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MARCH 26, 2020
Supervisors Wrap Budget Work, But Future Uncertain
LOUDOUN GETS DRIVE-THRU TEST FACILITY
BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
Amid continuing pleas for more COVID-19 test kits in the region, the Loudoun Medical Group on Monday opened a centralized, drive-through testing post for its patients outside its Leesburg urgent care center. See story, page 30.
State Closes Schools, Some Businesses in Fight Against COVID-19 Pandemic BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
Loudoun County moved a step closer to a full lockdown on Monday when Gov. Ralph Northam ordered the commonwealth’s schools to remain closed through the remainder of the academic year; shut-
HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESS 4
tered theaters, gyms and spas for at least 30 days; and outlawed gatherings larger than 10 people. The steps were the latest efforts aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19, which by Tuesday had claimed seven lives in the state and infected 290, including 18 known cases in Loudoun. Among the
HELP FOR THE JOBLESS 4
confirmed cases are six public school staff members, including the principal at an Ashburn elementary school and a new case at the Academies of Loudoun that was announced Tuesday night. “We are moving into a period of sacriCLOSURES continues on page 30
HELP FOR OUR NEIGHBORS 5
Loudoun supervisors have finished their work on the next annual county budget—for now. The county board held their final work session on the budget March 19, and, with plans to cast their final vote on the $3 billion Fiscal Year 2021 spending plan on April 7, they are approving a budget before the tax revenue fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is known. That has left both the county’s hiring plans and the school budget somewhat uncertain, despite an unexpected windfall in state education funding. But for now, they have held to a $1.035 tax rate per $100 of assessed value, a penny cut from the current tax rate but an increase over the most recent estimates of the equalized tax rate, the rate at which the average homeowner sees their tax bill stay the same despite changing property values. But with businesses closing or slowing down amid the COVID-19 pandemic and a statewide order to close some businesses, some county revenues expected to see an impact—and the county budget staff is taking precautions to make sure their books stay balanced. BUDGET continues on page 20
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MARCH 26, 2020
MARCH 26, 2020
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A Shot of Good Health: Catoctin Creek Gears Up to Make Hand Sanitizer BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
Can’t find hand sanitizer at your grocery store? You might soon be able to pick some up along Main Street in Purcellville. Catoctin Creek Distilling last week began providing free sanitizing alcohol to those in need, especially first responders, hospitals, and other front-line health workers. Now, the company is a national leader in helping other distilleries produce needed sanitizer. “We have surplus alcohol from our production process for whisky and gin that we can’t use—it’s not drinkable alcohol, but it’s perfect for hand sanitizer or cleaner,” said co-owner Scott Harris. “In fact, we already use it in the distillery for cleaning, and when this crisis came about, we decided to make that available to the public, and we were happy to see the Virginia ABC step in and authorize those kinds of uses.” After posting the offer on social media last week, the company quickly got wide interest, including from the Virginia State Police, food pantries, and senior centers, which is why they quickly pushed ahead. Harris and is wife, Becky, were among the first distillers to shift their operation to manufacturing hand sanitizer. This week, a half dozen 55-gallon drums were filled with sanitizer—enough to supply about 24,000 bottles. The first shipment should be ready next week and will go to the FAA, Sheriff ’s Office and hospitals, starting in Loudoun County. “Will there be some for the consumers? I certainly hope so. Everybody wants it. We’ll see how much the state people take,” Harris said. “A company like ours is in a unique position, and I think we have to take advantage of it and be responsible,” Harris said. “… If you were going to start a hand sanitizer business overnight, it could take months to get permitted and get the equipment, but we already are permitted, have bottling equipment ready and the employees.”
Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
Manhattan Pizza Owners Jack and Jumana Azar have decided to help the community amid the coronavirus crisis by handing out fresh produce, toilet paper and pizza to residents in need.
Manhattan Pizza Donates Produce, Toilet Paper, Pizza in COVID-19 Pandemic BY PATRICK SZABO
pszabo@loudounnow.com
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
Catoctin Creek Distilling co-owner Scott Harris stirs a 55-gallon drum of hand sanitizer the company manufactured to help the community fight the spread of COVID-19.
On Monday afternoon, the Harris couple was on a conference call with 300 distillery operators across the country offering advice on how they, too, could get started. It is a complex process that includes strict adherence to World Health Organization production specifications, a cooperative ABC board, and compliance with FDA labeling regulations. Hand sanitizer is not governed as is not a barroom offering or cleaning supply, but an over-the-counter drug. Harris said the Virginia ABC was quick to green light the effort. “People really give them a hard time, but they were really out in front on this,” he said. “They gave very clear guidance that this was OK to do and what some of the rules were that we had to follow. That was very helpful.” But, like many efforts to meet community needs during the rapidly changing COVID-19 crisis, even the distillery’s hand sanitizer operations could be hampered by the national rush on supplies. “I’m pretty sure we’ll sell out everything we make from this first
batch, then we’ll see if we continue to get product and bottles and everything else we need,” Harris said. The operation isn’t just about providing a service. It has also allowed the distillery to keep its employees on the job. “It is a nice benefit—apart from benefiting the community—that we can keep our people working. That’s just a top concern for a family-run company,” Harris said. Although the governor on Monday ordered all craft beverage tasting rooms closed, Catoctin Creek remains open for customers to pick up bottles of its award-winning spirits. Harris said he was grateful about that. “Believe me, if you’re quarantining in place, you’re going to need a bottle of whiskey to get you through it,” he said with a laugh. To check for the availability of sanitizing alcohol or hand sanitizer—or to make a donation to support the efforts—go to catoctincreekdistilling.com. Catoctin Creek Distilling is located a 120 W. Main St. in Purcellville. n
Residents looking for food and toilet paper during the coronavirus crisis have a new weekly lifeline to fall back on in times of need—Manhattan Pizza. The pizza restaurant’s Ashburn, Leesburg and Purcellville locations have vowed to distribute produce, toilet paper and pizza to residents in need of the commodities on Tuesday afternoons. This week, owners Jack and Jumana Azar helped out at their Leesburg storefront by handing out oranges, apples, bananas, tomatoes and other produce donated primarily by U.S. Foods, and 14,400 rolls of toilet paper donated by the P Plus Packaging paper distribution company. For every resident who stopped in to fill up a bag of supplies, the Azars also handed them a freshly made pizza. Jack Azar said he would try to operate the initiative every Tuesday for the foreseeable future. He said many Loudouners who live fortunate lives are giving back to the community in this time and that a lot of them have more than money—they have heart. Azar said that although he’s losing business at all his Manhattan Pizza locations, he’s not laying any of his employees off. n
Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
A resident fills a shopping bag up with fresh produce, which Manhattan Pizza is giving out at its Ashburn, Leesburg and Purcellville locations every Tuesday during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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MARCH 26, 2020
Help Available for Small Businesses—Here’s What to Do BY RENSS GREENE AND KARA C. RODRIGUEZ rgreene@loudounnow.com krodriguez@loudounnow.com
The fast-evolving coronavirus pandemic, and its impact on most facets of daily life, has had a particularly staggering impact on most small businesses. And Loudoun’s strong economy hasn’t been immune. “There’s quite a bit of desperation out there,” Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tony Howard said this week. Many small businesses have been forced to close, either by government mandate or for cashflow reasons. Many have laid off staff, greatly scaled down their operations, or thought of some outof-the-box ways to stay open and innovate. And many are wondering how they are going to survive an economic dip amid pandemic, social distancing, and government orders to close some businesses and
limit public gatherings. “There’s a never-ending array of questions [from business owners],” said Loudoun County Department of Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer. “The number one thing we’re hearing from a financial standpoint is, if this goes on too long, we’re at a real risk of losing a lot of companies.” But Loudoun’s economic development and business communities have rallied to give those business owners options.
Stay Informed “The biggest thing they can do is keep up on the latest programs that are available,” said Mason Enterprise Center Small Business Development Center Manager Eric Byrd. His office, along with organizations like the county Department of Economic Development, Chamber of Commerce and Visit Loudoun have all launched efforts to help small businesses navigate the pandemic.
You can find information on what’s available from the Small Business Development Center at LoudounSBDC.com; from the Department of Economic Development at biz.loudoun.gov/covid19; from the Loudoun Chamber at loudounchamber.org/covid-19-resources; and in a series of webinars from Visit Loudoun. Rizer said the goal of his department’s website and of his staff is to condense all the resources available to one, easy-to-access place for business owners. “The resources are ever-changing, the direction from the federal government and state government is ever-changing, businesses that we thought could be open are now getting other direction on that,” Rizer said. “So much of our responsibility at this time is tracking all the information and doing our best to sift through it and try to advise our companies. [Businesses are] trying to survive; they don’t have the time to sift through every press release and watch every news conference.” Rizer is also planning to launch a pod-
cast this week, “Loudoun Possible Pod,” with helpful information as well as stories of what some businesses are doing to innovate during this trying time. Howard said the Chamber is trying to open up online webinars, on everything from how to do business development, human resources and more, during the coronavirus crisis. Ford’s Fish Shack owner Tony Stafford is one of the people who has seen his restaurant’s revenues take a nosedive since the impacts of coronavirus started being felt locally. While his three restaurants remain open for curbside and to-go orders, profits are down 90 percent and he has had to furlough all of his hourly employees. And he said as a small business owner, “I just need clear, concise information.” “Right now, there’s a lot of stuff. I’m just now starting to dig into it,” Stafford said. SMALL BUSINESS continues on page 31
Loudoun’s Unemployed Have Options in Slowing Economy BY PATRICK SZABO
pszabo@loudounnow.com
The coronavirus outbreak has kept millions of Americans indoors, away from their typical public outings, like strolling along main street for a day of shopping or visiting wineries, breweries and restaurants for a drink and meal with friends. That’s devastating Loudoun’s economy and leading many business owners to take drastic action—by temporarily or permanently closing their doors and laying employees off. Now, many residents who already struggle with Loudoun’s high cost of living are finding themselves in dire straits. But there are options available to help. Kamaia Gaylen is among those who have seen a sudden decline in her bank account after her hours were cut back when Wicked Door Pub in Ashburn was forced to move to carry-out service only. Gaylen said that although she’s still scheduled to work each week—for about 15 hours— she’s making hardly any money. “It’s been quite tragic to my finances,” she said. “I’m pinching pennies right now.” Gaylen said her plan is to continue pursuing a job with the federal government. If that doesn’t work out, she said she’d have
to move back home with her dad in Georgia, where the rent for a one-bedroom apartment, she said, goes for about $400, as opposed to the $1,400 she’s spending on the same size apartment here in Loudoun. She said she hasn’t yet considered filing for unemployment. “I’m just going to see how this quarantine goes,” she said. “Every penny counts at this moment for me. … Right now, I’m just surviving.”
Filing for Unemployment To be eligible to file for unemployment in Virginia, applicants must be able to perform work and have no availability restrictions, must actively seek work and report any job offers and refusals to the state. Specifically, applicants must personally apply for work with several prospective employers each week and provide the state with the full name of each employer. Applicants must be unemployed, but that doesn’t mean they lack a job. Applicants are also considered unemployed if, in any given week, they work less than full time. To qualify for benefits, workers must have earned at least $3,000 in two quarters of a base period—the first four of the past five completed calendar quarters pri-
or to the date of the claim. That means, for those who file this week, the state will look at the wages they earned in Q4 2018 and Q1-3 2019. For those who apply in the next quarter, which begins April 1, the state will look at wages earned in Q1-4 2019. An applicant’s weekly benefit amount, which is subject to federal income tax, is determined by the two highest-earning quarters in their base period, while the total wages reported during the base period determines the applicant’s maximum benefit amount. Once approved for benefits, an applicant qualifies to receive state money every week. That money is available to the applicant for 12 to 26 weeks and is paid out until the applicant’s benefit amount or benefit year is exhausted, whichever comes first. The maximum weekly benefit amount is currently set at $378. To receive that amount, applicants must have earned at least $18,900.01 in two quarters during the base period. The minimum weekly benefit amount is set at $60. To file for unemployment, residents can call the Virginia Employment Commission from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday at 1-866-832-2363. They can alternatively complete an online appli-
cation at vec.virginia.gov, where they’ll be asked to furnish a name, address and telephone number of their last employer, along with their dates of employment and reason for separation—in this case, layoffs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The nearest VEC Workforce Centers to Loudoun are in Alexandria, Arlington and Winchester. Find more at vec.virginia.gov.
Small Business Administration Helps Renters, Homeowners If unemployment checks aren’t enough, renters, homeowners and businesses located in regions affected by declared disasters, like Loudoun, may apply for low-interest economic injury disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Those provide up to $2 million of working capital. According to its website, the administration works directly with state governors to provide those loans to those whose insurance, or funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, doesn’t fully cover the disaster assistance they need. UNEMPLOYED continues on page 31
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MARCH 26, 2020
PAGE 5
How You Can Help BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
People are self-isolating and working from home. Schools are closed while administrators and teachers figure out how to teach remotely. Businesses are changing how they do business or closing entirely, putting some workers on reduced hours or completely out of jobs while others brace for the economic ripple effects of an entire service and hospitality industry brought to a crawl. And nobody knows just how long it will be like this. So many people in Loudoun are asking: How can I help?
Help a Local Business “The biggest thing that I would say is that people need to keep the local businesses in mind,” said Mason Enterprise Center Small Business Development Center Manager Eric Byrd. “A lot of the stuff we’ve seen about ‘don’t stop buying’—that’s the big thing.” Many businesses have shifted their services to make them available while practicing social distancing and taking additional safety precautions during the coronavirus pandemic. Byrd said sometimes the best way to support those businesses is to ask them how to do business with them under the new rules. “DM them, and ask them how to do business with them, that’s probably the smartest thing to do,” Byrd said. “For restaurants and retail businesses, I think there’s a lot of information about that.” In one example, some businesses like hair salons are moving their waiting room to the parking lot, asking patrons to wait in their cars and texting them when it’s their turn. Supporting local businesses can also mean ordering takeout, buying gift cards, or even scheduling an appointment for months in the future so those business owners know they have cash coming. In other cases, he said, the best thing to do is be patient while businesses adapt. “We also want people to keep in mind membership organizations, gyms, coaches, therapists—anybody like that, the tutoring programs,” Byrd said. “If people would not cancel memberships immediately if they can help it, that would be hugely helpful for those membership organizations. Most of them are scrambling to figure out some way to deliver services virtually.” You can find out how those businesses are adapting and what deals they’re offering online—check at LeesburgToGo.com, loudounchamber.org/supporting-our-local-restaurants, or biz.loudoun.gov/support-our-businesses.
