has on the Republican Party,” he said. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Loudoun County Republican Committee Chairman Scott Pio, center, greets voters in Ashburn on March 16 when he was elected to a second twoyear term.

Ms. Senior Virginia Crowned in Ashburn

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

Loudoun resident Marcella Ragano was crowned Ms. Senior Virginia on March 15 at Clyde’s at Willowcreek in Ashburn.

The 63-year-old was surrounded by family and friends as she was officially crowned by Ms. Senior USA Janene Burton, from Santa Clara Utah.

Ragano used her visual impairment as her platform to bring awareness to low vision and visually impaired people.

“I really feel like this is going to be exciting and fun and one of the things I’ve talked about is we are over 60, we are relevant, and people don’t realize how valuable we are,” Ragano said. “I want to be a voice to say being over 60 doesn’t mean anything but an age.”

Ragano will compete at the Ms. Senior pageant in Las Vegas, NV, in September.

The Ms. Senior USA pageant is part of the Senior Pageant Group Senior Pageant Foundation. Its goal is to honor the lives of women over 60 and to encourage them to embrace who they are and to not let age limit what they can offer the world, according to its website. n

Daybreak Rotary Awards $10.5K in Grants

The Leesburg Daybreak Rotary Club on Tuesday presented grants totaling $10,500 to eight nonprofits serving Loudoun County.

“This is really an exciting day. This is what we’re all about-is trying to have opportunities to give back to the community representatives that are doing such a great job taking care of our citizens,” said club President Dave Jones.

This year’s grants were awarded to:

• THE ARC OF LOUDOUN, to help fund its

program that teaches kids and adults with disabilities how to ride bikes;

• DULLES SOUTH SOUP KITCHEN, to help expand its distribution outreach to the Sterling Library;

• JUST NEIGHBORS, a nonprofit that helps low-income immigrant families apply for legal status;

• LOUDOUN ABUSED WOMEN’S SHELTER, which is working to build a new shelter in Leesburg;

• LEGACY FARMS, which works with neurodivergent individuals to grow

vegetables and flowers at Temple Hall Farm Park for distribution as part of CSAs;

• THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DIAPER BANK, which works with schools to provide diapers to families in need;

• LOUDOUN HUNGER RELIEF, which plans to use the grant for a much-needed computer replacement; and

• LOUDOUN CAREGIVERS, which plans to add a second parttime driver to its service of taking clients to medical appointments. n

Brewers Create ‘Next Chapter’ Beer for LAWS Anniversary

In support of the 40th anniversary of LAWS Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services, the Loudoun County Brewers Association will release the Next Chapter Hazy Pale Ale on April 5.

A collaboration of several of the county’s top brewers, proceeds from the sale of the beer will benefit LAWS.

The association will kick off the campaign with a free tasting at the Loudoun County Visitors Center from 6 to 9 p.m. April 5 during Leesburg’s First Friday event. Then eight member breweries will be selling it by the pint and in cans in their taprooms. The participating breweries are Bear Chase Brewing Co., Belly Love Brewing, Crooked Run Fermentation,

Hillsborough Winery and Brewery, Lost Barrel Brewing, Loudoun Brewing Co., Old Ox Brewing, and Quattro Goombas.

“We are honored and excited to be asked to work with this great organization that has helped so many people in 40 years,” Chris Suarez, chair of the Loudoun County Brewer’s Association, said.

“Physical violence, sexual violence, or stalking by one’s intimate partner impacts more than 40 percent of women and 25 percent of men in their lifetimes,” LAWS CEO Debra Gilmore said. “While excessive alcohol consumption is closely associated with intimate partner violence, drinking alcohol does not cause violence. Lowered inhibitions, impaired judge-

ment, and human choices do. We are excited to build our partnerships with local breweries—a vital part of our tourism industry—to jointly raise awareness of this distinction and that LAWS provides free, confidential, and lifesaving services for those impacted in our community.”

LAWS was established in 1984 by three women working to provide a safe refuge for victims of domestic violence. It continues to provide those emergency shelter services and also offers advocacy, therapy, legal services, and other supports. It also operates the Loudoun Child Advocacy Center, which helps reduce re-traumatization of and support child abuse victims.

Learn more at lcsj.org. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now Ms. Senior Virginia, Marcella Ragano after being crowned to the title on March 15.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Leesburg Daybreak Rotary Club President Dave Jones poses with representatives of eight nonprofit grant recipients during a March 18 ceremony.

Business

Labor Violations Found in Loudoun Restaurants

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

Multiple Loudoun County Jersey Mike’s Sub restaurants, owned by the same operator, were recently found to have violated child labor regulations by the U.S. Department of Labor after an investigation showed minors were allowed to perform dangerous tasks and work longer hours than allowed under law.

The operator, JM Burke of Charleston, South Carolina paid $108,161 in civil penalties to resolve the infractions.

The investigation found restaurants in Sterling, Ashburn, South Riding and west Springfield were found to have violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by allowing 14 minor-aged employees to operate power-driven meat slicers, which is considered a hazardous occupation under federal law.

The investigation also found the restaurants in violation of several other child labor violations like working more than eight hours on a non-school day, more than 18 hours during a school week, more than three hours on a school day after 7 p.m. during the school year or after 9 p.m. during the summer months, all child labor violations according to a press release.

Overtime violations were also discovered at the Ashburn location, where the employer failed to include bonuses in three employee’s regular rates of pay when figuring out overtime wages owed. The employer also didn’t keep accurate records of workers’ regular pay rates, according to the release.

JM Burke paid $856 in overtime back wages to those workers.

“Employers who hire minors are legally and ethically obligated to comply with child labor standards that protect young

BCT’s Frazier Elected ICBA Vice Chair

BCT-Bank of Charles Town President and CEO Alice Frazier is the new vice chair of the Independent Community Bankers of America.

Frazier also is a member of the ICBA Executive Committee and board of directors and is vice chairman of the Federal Delegate Board. She serves on ICBA’s Policy Development Committees and is Executive Committee liaison to the Bank

people from harm,” Wage and Hour Division District Director of the Baltimore office Nicholas Fiorello said in a press release. “In addition to keeping them safe, employers must schedule young workers for times that allow for their education to remain the priority.”

The U.S. Department of Labor initially began its investigation at the Sterling and Ashburn locations in August 2022.

According to Fiorello, an investigation goes back two years from the time investigators make contact with an employer.

He said investigators then found continuing violations in early 2023 at other locations owned by the same operator, leading to investigations at the South Riding and west Springfield restaurants.

“Unfortunately, over the last several years this has been occurring more frequently,” Fiorello said in an interview, adding the department has seen an uptick in child labor violations nationwide.

He said the restaurant industry sees violations like this quite a bit, especially after the pandemic. He said employees under the age of 18 will deliver food, use baking equipment or meat slicers, all of

Education Committee and ThinkTECH Selection Advisory Group. Frazier served on the ICBA Executive Committee as secretary from 2019-21. She is also a member of the Consolidated Holdings and Service Network boards.

Frazier

“Alice is a passionate advocate for our industry who has earned the respect and admiration of her peers,” stated ICBA

which are violations.

“We don’t reveal the reason for our investigation. We do receive complaints from the public, we also concentrate our efforts in specific industries and typically restaurants are one of those,” he said.

JM Burke has agreed to comply with the act moving forward, according to Fiorello.

Fiorello said their work doesn’t end after an investigation wraps up, and said the department offers educational courses for parents, workers and students.

The Department of Labor’s Baltimore Office is offering a free webinar April 3 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for employers, parents, educators and workers to learn more about the FLSA’s child labor protections.

Registration is required for the webinar.

Fiorello said they want the community to know about the uptick in violations so workers can be aware and protect themselves. He encouraged anyone to call the office with questions or concerns at 410-962-6211 or go to dol.gov for more information.

“We hope that other employers take note of the violations and look at themselves and correct things if they have done something in the past,” Fiorello said.

For more information about young workers’ rights and other employee rights, contact the toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243).

Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages, by going to dol.gov/agencies.whd. The division protects workers regardless of where they are from and can communicate with workers in more than 200 languages.  n

Chairman Lucas White, president of The Fountain Trust in Covington, IN. “Her unwavering commitment is truly commendable. We are fortunate to benefit from her counsel on ICBA’s Executive Committee as we seek to drive meaningful change, marking a steadfast dedication to community bank advancement.”

ICBA is a national advocacy organization dedicated to promoting the interests of locally operated community banks and savings institutions. Learn more at icba.org. n

Hanley Celebrates Latest Expansion in Loudoun

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Irish data center power company Hanley Energy kicked off the St. Patrick’s Day weekend with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its new U.S. headquarters in Ashburn.

The company designs, builds and commissions secure and reliable power for the data centers, hospitals, and government operations.

Hanley Energy came to Loudoun with four employees in 2016. In 2021, it announced plans to expand its U.S. headquarters in Loudoun. A year later Hanley Energy committed $8 million to build a larger facility on Russell Branch Parkway and to grow its workforce to more than 300.

CEO Clive Gilmore said the Ashburn center directs all of the company’s U.S. operations—in Virginia, Oregon, California, and Ohio.

And he said the company is in a recruitment drive to grow its workforce to just under 400.

“We’re hiring electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, people with technical skills in the apprenticeship program. We’re looking for people in the computer networking arena. And we have jobs across the other departments of finance, procurement, logistics,” he said.

Gilmore said the company has experienced strong support.

“America’s a very competitive market and it takes time to learn the difference between European business and American business,” Gilmore said. “But Virginia has been really good to us. All the agencies have offered good advice or support. They’ve always been there to get us around or over the hurdle that’s in front of us.” n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

The Ashburn Jersey Mike’s Sub Shop

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Hanley Energy CEO Clive Gilmore, center, is joined by Enterprise Ireland Chairman Michael Carey, with scissors, in cutting the ribbon in front of the company’s new U.S. headquarters in Ashburn.

Bremseth Presents ‘Lean’ $30.6M Budget, Calls for Utility Rate Increases

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Purcellville Town Manager Rick Bremseth presented his first budget to the Town Council last week, proposing a $30.6 million budget for fiscal year 2025.

The proposed budget holds the real estate tax rate steady and adds only 0.63 full time equivalent position to the town’s roster of 89 full-time employees.

Bremseth called the budget “lean” by necessity and said it did not include 70% of the enhancements requested by department heads.

Most significantly, he is proposing utility rate increases of 16% for water use and 18% for wastewater. If those rates are adopted, the average residential utility bill would see a monthly increase of $7.29 in water fees and $14.69 in wastewater fees.

“Utility fund challenges are the single most important and also the most difficult

fiscal challenges that require resolution,” he said. “At the heart of this problem is long-term structural imbalance caused by

insufficient revenues to cover the cost of services provided. For years the town has been using reserve funds to cover this cost differential.”

He said delaying the increases needed to keep up with the debt service the town owes is not sustainable.

“Continuing down this path is fiscally catastrophic. The bottom line: We will run out of cash if prudent, multiyear plans are not executed,” he said.

Director of Finance Liz Krens said the town owes an additional $8,000 in water debt service in FY 2025 and an additional $227,000 in FY 2026. For wastewater, the town owes an additional $1.4 million in debt service in FY 2025.

Even with the 16% increase in water rates, Krens said the Water Fund is expected to operate at a $437,150 loss in

PURCELLVILLE

Hamilton Council Considers Vendor Permits for Events

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

As Hamilton leaders work to expand the town’s roster of community events, the Town Council is looking to make changes to both the Town Code and Town Zoning Ordinance that would allow for the sale of food and merchandise.

“These events have been very successful, very well attended so we just want to make sure that there’s a process for them,” Town Attorney Maureen Gilmore said.

In 2023 the town hosted Hamilton Day, a movie night, Fall Into Hamilton, and the lighting of the town Christmas tree with caroling.

The changes must be reviewed by the Planning Commission and undergo two public hearings before the council can enact them.

“There are two issues we have to deal with for these town-sponsored special events – zoning and taxes,” Gilmore said.

Council member Craig Green expressed concern at changing town ordinances for the town’s own benefit.

“I just feel like we’re trying to carve out a little exception so we can have our cake and eat it too because the thing that we don’t like is this idea of somebody sending up a food truck on the side of the road,” he said. “… I have a problem with that.”

Zoning Administrator Martha Mason Semmes said it was not uncommon for localities to take such actions.

Council members also discussed whether the allowance should extend to nonprofit sponsored events and churches. Semmes said the language in the resolution could be changed to include nonprofits, but recommended against singling out churches.

Council members agreed they did not want random special events to be held around the town and Gilmore said she could include language in the resolution to limit the allowance to “public or nonprofit” property.

The change would not allow for the temporary or seasonal sale of items around town, such as Christmas trees, farm produce or fireworks.

Gilmore also recommended removing

HAMILTON

2 Advance in Bland Competition

Lovettsville and Purcellville Lions Clubs conducted a James Bland Music Scholarship Foundation Competition in Hamilton on March 17.

Twelve musicians were evaluated by professional music teachers, with Soprano Alexis House and Pianist Ellin Kwak selected to advance to a District-level Competition planned for April 7 in Alexandria. District finalists will advance to the state finals April 19 in Herndon.

The scholarship program was established in 1948 to provide a living memorial honoring composer James A. Bland.

Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world, with more than 1.4 million volunteer members in 46,000 clubs serving 200 countries and geographic areas worldwide. Learn more at lionsclubs.org.

LOVETTSVILLE

Roadwork Planned Through April 1

language from the proposed resolution that would require the events to have 300foot setback from any residential property.

“You almost have to because that Baptist church backs right up against residential properties and the park does [too],” Mayor Ken Wine said.

Adjusting the Town Code is required because there is no authority for vendors to participate in events unless they are registered as peddlers or door-to-door salesman, Gilmore said.

“In order to make sure that there is authorization for these types of activities, we’re suggesting an amendment to the Town Code that would allow the sale of food, goods, wares or merchandise at town-sponsored or nonprofit sponsored events,” Gilmore said.

The council decided to set the fee per vendor for each event at $25.

A joint public hearing with the Planning Commission and Town Council is planned for April 8 before the commission votes on its recommendation. The council is expected to put the resolution into effect before Hamilton Day on May 27. n

The Town of Lovettsville has been notified that the Virginia Department of Transportation will be resurfacing Tilgham Place, Joel Way, Barbara Ellen Place, and Cooper Run Street in the Kingsridge neighborhood today through April 1.

VDOT has requested that cars be removed from the roads during paving period.

LUCKETTS

Ruritan Scholarship

Deadlines Extended

Because of delays in the federal student aid application process, the deadline for submitting scholarship applications to the Lucketts Ruritan Club has been extended to March 31.

Applicants who do not have a student aid report may submit financial need information as a separate document submitted with the application.

For more information about the program, go to luckettsruritan.org.

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Purcellville Town Manager Rick Bremseth presents the fiscal year 2025 proposed budget to the council March 13.

AROUND towns

continued from page 16

MIDDLEBURG

Council Reduces Tax Rate to 12.76 Cents

The Town Council last week approved a 12.76-cent real estate tax rate as it continues to review Town Manager Danny Davis’ proposed fiscal year 2025 budget.

It follows the council’s recent practice of adjusting to higher property assessments by determining the equalized rate that would keep tax bills level on average and adding a 3% inflationary factor.

The tax rate is lower than the current 12.76-cent rate, but higher than the equalized rate of 12 cents.

Unlike other jurisdictions, Middleburg’s real estate and personal property taxes represent a relatively small portion of the town’s revenues, about $643,000. By comparison, the town expects to collect $1.3 million in hotel taxes and $1.4 million in meals taxes. Overall, General Fund revenues are projected at $5.1 million.

PURCELLVILLE

Retirement Ceremony Planned for Chief McAlister

In advance of Purcellville Police Chief Cynthia McAlister’s May 1 retirement, the Police Department is planning a community reception in her honor on Friday, April 12 from 2-4 p.m. at Purcellville Baptist Church.

Residents are invited to attend.

McAlister served as police chief for nearly nine years and has more than 42 years of law enforcement service in Northern Virginia.

Creek Critters Nature

Walk Set for Sunday

Come to the Chapman DeMary Trail at 1 p.m. Sunday to discover critters of the Catoctin Creek with the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Stream Team.

Learn about creek critters, help find and identify them, and find out how they help determine the health of the stream.

The free March 24 event is co-hosted by the Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee, Register online in advance at purcellvilleva.gov/881/Monthly-Nature-Walks. n

Purcellville budget

continued from page 16

FY 2025, approximately 12% of the funds operating budget. Using that much from the fund’s reserves would leave a surplus of $131,658 over the town’s required rainy day and capital reserve requirements.

With the 18% increase in wastewater rates, that fund would operate at an approximately $1 million deficit. Using that amount from wastewater reserves to reach structural balance would cause the fund to fall $1.9 million below the amount required to reach the rainy day and the capital reserve limits.

Under the town’s fiscal policies, the rainy day amount is set at a full year of operating costs.

“Over the past 10 years, the water fund became reliant on one time availability revenue from new connections plus debt deferral to address the imbalance. This approach is not sustainable as deferred principal payments fully resume in FY 26 and new connections slow,” Krens said.

The budget includes a 3.2% cost of living increase and the possibility of a merit increase for employees, maintains a real

estate tax rate at 20.5 cents per $100 of assessed value, and shows “modest” increases in revenue from the property tax, meals tax, business license tax and business, professional and occupational license fees.

Staff also was highlighted as a long term concern.

New Human Resources Director LaDonna Snellbaker warned that the retirement of 75 million “baby boomers” would peak in 2024 affecting localities everywhere.

“The subsequent generation simply cannot fill the void left in the workplace. These factors are combined with the skill

shortage already experiencing some fields such as engineering, information technology and government specific areas,” Snellbaker said.

Already this year, the town has heard about the retirement plans of the police chief, a department head, one long time facilities specialist, and two police sergeants. During Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting, Mayor Stanley J. Milan said long time Administration Director Hooper McCann will also retire this year.

Bremseth said it is time for the council to address the challenges facing the town.

“We can best confront the challenge by working together as a unified cohesive team,” he said. “Together we will execute the strategies listed here to mitigate current and future fiscal obstacles. User rates must increase to rebuild structural balance where rates are set at sustainable levels. Finally, we must develop and identify alternative revenue sources and resources, but in the process, we cannot refer rate increases any longer. The first rule of economics—there is no free lunch.”

The council will hold its second budget work session March 20 to discuss utility rate modeling with the town’s consultants. n

ter for the planet.

To help you make choices that will trim your monthly expenses and

fering the following tips:

Home-Searching Tips

When house hunting, your realtor can help you learn about the current energy usage of the homes you’re interested in purchasing. If you’re explicitly looking for green housing, it’s helpful to work with a professional with specific expertise or credentials in this area.

Whether you’re in the market to buy or rent, basic energy- and water-saving features to check for when visiting properties include good insulation, properly sealed doors and windows, smart thermostats, low-flow or dual-flush toilets, high-efficiency or tankless hot water heaters, and front-loading washing machines. The ENERGY STAR and WaterSense labels are good indicators that the property, and the appliances within it, are designed with efficiency in mind. You should also consider which direction the building faces and whether it’s shaded. The amount of direct sunlight your

GREENING YOUR HOME

on page 20

Greening your home

continued from page 18

potential home receives can have a large impact on your HVAC needs.

Making Updates

There are many steps you can take to improve your home’s energy and water efficiency. If you’re unsure where to start, consider referencing the Department of Energy’s data-driven tools and calculators. You could also hire a pro-

fessional to perform an energy audit. This will pinpoint where you’re losing energy and what renovations will save you money. Some quick DIY updates to make right now include caulking window casings, weatherstripping doors, replacing incandescent light bulbs with CFLs or LEDs, and installing low-flow faucets and showerheads. Additional money-saving updates include installing a smart, programmable thermostat, replacing older appliances and installing a tankless hot water heater.

Renting? Reach out to your landlord

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to determine what updates they’re willing to make. You may not be allowed to make permanent changes, or interested in making investments in someone else’s property, but energy-saving habits, such as washing clothes in cold water and adjusting the thermostat when leaving town, can help.

The Return

You may be asking yourself whether all this effort is worth it. The answer? Up-to-date, energy- and water-efficient technologies can save you 20% to 30% on your bills. And because today’s savvy buyers are looking for a home that will be kind to both their wallet and the environment, efficiency improvements can also boost resale value. In fact, Freddie Mac research found that homes with high energy-efficiency ratings sold for 2.7% more on average than unrated homes.

Fortunately, there are programs available, such as Energy Efficient Mortgages, to help finance these improvements upfront. With the understanding that

reducing home utility costs places families in a better financial situation and helps preserve home affordability over time, Freddie Mac offers GreenCHOICE Mortgages that can be applied to a new home purchase or a no cash-out refinance and can be used to cover basic energy efficiency improvements up to $6,500 without the need for an energy report. With a GreenCHOICE Mortgage you can borrow up to 15% of the home’s “as complete” appraised value to pay for basic energy and water efficiency improvements. Speak with your lender about the financing options available to you and which may best suit your needs.