Help A Friend Helping out individuals is a little different. It might be a simple and direct as putting a little extra in the tip jar. “If it’s a tippable thing, tip big,” Byrd said. And if you know someone out of a job, you can help them out. Licensed professional counselor and Loudoun Now columnist Neil McNerney said avoid clichés like saying “hang in there, it’ll get better,” and avoid giving advice—“These people have probably seen that Amazon is hiring and they’ve probably already sent applications to every place that they can think of.” “I think the biggest thing we can do is to let them know that we’re with them, we’re hurting with them, we’re feeling their pain, we’re there for them in any way, and offering some specifics,” McNerney said. That, he said, means not saying “let me know what you need”—“the response from the person in crisis is kind of, well, thanks, for the sentiment, but I don’t even know what to do.” Instead, he said, ask for forgiveness rather than permission to helping people out. Tell a friend you’ve already ordered and paid for a meal from Tuscarora Mill, if they want to pick it up, he suggested, or that you’ve made an extra lasagna and if they’re comfortable with you dropping it off, it’ll be on the doorstep. “Try to be more specific about not just, tell me what you need, but this is what I can do,” McNerney said. “… They’re not going to turn it down, but if asked ‘just tell me what I can do,’ they’re not going to say, ‘can you bring me some groceries, can you buy me a meal.’ That’s just too hard.”
Help Local People For helping out the people more generally, while there have been well-meaning fundraisers and GoFundMe pages launched, it’s best to leave the fundraising to the professionals—they know how to donate money, and they know where to send it. “Donating is tricky for a for-profit business, but I guess you theoretically could overpay if you’d like to,” Byrd said. Instead, the Visit Loudoun Foundation and Community Foundation for Loudoun have an answer. The Visit Loudoun Foundation has launched the Loudoun Tourism & Hospitality Relief Fund with $10,000 in seed money, and is asking people and businesses to donate in support of professionals impacted by shutdowns and furloughs as a result of COVID-19. Online donations can be made to communityfoundationlf.org/product/ tandhfund. n
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Leesburg
Council Holds Tax Rate in Final FY 2021 Budget BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com
You Can Help Those Struggling in Loudoun County These are challenging times we face as we deal with the effects of COVID-19 in our local community. We urgently need your help. The most immediate needs in Loudoun County are for everyday living expenses like rent, utility bills, gas, and food assistance, to name a few. With your support, we can help more families to make ends meet. To make an immediate donation, please visit our website https://bit.ly/2WyiaOi or send a check to The Salvation Army Loudoun County Corps 10 Cardinal Park Drive, Leesburg Virginia 20175 for COVID-19 You can rest assured that dollars you donate will go to assist our most vulnerable residents with direct assistance to maintain their homes and basic needs.
A lot can change in two weeks and was the case when it came to Town Council members’ feelings over the proposed Fiscal Year 2021 budget and its accompanying real estate tax rate. Two weeks ago, the first work session brought forward a series of proposals from council members, from finding room in the budget for more than $30,000 in board and commission funding requests, to imposing fees for downtown business refuse and recycling collection, to increasing in the real estate tax rate and even the meals tax. All those were proposals were pulled from the table amid the uncertainty created by the coronavirus outbreak. As the worldwide pandemic has begun to cause massive economic disruption that many predict will lead to lengthy and troublesome decline, council members seemed loath to make any changes ahead of Tuesday’s budget adoption. Town Manager Kaj Dentler presented his proposed budget in February with a
recommendation to maintain the 18.4-cent real estate tax rate, the same as the current fiscal year’s. With the rise in assessments, the 18.4-cent is expected to generate higher real estate tax bills for the average homeowner, of between $2.25 to $6.58 more monthly, depending on housing type. However, a late-in-the-game adjustment brought the budget up to an 18.56cent rate, because of a state-mandated increase in the town’s contribution to the Virginia Retirement System. The town was only informed of that more than $200,000 budget hit two weeks ago. To get back to the 18.4-cent rate, Dentler identified more than $130,000 in spending reductions. During Tuesday’s session, the council rejected attempts to adopt a higher, 18.56cent real estate tax rate and the lower 17.5cent equalized tax rate, before a five-member majority lined up behind the proposal to hold the tax rate level. The council then voted 6-0-1 to adopt the new budget, with Councilman Tom Dunn abstaining from the vote. For more on Leesburg’s budget, go to leesburgva.gov/budget. n
AROUND Town Council Cancels April, May Work Sessions In an effort to minimize the number of public meetings in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Town Council canceled its work sessions for the months of April and May. The council typically holds two work sessions each month, which precede the business meetings that are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. The three Monday evening meetings scheduled for the next two months—one less than usual because of the Memorial Day holiday—will be scrapped; however, and the discussion topics instead planned for future work sessions beginning in June. Town Manager Kaj Dentler recommended the measure to the council on Monday night as a way to both protect council members and town staff, and any members of the public who would have wanted to attend. One topic the council asked to be moved to a regular meeting agenda in April
or May, rather than wait for a June or later work session, was the performance evaluation review of the town manager. The council will continue to hold its business meetings as scheduled, with a quorum of council required to physically attend and others permitted to participate electronically.
Bulk Collection Suspended Because of concerns about coronavirus exposure risks to its employees, Patriot Disposal, the town’s trash and recycling contractor, has suspended bulk item collection. This suspension applies only to collection of oversized items such as furniture and appliances, normally collected by special request. Regular household trash and recycling collection is not affected. Town leaders are in discussion with Patriot regarding possible future changes AROUND TOWN continues on page 7
MARCH 26, 2020
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‘One Leesburg’ Banners Hope to Unite Community
AROUND Town continued from page 6
BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com
A downtown Leesburg business owner is hoping to pull the community together in trying economic times. Last week, as the business world began to see itself turned upside down with the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Eyetopia, Inc. owner Paige Buscema worked with local graphic designer Stilson Greene to launch the LeesburgToGo website, which gives visibility to restaurants that are offering delivery, curbside and to-go dining in response to government restrictions on in-house patrons. It was then that Greene suggested the group adopt a hashtag, #OneLeesburg, to pull the group’s efforts together. “I started thinking about the theme of One Leesburg and what that really means,” Buscema said. “This week after a whole week of emotionally dealing with so many businesses calling and having questions, not knowing how to take their next step, counseling and helping people as much as I can, I felt like we needed something that was visual.” And that visual will take the form of a 2-by-2-foot vinyl banner, blue with white letters and dark blue stars that displays the simple message of “One World, One Nation, One Leesburg.” “Our Pledge of Allegiance says we are one nation, but we don’t think about what that means. We take it for granted. This is a real time of distress when we have to come together, find our new normal, and start moving forward,” Buscema said. Initial response from business owners to the banners has been big, and those banners are printing this week. Buscema
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to solid waste collections and contingency plans to ensure that essential services continue.
Town Closes Playgrounds, Recreational Amenities
said she plans to open up banner purchases to residents next week. Each banner costs $20, with approximately $5 of each banner sale going to local nonprofits that are supporting the community. The banners are being sold at cost, and not for profit. Buscema has high hopes for the project. “People are so stressed, they want something beautiful to do, something that is a positive message in their life. I think this will be a big community project as we go forward, and we’ll see how it grows from there,” she said. n
With the rise in local transmission of COVID-19, the Town of Leesburg has closed many of its recreational and outdoor amenities. The town has closed all playgrounds; the outdoor tennis courts at Ida Lee Park; the ballfields at Robinson Park; the soccer and lacrosse fields at Ida Lee Park; the basketball courts at Greenway Park, Rotary Park, and Foxridge Park; the Eric Brown Skate Plaza at Catoctin Park; the pavilions at Ida Lee Park, Foxridge Park, Tuscarora Park, Potomac Crossing Park, and Edwards Landing Park; the dog park at Olde Izaak Walton Park; and the entirety of Freedom Park. The closures are in effect until further notice. For a complete list of town closures, go to leesburgva.gov/closures.
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MARCH 26, 2020
Education
LCPS-TV
School Board members sit at desks scattered around their large meeting room in an attempt to maintain social distancing during their March 20 meeting.
State-Ordered School Closure Leaves Lots of Questions for the Board BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
Gov. Ralph Northam on Monday put an end to questions about when classes will resume for the 2019-20 school year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. They won’t. But parents and students aren’t the only ones wondering what happens next. Loudoun’s school administrators also are awaiting formal direction on everything from online learning offerings to standardized testing. They are not questions that only Virginia or Loudoun leaders have, but likely will become a nationwide challenge as more states turn more mandatory social distancing measures. Details on how instruction should be conducted over the next several months will be directed by the Department of Education as early as this week, Northam said. On Tuesday, state leaders began laying out the process for ensuring seniors qualify for graduation. In a video address to parents and students released Monday night, Superintendent Eric Williams stressed the importance of community care and said details on school issues will be coming in the days ahead. “To me, the concept of community care encompasses the need for all of us to practice physical distancing, quarantine and isolation in accordance with guidance from health officials, while also coming together as a community and creating even more connections during a time of
physical separation,” he said. “Social distancing is critically important, but the phrase seems counterintuitive to who we are as a people. We crave social interactions and connections. And so, perhaps we should refer to physical distancing, not social distancing. And let’s focus on community care broadly, not just physical distancing.” School leaders have posted online resources—at lcps.org/continuityofeducation—as the first step in providing a distance learning program. Starting Monday, Loudoun teachers plan to begin engaging students in learning experiences, primarily using Google Classroom. Elementary school teachers are expected to provide daily learning opportunities of up to 60 or 90 minutes, depending on a student’s grade level. Middle and high school teachers are expected to provide daily learning opportunities of up to 30 minutes per class. Initially, the lessons were envisioned to focus on the reinforcement of previously taught content with no grades involved. Now that schools are closed for the year, the Virginia Department of Education plans to develop continued instruction and roll it out next month. “It is my sense that the Virginia Department of Education wants to work toward ensuring that every student that was on track to graduate this year will still do so. And I think consideration is being given to how divisions might award credit to students who are not yet seniors, even in the very likely scenario that standards of learning exams are cancelled this year,”
Williams said. To support the online learning efforts, the schools obtained almost 11,400 additional Chromebooks this week to give to students who have not yet been given a computer to use. Also, 1,500 hotspots were ordered to ensure students have needed connectivity. Williams said he and the staff were committed to addressing the needs of seniors. “As I think back to my own time as a student, and also as a parent and high school principal, I know it’s hard to overstate how important senior year is,” he said. “You have looked forward to this year with great anticipation, and so clearly this information can feel disheartening. I want you to know that I am committed to working with principals, teachers, and others so that we try our best for you as seniors to feel special. You have worked hard to get to your senior year, and we want to develop creative ways to recognize all of your accomplishments and help you celebrate with your family and peers.” With the long-term closure in place, most school division employees are working from home and will continue to be paid. “We know much uncertainty persists, and that it is tough to operate in an environment of ambiguity. We remain committed to providing ongoing updates based on the latest information available. We thank you for your patience and understanding during this time of uncertainty. I wish you and your family well in the days to come,” Williams said. n
School Board Adapts to Social Distancing The Loudoun School Board on Friday voted to increase its already adopted budget, one which the Board of Supervisors had agreed to fully fund just days earlier. But that wasn’t the most unusual aspect of the meeting, the first to be held since the declaration of national, state and local emergencies. The Friday afternoon business meeting had eight School Board members and Superintendent Eric Williams seated at safe distances from each other in an otherwise empty meeting room, one member calling in from home where she was on self-quarantine after coming into contact with a known COVID-19 patient, and the school division’s senior staff gathered in a separate conference room down the hall. The public was left to watch the proceedings on a livestream feed to their TVs or computers. That’s a scene likely to become familiar over the next few months. After already canceling most of its committee meetings, the School Board on Friday adopted policies that would allow more electronic meetings and establish procedures for public comment and public hearings to be conducted in writing SOCIAL DISTANCING continues on page 9
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MARCH 26, 2020
Shockey on Tap for 2 More Loudoun School Construction Contracts The Loudoun County School Board is poised to award construction contracts for its next two elementary schools, with Howard Shockey & Sons in line to win both bids. Four bids were received for the construction of Hovatter Elementary School on the campus of Lightridge High School. Shocky’s bid of $32.7 million was declared the lowest responsive bid. The project includes roof-mounted photovoltaic solar panels, but grade-level panels were cut from the design, resulting in
Social distancing continued from page 8 rather and in person. The actions are aimed at combating the spread of COVID-19 by limiting gatherings to 10 or fewer people. State law requires public bodies to assemble a quorum of members to conduct business, but the School Board resolution
a final contract amount of $32.2 million. The contract for Elaine E. Thompson Elementary School near Arcola came in at $34.3 million. The schools are scheduled to open in the fall of 2021. The School Board was poised to award the contracts at its March 20 meeting, but the majority opted to hold to its typical schedule, with a vote occurring at its next meeting to permit a period of public comment. n
cited the series of national, state and local emergency declarations as justification for possibly holding future meetings electronically without an assembled quorum. The commonwealth’s open meeting laws allow such meetings to deal with emergencies, but a new opinion issued by Attorney General Mark R. Herring made it clear that retinue public business may not be conducted in that fashion. n
PAGE 9
Beware of Home Inspection Pitfalls Before You Put Your Loudoun Home Up for Sale Loudoun - According to industry experts, there are over 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is for sale. A new report has been prepared which identifies the eleven most common of these problems, and what you should know about them before you list your home for sale. Whether you own an old home or a brand new one, there are a number of things that can fall short of requirements during a home inspection. If not identified and dealt with, any of these
11 items could cost you dearly in terms of repair. That’s why it’s critical that you read this report before you list your home. To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1-888302-3341 and enter 2411. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get your free special report NOW to learn how to ensure a home inspection doesn’t cost you the sale of your home.