There are no doubt long-term savings and gains to be reaped from greening your home. And thanks to new programs, paying for these updates is easier for more American families. n

GET OUT

LIVE MUSIC

RED NOT CHILI PEPPERS

8 to 11 p.m. Thursday, March 21

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St. SW., Leesburg. $15 to $35. tallyhotheater.com

ASHLEIGH CHEVALIER

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 22

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

CHRIS BOWEN

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 22

Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 Little River Turnpike, Aldie. quattrogoomas.com

WEEKEND @ BERNIE’S

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 22

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

NATE CLENDENEN

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 22

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

LENNY BURRIDGE

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 22

Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

ERIC CAMPBELL

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 22

Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

VOLUME’S 11

6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, March 22

Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn. oldoxbrewery.com

MIKE BAILEY

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, March 22

Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseashburn.com

LSHA BAND

8 to 11 p.m. Friday, March 22

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

THAT ARENA ROCK SHOW

8 to 11 p.m. Friday, March 22

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St. SW., Leesburg. $20 to $50. tallyhotheater.com

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 23

Lillian Hackett Lands American Idol Golden Ticket, Releases Single ‘Tennessee’

BY DANA ARMSTRONG darmstrong@getoutloudoun.org

After seeing a snippet of Lillian Hackett on “American Idol” earlier this month, the Lovettsville-based singer/songwriter’s longer audition aired Sunday. She performed her original song “Tennessee” for the judges earning a golden ticket to continue the competition in Hollywood.

In Hackett’s first appearance on the show, she was briefly highlighted within a montage of other “American Idol” hopefuls. Moments before her audition, she and her family snapped a photo with host Ryan Seacrest, each clad in a Santa hat.

Following her full audition, judge Luke Bryan offered encouragement as she moved to the next stage.

“There’s just something really artistic about you that I like,” he said.

Hackett got the idea to audition for “American Idol” in early fall 2023 after seeing a concert of one of her favorite bands, The Swell Season, in DC. The opener for the concert had appeared in another singing competition.

“The whole time we were listening to him I was like, ‘Man, this is so cool. It’s my dream to play at this concert venue, and I’d love to be in this position.’ So, I told my mom, ‘I feel like this is a sign to sign up,’” said Hackett, a 17-year-old Woodgrove High School junior.

“I went online and I saw that the auditions, in terms of producers, were in a week. So, I totally did it on a whim, not expecting anything out of it.”

Her audition was part of “Idol Across America,” a nationwide live virtual audition process where participants would sing for producers over Zoom in the hopes of advancing to an audition in

front of the judges.

Hackett remembers her initial audition taking place at 6 p.m. after school. Within the comfort of her bedroom, she progressed through a series of breakout rooms with different producers. At the end of the calls, the producers told her they’d provide an update in two to three weeks.

“The next day, they called me up and they were like, ‘Hey, we want you to come back on another Zoom call.’ I kept getting asked back and asked back, and then they eventually told me I was going to be auditioning in front of Katy [Perry], Luke [Bryan], and Lionel [Richie]!”

For her audition in front of the judges, Hackett went to Nashville. At the airport, she even met fellow “American Idol”

Disney/Eric McCandless

Lillian Hackett gets a tip from American Idol judge Luke Bryan during her audition in Nashville.

GET OUT

LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 22

DYLAN WOELFEL

8 to 11 p.m. Friday, March 22

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

JASON MASI

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com

SHANE GAMBLE

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413 Little River Turnpike, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyard.com

CHRIS COMPTON

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23

8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford. 8chainsnorth.com

STEVE BOYD AND FRIENDS

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 23

The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation.com

CALLER N’ DOC

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 Little River Turnpike, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com

ACOUSTIC SOUL

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville. twotwistedposts.com

LAURA CASHMAN

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church Road, Hillsboro. old690.com

MELISSA QUINN FOX

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Lost Rhino Brewing Co, 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com

JET CAPRIEST

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton. fireflycellar.com

GARY SMALLWOOD

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com

CALEB HACKER

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com

ZACH JONES

3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

DEREK KRETZER & FRIENDS

4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

SOMETHING COUNTRY

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

CLARK PEKLO

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

DELTA SPUR DUO

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

TRAIL MIX BAND

6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn. oldoxbrewery.com

JASON TEACH

7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseashburn.com

THE AMANDA COOK BAND

7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Lucketts. $22. luckettsbluegrass.org

POINT OF ROCK BAND,

8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 23

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

LIVE WIRE

8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $20. tallyhotheater.com

ALEX KERNS

8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 23

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

SCOTT HETZ CLARK AND FRIENDS

8 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 23

Ion International Training Center, 19201 Compass Creek Parkway, Leesburg. $20.

ionarena.com

LIBERTY STREET

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 24

Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 Little River Turnpike, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com

SHADE TREE COLLECTIVE

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 24

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts.

vanishbeer.com

ASHLEIGH CHEVALIER

1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 24

Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

LOUDOUN JAZZ JAM

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 24

The Dell: Food & Brew Hall, 1602 Village Market Blvd. SE., Leesburg. atthedell.com

PERSONAL MOOSE

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 24

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

SHARIF

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 24

Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413 Little River Turnpike, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com

DAVE MININBERG

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 24

The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation.com

Best Bets

GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 23

ROBERT HOEY

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 24

Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

THE AMANDA COOK BAND

Saturday, March 23, 7 p.m. Lucketts Community Center luckettsbluegrass.org

Hear one of the most dynamic female bluegrass vocalists and band-leaders of today. The southwest Virginia native offers a mix of traditional and contemporary bluegrass with a down-to-earth personal style and stunning vocals.

DEREK KRETZER

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 24

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro.

breauxvineyards.com

JOSEPH R. MONASTERIAL

4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 24

The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. lostfoxhideaway.com

SPAFFORD

8 to 11 p.m. Tuesday, March 26

SCOTT HETZ CLARK AND FRIENDS

Saturday, March 23, 8 p.m.

Ion International Training Center  ionarena.com

Join us a Lu’s Bar & Grill for a night of improvisation, syncopation and all that jazz with our own young Sinatra, a local legend Scott Hetz Clark and his friends.

SPAFFORD

Tuesday, March 26, 8 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater tallyhoteather.com

The Arizona-based band rolls into Leesburg for a mid-week show performing their blends of multiple genres of music including rock, funk, jazz, reggae, ska, and electro-pop.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $20 to $45. tallyhotheater.com

KEVIN HENNESSEY

5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 27

Lost Rhino Brewing Co, 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com

TAYLOR SHEPPARD

7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, March 27

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

JASON MASI

6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, March 27

The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. lostfoxhideaway.com

SCOTT KURT

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28

Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

HOLLY MONTGOMERY SOLO ACOUSTIC

6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, March 28

Plaza Azteca Mexican Restaurant. 1608 Village Market Blvd. SE., Leesburg. plazaazteca.com/leesburg

HAPPENINGS

BRAD STINE: GOD’S COMIC

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, March 22

Kidtime Christian Academy, 71 N. Laycock St., Hamilton. bradstine.com

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA

7 p.m. Friday, March 22

7 p.m. Saturday, March 23

7 p.m. Sunday, March 24

St. Paul VI Catholic High School, 42341 Braddock Road, Chantilly. $10 to $15. paulvi.net

BIRDING SWEET RUN

8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 23

Sweet Run State Park, 11661 Harpers Ferry Road,

Hillsboro. loudounwildlife.org

CHIP & DIP PAIRING

11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 23

8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford. 8chainsnorth.com

SYLVANSIDE FARM OPEN HOUSE

12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 23 19606 Telegraph Springs Road, Purcellville. sylvansidefarm.com

FREE STAND-UP COMEDY SHOW

9 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 23

The Bungalow Lakehouse, 46116 Lake Center Plaza, Sterling. bungalowlakehouse.com

VIRGINIA MARATHON

7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 24 130 Madison Street, Middleburg. $30 to $50. olddominionracing.com

CREEK CRITTERS OF THE CATOCTIN

1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 24

Chapman DeMary Trail, 355 N. Hatcher Ave., Purcellville. purcellvilleva.gov

HUMANE SOCIETY ADOPTION EVENT

1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 24 PetSmart, Dulles, 24570 Dulles Landing Drive. loudounhumane.org

THE FASCINATING WORLD OF BATS

2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 24 Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road NW., Leesburg. loudounwildlife.org

FARMYARD FUN

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 Heritage Farm Museum, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling. $5. heritagefarmmuseum.org

SPRING EGG HUNT

2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27

Temple Hall Farm Regional Park, 15855 Limestone School Road, Leesburg. novaparks.org

Downe Lands Wins 2024 Battle of the Bands

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Loudoun’s top teen performers took the stage at the Tally Ho Theater on Friday night with the rock trio Downe Lands winning the top prize in the 2024 Battle of the Bands.

Twelve bands and soloists made the final round of competition following three rounds of preliminary battles starting last year. In its 19th year, the program is sponsored by Loudoun Youth Inc. and the Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services.

It was the third appearance in the finals for Downe Lands, who cite influences of Periphery, August Burns Red, and Rage Against the Machine. As champions, the band received a $500 cash prize, a full day of studio time at Blue Room Productions, and support at a future show from Realeworks Lighting and Sound.

The Venture Jazz Collective, an eight-member group from South Riding took second place, awarded a $300 prize and a half-day of studio time.

The best soloist was singer/songwrit-

Hackett

continued from page 22

auditioner and Loudoun County-based singer Sela Campbell for the first time— the start of what would become a great support system for the both of them.

In the hours leading up to her audition, producers filmed Hackett for many interviews and B-roll clips. The rest of the time, she spent sitting and waiting with her family since she didn’t know when she would be called for her audition.

“I’m kind of glad that was the case because if I had known when I was going to audition, I think I would have gotten more nervous about it and overthought it,” said Hackett.

Hackett released a single of the original song she performed, “Tennessee,” on all streaming platforms March 15.

Inspired by her dad, who is a musician, Hackett started learning the guitar around 10 years old and says she’s been writing songs for as long as she can remember. While Bob Dylan is one of her greatest songwriting inspirations, her musical influences include the bluegrass, folk, and old-time music she often heard

er, multi-instrumentalist Ed Chong. He was awarded a mentored song-writing session with Todd Wright at Half King Studios and a half day of studio time at Blue Room.

In its first appearance in the finals, Blackfire was named fan favorite through voting of audience members and awarded $150.

Eternal Moon won the prize for best original song, earning a songwriting session with Wright.

Additionally, the Town of Purcellville provided Downe Lands and Blackfire with

at local music venues, music festivals, and the neighborhood barn dances of her childhood.

“I draw a lot of my [songwriting] inspiration from personal experiences, but I’ve recently started to delve into writing more from other people’s point of view like my friends and family. Other times, I can be sitting around and I see or hear something that will spark a hook or an idea for a song and I go with it,” said Hackett.

“My most recent original song, “Time is a Thief,” was a tribute to my grandmother and how as time passes, my memories of her have started to fade. The stories shared by those who have known her much longer help me to know her a little more. It’s a reminder to share the stories of our loved ones so that their legacy lives on.”

When Hackett isn’t writing songs or playing gigs around the area, she is hard at work in her academics. She’s involved in her school’s class council and multiple honor societies. Plus, she volunteers as a math tutor for elementary schoolers and works at the local pool during the summer. Beyond that, you’ll likely find her enjoying the great outdoors.

“My family is very into hiking, back-

Obituaries

Janice Wilt

The beloved Janice Wilt longtime resident of Lovettsville, affectionately known by her family as Mimi, sadly passed on February 23, 2024 at the age of 65 after a brief battle with cancer. At her time of death, she was peaceful and surrounded by family. Janice will be dearly missed by those who loved her and by all those whose lives she touched.

invitations to perform at the Purcellville Music and Arts Festival in April and Celebrate Purcellville in October and $200 prizes.

Other finalists were ACT, Yonatan, Emilia Battaglia, World View, Penelope Lyla, the Butter Chicken Band, and The Wickers.

The performances were evaluated by 10 judges, including 2022 best soloist winner Sela Campbell, who took the stage to perform two of her original songs ahead of her upcoming appearance in this year’s American Idol series. n

packing, and camping. We recently—well recently as of two or three years ago— went on a backpacking trip in Vermont for a month or so. It was a little less than 200 miles. Nature is definitely something that I love, and it plays a big part in my songwriting, too.”

This spring, there will be many opportunities to see Hackett perform her songs. She opens for Low Water Bridge Band at the Tally Ho Theater in April. Then in May, she’ll hit the festival circuit, playing at Cannon Fire Country Music Festival in Maryland and Fallsburg Summer Stage in Kentucky—where she is planning to play her first full set of completely original music.

No matter the outcome of her “American Idol” journey, Hackett plans to keep music in her life past high school, throughout college, and into her future career.

“I’m leaning toward maybe being in the music industry. I don’t know what that entails or involves yet, but being around music, I just love the community. That’s also what “Idol” made me realize: I love being around people who love music just as I do.”

Learn more at lillianhackettmusic.com. n

Janice Blaker Wilt was born on December 31, 1958, as the first child to James Boyd Eisenlohr and Ann Blaker Eisenlohr in Fairfax, Virginia. Janice was married in 1979 to Kerry Martin Wilt Sr in Annandale Virginia. They were married for 45 years and raised 4 children together. Janice worked hard as a mother and wife, as well as balancing jobs over the years as a preschool teacher, business owner, and office manager.

Janice was happiest spending time with her large family, including her 11 grandchildren whom she often cared for. She also had her love of cats. Her friends and family fondly remember Janice’s feisty spirit, contagious laugh, warm demeanor, and selfless desire to help and care for others. She made sure her home was always welcoming and lively, birthdays and holidays were fully celebrated, and everyone who spent time with her left feeling special and loved.

Janice is preceded in death by her parents, James Eisenlohr and Ann Blaker. She is also preceded in death by her granddaughter Rebecca Edmondson. She leaves behind her husband Kerry Wilt Sr, her four children Kerry Wilt Jr, Andrew Wilt, Sarah Edmondson, and Heather Johnson, and their loving partners, Katy Bassler, Kasey Michels, Danny Edmondson, and Kyle Johnson. Mimi’s grandchildren include Jay Austin, Bella Michels, Kallen Wilt, Eliza Johnson, Braeden Bassler, Nolan Wlit, Addison Johnson, James Wilt, Riley Johnson, and Savannah Edmondson. Janice is also survived by her brother and sister in law, George and Lisa Eisenlohr as well as a large loving extended family in the UK.

Mimi greatly touched the lives of those around her, and will be dearly missed by all. We are thankful to know she is at peace. Upon her death, she shared with her family that she will always be there watching over them, and they take comfort in that. A gathering of friends and family to celebrate her life will be planned for spring of 2024 in Lovettsville VA.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Rock trio Downe Lands won first place in the 2024 Loudoun Youth Battle of the Bands, performing songs from Blink-182, Deftones and Rage Against the Machine, as well their original “Anew” at the Tally Ho Theater on March 15. See more photos from the performances at getoutloudoun.com.

Legal Notices

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE BIDS/PROPOSALS FOR:

CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRE AND RESCUE TRAINING FACILITY, IFB No. 640812 until prior to 4:00 p.m., April 25, 2024.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE UNION STREET SCHOOL, IFB No. 642819 until prior to 4:00 p.m., April 16, 2024.

REAL-TIME CAPTIONING SERVICES, RFP No. 639831 until prior to 4:00 p.m., April 11, 2024.

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

WHEN CALLING, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCUREMENT 3/21/24

2024-2025 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AMENDED March 13, 2024

The Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development has prepared the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Annual Action Plan for submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by May 16, 2024.

HUD has designated Loudoun County as qualified for Urban County participation in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and entitled to receive CDBG funding and as a Participating Jurisdiction to receive HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds directly from HUD. The HUD regulations require adoption of the above referenced Plan, which outlines the County’s housing and community development needs, priorities, and objectives, and proposed uses of federal funds for the ensuing program year.

Components of the FY 2025 Annual Action Plan include, without limitation, descriptions of:

§ Federal and other resources expected to be available.

§ Leveraging of resources and how match obligations will be met.

§ The activities to be undertaken.

§ The geographic distribution of investment; and

§ Planned homeless and other special needs activities.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046598-05-00, 06-00, -07-00, -08-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Chloe Love

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

v.

Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a third Permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Chloe Love and hold a hearing on the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1-283 for Chloe Love. Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father are hereby notified that failure to appear on

the hereinafter noticed date and time may result in the entry of an Order approving a permanency goal of adoption as well as the termination of their residual parental rights with respect to Chloe Love. Willie Huff, putative father and Unknown Father, are hereby further notified that if their residual parental rights are terminated, they will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Chloe Love; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Chloe Love; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Chloe Love. Further, Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father will have no legal and /or financial obligations with respect to Chloe Love, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Chloe Love for adoption and consent to the adoption of Chloe Love.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before April 4, 2024 at 10:00am 2/29, 3/7, 3/14 & 3/21/24

Note:

This ad is an amendment to the 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan ad that was published March 7, 2024.

Copies of the proposed Annual Action Plan are available and may be examined at the Department of Housing and Community Development at 106 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, Virginia from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 737-8755. The Plan is also available online at www. loudoun.gov/cdbg. Written comments on the Plan may be submitted to the attention of the CDBG Program Manager, Johnette Powell, at the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, Virginia 20177 or by email: johnette.powell@loudoun.gov. Comments will be received through April 10, 2024. The Board of Supervisors Public Meeting to approve the Plan will be held on April 10, 2024, at the Loudoun County Government Center, Board Room, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia at 6:00 pm.

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory, or mental disability to participate in this meeting, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200/TTY-711. At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodation may require more than one day of notice. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings.

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:

CPAM-2022-0001

AMENDMENTS TO THE GENERAL PLAN TO ESTABLISH THE ST. LOUIS VILLAGE PLAN

(Comprehensive Plan Amendment)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-2225 and 15.2-2229, and a Resolution of Intent to Amend adopted by the Board of Supervisors on April 20, 2021, the Planning Commission hereby gives notice of a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPAM) to amend the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (2019 GP) and the Loudoun County 2019 Countywide Transportation Plan (2019 CTP), in order establish the St. Louis Village Plan (St. Louis Plan) as a new component of the 2019 GP. The Saint Louis Plan would establish policies and actions with respect to: land use, historic preservation, infrastructure, and community enhancements, and define geographic boundaries of the St. Louis Plan as reflected in the Small Area Plan Map. In addition, the St. Louis Plan would allow for future amendment(s) to the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The proposed CPAM includes, without limitation, the following:

Proposed Loudoun County 2019 General Plan Amendments:

Amendments to Chapter 1- Introduction:

• Amend Chapter 1 - Relationship to Other Planning Documents - to incorporate reference to the St. Louis Plan.

Amendments to Chapter 2 – Introduction:

• Amend Chapter 2 - Rural Historic Village - to include a reference that adopted Village Small Area Plans are components of the 2019 GP.

Amendments to the Loudoun County 2019 Countywide Transportation Plan-Maps:

• Revise the 2019 CTP maps to amend the existing village boundaries to reflect the updated Small Area Plan Boundary for St. Louis.

The CPAM proposes revisions to other Chapters, Sections, Subsections, and provisions of the 2019 GP as necessary to implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments to update crossreferences to, and further clarify the requirements of, the above-mentioned section(s) of the 2019 GP

The Village of Saint Louis to which the CPAM would apply, is located within the Little River Election District in the Rural Policy Area. The boundaries of the St. Louis Plan are generally described as Pothouse Road (Route 745) to the east; Welbourne Road (Route 743) to the south; and Beaver Dam Creek to the north; and Takaro Farm Lane to the west and are more particularly shown on the map included as part of this published notice.

DOAM 2024-0001 AMENDMENTS TO THE LOUDOUN COUNTY FACILITIES STANDARDS MANUAL

VIRGINIA EROSION AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (Development Ordinance Amendment)

Pursuant to the Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Act (§62.1-44.15:24 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Permit Regulations (9VAC25-875 et seq.), and Guidance provided by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (“State Law”), and a Resolution of Intent to Amend adopted by the Board of Supervisors (“Board”) on March 5, 2024, notice is hereby given of proposed amendments to the Loudoun County Facilities Standards Manual (FSM) that are necessary to establish a Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program (VESMP). The County is required to establish such a Program by July 1, 2024. The amendments are proposed in conjunction with proposed amendments to Chapter 1096 and Chapter 1220 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County. The proposed amendments generally would revise requirements in order to 1) consolidate erosion and sediment control and stormwater management standards, 2) establish new standards in regard to gabion baskets and expand the use of the methods required for determining the Seasonal High Water Table, and 3) revise and clarify existing standards pertaining to stormwater management. These amendments will propose revisions to Chapters 1, 5, 7, and 8 of the FSM, and such other Chapters, Sections, Subsections, and provisions of the FSM as necessary to implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments or as otherwise necessary to correct typos within, update internal cross-references to, and further clarify the requirements of, the above-mentioned Chapters of the FSM. The public purposes of these amendments are to achieve the purposes listed in Section 15.2-2200 of the Code of Virginia and to assure the orderly subdivision of land and its development.

Description of proposed amendments to all sections of the FSM, to include without limitation, the following:

• Update and correct references to other Federal, State, and local regulations, reference materials, Departments, and Agencies.

Description of proposed amendments to FSM Chapter 1, Authority, to include without limitation, the following:

• Amend Section 1.100, General, to add a cross-reference to the Loudoun County Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance, and revise grandfathering for technical criteria requirements set forth in Chapter 1096 of the Codified Ordinances.

• Amend Section 1.300, Necessary Reference Material, to add a reference to the Virginia Department of Transportation Drainage Manual.

Description of proposed amendments to FSM Chapter 5, Water Resource Management, to include without limitation, the following:

• Amend Section 5.200, Design Standards, to include the VDOT Road and Bridge Standards as a reference document.

• Amend Table 1, “Preferred Design Reference”, to delete “Applicable Area” as a preferred design reference.

• Amend Table 2, “Easements”, to replace proprietary names with generic names for underground stormwater management structures.