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Public Safety
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Double Murder Suspect Seeks Jail Release Amid COVID-19 Outbreak
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The man accused of shooting and killing a mother and her son in their Aldie home two years ago has requested that he be released from jail out of fear that he might contract COVID-19. Welsh, 40, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony— charges stemming from the Jan. 29, 2018, shooting deaths Welsh of Mala Manwani and her adult son, Rishi Manwani, at their Tomey Court home. Mala was shot four times in the head and Rishi was shot seven times in the head and once in the leg. The case is scheduled to go to trial starting on Oct. 5. Last week, Brian Kuang-Ming Welsh’s attorney, Thomas Walsh, requested the court consider releasing Welsh with GPS monitoring in light of the coronavirus pandemic, citing sources showing that confinement in areas alongside other individuals increases the risk of infection. “The unprecedented and extraordinarily dangerous nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has become apparent,” Walsh wrote in his March 19 request. “The changed circumstances necessitate a reconsideration of the defendant’s bond conditions.” Walsh wrote that he is unable to review case evidence with Welsh over the phone. The Loudoun County Adult Detention Center has suspended all contact visits, including with legal counsel. Circuit Court Judge James P. Fisher previously denied Welsh’s Feb. 26 bond request in a March 6 order. Prosecutors had supported releasing Welsh as long as he complied with other conditions, including an 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. curfew, relinquishment of his passport and regular home and office visits with community corrections. Fisher wrote in his order that Welsh’s liberty “constitutes an unreasonable danger to himself or to the public.” Welsh was initially charged with the murders in March 2018. But when a ballis-
tics report showed that nine bullets found at the crime scene did not match the barrel of the gun found in Welsh’s possession, prosecutors dropped the charges. Welsh was released from jail in August 2018, prior to a preliminary hearing scheduled in Loudoun District Court. While investigators found none of Welsh’s DNA at the crime scene, they did find fingerprints of another person and found DNA on a wallet left on Rishi’s chest that was linked to a 2000 case in James City County in which a woman was accused of sticking 25 children with toothpicks, needles and syringes in grocery stores. Welsh was re-arrested at his parents’ home in October 2019 when investigators later found that the shell casings found at the scene matched Welsh’s father’s handgun. A 25-day jury trial is scheduled from October 5 to Nov. 6. If convicted of all four charges, Welsh could spend up to two life sentences in prison. Welsh is scheduled to be back in court on April 22, June 25 and Aug. 13 for pretrial motions. Sheriff ’s Office Public Information Officer Kraig Troxell said there are no known COVID-19 exposures or cases at the Adult Detention Center. He said the Sheriff ’s Office has implemented measures in the jail to ensure the health and well-being of inmates, staff and visitors. Incoming Inmates are subject to a tiered entry process. After their initial 48- to 72-hour wait time, in which they await their medical clearance, inmates are checked for signs of sickness. If they exhibit no symptoms, they are transferred to a new medical observation unit for 12 to 14 days for further observation before joining the general population. If they exhibit flu-like symptoms, they are quarantined in a negative airflow cell. Troxell said the county’s medical contractor has also increased its observation and assessment of those incoming inmates. While contact visitation has been cancelled, inmates can see their family and friends through video. Inmates are also not physically appearing in court as much. Instead, the courts are using video calls more frequently to minimize the number of inmate transfers in and out of the jail. Volunteer programs have been postponed and tours of the jail have been canceled. n
MARCH 26, 2020
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PAGE 11
SAFETY Notes
No Charges Brought for Juvenile Coughing Videos
2 Charged with Selling Counterfeit Xanax
The Purcellville Police Department announced late last week that it found no criminal intent in an earlier incident in which minors were reported to cough on food in a grocery store. On March 18, it was reported that two juveniles were coughing on produce and posting videos of their actions on social media. Last week, the department identified and interviewed those juveniles, who admitted to their involvement. Officers determined there was no criminal intent upon learning that the juveniles were getting close to shoppers and coughing into their own sleeves, and not coughing or spitting on customers or produce. The department is urging parents to discourage the promotion of fear-inducing behavior and to monitor their children’s activities, including social media viewing and posting while they are out of school. Report suspicious activity to the Police Department by calling 540-3387422.
Two South Riding men were arrested March 12 following a two-month investigation led by the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office’s Tactical Enforcement Unit into the distribution of counterfeit Xanax. According to the Sheriff ’s Office, Adam F. Khan, 20, and Raheem Y. Khan, 19, are charged with felony possession with intent to distribute a Schedule IV narcotic. A search warrant conducted March 19
at their home on Center Street in South Riding recovered approximately 6,000 counterfeit Xanax pills, four firearms, and more than $10,000 in cash. The suspects were apprehended in Manassas with the assistance of the Prince William County Police Department and the Virginia State Police. The two attempted to flee authorities on foot and discarded hundreds of Xanax bars packaged for distribution as they fled, according to the report. Additional charges are pending.
Khan, A.
Khan, R.
They were held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.
A Team of Experts...
Inside the Boundary
PUBLISHER’S NOTICE We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call
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Nonprofit Salvation Army Gears Up to Face Pandemic’s Impacts The Salvation Army is increasing community support efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, adapting its service delivery to help meet the immediate needs of residents, first responders, and government partners. In Loudoun, The Salvation Army is providing assistance for everyday living expenses including rent, utility bills, gas, and food assistance. “Many in Loudoun are already living paycheck to paycheck, and they will likely face incredible challenges during this crisis,” said Captain Pradeep Ramaji, Loudoun County Salvation Army commander. “Here in Loudoun, as across the country, the Salvation Army is committed to serving those who need our help, and we are thankful for generous public support which will allow that to happen.” Salvation Army leaders pointed out that while everyone is impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, one in six Americans who are living in poverty will likely feel the effects quicker and more significantly. In Loudoun County, that means 13,700 people living in poverty will be
impacted. The Salvation Army is working to ensure that people have access to food, shelter, and desperately needed services like childcare through its nationwide network. That includes drivethrough food pickup, community-based food delivery through canteens, and meals at Salvation Army facilities. The organization is also providing snacks and hydration to first responders. In the coming months, The Salvation Army plans to continue providing basic needs to the people it already serves, and anticipates it will also serve a new generation of need that is born out of the virus. Anticipated impacts on the economy and workforce, according to the organization, will likely force more Americans to seek rental, utility, and other forms of assistance. Cancelled fundraising events and market volatility will mean a greater need for public support for those efforts. To contribute to The Salvation Army’s efforts, go to bit.ly/2WyiaOi. n
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Tree of Life Offering Food, Financial Relief
Learn more at tolministries. org.
Many Loudoun organizations continue to offer help to those in need during the coronavirus crisis, which has led to social distancing and many commercial and governmental closures. Tree of Life Ministries is one of them. The nonprofit is helping to feed the community with food deliveries available weekly from its food pantries in Leesburg and Purcellville, and food-to-go meals available from Leesburg on Tuesdays and Purcellville on Thursdays. It’s also offering financial assistance for those experiencing extreme hardship as well as coaching. Tree of Life additionally offers health and medical vouchers for those in need to help pay for urgent, eye and dental care. Those who want to help the nonprofit’s cause can make monetary donations on its website, volunteer and help to pray for the community at large. The nonprofit is also asking for donations of deli meats, hot dogs, potatoes, cereal and rice.
HomeAid Collecting Masks, Eye Protection HomeAid Northern Virginia is part of a nationwide effort with the Leading Builders of America COVID-19 Response team to collect masks and eye protection. The shortage of masks and eye protection among health care workers is at a crisis level. There is also a critical need for diapers and wipes. Increment gift cards to Target, Walmart, or grocery stores also are sought. HomeAid is collecting the items to be distributed to nonprofits as well as directly to families and homeless individuals. Donations may be dropped off at the HomeAid Office, 3684 Centreview Drive, Suite 110B, Chantilly between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. For more information, contact Executive Director and CEO Kristyn Burr at kburr@homeaidnova.org.
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Cochran Family Dental Cochran FamilyFamily Dental The Coming Surge of Older Adults Cochran Dental Cochran Family Dental Welcoming all new patients! Welcoming all new patients! Cochran Family Dental Cochran Family Dental Cochran Family Dental Cochran Family Dental Welcoming allall new patients! Welcoming new patients!Dental Family By the Community Foundation of lessness and housing, transportation, Cochran Family Dental Welcoming allallCochran new patients! Welcoming new patients! Welcoming all new patients! Cochran Family Dental Welcoming all new patients! Welcoming all new patients! Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Coun- protective services, and health care. Welcoming all new patients! Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at
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Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at FAVORITE Conveniently located Cochran Family Dental are in The Village of Leesburg to providing a comprehensive dental office Dr. Brian Cochran and his For staff atand What we offer committed Dr. Brian Cochran at Discounts Available Patients Conveniently located inhis staff 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 Cochran Family Dental are Conveniently located in Conveniently located in most with aCochran caring and gentle style thatInsurance! will serve allare ofFAVORITE Cochran Family Dental Without Family Dental are • Cheerful, serene, state of the art offi ce The Village Leesburg Leesburg, VA 20175 Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff atto Theof Village Leesburg your family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance committed providing aofcomprehensive dental The Village of Leesburg committed to providing a comprehensive dental office office • Digital x-rays (reduces radiation by 90%) 1503 committed to providing apayment comprehensive dental office 703-771-9034 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 Dodona Terrace #210 Cochran Family Dental are friendly office offering budget wise options. Dr. with a caring andstyle gentlethat style that will servemost most all with a caring and gentle will serve allofof 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 Leesburg, VA 20175 Dr. Brian Cochran and20175 staff at most • We file all dental benefi t claims withhasa provided caring and gentle style that will serve allInsurance of your family’s dental needs under one roof. Cochran trusted dental care tohis the citizens Leesburg, VA committed to providing a comprehensive dental office your family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance Leesburg, VA 20175 703-771-9034 • Cosmetic Dentistry (veneers, whitefamily’s fifor llings, Zoom Whitening) Cochran Family Dental are friendly office offering budget payment options. Dr. of Loudoun 13 and years. your dental needs under one roof. wise Insurance 703-771-9034 HOURS: WHITENING SPECIAL withand a caring gentle style that will serve most all of friendly office offering budget wise payment Dr. WHITENING Cochran has provided trusted dental care tooptions. the office citizens 703-771-9034 • Crowns Bridges, alland phases of Implants, Root Canals and Dentures Conveniently located in- 6pm FREE Teeth Kit options. committed to providing a Whitening comprehensive dental friendly office budget wise payment Dr. Mon. & Wed.: 8amoffering SPECIAL of Loudoun for 13 years. with every scheduled The Village at Leesburg facing Cochran has trusted dental care to the SPECIAL your family’stherapy dental needs under one roof. Insurance • We offer periodontal to restore your health asprovided well asbenefits oral cancer screening. HOURS: Tues. - Thurs.: - 4pm WHITENING Use your before the end will with aoral caring gentle style that serve mostcitizens all of Cochran has7am provided trusted dental care to the citizens cleaning or procedure. WHITENING Wegmans and and 1503 Dodona Terrace Route 7 between located in- 6pm FREE Teeth Whitening Kit of Conveniently the year receive a FREE Mon. &and Wed.: 8am Fri.:Fitness 8am - 1pmwise payment of Loudoun for 13 years. Offer Expires 8/31/16. LA friendly office offering budget options. Dr. SPECIAL withInsurance every scheduled The Village at Leesburg facing Teeth Whitening Kit with every HOURS: your family’s dental needs under one roof. Suite 210 Conveniently located in the Village of Leesburg WHITENING SPECIAL of Loudoun for 13 years. Tues. - Thurs.: 7am - 4pm Please present coupon Sat.: 8am 1pm (once/month) Use your benefits or before the end Mon & -Wed: 8-6pm cleaning procedure. HOURS: Route 7 between Wegmans and toWHITENING scheduled cleaning or procedure. WHITENING SPECIAL Terrace Leesburg, 20175 located in FREE Teeth Whitening of the year and receive a FREE Kit receive the Not to bepayment Fri.: 8am -1,citizens 1pm Cochran hasTerrace provided trusted dental care to the TuesEmergency &1503 Thurs: 7-4pmConveniently 1503VA Dodona #210 • Dodona Leesburg, VA&20175 •LA 703-771-9034 Mon. Wed.: 8am -offer. 6pm WHITENING January 2016. Offer Expires 8/31/16. Fitness 24hr Service friendly offering budget wise options. Conveniently located inOffer Expires FREE Teeth Whitening Teeth Whitening KitKit with everyDr. Suite 210office
Cochran Family Dental Welcoming all new patients! Cochran Family Dental Welcoming all new patients! Welcoming new patients! Dr. all Brian Cochran and his staff at Welcoming all new patients! Welcoming all new patients!