• Amend Section 5.220, Hydraulic Design, Storm Sewers/Culverts, to incorporate level spreader standards from the Virginia BMP Clearinghouse and clarify design standards for rigid lip.

• Amend Section 5.225, Stormwater Management-General Criteria, General Criteria, to clarify the permitted density for residential areas where underground stormwater management facilities are permitted and establish new standards for Gabion Baskets.

• Amend Section 5.225, Stormwater Management-General Criteria, Facility Design Standards, to add standards for reduction of the low-flow orifice diameter for permanent pool areas, clarify standards for reduction of the low-flow orifice diameter for non-permanent pool areas, and clarify the application of seasonal high water table standards to the design of additional stormwater management plan elements.

• Amend Section 5.230, Stormwater Management-Technical Criteria, Water Quality Criteria, to delete the nonpoint source pollutant load standard for the Goose Creek Reservoir Protection Area.

• Establish new Section 5.300, Erosion Control, to incorporate standards being relocated from Section 7.600.

• Establish new Section 5.500, References for Chapter 5, to establish a new list of Chapter references.

Description of proposed amendments to FSM Chapter 7, Environmental Design Standards, to include without limitation, the following:

• Relocate Section 7.600, Erosion and Sediment Control, in its entirety to new Section 5.300, Erosion and Sediment Control.

Copies of the proposed plans, ordinances, or amendments for each item listed above may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Office of County Administrator, Information Desk, First Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday or call 703-777-0246 (option 5), to request hard copies or electronic copies. Additional project files related to land use applications and land use ordinances may be reviewed electronically at loudoun.gov/landmarc Additionally, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically the week before the hearing at www. loudoun.gov/pc. For further information, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 (option 5).

Legal Notices

Planning Commission work sessions and public hearings are held in the Board Room of the Government Center. Public hearings and work sessions are televised on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are also are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings

Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views during the public hearing. Public comment will be received only for those items listed for public hearing. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance; however, speakers may sign-up during the hearing. If you wish to sign-up in advance, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 (option 5) prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing; however, speakers may also sign-up at the public hearing. Written comments concerning any item before the Commission are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, P.O. Box 7000 Leesburg, VA 20177-7000, or by e-mail to loudounpc@loudoun.gov. If written comments are presented at the hearing, please provide ten (10) copies for distribution to the Commission and for the Clerk’s records. Members of the public may also submit comments on land use items electronically at loudoun. gov/landapplications. Any individual representing and/or proposing to be the sole speaker on behalf of a citizen’s organization or civic association is encouraged to contact the Department of Planning and Zoning prior to the date of the public hearing to request additional time to speak on behalf of such organization.

Regularly scheduled Planning Commission public hearings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. In the event the public hearing cannot be conducted on that date due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the hearing, the public hearing will be continued to the next day (Wednesday). In the event the public hearing may not be held on that Wednesday due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the hearing, the public hearing may be continued to the first Thursday of the next month.

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory, or mental disability to participate in this meeting, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 (option 5). Three business days advance notice is requested.

BY ORDER OF: MICHELLE FRANK, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

Pursuant to Virginia Code Section 15.2-2506, the

of Purcellville, Virginia hereby gives notice of a public hearing to receive comments on the Town Manager's proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025 ("FY25"). The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 6:00 PM in the Town Council Chambers of the Purcellville Town Hall, located at 221 South Nursery Avenue. At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning the budget will be heard. Town Hall is open to the public from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday.

The budget contains a plan for all contemplated expenditures and all estimated revenues and borrowings. The budget is prepared and published for informative and fiscal planning purposes only.

The following is a brief synopsis of the budget proposed for FY25, relative to the Town's appropriations in FY24:

REVENUES

EXPENDITURES

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE, VIRGINIA

Effective July 1, 2024

The Purcellville Town Council will hold a public hearing in the Council Chambers at 221 S. Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 6:00 PM for the purpose of receiving comments on the ordinance setting (1) Zoning Permits - Accessory Structures and Sign Permit Waiver, (2) Pavilion Rental Fees, (3) increasing water user rates, (4) increasing water service fees, (5) increasing water meter fees, (6) increasing bulk water fee usage Rate, and (7) increasing sewer user rates and service fees. Rates and fees are effective July 1, 2024.

will be heard. Town Hall is open to to the public from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday.

The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 6:00 PM in the Town Council Chambers of the Purcellville Town Hall, located at 221 South Nursery Avenue. At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views will be heard. Town Hall is open to to the public from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday.

1) Zoning Ordinances: includes permitted provisions in zoning ordinances; amendments; applicant to pay delinquent taxes; penalties. (Va. Code § 15.2-2286)

2)Parks & Recreation Fees: Fees for special events items.

3)Utility

an overall 16% water revenue increase for In and Out of Town. Out of Town customer usage rates are double the in Town rates for water. No change in Tiers (Virginia Code § 15.2-2119).

Legal Notices

Water

and/or

Water and/or sewer service provided to a master-metered multi-unit/multi-family dwelling or non-residential (commercial, industrial, and institional).

Category Current Rates and Fees Advertised FY 2025 Tax Rate or Fee Change Water Supply System Water Meter Fee (based on Meter Size and Type): Applies to Installation of Any New Water Meter Current In-Town Fees / Out-of-Town Fees Advertised In-Town Fees / Out-of-Town Fees Increase of 16% 5/8" Meter $449 / $898 $521 / $1042 $72 / $144 3/4" Meter $520 / $1040 $603 / $1206 $83 / $166 1" Meter $611 / $1222 $709 / $1418 $98 / $196 1.5" Meter $842 / $1684 $977 / $1954 $135 / $270 2" T-10 Meter $1085 / $2170 $1259 / $2518 $174 / $348 2" HP Turbine Meter $1405 / $2810 $1630 / $3260 $225 / $450 3" HP Turbine Meter $2120 / $4240 $2459 / $4918 $339 / $678 4" HP Turbine Meter $3227 / $6454 $3743 / $7486 $516 / $1032 2" T/F Compound Meter $2862 / $5724 $3320 / $6640 $458 / $916 3" T/F Compound Meter $3864 / $7728 $4482 / $8964 $618 / $1236 4" T/F Compound Meter $5203 / $10406 $6035 / $12070 $832 / $1664 6" Meter At Cost At Cost No changes from current fees 8" Meter At Cost At Cost No changes from current fees 6)Bulk Water Fee - Water Usage Rate: 16% fee increase for bulk water usage (Virginia Code § 15.2-2119 & Town Code §82-80). Category Current Rates and Fees Advertised FY 2025 Tax Rate or Fee Change Water Supply System Bulk Water Fee - Water Usage Rate $15.94 / 1,000 gallons $18.49 / 1,000 gallons $2.55 / 1,000 gallons; 16% Category Current Rates and Fees Advertised FY 2025 Tax Rate or Fee Change Wastewater System Wastewater Collection System: (Usage Rates Per 1,000 Gallons) 18.0% Wastewater Usage Rate (In–Town Rate) Flat rate $18.14 per 1,000 gal. Flat rate $21.41 per 1,000 gal. Flat rate $3.27 per 1,000 gal. Wastewater Usage Rate (Out of Town Rate) Flat rate $36.28 per 1,000 gal. Flat rate $42.81 per 1,000 gal. Flat rate $6.53 per 1,000 gal. Wastewater Administrative Service Charge Current 18.0% (Fixed Fee Based on Meter Size) Same In-Town & Out of Town Rates Same In-Town & Out of Town Rates Increase 5/8" $18.06 $21.31 $3.25 3/4" $57.79 $68.19 $10.40 1" $72.58 $85.64 $13.06 7)Sewer Utility Rates: The proposed rates include an overall 18% sewer revenue increase. Out of Town customer usage rates are double the in Town rates for sewer. (Virginia Code § 15.2-2119) CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE

The Town Council of the Town of Purcellville will hold a public hearing in the Town Council Chambers located at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 6:00 PM for the purpose of receiving comments on, considering, and possibly voting on the following item:

Town Code Amendment: The Town hereby gives its intent to modify Article IV, Division 3. Economic Development Advisory Committee as follows:

1. Section 2-342 - Established; membership; meetings.

a. Allow up to four (4) Town business owners who may not be citizens of the Town to serve on the committee. The new text will appear as follows: In the event there are not enough residents to fill vacant positions, the town council may appoint individuals who own businesses in town, or may appoint up to four citizens who reside outside of the incorporated limits of the town to serve.

2. Section 2-342, Sec. 2-343 Powers and Duties

b. a. Change all references of “board” to “committee” throughout the Section.

A copy of the proposed ordinance is available from the Town Clerk, located at Town Hall, 221 S. Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm), or by calling Kimberly Bandy, Town Clerk, at 540-751-2333.

At this public hearing, all persons desiring to present their views concerning this matter will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Town Clerk, at kbandy@purcellvilleva. gov, three days in advance of the meeting.

Stanley J. Milan, Sr., Mayor

3/21 & 3/28/24

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

WAKE COUNTY

Before the Clerk of Superior Court

James Kelso Adams, et al., v. Tynesha Adams, et al., 23-SP-1715

Richard Adams:

Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above-entitled special proceeding. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Partition (per NCGS Chapter 46A) of the following real property by sale:

BEING that tract of land containing approximately 41 acres, more or less, depicted as Tract “No. 4 Geo. Adams” on a map prepared by W.P. Massey, dated February 28, 1913, and entitled “Survey and Division of the Isaac Adams Land, Geo. Adams et al. vs Betsy Adams et al.” The property was conveyed to George Adams by that Decree Confirming Report of Commissioners entered by the Clerk of Superior Court on May 8, 1925, in Special Proceeding No. 1918 which was instituted by George Adams and others against Betsy Adams and others on or about October 30, 1912, in Wake County Superior Court. The Clerk’s order confirmed the Report of Commissioners dated July 28, 1914.

SUBJECT TO AND EXCEPTING a certain strip of land extending 50 feet on each side of and at right angles to the center of the track or road-bed of the Raleigh and Pamlico Sound Railroad Company as the same is located and established by the railroad upon and over the lands herein described, and in the case of high banks or deeps cuts such additional width as may be necessary, not to exceed a total of two hundred feet, as described in that deed dated January 15, 1904, and recorded in Book 212, Page 417, of the Wake County Registry.

You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than April 16, 2024 and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.

This, the 7th day of March, 2024.