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ties Our older adult population is expected Being forced into a nursing home to increase by 367 percent by 2030, meanWelcoming all new patients! when faced with the prosing approximately 75,000 Dr. Brian Cochran andand hishis staff at Dr. Brian Cochran pect of living alone at an people 65 and older will Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff atstaff at older age is a fear many be living in Loudoun. As a Cochran Family Dental are Cochran Cochran FamilyFamily DentalDental are are people share, young and county and as a community, committed to providing a comprehensive dental committed toproviding providing a comprehensive office old. The cost of caring for Loudoun’s nonprofit comcommitted to a comprehensive dentaldental office office older neighbors suffering munity requires increased a caring and gentle style thatserve willserve serve all most with caring andgentle gentle style that will most allofof with aawith caring and style that will most of all from Alzheimer’s or similar funding and resources, both SPECIAL Please present coupon to receive the offer. Mon. & Wed.: 8am 6pm combined w/any other Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) with every scheduled The Village at Leesburg facing Please present coupon to Sat.: 8am -Wed: 1pm (once/month) Mon 8-6pm Mon. & Wed.: 8amyour - 6pm • family’s - Thurs.: 7am - 4pm • Fri.: -to1pm •&24hr Service dental needs under roof. Insurance scheduled cleaning or procedure. Tues. - 8am Thurs.: 7am -Emergency 4pm Notfacing be combined with anyone other offer. SPECIAL 703-771-9034 with every scheduled The Village Leesburg Leesburg, VA 24hr Emergency Service ofyour Loudoun forTues. 13 years. mental ailments can be expublic and private, to meet Use your benefits before the toend receive offer. Not be Cochran has provided trusted dental care tothe the citizens family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance & Thurs: 7-4pm your family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance Offer Expires January 1, 2016. cleaning or procedure. Route 720175 between Wegmans and 24hr Emergency Service Tues. - at Thurs.: 7am - Tues 4pm 1503 Dodona Terrace Use your benefits before the end Please present coupon to w/any receive the offer. combined other Fri:8am 8-1pm • -Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) of the year and receive a FREE cleaning or procedure. Route 7 between Wegmans and Fri.: 1pm Offer Expires 8/31/16. WHITENING 1503 Dodona Terrace LA Fitness ponentially higher than the ever-increasing demand. Not to be combined with any other offer. friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com 703-771-9034 of Service the year and receive a FREE 24hryears. Emergency of 13 Visit our website: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Fri.:Fitness 8am -for 1pm Conveniently located in Loudoun Teeth Whitening KitDr. with everyDr. Suite 210 Offer Expires 8/31/16. LA friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Please present coupon toDr. Sat.: 8am 1pm (once/month) Mon & -Wed: 8-6pm friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Teeth Whitening Kitcleaning with every Suite 210 scheduled or procedure. cost of heart disease or even When taxes on those below SPECIAL WHITENING The Village at Leesburg facing Please present coupon to Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Sat.: 8am 1pm Leesburg, VA 20175 Mon & -Wed: 8-6pm Visit our website: TheLeesburgVADentist.com receive the offer. Not to be Conveniently located in Cochran has provided trusted dental care to the citizens Tues &(once/month) Thurs: 7-4pm scheduled cleaning or procedure. Offer Expires January 1, 2016. 24hr Emergency Service Use your benefits before the end 20175 receive the offer. Notto w/any to be the Cochran has provided trusted dental care to the citizens Tues &Village Thurs: 7-4pm Route 7VA between Wegmans and cancer. No one in Loudoun the poverty line1503 far Dodona exceed TerraceLeesburg, Offer Expires January 1, 2016. SPECIAL Please present coupon receive offer. combined other Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) 24hr Emergency Service The at Leesburg facing Cochran has provided trusted dental care to the citizens of(Once/month) the year and receive a combined FREE present coupon receive the offer. w/any other Not toyour be to combined with any other Fri: 8-1pmRoute • Sat: 13 8-1pm 703-771-9034 Use benefits before the offer. end 24hr Emergency ServicePlease LA Fitness of Loudoun for years. 7 between Wegmans and should have to be a burden those of the excessively every Not towith be combined other offer. a FREE 1503 Dodona Terrace Suite 210 703-771-9034 24hryears. EmergencyTeeth ServiceWhitening Kit of Loudoun for 13 of the with yearany and receive Mon & Wed: 8-6pm LA Fitness scheduled cleaning or procedure. to their family. wealthy, this stifling of acTeeth Whitening Kit with every for 13 years. Suite 210 Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Leesburg, VA 20175 of Loudoun Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm Conveniently located inExpires 1, 2016. Mon &Offer Wed: 8-6pm January Visit our website at:OF TheLeesburgVADentist.com scheduled cleaning or procedure. PUBLIC HEARING Conveniently located inTues Loudoun County is incess to the private, charitaLeesburg, VA 20175 Please present7-4pm coupon to receive the offer. Conveniently located inNOTICE Fri: 8-1pm •The Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) & Thurs: Offer Expires January 1, 2016. Village at Leesburg facing Not to be combined with any other offer. Please present coupon to receive the offer. Conveniently located in Fri:HAMILTON, 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) 24hr Emergency Service credibly diverse in many ble services our703-771-9034 neighbors The Village at Leesburg facing TOWN OF VIRGINIA Use your benefits before theoffer. end Not to be combined with any other Theeven Village at Leesburg facing Route 7 between Wegmans 703-771-9034 24hr Emergencyand Service Use your benefits before the end 1503 Dodona Terrace ways, including in the ages need becomes more of the year and receive a FREE Route 7 between Wegmans and The Village at Leesburg facing Use your benefits before the end 1503 Dodona Terrace Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com LA Fitness of theUse year andWhitening receive a Kit FREE Wegmans and Teeth with the everyend your benefits before Visit our website at: of our neighbors. As our haunting. Route 7 between Suite 210 LA Fitness PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX INCREASE 1503 Dodona Terrace Route 7 between Wegmans and FREE the8-6pm yearTheLeesburgVADentist.com andTeeth receive a Whitening Kit with every MonREAL &of Wed: Suite 210 1503 Dodona Terrace scheduled cleaning or procedure. of the year and receive a FREE current population ages, we This eye-opening Leesburg, statisLA Fitness & Wed: 8-6pm VA 20175 MonLA scheduled cleaning or procedure. Tues &Teeth Thurs: 7-4pm Fitness Offer every Expires January 1, 2016. Whitening Kit with Suite 210tic is only oneLeesburg, VA 20175 Teeth Whitening Kit with are heading towards a major ofSuite many 210 highTues & Thurs: 7-4pm Offer Expires January 1,Town 2016. The Town of Fri: Hamilton hold a(Once/month) public hearing at the Hamilton Office, Please present coupon to receive theevery offer. Mon & Wed: 8-6pm 8-1pm •will Sat: 8-1pm scheduled cleaning or procedure. Mon & Wed: 8-6pm Please present coupon to receive the offer. Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) scheduled cleaning or procedure. spike in our older populalighted data points in the Not to be combined with any other offer. 53 East Colonial Highway, Hamilton, Virginia, on April 13, 2020, beginning at Leesburg, VA 20175Leesburg, VA 24hr Emergency Service Tues20175 & Thurs: 7-4pm 24hr Offer ExpiresNot January 1, 2016. to be combined with anyJanuary other offer. & Thurs:of 7-4pm Offer Expires 1, tax 2016. Service tion. Loudoun County proProfiles of Loudoun report. 7:00 p.m. forTues theEmergency purpose receiving comment on the proposed real estate Please present coupon to receive the offer. . Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) Please present coupon to receive the offer. 8-1pmyear • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) grams, both public and priDownload the full report Use your benefits before the end rate Fri: for fiscal 2021. The previous year’s tax rate was $.28 per $100 of asNot to be combined with any other offer. Not to be combined with any other offer. Use your benefits before the end 24hr Emergency Service 24hr Emergency vate, face critical challenges at CommunityFoundationsessed value. Town Council Service has proposedof a tax rate of $.28 per $100 of assessed the year and receive a FREE in the years ahead to meet the needs of LF.org/Profiles. To learn more about the value for the fiscal year 2021. of the year and receive a FREE Whitening Kit every with every the exponentially growing population of Community Foundation, go to CommuTeethTeeth Whitening Kit with Mon & Wed: 8-6pm older adults. Urgent needs include home- nityFoundationLF.org. n scheduled cleaning or procedure. SUMMARY OF REAL ESTATE PROPERTY TAX RATES Mon & Wed: 8-6pm W I N N E R
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Visit website TheLeesburgVADentist.com Visit ourour website at: at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com 2. Lowered rate necessary to offset increased assessment. The tax rate which would levy the same amount of real estate tax as last year when multiplied by the new total assessed value of real estate with the exclusion mentioned above would be $.263 per $100 assessed value. This rate will be known as the “lowered tax rate.” 3. Effective Rate: The Town of Hamilton proposes to adopt the tax rate of $.28 per $100 assessed value. The difference between the lowered tax rate and the proposed rate would be $.017 per $100, or 6.07 percent. This difference will be known as the “effective tax rate increase”. Individual property taxes may, however, increase at a percentage greater than or less than the above percentage. 4. Proposed Total Budget Increase: Based on the proposed real property tax rate and changes in other revenues, the proposed total budget of the Town of Hamilton will be more than last year’s by 2.93 percent due to an increase in funding for capital improvement projects. 5. There is no plan to increase the tax rate above that of last year. However, due to the fact that assessments have increased, the tax revenue will increase. The regularly scheduled Town Council meeting will begin immediately after the public hearing. David S. Simpson, Mayor Town of Hamilton
3/26/20
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PAGE 14
MARCH 26, 2020
Our Towns
TOWN notes
Loudoun’s Town Governments React to COVID-19 BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com
In response to the spread of COVID-19, all six western Loudoun towns have taken action to protect against infection—by cancelling meetings and closing their town offices to the public. Here’s what those governments have closed and cancelled and what’s still available to residents.
Hillsboro Hillsboro Mayor Roger Vance said this week he might call a special meeting soon for the Town Council to approve a declaration of local emergency. The Old Stone School—its town office— is closed to the general public until at least March 30, at which point town leaders will review the situation. For the time being, most town meetings will be held using conference and video calls, with essential personnel still working out of the office. All town events have also been cancelled. For more information, go to hillsborova.gov or call 540-486-8001.
Lovettsville The Lovettsville Town Council was expected to ratify a declaration of local emergency at its meeting on Thursday. The Lovettsville town office is closed to visitors until further notice, with a minimal number of staffers in the office during normal business hours to assist residents electronically. On March 15, Lovettsville Mayor Nate Fontaine announced that all non-essential Town Council, commission and committee meetings had been cancelled. One resident at a time will be permitted in the town office to comment during
Mayor’s Wife Introduces Birthday Parades Amid COVID-19 Crisis Lovettsville Mayor Nate Fontaine’s wife, Lizzy Fontaine, recently started an initiative to organize parades to celebrate residents’ birthdays. Fontaine crafted the initiative in response to the coronavirus outbreak— to allow residents the chance to continue celebrating their birthdays, just not in a party setting around groups of people, for fear of infection. The first parade was held on Monday for a 2-year-old resident.
Water Tower Maintenance Work Begins
Hamilton Hamilton Mayor Dave Simpson on March 16 declared a local emergency. The town office is closed to the public. The town staff encourages residents to use electronic means to communicate with town leaders for the time being. Residents may still drop off checks and other paperwork in-person by using the door slot on the front door of the office. For more information, go to town.hamilton.va.us or call 540-338-2811.
LOVETTSVILLE
Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
The Purcellville Town Hall, like the offices of western Loudoun’s five other town governments, is closed to the general public for the foreseeable future amid the outbreak of COVID-19.
Town Council meetings. Others can email comments ahead of time to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov. Residents wanting to make payments can do so by leaving them in the town office drop box or by paying them online at lovettsvilleva.gov/how-do-i/pay-my-billor-taxes. For more information, call 540822-5788 or email Town Manager Rob Ritter at townmanager@lovettsvilleva.gov.
Middleburg Middleburg Town Administrator Danny Davis on March 16 declared a local emergency, which the Town Council was expected to ratify at its meeting on Thursday. The Town Office is closed to visitors. All in-person meetings are encouraged to be held via telephone or virtually as much as possible. While Middleburg Town Council meetings are scheduled to continue, advisory committee meetings are encouraged to postpone if possible. According to a town statement, Middleburg’s water and sewer contractor, Inboden Environmental Services, is continuing utility service and is planning to use back-up staffers and remote monitoring systems. Residents who want to pay utility bills can do so by bringing them to the town office drop box or by paying them online at ipn2. paymentus.com/cp/tomu. For more information, call 540-6875152 or go to middleburgva.gov/323/ Stay-Informed---Coronavirus.
Purcellville Purcellville Town Manager David Mekarski on March 16 declared a local emergency, which the Town Council was expected to ratify this week. Town Council meetings for now will be closed to the public’s physical attendance, but open for electronic participation. Residents are able to speak during the citizen/business comments portion of meetings by joining the council’s GoToMeeting sessions. The Town Council’s March 26 and April 1 budget work sessions are cancelled. A special meeting and budget work session will be held April 8. Mekarski also closed the Town Hall to visitors. Access to the town’s Public Works building, Water Plant, Wastewater Plant and Police Department will be granted by appointment only. While the town staff has closed the Train Station for all public meetings and gatherings, it has yet to make a decision on Fireman’s Field, seeing that spring activities do not start until May. Town staffers are providing residents with assistance via phone and email and will work on a case-by-case basis to accommodate in-person service, if residents should request it. Purcellville’s Economic Development Advisory Committee, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Purcellville Arts Council, Train Station Advisory TOWNS REACT continues on page 16
The Town of Lovettsville’s contractor, Suez Environment North America, last week began structural modification work to the town’s water tower, which is located in the New Town Meadows neighborhood. AT&T and Sprint have erected a temporary tower between the site and Potterfield Drive to hold their antennas throughout the duration of the work. Once repair work has completed, Verizon also will install its antennas atop the water tower. For more information, call the town office at 540-822-5788.
MIDDLEBURG Town Creates Webpage to Support Local Businesses The town of Middleburg has created a webpage—middleburgva.gov/ support-local—designed to help area residents support local businesses amid the coronavirus crisis that has led to an economic decline. Instead of closing in response to social distancing mandates, many businesses are providing alternate means to purchase and procure goods, such as no-contact delivery, curbside delivery and custom shopping and home delivery. The webpage provides continuous updates on those services. For instance, the King Street Oyster Bar is offering curbside delivery, while Mt. Defiance Cider Barn is offering grab ‘n Go service and Thaiverse is offering TOWN NOTES continues on page 16
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MARCH 26, 2020
PAGE 15
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TOWN notes continued from page 14 in-town delivery. In-town businesses wanting to advertise their special activities in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, email info@middleburgva.gov or call 540-687-5152.
Business Association Recommends 9 Ways to Support the Community The Middleburg Business and Professional Association has come up with a list of nine ways residents can support the local business community during the coronavi-
rus crisis. Residents are encouraged to order takeout or delivery, buy gift cards, shop online and donate to their favorite local charities. They are also encouraged to stock up on essential products—meaning stock up on what you need to get through the next few days or weeks at home. Residents may order food to stock the freezer from Homewood Farm or order three or more bottles of wine from Boxwood Estate Winery or Cana Vineyards and Winery with free shipping. Residents can also stay connected with the community by watching livestreams, like A Place to Be’s daily videos to help with stress relief and the Mosby Heritage Area Association’s virtual fieldtrips. Residents
can additionally worship remotely via livestreams on their religious institutions’ websites, plan to attend events later in the year and enjoy the outdoors. The full list has been published at visitmiddleburgva.com/9-ways-to-support-the-middleburg-community-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak.
PURCELLVILLE Purcellville Ranked ‘Safest City in Virginia’ with 59 Crimes The National Council For Home Safety and Security recently named the Purcellville as 2020’s safest city in Virginia. According to the ranking, Purcellville has a crime rate of 5.85 per 1,000 residents and a violent crime rate of 4.56 per 1,000 residents. In 2018, 59 crimes were reported in the town—61 crimes fewer than the number of crimes in the town with the next lowest rate—the City of Poquoson. Those numbers were compiled using the latest FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics. The only other Loudoun town included in the list was Leesburg, which ranked 10th with 95 crimes reported in 2018 and a crime rate of 12.96 per 1,000 residents. Overall, Virginia was shown to have the fourth lowest violent crime rate of all 50 states in 2018—at 24.83 crimes per 1,000 residents. See the full list at alarms.org/safest-cities-in-virginia.
Tree of Life, Mayor Work to Aid Community Members in Need Tree of Life Ministries and Purcellville Mayor Kwasi Fraser are working to provide aid to seniors at risk of contracting COVID-19. Following a March 16 meeting between the nonprofit, Fraser and the Purcellville
Towns react continued from page 14 Board and Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee meetings have been cancelled until further notice. The Board of Architectural Review, Board of Zoning Appeals and Planning Commission will meet on an as-needed basis. Town events are also cancelled for the foreseeable future. For more information, go to purcellvilleva.gov, call the town office at 540-3387421 or email info@purcellvilleva.gov.
Round Hill Round Hill Town Administrator Melissa Hynes, who also serves as the town’s direc-
MARCH 26, 2020 Baptist Church, all parties agreed that it was vital to continue informing senior citizens about available services and resources to ensure their wellbeing. They agreed to also continue forging partnerships with other churches and communities. Fraser said the town’s committees, commissions and boards could be used to augment volunteer efforts if needed and stated that the Purcellville Police Department is fully engaged and executing plans to ensure the safety and welfare of all residents. Tree of Life Executive Director Paul Smith said the nonprofit would continue to accept food donations, deliver food as needed and offer to-go food on Thursdays. The nonprofit will also continue offering its workforce connections and financial coaching telephone help, aid with inquiries about housing, health education updates and medical vouchers, and relief funds. The nonprofit is still in need of non-perishable food and monetary donations to feed seniors and families with homebound school-aged children.
ROUND HILL Council Approves Town Administrator to Expend $100K for Emergencies The Round Hill Town Council last Thursday voted to adopt an emergency resolution authorizing Town Administrator Melissa Hynes to expend up to $100,000 in response to the town’s state of emergency, which Hynes declared on March 17 and the council voted to ratify last Thursday. The vote comes in response to the ongoing coronavirus crisis worldwide that has led all seven six Loudoun towns to declare states of emergencies, wholly or partially close their town offices and limit town meetings. tor of emergency management, declared a local emergency on March 17. The Town Council ratified that declaration two days later and authorized Hynes to expend up to $100,000 in response to the state of emergency. The Town office is closed to visitors. The town staff will work on a case-by-case basis to accommodate in-person service, if residents should request it. In lieu of making utility payments in-person, residents may mail paid bills to P.O. Box 36, Round Hill, VA; drop them off in the secure 24-hour drop box on the back porch of the town office; or make them electronically at roundhillva.org/home/ pages/bill-payments. For more information, go to roundhillva.org, call 540-338-7878 or email Hynes. n
MARCH 26, 2020
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PAGE 17
Dragon Hops Brewing Shuts Down, Will Focus on Hops Farm BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com
The coronavirus crisis has put many restaurants, bars, wineries and breweries in hibernation and others completely out of business. Although Purcellville’s Dragon Hops Brewing has added its name to that closure list, its owners are already focusing on new ventures. The brewery shut its doors for good last Saturday, after nearly two years of operation in the former Purcellville Town Hall building on Main Street. Co-owner Emily Coryell said the decision to close
was directly related to the economic chaos caused by the coronavirus crisis. After selling every last drop of beer over the weekend at a discounted rate, Coryell said she and co-owner Ryan Wilton plan to return to their 4-acre hops farm just south of town to continue their hops-growing operation, which gave rise to the brewery in the first place. She’ll also focus more time on rebuilding her home, which burned down in February 2019. Opened in May 2018, Dragon Hops quickly became one of the more popular social venues in town, having hosted many town firsts, like the Medieval Faire and regular comedy nights. But, Coryell
said, declining patronage stemming from the coronavirus pandemic in recent weeks forced her to close, just before her team was set to officially launch its hard seltzer line. She said the decision was a “heartache,” seeing that she put her life on hold to put everything she had into the business. Coryell and Wilton expect to harvest at least a ton of hops this year to sell to brewers and to use in their own creations. Coryell said she’s hoping area breweries come around and purchase some of the hops, which they have neglected to do in the past. As for the brewing component, Coryell
said she would brew small batches of beer to sell, if the spotted lanternfly doesn’t aggravate the crop this year. And while a brood of 17-year cicadas is expected to emerge in 2020, Coryell said she’s hoping the hops will be harvested before that happens. In addition to turning her attention to new business opportunities, Coryell also was able to spin another positive on the situation—by donating all the brewery’s excess food first to her employees, then to area charities including Tree of Life Ministries and various soup kitchens. “I thought it was a preferable thing to make sure those in need get it,” she said. n
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LoCo Living
The Arts Adapt in a Changing Landscape BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com
Social distancing and the arts don’t really go hand in hand. New restrictions on public gatherings and concern for public health are taking a toll on performers and arts-related organizations in Loudoun. But there’s a silver lining: the county’s creators are getting creative about bringing music, performance and visual arts to the community. Purcellville’s Franklin Park Arts Center has closed its doors for in-person shows at least through April 1. But as a county-funded facility, manager Elizabeth Bracey said the center has the staff and resources to continue promoting the arts in the community by organizing a series of lunchtime demos from visual and performing artists. “It’s making lemonade out of lemons. … I think that is a wonderful testament to the human spirit,” Bracey said. “OK, we’re confined to our homes—we’re not just going to sit here and feel sorry for ourselves—we’re going to figure out a way that we can still connect with people. Nobody likes being restricted, but I truly believe that the arts are a wonderful catalyst for keeping people together and connecting people.”
Virtual Arts and Entertainment LoCo Style BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com
Loudoun’s artists—both performing and visual—are taking their talents online. Folks craving great tunes or a creative outlet can take a painting lesson, buy a pottery kit or listen to a concert by donation, often via the Facebook Live feature. Here are just a few of the online options for visual and performing arts popping up in Loudoun this week. Have a performance or online art demo to share? Go to getoutloudoun.com for the latest up-todate listing. BENEFIT, a local coalition of bands and community leaders known for raising money for children’s charities, is lifting
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Singer/songwriter Todd Wright will return to the BENEFIT stage—at least virtually—on Saturday as part of a special Loudoun Unity concert that will feature some of Loudoun’s most popular performers. The event begins at 7 p.m. and can be viewed on the BENEFIT Facebook page.
Bracey said she’s concerned for the community groups like Arts for All that have had to postpone performances, while other community groups with scheduled performances later this spring are missing up area musicians with a series of online concerts. The series kicked off last Friday with a virtual show from Emma Rowley and ramps up Saturday, March 28 at 7 p.m. with an Evening of Unity and Music with Todd Wright and Friends. Go to facebook. com/benefitloudoun.
FRANKLIN PARK ARTS CENTER’S “START LUNCH WITH THE ARTS” program kicked off
this week featuring free daily demos and mini-concerts. The program launched Monday, March 23 with a watercolor tutorial with local painter Chris Loya and followed up with a monologue from comedian RICH FINK and a virtual tour of the center’s gallery Tuesday and Wednesday. Singer/songwriter Andrew McKnight is slated to perform Thursday, March 26 at noon, and noted multi-instrumentalist DANNY KNICELY is on the schedule for Friday, March 27. Go to facebook.com/ franklinpark.artscenter. Leesburg native and noted DMV performer and podcast host JUSTIN TRAWICK has made international news for his creative Facebook Live shows with partner
out on essential rehearsal time. She and her staff are working hard to adapt and support arts groups in a very fluid environment. “What we’ve said is, ‘We hear you, we want to reschedule,” but I can’t even give them dates or ideas until we resume normal operations. … They’ve worked so hard and then to not be able to have that final performance,” she said. “For performing artists, the process of putting something together is as important as the final product. That’s especially true for Arts for All. For those performers, the process of rehearsing is as important for them and for their growth as artists.” But Bracey said the virtual concerts and demos can help artists and the community stay connected during a challenging time. “No matter what I’m doing in my job, I really believe in community building, and that is the part that’s really the most important to me about public service,” she said. “The arts center in some ways can serve as a hub for that community—people who need the arts in their lives and also who are artists and want to share it. If it helps connect people, then we were successful with this. In some ways, these situations encourage you to stretch and grow.” COVID-19-related closures are having a profound impact on the county’s musiLAUREN LEMUNYAN. “The Lauren and Justin Show” offers regular broadcasts at facebook.com/justintrawickmusic. Longtime Loudouners MORGAN MORRISON AND DAVE VAN DEVENTER, who make up half of the beloved local traditional music quartet FURNACE MOUNTAIN, have launched a musical series they’re calling the Isolation Sessions from their Harpers Ferry, WV home. Tips via Paypal or Venmo are accepted but not expected, Morrison said. Concerts can be viewed at Morrison’s Facebook page and on YouTube at Van Deventer’s “David Van” channel. Loudoun-based ROWDY ACE BAND kicked off its virtual “My Corona” shows last Saturday with a show that drew more than 60 listeners from around the world. Go to facebook.com/rowdyaceband. Country duo DIAMOND & DIESEL launched a live stream series last Sunday with more concerts planned. Go to facebook.com/diamondanddiesel Winery circuit favorite DAVID MINIBERG is offering a series of happy hour concerts with the next performance scheduled for
cians and venues as gigs dry up. One of downtown Leesburg’s musical hubs, the Tally Ho Theater, has postponed performances through April 10, with the possibility of additional pushbacks. “[T]his outbreak is certainly going to cripple us considering we may not have a show until May. Luckily, our fans and ticket holders have been nothing but supportive and patient with us and our mass postponements,” said Tally Ho’s Jack Devine in an email to Loudoun Now. Ara Bagdasarian, co-founder of BENEFIT, the coalition of bands and community leaders known for its annual fundraising festivals for children’s charities, is setting up a series of virtual concerts featuring artists involved with its nonprofit work. BENEFIT’s upcoming online show, “Loudoun Unity: An Evening of Connection and Music,” features top names from the local music scene including Todd Wright, Jason Masi, Emma Rowley, Michael O’Connor, Ryan Wright, Geff Garnhart from Frayed Knots, Johnny and Anna Kasun, Laurie Blue, Dave Mininberg, Ryan Bentron, Ella Levri and Max Redding. The online event takes place Saturday, March 28 at 7 p.m. and will be streamed via Facebook Live from the BENEFIT Facebook page. “BENEFIT’s Unity on Facebook Live ARTS ADAPT continues on page 19 Thursday, March 26 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Go to facebook.com/david.mininberg Leesburg-based drag queen ANJA DICK’s popular drag brunches in Leesburg and Ashburn are on hold for now, but fans can get a taste of her comic flair with a hilarious NFBSK online cooking show at facebook.com/anja.dick.56. Loudoun’s visual artists are also jumping into the virtual demo scene: At downtown LEESBURG’S FINE GALLERY, owner Kaeley Boyle will offer free streamed art classes every evening. “Think Bob Ross but in a very Kaeley style,” Boyle said. She’s also continuing fee-based private sessions through video conferencing. Go to facebook.com/thefinegallery. Leesburg’s CLAY AND METAL LOFT has free tutorials and DIY pottery painting sets for sale at facebook.com/theclayandmetalloft. The Loudoun Arts Council shares demos and ideas from around the world along with weekly local artist profiles at facebook.com/loudounartscouncil. n
MARCH 26, 2020
Arts adapt continued from page 18 and other online music events give our neighbors a much-needed boost of joy during this period of social isolation. It also shines a light on our amazing musical community whose world has changed enormously in recent weeks,” Bagdasarian said. The county’s community and professional theaters are also taking a hit. Nonprofit theater company Sterling Playmakers canceled the second weekend of its spring play “Puffs” after Loudoun County Public Schools closed March 12 and has put auditions for a planned June production of “The Laramie Project” on hold. The county’s professional theater company, Ashburn-based StageCoach Theatre, also has shut its doors for the time being, pending further direction from health authorities. For years, StageCoach, which specializes in interactive performances—from mystery shows to cabarets to improv comedy—has filled a niche for ongoing professional theater in Loudoun. The company, which opened its own space in Ashburn in 2018, was coming off an especially active winter season with an Alexander Hamilton-inspired murder mystery and a series of Valentine’s cabarets, when
ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM COVID-19 restrictions hit. “Before all of this, it was going gangbusters. Normally, January is a time when we can all just catch our breath after a very busy holiday season and we didn’t get that chance. We just kept going. Things were fabulous and this has just brought us to a grinding halt,” said StageCoach executive producer Jerri Wiseman. The company is continuing after-school drama workshops and private lessons online, but Wiseman is concerned about the trickle-down effect. “We’re all in this together. If we don’t get paid, our actors don’t get paid, the crew doesn’t. Our caterers for the dinner theater don’t. Everybody is going to feel it,” she said. “We’re just trying to see what we can all do to stay afloat during this time.” Local visual artists also are adapting to restrictions with online classes and other creative ventures. At Leesburg’s Clay and Metal Loft, co-owner Amy Manson has taken instruction online. With state and federal gathering restrictions taking effect right in the middle of a group class session, moving ceramics instruction into the virtual realm has taken some improvisation. “While we look out for our community, we know you are looking out for us,” Manson wrote to students in a letter she shared with Loudoun Now. “We appreciate your
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concern and support. As a small art business, we are concerned for the future as all small businesses are. We will continue to find ways to keep things moving forward. We are working with our instructors to come up with content that will be useful to us all whether through social media or online. As a small art business, we are creative and we WILL make something good out of this mess.” Students came in March 15 to grab clay and other materials and borrow tools, and Manson created a private Facebook group to finish out the eight-week session online. Meanwhile, the studio’s paint-your-own
pottery kits are selling like hotcakes as parents and non-parents alike seek a creative outlet while practicing social distancing. Manson initially designed the kits for kids but found that adults were buying them too as a much-needed form of stress relief. For now, single session workshops are on hold. Manson is planning to move forward with the studio’s popular summer camps but is putting contingency plans in place. She’s also moving her focus as an artist to online pottery sales via the shop’s website. “Everything changes every day,” Manson said. “We’re just planning to adjust.” n
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County Staff Cautious on Hiring Amid Pandemic Fallout While county supervisors have added a number of new government positions to the budget, County Administrator Tim Hemstreet has advised that the county should hold off on hiring them until the tax revenue impacts of the COVID-19 pandemics— and associated slowdown in the economy— are known. “That gives you about $15 million that if those revenues don’t materialize, you don’t have to add those positions if that happens,” Hemstreet said. “It also allows you to make some decisions if you want to use that money and spend it different for support of businesses or other things that may come up in Fiscal Year 2021. Or, if everything turns out to be OK, and this is a short-term disruption and the county finances are fine, go ahead and give us direction to implement what has been approved in the budget.” And he warned new state funding could be in flux, too. “When you look at how we make our money, which is primarily through property tax, the commonwealth is heavily dependent on income tax and sales tax,” Hemstreet said. “So, if you look at what’s happening right now, I don’t see how those revenue streams are not impacted adversely.” Some members of the state legislature have already called on the governor to call a special session of the General Assembly to work on the state budget. That, too, may have to wait for social distancing to relax; the General Assembly is expressly forbidden from holding electronic meetings in state law. At the same time, Hemstreet and Loudoun Public Schools Superintendent Eric Williams are looking at changing how the county board sends the School Board its budget—currently, as a single billion-dollar disbursement when the fiscal year begins on July 1. That gives the two boards no ability to trim the budget later on, he said. “If there is an economic impact on the county, we may not know that until November, December, January of the coming year, and at that point we would have to address that 100 percent on the county side,” Hemstreet said. “So, in order to kind of mitigate that, I would like to examine some ways to modify how that appropriation is done, so that provides both the Board of Supervisors and the School Board a way to work through that issue together should it arise.” County staff members are expected to bring further analysis of COVID-19’s economic impacts to the board on April 7. Meanwhile, county budget staff members have recommended the county push ahead with its construction proj-
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ects. Although capital projects are largely debt-funded, the county does put cash into its capital budget—and if the county finds itself cash-strapped, supervisors could cancel or delay some of those projects to free up that money. “We just don’t have enough information right now to recommend that the board stop any of the planned projects,” said Director of Management and Budget Eric McLellan. “If we get into a difficult situation with our revenues, that is one of the options that’s available to us.” And, she pointed, the hundreds of millions the county spends every year on construction projects can help bolster a flagging economy. “With the difficult that we’re having in the economy right now, the county continuing with business that creates jobs and pus more money into the economy is probably a good thing for us to be doing right now,” McLellan said.