Nathaniel C. Parker, Attorney for Petitioners 200 Towne Village Dr., Cary, NC 27513 2/29, 3/7 & 3/14/24

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

LVZA 2023-0005, AMEND ZONING ORDINANCE

ARTICLE 42-I, IN GENERAL, TO MODIFY DEFINITIONS

ARTICLE 42-V, ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICTS; ZONING MAP, TO ADD SECTION 42-151, TABLE 1. PERMITTED AND CONDITIONAL USES BY ZONING DISTRICT

ARTICLE 42-VI, RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS

ARTICLE 42-VII, COMMERCIAL AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICTS

ARTICLE 42-VIII, GENERAL REGULATIONS TO MODIFY SECTION 42-286, MINIMUM OFF STREET PARKING AND ADD SECTION 42-311, TEMPORARY RETAIL SALES

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1117, 15.2-2253, 15.2-2204 and 15.2-2286 of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended, the LOVETTSVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing at its meeting on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at 7:00PM in the Town Council Chambers, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia. The purpose of the amendment is to consider changes to commercial uses and development standards including modifying, deleting, and adding uses and definitions, modifying the review criteria for conditional use permits, modifying standards for outdoor display, making building and lot standards modifiable by conditional use permit, allowing existing residences as a permitted use in the C-1, Community Commercial zoning district, allowing multiple uses on a lot in the C-1 district, setting maximum commercial building sizes in the Lovettsville Historic District, and adding Section 42-311, which adds standards for temporary retail sales uses such as food trucks and seasonal sales. The proposed amendment adds Section 42-151, Table 1. Permitted And Conditional Uses By District, which consolidates permitted and conditional uses in a table showing uses by district and removes the individual list of uses from each zoning district.

All persons wishing to speak will be given an opportunity to do so at this meeting. Written copies of statements are requested but not required.

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

NOTICE OF ABANDONED BICYCLES

Notice is hereby given that the bicycles described below were found and delivered to the Office of the Sheriff of Loudoun County; if the owners of the listed bicycles are not identified within sixty (60) days following the final publication of this notice, the individuals who found said bicycles shall be entitled to them if he/she desires. All unclaimed bicycles will be handled according to Chapter 228.04 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.

Legal Notices

ATTENTION NONPROFIT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS IN LOUDOUN COUNTY

Nonprofit charitable organizations seeking exemption from Loudoun County real and/ or personal property taxes for the 2025 tax year may file an application with the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue by the April 1, 2024, deadline. Most charitable nonprofit organizations are not automatically exempt from local property taxes in the Commonwealth, even those that may be exempt from federal income taxes. The filing of an application with the Commissioner of the Revenue is the necessary first step to obtaining a local real estate or personal property tax exemption. Completed applications should be returned to the Commissioner of the Revenue with a postmark by April 1, 2024. Any exemption, if granted, would become effective January 1, 2025.

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

Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue

Loudoun County

Leesburg Office

1 Harrison Street SE First Floor

Sterling Office

Loudoun Tech Center

46000 Center Oak Plaza

Mailing Address: PO Box 8000, MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804

Phone: (703)737-8557

Email: trcor@loudoun.gov

3/7, 3/14, 3/21 & 3/28/24

ABC LICENSE

Mi Azteca Mexican Restaurant, Inc. trading as Mi Azteca Mexican Restaurant, 43053 Pemberton Sq Ste 100, Chantilly, VA 20152.

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

Alejandro Meza Rayas - President

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

3/14 & 3/21/24

PUBLIC NOTICE INVITATION FOR BID (IFB)

MILLING AND PAVING

EAST MARKET STREET AND LEESBURG BYPASS (ROUTE 15)

The Town of Leesburg will accept sealed bids electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia. gov), until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2024, for the following:

IFB NO. 100319-FY24-28

MILLING AND PAVING EAST MARKET STREET AND LEESBURG BYPASS (ROUTE 15)

Work includes street milling and paving services for East Market Street and Leesburg Bypass (Route 15). The East Market Street portion of work is approximately 1,800 feet, the width of resurfacing consists of eastbound and westbound lanes from curb to curb.

The Leesburg Bypass (Route 15) portion is approximately 1,500 feet, the width of resurfacing consists of all southbound lanes from edge of pavement to edge of median.

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

3/21/24

Public Notice

The Town of Leesburg Commission Vacancies

The Town of Leesburg is soliciting applications for vacancies on the Environmental Advisory Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission. Citizens interested in serving on either commission can find additional information, membership requirements, or may apply via the Town’s web site at www.leesburgva.gov/government/boards-and-commissions. Applications will be kept on file for one year. Any questions can be sent to the Clerk of Council via email at eboeing@leesburgva.gov

3/14/2024 & 3/21/2024

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

MIDDLEBURG PLANNING COMMISSION

The Middleburg Planning Commission will hold public hearings beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 25, 2024 to hear comments and consider taking action on the following:

Special Use 24-01 Request by Salamander Farms, LLC for a special use permit for a Short-Term Rental at 800 Old Saddle Drive zoned R-1 Single Family Residential District

Special Use 24-02 Request by Alexander Perdikis for a special use permit for a Short-Term Rental at 606 Martingale Ridge Drive zoned R-3 Residential District

Special Use 24-03 Request by Mary and Thomas Gillespie for a special use permit for a Short-Term Rental at 601 Martingale Ridge Drive zoned R-3 Residential District

Special Use 24-04 Request by Daree Goodman for a special use permit for a Short-Term Rental at 700 West Washington Street zoned R-2 Residential District

The hearings will take place at the Town Hall, 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia. The application materials may be reviewed online at http://www.middleburgva.gov/PublicHearings or in the Town Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. Questions may be directed to Town Manager Danny Davis at (540) 687-5152 or by email at ddavis@ middleburgva.gov

The Town of Middleburg strives to make its hearings accessible to all. Please advise of accommodations the Town can make to help you participate in the hearings.

3/14 & 3/21/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046599-05-00, -06-00, -07-00, -08-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Briston Love

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

v. Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a third Permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1281 for Briston Love and hold a hearing on the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1283 for Briston Love. Unknown Father is hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter

noticed date and time may result in the entry of an Order approving a permanency goal of adoption as well as the termination of his residual parental rights with respect to Briston Love. Unknown Father is hereby further notified that if his residual parental rights are terminated, he will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Briston Love; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Briston Love; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Briston Love. Further, Unknown Father, will have no legal and /or financial obligations with respect to Briston Love, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Briston Love for adoption and consent to the adoption of Briston Love.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before April 4, 2024 at 10:00am

2/29, 3/7, 3/14 & 3/21/24

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES

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

NOTICE OF ROUND HILL JOINT PUBLIC HEARING TOWN COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING

Pursuant to Virginia Code, Sections 15.2-2204,-2223 and -2229, The Round Hill Town Council and the Round Hill Planning Commission will hold a joint public hearing on Wednesday April 3, 2024, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Round Hill Town Office, 23 Main Street, Round Hill, Virginia for the purpose of receiving comments and taking action on a proposed amendment to the Town of Round Hill Comprehensive Plan.

CPAM 2023-01 proposes to add the Western Planning Area to the Town of Round Hill Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2017. The Western Planning Area encompasses 17 parcels incorporated into the Town of Round Hill on January 31, 2023, through a Boundary Line Adjustment with Loudoun County. The Western Planning Area document will be a tool for decision makers (elected officials and planning commissioners) to guide growth and development in Round Hill, for residents and others to make known their desire for growth and change in the future, and for developers as they pursue new projects.

CPAM 2023-01: Western Planning Area includes the following parcels (those without address are followed by their Loudoun County Parcel Identification Number):

8 Mystic Lane Vacant lot north of 7 Mystic Lane (584180299000)

20 High Street Vacant lot west of 20 High Street (584285994000)

1 Heroes Lane Vacant lot south of Broken Arrow (584382015000)

44 West Loudoun Street Vacant lot north of 20 High Street (584386516000)

20 Walraven Way Walraven Way and land to the north (584279883000)

47 West Loudoun Vacant lot north of 41 West Loudoun (584285220000)

41 West Loudoun Vacant lot west of 41 West Loudoun (584182378000)

35246 Leesburg Pike #110 Vacant lot on Leesburg Pike (610306565000)

10 North Locust

The Planning Commission will hold a special meeting following the public hearing. The Town Council will then conduct its regularly scheduled meeting. All interested persons should appear and present their views at the above time and place. If a member of the public cannot attend, comments may be submitted by mail to PO Box 36, Round Hill, VA 20142; by fax to (540) 338-1680; or by email to hwest@roundhillva.org. Comments received by Noon on the day of the hearing will be distributed to Commission and Council members and made a part of the public record. Copies of relevant documents may be viewed on the Town website at www.roundhillva.org. Anyone needing assistance or accommodations under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act should call the Town Office at (540) 338-7878.

Scott Ramsey, Mayor

Manny Mirabal, Chairperson Round Hill Town Council Round Hill Planning Commission

3/21 & 3/28/24

TOWN

OF

LEESBURG NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION

TLZM-2022-0007

WESTPARK TECH AND SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION

TLSE2022-0009 WESTPARK FLEX INDUSTRIAL

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, APRIL 4, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Rezoning application (Proffer and Concept Plan Amendment) TLZM-2022-0007, Westpark Tech and Special Exception application TLSE-2022-0009, Westpark Flex Industrial.

The Subject Property is located at 59 Clubhouse Drive SE and totals approximately 7.58 acres (Loudoun County Property Identification Number (PIN) 272-30-2501. The Subject Property is currently zoned B-3 (Community Retail/Commercial District).

Rezoning Application TLZM-2022-0007 is a request by Clubhouse DR, LLC to amend the existing proffers and concept plan of TLZM-1985-0071 to rezone the property to the PEC, Planned Employment Center District to allow one 86,400 square foot flex industrial/business park building or one 202,600 square foot data center building.

Special Exception Application TLSE-2022-0009 is a request by Clubhouse DR, LLC to permit a 86,400 Flex Industrial/Business Park within the PEC District, pursuant to Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Sec. 9.8.

The Subject Property is located in what the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan (LLTP) describes as an “Area to Transform or Evolve” on the Area Based Land Use Initiatives Map (LLTP pg. 72). The property is further designated within LLTP as “Innovation Center” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (LLTP pg. 76). There is no Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) for commercial uses associated with an Innovation Center within LLTP. If developed as a Flex Industrial/Business Park, the building would have an F.A.R. of 0.26. If developed as a Data Center, the building would have an F.A.R. of 0.61. The application includes requested modifications to several requirements of the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) regulations which include landscape buffer requirements, parking standards, access through a residential zoned district, data center and accessory building setback requirements, and setback requirements for ground mounted equipment.

Additional information and copies of these applications are available at the Department of Community Development located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Richard Klusek, at 703-771-2758 or rklusek@leesburgva.gov.

At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of the Commission at (703) 771-2434 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 03/21 & 03/28/24

Auctions VEHICLE AUCTION

MD Repo Vehicles For Public Sale at ADESA Washington, DC. All Makes and Models Running Weekly Details can be found at www.adesawashingtondc.com

Terms: State and local orders will be strictly enforced at the sale, including social distancing and limits on the number of people permitted to gather in certain areas. All attendees must comply with such procedures or will be required to leave the premises. We strongly recommend that all attendees wear face coverings for the protection of themselves and our staff. Bidder agrees to register and pay a refundable $500 cash deposit plus a non-refundable $20 entry fee before the Sale starts. The balance of the purchase is due in full by 5:00pm on sale day. vehicles are AS-IS and are subject to a buy fee based on the sale price of the vehicle. Only cash or certified funds will be accepted. No vehicle will be released until Payment is made in full. Children under the age of 18 are not permitted.