State Bolsters Schools The state’s budget this year includes an anticipated $6.2 million more for Loudoun’s school system than local officials had budgeted for. That was more than enough to close the $2.5 million gap in the School Board’s $1.395 billion requested budget. The state money will fill that gap while the county withdraws some local funding, about $3.7 million to keep the county’s real estate tax rate steady at $1.035 per $100 of assessed value. Supervisors pushed both ways on that idea. Supvervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) instead pushed to further reduce local funding to schools, allowing a gap to remain in the School Board’s request and pushing the tax rate down another half penny. He pointed out that the gap is a fraction of a percentage of the School Board’s total budget, about 0.002 percent. “I think the time and season that we are in, we need balances on hand, and if we have that balance on hand we have options, and those options could be to fund shortages if we need them later,” Kershner said. For a $500,000 property, the difference between a $1.035 and $1.03 tax rate amounts to a $25 cut from an annual tax bill of $5,175. Meanwhile Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) pushed to keep all planned local funding in the school request, rather than adjusting for the additional state money—giving the schools more than they had asked for. But the majority of supervisors supported Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn)’s motion to fill the gap and keep the rest in reserve, which he said “gives us options down the road.” Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) pointed out that the schools typ-
ically return far more than $2.5 million to the county in unspent funding at the end of the fiscal year—“any time we’ve had these gaps in the less than 1 or 2 percent range, it’s essentially a rounding error.” But this year, he said, the schools may face new challenges as they adapt to long-term closures and the fallout from COVID-19— which could mean buying more technology for remote learning, or keeping teachers past their contracts into the summer. “I’m OK with closing the gap this year because I think they probably will need more money, and I also want to send the message that we’re going to partners with them in what we’re trying to do, which is get through this,” Letourneau said. County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) pointed out the School Board had already cut millions from Superintendent Dr. Eric Williams’ proposed budget to them before sending their request to the county board. “This year we had a School Board that cut $16 million out the budget already, we have a school year that is in flux, we have teachers that may work past their contract date, and we have this COVID-19 situation,” Randall said. Supervisors passed the budget adjustment 7-2, with Briskman and Kershner opposed. The next night, the School Board amended its budget, pushing supervisors to provide the entire amount of state funding. Members want to use that extra money to pay higher teacher raises, after scaling back the administration’s proposed pay package because of a projected funding shortfall.
Biberaj Sacrifices Office Space to Save New Positions Faced with possibly losing one of the new positions requested for the her office, Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj has negotiated allowing her attorneys to work in offices that are below the county’s established standards for space and furniture. “The space allocation that we were talking about is something I can work around,” Biberaj said. “The concern that I had was the delay in providing the positions.” An earlier attempt to cut two new attorneys from her office’s budget narrowly failed with a vote of 4-4, with Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) absent for the vote. He said he had been ready to bring a motion to reconsider that vote—almost certainly dooming those two new positions—before meeting with Biberaj. And, he said, although hiring for those positions could theoretically begin July 1, in practice it takes a lot longer. “We’re in a lot different world anyway when it comes to workspace,” Letourneau said. “I don’t know how many people are going back to work, when they’re going
MARCH 26, 2020 back to work, and where they’re going to be working from.” “I am supporting this addition simply because you were willing to meet and work around and reduce your budget a little bit because of a very tight year that we have,” Kershner said. Allowing those offices to fall below established standards for furnishing and space trimmed $150,000 in one-time costs from the budget. When the new District Courthouse is built, Biberaj’s office will move into larger space with room for all of her staff. Supervisors supported the change 8-1, with Briskman opposed.
Supervisors Wrap Budget Work Supervisors sent their budget straw polls to a formal vote April 7 by an 8-1 vote, with only Kershner opposed. Ultimately, they made only minor changes to Hemstreet’s proposed $3.024 billion budget, including $1.395 billion for the school system. They made even fewer changes to the $2.9 billion, six-year Capital Improvement Program. “Especially in the middle of the coronavirus update, for us to keep Loudoun County government moving so we could take care of our citizens is so important,” said Randall said. “More than once, all of us have been asked, ‘why don’t you just shut down county government?’ Because we can’t shut down county government. That’s just absolutely not how it works.” The board’s “hands were tied” this year, Letourneau said, in large part because of the costs of a classification and compensation study, a years-long effort to bring payscales for county employees in line with the rest of the region and which this year ate up $37.2 million in the budget. “That said, I do think it’s worth pointing out that no other jurisdiction has continually reduced the actual dollar amount of the tax rate as long as I’ve been on the board,” Letourneau said, admitting two times in his eight years so far when the county went above the equalized tax rate. “… Even the Corey Stewart Republican majority in Prince William County did not, as a real dollar amount, reduce the tax rate as we have been able to do in Loudoun County.” “Taxation pays for civilization,” said Vice Chairman Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling). “So when people ask, well, how do we pay our teachers, or how are we fixing this project, or how are we building the new fire station in your district, or how are we going to fix Rt. 15 or Rt. 50, et cetera, taxes pay for all of that.” Kershner said he would have preferred to keep the tax rate at the equalized rate. “My concern is going forward as we enter into the budget process next year, because I just think we don’t know what next year’s going to bring,” Kershner said. “We don’t know what our revenue’s going to look like next year.” n
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MARCH 26, 2020
PAGE 21
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 Thursday, April 9, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:
ZRTD-2019-0007 BEAUMEADE CIRCLE PROPERTIES
SPEX-2019-0030 BANFIELD PET HOSPITAL
Beaumeade Properties LLC, of Reston, Virginia, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 18.33 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development-Industrial Park) zoning district under the 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, in order to permit all principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance at a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.6 (up to 1.0 by Special Exception). The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, within the Route 28 Corridor Optional Overlay District, and within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay district, between the Ldn 60-65 aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 18.33 acres in size and is located east of Cape Court, on the west side of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 607) and on the southeast side of Beaumeade Circle (Route 3037) in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as:
Medical Management International, Inc., of Minnetonka, Minnesota, has submitted an application for a Special Exception to permit an Animal Hospital use in the PC-CC-SC (Planned Development-Commercial Center-Small Regional Center) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 4-204(C) (1) and more specifically under 4-204(B)(11). The subject property is located partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District) and contains moderate steep slopes. The subject property is approximately 9.529 acres in size and is located on the south side of Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7), east of North Sterling Boulevard (Route 846), and west of Dranesville Road (Route 228), at 21800 Towncenter Plaza, Sterling, Virginia, in the Sterling Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 01439-1743. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use place type)), which designate this area for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural and Recreational uses.
(Special Exception)
(Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District)
PIN
PROPERTY ADDRESS
061-40-4434
N/A
061-40-8640
N/A
061-30-3196
N/A
The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area, Suburban Employment Place Type), which supports a broad array of Employment uses at a recommended FAR of up to 1.0. SPEX-2019-0050
& CMPT-2019-0006 INVISIBLE TOWERS–KARMEN (Special Exception & Commission Permit)
Invisible Towers LLC, of Waterford, Virginia, has submitted applications for the following: 1) Commission approval to permit a 199-foot tall Telecommunications Monopole and associated ground equipment in the AR-1 (Agricultural Rural-1) zoning district; and 2) A Special Exception to permit a 199-foot tall Telecommunications Monopole in the AR-1 zoning district. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Table 2-102 and requires a Commission Permit in accordance with Section 6-1101. The modification of the Buffer Yard and Screening requirements applicable to the proposed monopole use is authorized as part of the Special Exception under Section 5-1409(B)(2), Waivers and Modifications, pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s): ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION
PROPOSED MODIFICATION
§5-1404(B), Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscaping Plans, Buffer Yards, Use Buffer Yard Matrix, Table 5-1404(B).
Eliminate the required Type C buffer yard landscaping around the equipment at the base monopole.
The subject property is an approximately 1.59 acre portion of an approximately 163.88 acre parcel and is located on the south side of Lovettsville Road (Route 672), and the north side of Yakey Lane (Route 667) in the Catoctin Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 216-356684.The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Rural Area (Rural North Place Type)), which designate this area for mostly Agricultural and Agricultural supportive uses with limited Residential development at a recommended density of up to one dwelling units per 20 acres.
SIDP-2019-0008 LOVETTSVILLE HOME ASSISTED LIVING (Sign Development Plan)
Lovettsville Home Assisted Living, of Lovettsville, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Sign Development Plan to request alternative sign regulations for permitted signs in order to modify Table 5-1204(D), Sign Requirements Matrix, to increase the maximum area of any one Residential Name Sign from 2 square feet to 15.8 square feet. The subject property is being developed pursuant to ZMAP-2005-0042, Rural Policy Area Remapping, located in the AR-1 (Agricultural Rural – 1) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and pursuant to Section 5-1202(E) alternative sign regulations for permitted signs may be requested with the submission of a Sign Development Plan. The subject property is approximately 3 acres in size and is located east of Berlin Turnpike (Route 287) and west of Milltown Road (Route 681), at 39196 Rodeffer Road, Lovettsville, Virginia, in the Catoctin Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 372-48-8868. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Rural Policy Area (Rural North Place Type)), which designate this area for Rural Economy uses and limited Residential development.