VEHICLE AUCTION

ADESA WASHINGTON DC

44475 OLD OX ROAD

DULLES, VA 20166 705-996-1100

20+Chase repossessions will be offered to the public sale (monthly) on Wednesdays (3/27/24, 4/24/24, 5/22/24, 6/19/24, 7/17/24, 8/14/24, 9/11/24, 10/9/24, 11/6/24, 12/4/24). Auction doors open at 8:00 a.m. Sale starts at 9:50 a.m. ET. Registered persons may preview/ inspect vehicles on the day of the sale before bidding. Bids accepted only when a vehicle is presented for sale. The auctioneer will conclude the sale when bidding stops. All results will be final by 5:00 p.m. Terms: Cash or Certified Check.

Town of Leesburg

Employment Opportunities

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

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

Regular Full-Time Positions

Flexible Part-Time Positions

Summer 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.

We’re Hiring.

Loudoun Now is growing. Join the team.

Reporters

Full-time and part-time positions available for experienced journalists with a passion for community journalism. Accuracy, integrity, curiosity required. Talent with photography, video, social media preferred.

Sales

Full-time and part-time advertising sales positions are available for candidates who can help businesses meet their marketing goals in print and online. There is an opportunity to specialize in Loudoun’s growing hospitality/entertainment industries.

Production Manager

An experienced and creative graphics designer is needed to lead all aspects of the newspaper’s ad creation and page design. The position will also oversee aspects of the online operations.

The Loudoun Now team is driven by a mission to make our community stronger through committed journalism. Can you help?

The Town of Lovettsville seeks a dedicated, responsive, and experienced individual for the position of Utility Operator.

The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable and capable of performing technical work in the Utilities Department involving the operation, monitoring, and control of the water and wastewater facilities under guidance of the senior operator or the Utilities Director. Work involves service orders including meter reading, water connects and disconnects, and the installation of water meters, as well as the performance of routine maintenance and minor repairs to equipment.

For more details regarding the position and to find the employment application, please visit the Town’s webpage at: www.lovettsvilleva.gov/careers

Tipping point

continued from page 3

“The Belmont Innovation application represents a watershed moment in our relationship with the data center industry,” said Tia Earman of the Piedmont Environmental Council. “The data centers of Northern Virginia operating today use 2,800 megawatts. That’s the equivalent of 700,000 homes. That’s more than Prince William County and Loudoun combined. Statewide, the data centers approved or awaiting construction will use 11,200 megawatts—2.8 million homes. There’s only 3.2 million homes in Virginia. The applications filed awaiting approval would use an astonishing 58,400 megawatts. That’s 14.6 million homes—more homes than exist in New York City; Washington, DC; Los Angles; and London, England combined.”

John Lovegrove, of the Loudoun’s Future PAC, said it was irresponsible for county planners to not consider the project’s impact on the power grid.

“We’re going to need about 12 gigawatts by 2030. That’s three times the power we have now. That’s a lot of transmission lines that are going to be coming in the future,” he said. “The only way you can stop them from being built is stopping the requirement for that power in Loudoun County. Stop digging a hole. This is not magic.”

“If your lawyer is telling you that you can’t consider power, you need a new lawyer. That is what we are dealing with here,” Lovegrove added. “It is simple math. Do the math.”

And others warned that the power de-

Early start

continued from page 3

gathered with their children in the dark waiting for their 6:54 a.m. bus pickup to go to Catoctin Elementary School, about three miles away.

The mother of a third grader said mornings are “incredibly challenging” and worries her daughter isn’t getting enough quality sleep because of the early wake up time.

“We love our school. We have incredible teachers and leadership, but this start time makes us not want to go there,” she said. Her daughter attended a private school before switching to Catoctin right as the earlier start time began.

“At first we dealt with it because we

mand will increase even among existing data centers with the expansion of artificial intelligence.

“It is a tsunami that is coming,” John Cunningham told the board.

A handful of supporters among the hearing speakers included two union representatives who said the project would bring good jobs, and area residents who said the proposed design of the campus would be better than that of a by-right development.

Four supervisors supported the applications to increase the amount of data center space above the 1.3 million permitted under the existing zoning. They highlighted the commitments to buffer the project from Goose Creek, add parkland and trails, and better design standards.

Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) made a motion to approve the project.

“What’s in front of us: If you vote yes, you get a data center. If you vote no you get a data center,” he said, adding it would be better to have a project with the extra features.

Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) said it was the best, most environmentally sensitive data center proposal to come before the board.

The power grid challenge is a national problem, she said. “If we don’t change the way we live, data centers are going to be an integral part of our daily lives.”

Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) dismissed as “misinformation” concerns that the Belmont project would require more power lines. “This application has zero to do with the western power line. Zero,” he said.

That claim was refuted by Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn). “That’s why they

thought this is the way it is and everyone says kids adjust but it has been two years and we have not adjusted,” she said adding her previous school started at 8:30 a.m.

Other parents at the bus stop agreed and noted there was another school closer to their homes with a later start time.

“What if our entire neighborhood applied for special permission to go to Evergreen Mill Elementary School? Would that send a message if we all asked to change because that school starts 30 minutes later?” asked a mother of a first and third grader.

The parents said they sometimes opt to drive their students to school so than can get a few more minutes of sleep or make time for breakfast.

One parent said her daughter’s speech therapist and pediatrician have raised concerns about inadequate sleep.

are building that line. If they don’t build that line, I guarantee you they are going to build two or three other lines because that is the power 31 million square feet needs and we’ve already permitted 41 million square feet. More lines are coming,” he said.

Kershner said the application represented the “gold standard” of design and environmental protection and it would send the wrong message to reject it.

Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said it was frustrating to see opposition to “the single best data center application the county has ever seen without question. There is a basic lack of fairness associated with that.”

He said he might not have supported the original 4.8 million-square-foot plan because of the collective impact it would have, but the environmental protection commitments were important, especially in view of damage being done by other by-right data center projects along Goose Creek.

“This is not the place for a by-right data center. If there is anywhere in the county you don’t want a by-right data center it’s next to the Goose Creek with no protections,” he said.

“I understand we have work to do. We’re taking it seriously, absolutely taking it seriously,” Letourneau said.

Other supervisors said they could not overlook the broader community impacts.

“I believe we have reached a tipping point,” Laura A. TeKrony (D-Little River) said. “The benefits do not outweigh the damages. … To say this project won’t impact the grid is ridiculous.”

Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run) said she would not support doubling the density of

And they see a danger in the early hour bus waits. Last week, a driver sped past the bus’s flashing lights and stop sign, one mother said. “You’d almost think it would be safer because its dark and they would see the lights and stop, but nope, they went right through.”

They said early start times affect their children’s’ activities and sports and lament that rushing the kids off to bed after dinner takes away from family time at night.

One parent noted that sports and activity times haven’t changed despite the early start time making it hard to attend practice then get to bed before 9 p.m.

“People think it’s only 20 minutes why does it matter? When you are five, six or seven 20 minutes is a big difference. And, yeah, they adjust but is this what is best for them?” one said. “All we want is 20 minutes more in the mornings. Twenty more

the project. “The people of Loudoun are asking us to take a closer look at the impact of data centers.”

“I feel like the cavalry has arrived,” Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) said of the public outcry over the environmental and power impacts of data centers.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said denying the request was not a hard decision. “I don’t know how we keep doing this.”

As it became evident that a majority of supervisors opposed the applications, Saines proposed delaying a vote until April. That bid failed.

Turner made the motion to deny the project.

“This is a phenomenal application. I commend the applicant for this application. This is the best application by far we have ever had. But I agree with the majority of the comments we’ve had here tonight: At some point we have to say stop,” Turner said. “We do not have enough power to power the data centers we have. We certainly do not have enough power going forward to power the additional 41 million square feet. PJM knows it. The data center community knows it. And we can’t do that.”

“This board has an obligation to look at the collateral effects of every application on the surrounding neighbors. In this case, the surrounding neighborhood is eastern Loudoun County. That’s why I think it is important. I think it is groundbreaking. I think we’ve turned the corner. This is the kind of consideration I think we need to have,” Turner said.

The denial vote brought cheers from the crowd that waited past midnight to witness the board’s action. n

minutes would change our life.”

Western Loudoun mom Heather Frakes said she’s glad to hear the issue has been brought up again. She said her third grader has missed more school this year because of illness and tiredness and says he often arrives late at school. Frakes said he hasn’t adjusted after almost two years of having a 5:50 a.m. wake-up call and thinks he has been sick more because of inadequate sleep.

She said they are considering homeschooling him next year to avoid dealing with the early start time.

“It’s really hard. He tells me he falls asleep on the bus ride home and he’s worried he’s going to miss his stop,” she said.

Elementary schools in both Fairfax and Prince William Counties start between 8:30 and 9:20 a.m. n

County budget

continued from page 1

allocation to attainable housing initiatives. The proposed budget allocates $7.4 million to the issue.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said she did want to double the funding, but successfully made a motion during the March 14 meeting to hold a future discussion on whether to dedicate some of the anticipated fiscal year 2024 surplus to that effort.

Hemstreet advised against paying for housing programs with one-time funds if the board intended to continue those funding levels in future budgets.

“Until we start even talking about $50 million plus, we’re not even really having real discussions about our housing,” Randall said. “Right now, we’re barely able to do housing as it relates to rental. We’re definitely not doing anything for closing costs, down payment, purchasing programs and things like that. We are way behind, and I mean way behind every other county save one in this area and actually most counties in Virginia when it comes to taking care of our housing numbers and our housing funds.”

She said because the county had a larger fund balance than usual this year, she felt comfortable using some of it for housing initiatives.

During the work session, supervisors also approved an additional $285,000 for fire and rescue personnel. The funding will support the hiring of a deputy behavioral health coordinator and a return to work coordinator. The action was prompted in part by the recent home explosion that killed one volunteer firefighter and injured 13 other people.

“Lessons learned from other departments demonstrate that the behavioral health needs following a line-of-duty death (LODD) are extensive and longterm for department members and their families,” according to a memo by fire and rescue.

The board also met again with Commonwealth’s Attorney Bob Anderson after requesting at a previous meeting that he reclassify some vacant positions in the office to fill some of the requests he made to the board. After those changes Anderson asked the board for two investigator positions.

The board voted to approve funding for one.

A motion by Briskman to remove 14 field deputy positions from the Sheriff’s Office, reducing the budget by $4 million,

Supervisors Adopt 6-Year Capital Improvement Program

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Board of Supervisors last week adopted the county’s $3.5 billion fiscal year 2025-30 Capital Improvement Program, following the recommendation of its finance committee.