SPEX-2019-0028 ROLLINS PROPERTY (Special Exception)
Robert B. Rollins, III of Middleburg, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Special Exception to permit a data center use in the CLI (Commercial Light Industry) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 3-904(CC). The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, within the Ldn 65 or higher and between the Ldn 60-65 aircraft noise contours, and is also located within the QN (Quarry Notification) Overlay District – Chantilly Crush Stone Note Area. The subject property is approximately 9.55 acres in size and is located on the south side of John Mosby Highway (Route 50) and the north side of Eastgate View Drive (Route 3010), at 43735 and 43743 John Mosby Highway, Chantilly, Virginia, in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 09736-1753. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Commercial Place Type)), which designate this area for larger format retail Commercial establishments and smaller Commercial establishments within a “main street” style environment. Unless otherwise noted above, full and complete copies of the above-referenced amendments, applications, ordinances and/or plans, and related documents may be examined in the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday or call 703-777-0220, or electronically at www.loudoun. gov/lola. This link also provides an additional opportunity for public input on active applications. Additionally, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically the week before the hearing at www. loudoun.gov/pc. For further information, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246. Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. If you wish to sign up in advance of the hearing, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing. Speakers may also sign up at the hearing. Written comments are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 3rd Floor, MSC #62, Leesburg, Virginia 20175, or by e-mail to loudounpc@loudoun.gov. If written comments are presented at the hearing, please provide ten (10) copies for distribution to the Commission and the Clerk’s records. All members of the public will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Any individual representing and/or proposing to be the sole speaker on behalf of a citizen’s organization or civic association is encouraged to contact the Department of Planning and Zoning prior to the date of the public hearing if special arrangements for additional speaking time and/or audio-visual equipment will be requested. Such an organization representative will be allotted 6 minutes to speak, and the Chairman may grant additional time if the request is made prior to the date of the hearing and the need for additional time is reasonably justified. Citizens are encouraged to call the Department of Planning and Zoning on the day of the public hearing to confirm that an item is on the agenda, or, the most current agenda may be viewed on the Planning Commission’s website at www.loudoun.gov/pc. In the event that the second Thursday is a holiday or the meeting may not be held due to inclement weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend, the meeting will be moved to the third Tuesday of the month. In the event that Tuesday is a holiday or the Tuesday meeting may not be held due to inclement weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend, the meeting will be held on the following Thursday. The meeting will be held at a place determined by the Chairman. Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings at all other locations. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246. Please provide three days’ notice. BY ORDER OF:
ERIC COMBS, CHAIRMAN LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
03/26 & 04/02/20
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MARCH 26, 2020
Legal Notices PUBLIC HEARING The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, April 15, 2020 in order to consider: PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 258 AND CORRESPONDING REPEAL OF CHAPTERS 250, 251 and 254 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System Fire Marshal Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services Line of Duty
Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1427, the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intention to amend Chapter 258, Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System, and repeal Chapters 250, 251 and 254, Fire Marshall, Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, and Line of Duty , of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County. The proposed amendments include revisions in sections 258.03 Definitions, 258.05 Recognized Fire and Rescue Companies (Line of Duty), 258.04 Governance Structure and 258.06 Chain of Command/Certification Standards to reflect 1) a title change from Loudoun County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management (DFREM) to “Loudoun County Fire and Rescue” (LCFR); 2) updates the titles of DFREM Assistant Chief to “Assistant Chief of Support Services and Volunteer Administration” and career DFREM deputy chief of operations to “LCFR Assistant Chief of Operations” in section 258.04(b) Governance Structure; 3) revises the words career DFREM deputy chief of EMS to “LCFR deputy chief of the Fire Marshal’s Office” in section 258.04(b) Governance Structure; 3) amends board of Chiefs to “board of Directors” in section 258.04(c) Governance Structure;4) removes Middleburg Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. in section 258.05(a) Recognized Fire and Rescue Companies (Line of Duty);5) amends Arcola-Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. to “Arcola Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.” and The Sterling Park Rescue Squad, Inc. to “Sterling Park Rescue Squad, Inc.” in section 258.05(a) Recognized Fire and Rescue Companies (Line of Duty); 5) amends The Loudoun County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management to “Loudoun County Fire and Rescue, a department of the Loudoun County Government” in section 258.05(b) Recognized Fire and Rescue Companies (Line of Duty) ;6) amends their official duties to “themselves” in section 258.07(a) Code of Conduct and Discipline; 7) establishes new sections titled 258.10 Authorization for Certain Minors to Participate in Activities of Volunteer Company and 258.11 Tuition Reimbursement for Volunteer Members of the Combined Fire and Rescue System; and proposes to repeal Chapter 250 Fire Marshal, Chapter 251 Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services and Chapter 254 Line of Duty in its entirety. The repeal of these chapters is to consolidate Chapters 250, 251, and 254 into the single governing ordinance in Chapter 258 while also preserving the language of Chapters 250, 251 and 254. A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed ordinance for the amendments to Chapter 258 and repeal of Chapters 250, 251, and 254 is on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the County Administrator, County Government Center, 5th Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun. gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). RDAB-2019-0006 PROPOSED ABANDONMENT OF A SECTION OF EXPEDITION DRIVE (ROUTE 3425), AND CONVEYANCE OF ABANDONED RIGHT-OF-WAY Pursuant to Virginia Code §33.2-915, the Board of Supervisors hereby gives notice that it intends to consider the proposed abandonment of a section of Expedition Drive (the “Subject Section”). The Subject Section is not within the Secondary State Highway System, is not improved, and consists of approximately 1,648 square feet (0.03783 acre) of dedicated right-of-way. The Subject Section is located on the south side of the existing southern terminus of Expedition Drive (Route 3425), south of the intersection of Everfield Drive (Route 3423) and Expedition Drive, and west of the intersection of Fleetwood Road (Route 616) and Everfield Drive, in the Blue Ridge Election District. Pursuant to Virginia Code §33.2-924, the Board of Supervisors also shall consider the proposed conveyance of the abandoned right-of-way to an adjacent landowner for consideration and/or in exchange for other lands that may be necessary for the uses of Loudoun County. Copies of the plats, and any associated documents, describing the proposed abandonment and conveyance are available for review and may be examined at the Office of the County Administrator, County Government Center, 5th Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).
SPEX-2019-0021 7-ELEVEN SOUTH RIDING (Special Exception)
7-Eleven, Inc., of Irving, Texas, has submitted an application for a Special Exception to permit a Car
Wash use in the PD-CC-NC (Planned Development – Commercial Center – Neighborhood Center) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 4-204(A). The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contours and the QN (Quarry Notification) Overlay District-Chantilly Crush Stone Note Area. The subject property is approximately 2.132 acres in size and is located north of Tall Cedars Parkway (Route 2200), south of John Mosby Highway (Route 50) and east of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 606) at 25140 Loudoun County Pkwy., Chantilly, Virginia, in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 164-105-637-001. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Neighborhood Place Type)) which designate this area for predominately Residential uses with complementary Retail and Service Commercial uses.
SIDP-2019-0007 HAMILTON SAFETY CENTER (Sign Development Plan)
Hamilton Volunteer Fire and Rescue of Hamilton, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Sign Development Plan to request alternate sign regulations for permitted signs in order to modify Table 5-1204(D), Sign Requirements Matrix, to increase the total aggregate sign area, increase maximum sign area of any one sign, and permit illumination permitted for a public/quasi-public sign. The subject property is being developed pursuant to SPEX-2003-0024, Hamilton Safety Center, and STPL-2003-0017, Hamilton Safety Center, located in the RC (Rural Commercial) and JLMA-1 (Joint Land Management Area – 1) zoning districts under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and pursuant to Section 5-1202(E) alternate sign regulations for permitted signs may be requested with the submission of a Sign Development Plan. The subject property is approximately 10.54 acres in size and is located on the south side of East Colonial Highway (Route 7) and east of Harmony Church Road (Route 704) at 39071 East Colonial Highway, Hamilton, Virginia, in the Catoctin Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 382-27-7245. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Rural Policy Area (Rural North Place Type)), which designate this area for Agricultural and Rural Economy uses, and limited Residential development at a recommended density of one dwelling unit per 20 acres.
ZMAP-2018-0009, SPEX-2018-0025, & ZMOD-2018-0043 TWIN CREEKS (Zoning Map Amendment Petition, Special Exception, Zoning Modification)
Twin Creeks Development, LLC., of Great Falls, Virginia, has submitted applications for the following: 1) To rezone approximately 60.00 acres from the JLMA3 (Joint Land Management Area–3) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the PDGI (Planned Development–General Industry) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to permit the development of all principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-GI zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance at a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.40 (up to 0.6 by Special Exception); and 2) A Special Exception to permit an increase to the maximum FAR from 0.40 to 0.60. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed uses are listed as a Special Exception use under Section 4606. The Applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s): ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION
PROPOSED MODIFICATION
§5-1403(B), Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Road Corridor Buffers and Setbacks, Road Corridor Buffer and Setbacks Matrix, Table 5-1403(B), Other Major Collector Roads.
Reduce the minimum setbacks along Gloucester Parkway extension (Route 2150) from 75 feet to 35 feet for buildings and from 35 feet to 25 feet for parking.
The subject property is located within the QN (Quarry Notification) Overlay District-Luck Note Area and partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District). The subject property is approximately 60.00 acres in size and is located on the southeast side of Cochran Mill Road (Route 653) at its intersection with Durham Court (Route 862), northwest of the confluence of Goose Creek and Sycolin Creek in the Catoctin Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 151-49-4358 and PIN: 15149-2686. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Joint Land Management Area (Leesburg JLMA Employment Place Type)), which designate this area for a range of Light and General Industry uses at a recommended FAR of up to 1.0.
SPEX-2018-0029, SPEX-2018-0030, SPEX-2018-0031, & SPEX-2018-0032 MC DEAN PROPERTY (Special Exceptions)
Blue Knob Investors, LLC., of Rockville, Maryland, has submitted applications for the following: 1) A Special Exception to permit an Automotive Service Station; 2) A Special Exception to permit Retail Sales establishment(s); 3) A Special Exception to permit Restaurant(s); and 4) A Special Exception to permit
ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM
MARCH 26, 2020
PAGE 23
Legal Notices Restaurant(s) with a drive-through, all in the CLI (Commercial Light Industry) zoning district. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed uses are listed as Special Exception uses under Section 3-904. The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, between the Ldn 60-65 aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 11.42 acres in size and is located on the south side of John Mosby Highway (Route 50), West of Pleasant Valley Road (Route 609), and east of Tall Cedars Parkway (Route 2200) in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as follows: PIN
PROPERTY ADDRESS
097-29-6923
25575 & 25567 Pleasant Valley Road, Chantilly VA
097-19-4565
44075 & 44057 John Mosby Hwy , Chantilly VA
The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)), which designate this area for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural and Recreational amenities, and Office uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) up to 1.0. Additional density (up to 1.5 FAR) may be achieved through the provision of additional project elements.
ZMAP-2019-0011, SPEX-2019-0023, & SPEX-2019-0024 LOUDOUN MUTUAL (Zoning Map Amendment Petition & Special Exceptions)
Loudoun Mutual Insurance Company, of Waterford, Virginia, has submitted applications for the following: 1) To rezone approximately 3.13 acres from the CR-2 (Countryside Residential–2) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the RC (Rural Commercial) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to expand an existing corporate office building; 2) A Special Exception to allow the expansion of the existing building from 14,784 square feet to 24,584 square feet; and 3) A Special Exception to reduce the required number of parking from 4 spaces/1,000 square feet to 2.1 spaces/1,000 square feet. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use to allow any one permitted use in excess of 10,000 square feet is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 2-904(A) and the Special Exception to reduce the required number of parking spaces is allowed
pursuant to Section 5-1100, Table 5-1102. The subject property is located within the VDOD (Village Conservation Overlay District) and HCC(Historic and Cultural Conservation Overlay District). The subject property is approximately 3.13 acres in size and is located on the west side of High Street (Route 665) south of Janney Street (Route 806) and west of Second Street (Route 662), at 15609 High Street Waterford, Virginia, in the Catoctin Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 30316-7107. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Rural Policy Area (Rural Historic Villages Place Type)), which designate this area for Residential and Non Residential uses. Unless otherwise noted in the above notices, full and complete copies of the abovereferenced amendments, applications, ordinances, and/or plans, and related documents may be examined in the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, County Government Center, 2nd Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday or call 703-7770220 or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. This link also provides an additional opportunity for public input on active applications. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). All members of the public will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on April 3, 2020, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on April 15, 2020. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up at the public hearing. Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200. At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings. BY ORDER OF:
PHYLLIS RANDALL, CHAIRMAN LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ZONING ORDINANCE SECTIONS 6, 9, AND 18 TO ESTABLISH USE STANDARDS AND DEFINITION FOR DOGGIE DAY CARE, AND TO AMEND THE USE STANDARDS AND DEFINITION FOR CATTERY (TLOA-2020-0001)
A message to elderly and disabled Loudoun County residents from
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 2, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 to consider the following amendments to the Zoning Ordinance:
Commissioner of the Revenue
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Amending Section 6.3.2 Use Regulations, to allow Doggie Day Care as a use permitted by-right or by special exception in the B-1 Community (Downtown) Business District. Amending Section 6.4.2 Use Regulations, to allow Doggie Day Care as a use permitted by-right or by special exception in the B-2 (Established Corridor Commercial) District. Amending Section 6.5.2 Use Regulations, to allow Doggie Day Care as a use permitted by-right or by special exception in the B-3 (Community Retail/Commercial) District. Amending Section 6.6.2 Use Regulations, to allow Doggie Day Care as a use permitted by-right or by special exception in the B-4 (Mixed-Use Business) District. Amending Section 6.1.2 Use Regulations, to allow Cattery and Doggie Day Care as a use permitted by-right or by special exception in the O-1 (General Office) District. Amending Section 9.2 Use Table, to add Doggie Day Care Amending Section 9.3.12.1 Cattery, to amend/establish use standards. Establishing Section 9.3.12.2 Doggie Day Care which establishes use standards. Amending Section 9.3.16 Neighborhood Retail Convenience Center, to add Cattery as a permitted use Establishing Section 9.3.16.A.5, to permit Doggie Day Care by special exception Amending Section 18.1.27.1 Cattery, amending the definition for Cattery. Creating Section 18.1.44.1 Doggie Day Care, establishing a definition for Doggie Day Care.
Robert S. Wertz, Jr.
The deadline for residents 65 and older or totally and permanently disabled who are required to complete a 2020 Renewal Application or Renewal Certification, is June 1, 2020. The renewal filing deadline of April 1, 2020 was extended in response to the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19). Please visit our website or contact my office for information or filing assistance. Leesburg Office 1 Harrison Street SE First Floor Sterling Office 21641 Ridgetop Circle Suite 100 Internet: www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief
Copies and additional information regarding these proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments (TLOA2020-0001) are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by calling 703-771-2766 and asking for Michael Watkins, Zoning Administrator. This zoning ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLOA-2019-0006.
Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, M - F
At this hearing all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of the Commission at (703) 771-2434 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.
Mailing Address: PO Box 8000, MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804
3/19 & 3/26/20
Phone: 703-737-8557 Email: trcor@loudoun.gov
3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 5/7, 5/21 & 5/28/20
03/26 & 04/02/20
ATTENTION NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN LOUDOUN COUNTY Nonprofit organizations seeking exemption from Loudoun County real and/or personal property taxes for the 2021 tax year may file an application with the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue by the April 1, 2020 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, 2020, for consideration this year. Any exemption, if granted, would be effective January 1, 2021. Applications are available online at www. 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 21641 Ridgetop Circle Suite 100 Mailing Address: PO Box 8000, MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804 Phone: 703-737-8557 Email: trcor@loudoun.gov 3/5, 3/12, 3/19 & 3/26/20
ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 24
Legal Notices
ORDER OF PUBLICATION Case No.:
D E LL
Zoning Text Amendment 20-01 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 81 OF THE MIDDLEBURG ZONING ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO PENALTIES AND REMEDIES FOR VIOLATIONS. The proposal is to update the procedures and penalties available for enforcement of zoning violations.