Committee Chair Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said the panel’s discussion on the construction plan was one of the “quietest” it had ever had.

Most of the work involved balancing the ever-increasing construction costs of projects that have been years in the planning.

“I felt like in many ways we went backwards,” he said. “Most of my priority projects were in the budget and now they’re out again because we had cost escalation. I think that’s probably true for most people. But staff really tried to drill down on project costs and what it’s really going to cost and then pivoting things to the actual cost in the year that it’s funded. So, there’s pretty significant increases between an FY 2025 dollar and an FY 2030 dollar.”

The construction plan includes $1.4 billion for transportation projects, $996 million for school projects, $303 million for the general county government, $271 million for parks, and $204 million for public safety.

Among the changes made to the plan proposed by County Administrator Tim Hemstreet, supervisors found a $3.6 million savings with the opportunity to remove a second phase of the Rt. 7/Rt. 690 interchange construction after the Purcellville Town Council removed roadblocks to one of its ramps. They also added $3.1 million to plan for

failed in a 1-6-2 vote with supervisors Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) and Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) absent.

The board declined to vote on a School Board request for an additional $5 million to fund a virtual elementary learning program, make up the difference of a cut by the General Assembly in recovery school funding, and to reinstate staff bonuses changed by the General Assembly.

School Board Chair Melinda Mansfield (Dulles) said a survey had shown residents had significantly more interest in the vir-

the realignment of Bull Run Post Office Road in FY 2028 and $18.6 million to build it sometime after 2030.

Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) said he had concerns about the CIP process calling it “Christmas for the Dulles District.”

He asked how the decision to move funding from the Purcellville interchange to Bull Run Post Office Road was made, and who decided the project’s priorities.

“Have the other supervisors ever been shown the list for priority ranking?” he asked.

Budget Director Megan Bourke said the priority list is put together by the Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure and the Office of Management and Budget to be recommended to the full board after review by the finance committee.

Hemstreet said that the process is the same for all documents of that type— the full packets are sent to all board members before being discussed and voted on by a committee.

“All board members are invited to that finance committee meeting and that is the process that the board has used for many, many years. And so, board members who are interested in having a dialogue around the capital budget, who are interested in participating in the development of the capital budget are asked to attend those finance committee meetings,” he said.

Turner said that guest supervisors at committee meetings can discuss but not vote on issues.

“The point I’m getting at here is this is invisible to supervisors who don’t work on the finance committee,” he said.

Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Ca-

tual learning program than anticipated.

The request for that was $1.5 million.

She said the General Assembly had split the $1 million funding for a recovery school with Virginia Beach and asked the board to make up the remaining $500,000.

The request to reinstate staff bonuses was for $3 million.

But Hemstreet said the characterization of $3 million as a “reinstatement” was not an accurate representation.

“The governor’s budget, when it was introduced, proposed a 1% bonus in one

toctin) said he agreed with Turner and that he had been surprised to hear funding was going from a Catoctin district project to a different district’s project.

“I’m not going to fight over this on this particular occasion with Mr. Letourneau because I know this is something he really, really wants but I think that the process that we just went through and that took both myself and Mr. Turner by surprise probably should have a little bit more of a full board review of it,” Kershner said.

But Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling), Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algkonkian) and County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) agreed with Hemstreet that any board member could attend any meeting and express concerns or priorities at any time. Saines encouraged his colleagues to read their packets distributed by staff members.

“I do think more than one thing can be true at one time,” Randall said. “I do think that when you are the chair of a committee you probably have more awareness of what’s going on in that committee and where money is going and where it’s sitting. … The learning moment is this for me as chair, as we go forward next year, I will try to do a better job making sure that people who are not on the committee knows when the committee meeting is and encourage people to look at the budget as its being developed.”

Letourneau said he was happy to accept scenarios from non-committee members to be considered and discussed by the committee.

The motion to adopt the CIP passed 8-0-1 with Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) absent. n

year and a 2% pay increase for the second year,” he said. “The General Assembly when it went into conference changed that to a 3% pay increase in both years. So, I do take some issue with it being presented as a reinstatement of a 1% bonus … while I do think it fair for the school division to request a 1% bonus to be added, I don’t believe the portrayal as a reinstatement is completely accurate.”

The Board of Supervisors is expected to adopt the budget during its April 2 meeting. n

Published by Loudoun Community Media

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PO Box 207 Leesburg, VA 20178

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NORMAN

K. STYER Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com

EDITORIAL

ALEXIS GUSTIN Reporter agustin@loudounnow.com

HANNA PAMPALONI Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

ADVERTISING

SUSAN STYER Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.com

TONYA HARDING Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.com

VICKY MASHAW Account Executive vmashaw@loudounnow.com

Opinion

Tremendous Commitment

The impact of the county’s community nonprofits is seen every day in all facets of life around Loudoun. But on no day are their contributions celebrated or supported more than during Give Choose, the county’s largest day of charitable giving.

Since 2014, Community Foundation of Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties’ annual showcase of local nonprofits has raised nearly $5 million to support their work.

This year’s campaign yielded another astonishing effort, with donors contributing over $790,000 through more than 3,000 gifts to some 145

Unbelievable

Editor: Supervisor Letourneau said he was willing to “trade” keeping the personal property tax rate steady for lowering the real property tax rate by a full penny as though that was an equal trade.

Really? Seriously? Even a fifth grader knows that’s not an equal trade.

Once again, this board has shown that it doesn’t care about anyone but property owners. They don’t care about all the

organizations. Their services range from providing healthcare and addressing food insecurity to creating jobs for those with special needs and preserving history—and, yes, this year to include community journalism.

The broad participation in Give Choose provides an opportunity to reflect on the tremendous commitment by so many to make our community a better place for all our neighbors.

After Tuesday, their work will continue. And our work to support them must continue, too. n

LETTERS to the Editor

renters in the county plus the young and old citizens who live with their parents or family members. All of them own cars, trucks, and motorcycles.

Many of the current board members have kids and parents living with them and thanks to this board’s unfairness, none of them will get any personal property tax relief. Simply unbelievable.

This crazy personal property tax has been a windfall for not only this county, but counties and cities across Virginia as

the price of vehicles has skyrocketed with no end in sight.

So, when your relatives complain about having to pay this crazy personal property tax and ask you why, you be sure to tell them that saving the property owners’ money is more important than helping citizens who are young and old living with their relatives or the renters who live in this county.

Another great job by this board.

— Brian Allman, Ashburn

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THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:

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Small farms

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for all of those things to come together,” Earman said.

She said farming in the county is shifting, but it’s still a strong and crucial aspect of what makes Loudoun special.

“It isn’t the 300-acre cattle operation anymore … It is really intensive vegetable farming on 14 acres that is then marketed as a [community supported agriculture] product or at farmer’s markets. It’s small cattle operations, but they also have them butchered custom and then they take it to market to do direct market sales.”

Community supported agriculture, or the CSA model, allows the consumer to subscribe to a harvest before the items are actually grown.

Pamela Jones, of Gathering Springs Farm near Middleburg, said that model helps get her and business partner Sarah Obuchowicz through the winter months and early spring when the workload is high, but there aren’t any products to sell yet.

Executive Director of Economic Development Buddy Rizer told county supervisors during a March 13 meeting that the decline in farming acreage across the county is attributable to a variety of factors.

“The cost of land, inflation and workforce shortages all contribute to why farms convert to other uses,” he said. “… The primary reason for the loss of farmland is likely new home construction.”

The loss of farmland on the local level is concerning, Rizer said in his report.

Despite that, it isn’t just vegetable farming that is helping Loudoun’s agricultural scene to grow.

The county ranks first in the state for cut flower sales, honey production, new or beginning farmers and number of horses and second in acres of Christmas tree production, grape production, alpaca animals and farms, farms employing workers, goat farms and llama animals and farms.

“We have more young farmers than any

• 49.6% I don’t think so

• 40.2% I’ve seen a few

• 10.2% We have a ton

Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls

other county in the state and for any kind of official purposes when you say ‘young farmers’ you’re talking about anybody under the age of 35,” Earman said.

Earman, who operates her own small farm, said the uptick in young farmers could be attributable to new families wanting to raise their children differently than they were raised and provide them with healthier food options.

“I wanted to raise my kids on a farm,” she said. “I wanted to farm. I wanted that to be my full-time job.”

Jones said it was the search for healthier food that began while she was still a professional rower in Great Britain that led her to start farming when she moved to Loudoun County in 2017.

“I kind of came at farming from a homesteading perspective of ‘how do I feed my family?’” she said.

Jones and her husband purchased 13 acres near Middleburg before Jones joined forces with Obuchowicz to start selling products with the CSA model. Jones also raises sheep, turkeys and pigs on her own.

She agreed with Earman that Loudoun is an ideal place for small farms to thrive because of its location.

“You are close to a very, very large population base that have an income that can support buying vegetables that are grown on a small scale. We’re not trying to compete with the prices in Giant. We are charging a fair price for food that’s been grown sustainably without the use of buying in chemicals and synthetic fertilizers,” Jones said.

Earman said despite the data showing an increase in the number of farms, there remian significant challenges facing the community.

“Ag processing, which is anything from cleaning and packing vegetables to cutting Brussel sprouts off the stem, covers an extremely wide variety of actions. There’s just so many restrictions on top of you. We really need to get into that and get into the nitty gritty of it and go through it and deal with the way agriculture is happening here now versus the way it was happening here the last time we took a comprehensive

look at it,” Earman said.

Jones said there are no locations to process agricultural meat products in the county.

“We want to straighten out some of the information as it pertains to the processing of agricultural products … the zoning allowances that allow for meat processing are not really in line with other agrarian communities,” she said.

Earman said the county needs to fix the way cluster subdivisions are done, a topic likely to be addressed as the planners dives into the rural Loudoun comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance amendments.

“There’s a real disconnect between our Zoning Ordinance and what’s actually happening,” Earman said, adding that putting together a stakeholder committee for the amendments is “very important to get right.”

Jones agreed and said the issues need to be addressed as soon as possible.

“My first worry is just that they’re going to kick the can and not prioritize it and there are so many things that need to be sorted out imminently. And my second worry is that we are going to, it’s going to kind of be pushed around and not taken seriously because it is so important,” Jones said.

One of items she thinks should be a priority is establishing a zoning requirement to preserve prime agricultural soil on any new development.

“That is something that has been fought for, for a long, long time and it still isn’t written down on paper unfortunately,” she said.

She said the rural ZOAM and CPAM affect everyone in the county that eats or purchases locally grown products.

“We’re kind of all in this together,” Jones said.

Earlier this month supervisors began the process of reviewing the planning policies and zoning regulations for rural parts of the county. The board voted to send the issue to the Transportation and Land Use Committee for further development. n

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Community members browse through plants, fruits and vegetables, cider, meat, dairy products and more at Leesburg’s farmer’s market March 16. The most recent agricultural report shows an increase in small farms in Loudoun, many of which sell products at local farmer’s markets and farm stands.