E C
Zoning Text Amendment 20-02 AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL AND REENACT ARTICLE XIV OF THE MIDDLEBURG ZONING ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO SIGNS. The proposal consists of a rewrite of regulations to ensure alignment with a U.S. Supreme Court decision pertaining to contentbased regulation of signs. The hearings will take place at the Town Office, 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia; the files for these applications may be reviewed there from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. Questions may be directed to Deputy Town Administrator Will Moore at (540) 687-5152 or by email at wmoore@middleburgva.gov The Town of Middleburg strives to make its hearings accessible to all. Please advise of accommodations the Town can make to help you participate in the hearings. 3/19 & 3/26/20
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316
JJ035094-05-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
The Middleburg Planning Commission will hold public hearings beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 30, 2020 to hear public comments on the following:
C
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE MIDDLEBURG PLANNING COMMISSION
N A
MARCH 26, 2020
,
Case No.:
JJ043128-03-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
,
Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Tyson Curtis Holt
Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Isabel Sarai Cruz Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v. Manuel de Jesus Salamanca, putative father The object of this suit is to hold a 2nd permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Isabel Sarai Cruz. It is ORDERED that Manuel de Jesus Salamanca, putative father, appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before April 21, 2020 at 2:00 pm.
Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v. Shane Curtis Holt, putative father and, Laurel Elizabeth Veto, mother The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Tyson Curtis Holt. It is ORDERED that the defendants Shane Curtis Holt, putative father and Laurel Elizabeth Veto, mother appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before April 14, 2020 at 3:00 pm. 3/5, 3/12, 3/19 & 3/26/20
3/12, 3/19, 3/26 & 4/2
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC The Middleburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, April 9, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers located at 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, VA to consider the following:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE SCHEDULE OF WATER AND SEWER CHARGES If approved, the ordinance would increase the water and sewer user fees as identified below effective July 1, 2020. This would result in an increase of 3% or $7.28 in the average bi-monthly combined water and sewer bill (with bi-monthly use of 7,000 gallons). (By authority of Virginia Code Sections 15.2-2111, 15.2-2119 and 15.2-2143.) The public is encouraged to submit comments electronically at www.middleburgva.gov/budget. WATER USER FEES Bi-Monthly Rates For: In-Town Minimum of 2,000 gallons Over 2,000 gallons
Current
Proposed
$34.28 $17.14/1,000 gals.
$35.30 $17.65/1,000 gals.
+3% +3%
Out-of-Town Minimum of 2,000 gallons Over 2,000 gallons
$46.30 $25.63/1,000 gals.
$47.69 $26.40/1,000 gals.
+3% +3%
Current
Proposed
$35.30 $17.65/1,000 gals.
$36.36 $18.18/1,000 gals.
SEWER USER FEES Bi-Monthly Rates For: In-Town Minimum of 2,000 gallons Over 2,000 gallons Out-of-Town Minimum of 2,000 gallons Over 2,000 gallons
$47.71 $28.44/1,000 gals.
$49.14 $29.29/1,000 gals.
% Change
This notice shall also advise the owner of record of his or her right to contest the determination by the Sheriff that the motor vehicle was “abandoned”, as provided in Chapter 630.08 of the Loudoun County Ordinance, by requesting a hearing before the County Administrator in writing. Such written request for a hearing must be made within 15 days of the notice. YR. 2007 2004 1998 ---------
MAKE
MODEL
CHEVROLET EXPRESS VOLKSWAGEN JETTA DODGE CARAVAN YAMAHA WAVERUNNER SEA-DOO BOMBARDIER (ON A SILVER TRAILER)
VIN
1GCHG39U071108497 3VWRK69M74M112756 1B4GP54L1WB682506 YAMA0232H192 MD9874AZ
STORAGE
ROAD RUNNER BLAIR’S TOWING BLAIR’S TOWING ROAD RUNNER ROAD RUNNER
PHONE#
703-450-7555 703-661-8200 703-661-8200 703-450-7555 703-450-7555 03/19 & 0326/20
% Change +3% +3% +3% +3%
USE OF WATER BY CONTRACTORS AND OTHER PARTIES (Town Code Section 113-23) No change in user fees for Contractors and Other Parties. AVAILABILITY FEES & CONNECTION FEES No change in availability fees is proposed. No change in water & sewer connection fees is proposed. A copy of the ordinance is available for public inspection in the Middleburg Town Hall, located at 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, VA during normal business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. All interested citizens are invited to attend this public hearing to express their views. MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL TOWN OF MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA
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.
3/19 & 3/26/20
ABC LICENSE
ABC LICENSE
Hidden View Bed & Breakfast, LLC, trading as Hidden View Bed & Breakfast, 36474 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro, VA 20132-2739
Hidden View Bed & Breakfast, LLC, trading as Hidden View Bed & Breakfast, 36474 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro, VA 20132-2739
The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine and Beer On Premise license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.
The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Bed & Breakfast license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.
Ray & Cheri Shields, Owners/Partners
Ray & Cheri Shields, Owners/Partners
Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200. 03/26 & 04/02/20
Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200. 03/26 & 04/02/20
ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM
MARCH 26, 2020 NHLEmployerCard2.pdf
1
9/3/19
PAGE 25
10:58 AM
Misc.
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C & BROTHERS
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PAGE 26
MARCH 26, 2020
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J.DREYERS EXCAVATING
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MARCH 26, 2020
PAGE 27
Resource Directory Lawn Care
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MARCH 26, 2020
Opinion In This Together Over the past four weeks, at least two things have become crystal clear in the fast-changing pandemic response: It is going to get worse, and we are all in this together. Whether the emergency passes in weeks or lingers for months, the fabric of the community will be significantly altered. Times of crisis expose the heart of any community, and here we have seen what we expected. Medical, political, business, civic and faith leaders have jumped in to strengthen the safety net for their neighbors and reached out at every opportunity to offer a helping hand, albeit at a safe distance. The most common question we get in the newsroom these days is: How can I help? Here’s some of the best advice we’ve heard. How to Help Local Businesses: • • • •
•
Order out or call for curbside pickup Schedule an appointment months out Buy from local farms Check for deals and changed service online at LeesburgToGo.com, loudounchamber.org/supportingour-local-restaurants, or biz.loudoun.gov/support-ourbusinesses. Call or message and ask: “How can I do business with you?”
LETTERS to the Editor Health, Safety Top Priorities
How to Help Local People: • • • • •
Keep shopping and eating from local businesses Tip big Give to the Loudoun Tourism & Hospitality Relief Fund Donate to the Community Foundation and local nonprofits like Loudoun Hunger Relief Call a friend and check in on them
How to Help End the Pandemic • Take it seriously • Observe social distancing • Don’t panic • Stay home if possible • Donate supplies Oh—and please leave a roll of toilet paper on the shelf for your neighbor. n
Norman K. Styer, Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC 15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 • Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723
EDITORIAL Renss Greene, Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com
Editor: As we all take action to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Coalition of Loudoun Towns offers the collective steps we are endeavoring to take to support the needs of our Towns and surrounding communities. This is an unprecedented time, but as a community working together, we will get through it. FIGHTING THIS VIRUS: First and foremost, we must contain the spread of this virus. This requires every one of us to follow the guidance of our public health professionals. Practice social distancing, wash hands regularly, and avoid going to crowded places unless you have too. Put simply, these are our most effective weapons to win the battle. STATE OF EMERGENCY: Each Town has or will shortly be issuing a State of Emergency or equivalent. This is an important measure as it allows the Towns to provide support and acquire necessary goods and services on an immediate basis to fight this virus. It also enables each Town to qualify for reimbursement from the State for
Jan Mercker, Reporter jmercker@loudounnow.com Kara C. Rodriguez, Reporter krodriguez@loudounnow.com Patrick Szabo, Reporter pszabo@loudounnow.com
emergency related expenses, overtime and services, easing the fiscal burden to our citizens as we incur these additional costs. TOWN SERVICES: The Towns remain fully operational for all essential services such as policing, water/sewer services, trash collection, etc. We have moved to online and phone service as much as possible, so please call your Town office directly for any questions, concerns or needs. Our staffs are working overtime to meet the public needs. SUSPENSION OF UTILITY SHUTOFF: We understand the concerns many may have regarding utility payments during the economic impact of COVID-19. During this crisis, the Towns are moving to suspend any water & sewer utility cutoffs for lack of payment. The goal is to reassure every citizen you will not lose your water & sewer if you become hard hit by this emergency. SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS: COLT knows that the economic lifeblood of our Towns flows from our many small businesses. Hit hardest already are our retail shops and restaurants, many of whom are small LETTERS continues on page 29
ADVERTISING Susan Styer, Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.com Tonya Harding, Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.com
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MARCH 26, 2020
PAGE 29
LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 28
and family-run. We encourage everyone to “Shop Locally, Shop Virtually!” Most of our local retail stores have an online presence, so while staying at home—before you hop on Amazon—check out your local stores for what you may need. They can ship it, hold it for pick up and maybe even deliver. This goes for restaurants as well— if you are at home, eating in, go for taking out. This will keep the dollars in our community and support our local businesses and keep them going. Local Matters!! ENGAGEMENT WITH THE STATE: COLT is working directly with the Governor and State officials to ensure our local governments can function effectively and meet our obligations to our citizens and businesses—but doing so safely and efficiently. Of particular concern are statutory requirements for all local governments to hold their meetings in person. While in normal times this remains extremely important for transparency and to allow for public engagement, with the pandemic, this requirement puts government workers, the public and elected officials at serious risk of exposure. We have requested that we all be allowed to hold meetings through telephonic means during the emergency, with the ability of the public to also participate remotely. This allows government to function, and the public to participate, but in a safe manner. Finally, we express our deepest sympathies and pledge our support to those who have contracted this virus or have lost a loved one to it. Our thoughts are with each of you and we are here to help in any way we can. These are extraordinary times for us all and we are committed to doing everything in our power to helping the citizens and businesses of our Towns and the entire Loudoun community weather this crisis. We are working closely with County Officials and the Health Department to stay informed of any new updates and provide information on every Town’s needs. Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you need anything. As your representatives, our first priority is to your health and safety. Kelly Burk, Mayor, Town of Leesburg Nathaniel O. Fontaine, Mayor, Town of Lovettsville Bridge Littleton, Mayor, Town of Middleburg Scott Ramsey, Mayor, Town of Round Hill Kwasi Fraser, Mayor, Town of Purcellville David R. Simpson, Mayor, Town of Hamilton Roger Vance, Mayor, Town of Hillsboro
A VIEW FROM THE GAP Can We Be One Together? BY ROGER VANCE
It is the clarion call of our current crisis. Physical separation may be the most potent weapon humanity possesses in this deadly battle with the coronavirus, but it is our social togetherness, nationally and locally, that will ultimately win the war and set the stage for a brighter future. Science informs us that the pandemic thrives and spreads when those infected come in close contact with others. Without immunities, everyone is vulnerable to the untreatable ravages of the disease. While most infected will recover, a widespread outbreak across our population will leave in its wake fatalities in tens, if not hundreds, of thousands. Thus, the absolute necessity for the draconian measures called for by public health officials, the duty of us all to practice the extreme physical separation referred to as “social distancing.” But the reality is, in tandem with our physical separation, we need “social togetherness” now more than ever. We need to be more connected to our loved ones and more engaged in our community, not less. Our strict adherence and actions to practice the protocols to halt the spread of the virus are testaments to our civic responsibility and patriotism. Anything less is irresponsible. But beyond that, each of us has the responsibility, the opportunity, to help lift up others and begin the process of rebuilding for a better future. The suddenness of the seismic shift in our reality and the depths of the ensuing tremors to our economy—and every facet of our lives—will test our strength, our resolve and our resiliency. Now is the time for vision. On the national level, what lessons will we learn about a health care “industry” obsessed by profit and rocked by markets, that dictates a chaotic and unjust system unable to adequately react to a nationwide crisis. A system in which governors are forced to “bid” against each other for critical supplies and in which frontline health care providers are forced to risk their own
lives and the lives of their families, to carry out their duties with inadequate protections. What lessons will we learn from a paycheck-to-paycheck economy, when the reality heaves and rolls across the landscape of millions of individuals and families who in one fell swoop wake up unable to pay their rent or mortgage and wonder how to put food on their table—in the wealthiest nation in history. It is our duty, as it was in the Great Depression, World War II, 9/11 and the 2008 financial meltdown, to come together and for our leaders take bold and seismic actions that will protect the public health, keep our national economy from collapse, ensure all Americans are carried through the crisis, and build new safeguards to ride through future calamities. May they possess the wisdom, the courage, the humility and the humanity to do what is in the interest of all. On the local level, each one of us can be a leader, each one of us can make a difference today and help set the stage for a brighter and better tomorrow. It starts with remaining “socially close” to your neighbors and taking responsibility for community. It starts with knowing how others may be hurting and understanding how you can help. It starts with truly believing that “We are all in this together” and acting accordingly. It starts with envisioning what it’s going to feel like and look like when we come out of this. Will we remember what’s most important? Will we bring the lessons of this national calamity to bear on our realization of community? Will we act to ensure a more just health care system and economy? So now what can each of us do as we lead our families and our communities? Call someone you know or perhaps a neighbor you don’ know well, who may be elderly, be compromised, is an essential worker, or is simply in need otherwise, and offer to buy their groceries, run an errand or just talk. Start building a stronger community.
Donate to a local food bank or offer to deliver food and supplies to someone who is isolated. Share your abundance with those in need. Order take-out or pick-up from your local restaurants and encourage others to do so. Their very existence is at stake. The national chains and franchises will survive just fine without your money. Keep your money circulating locally. Likewise, take advantage of local wineries and breweries and farm markets that are making their products available for curbside pick-up or delivery. These entrepreneurs are the backbone of our local rural economy. We tout them during good times. Stand with them in hard times. Think local for everything you need and buy. Start your Christmas and holiday shopping now by contacting your favorite artisan, artist or gift shop to order items. They will lead us out of economic crisis. Support small businesses. Heed the call from our national public health leaders. Know and practice the techniques for staying safe and keeping others safe. Demand that your family members, work colleagues and friends do the same. Do not congregate in groups, and do not be silent when you see others doing so. That invisible virus among us will only be thwarted by all of us taking action. Stand firm. Imagine our future when we are brave enough to face down this crisis and brave enough to build a more just economy and thereby realize a more perfect union for everyone. Be a leader. Encourage others. Envision the future. By caring for others—we can be one together. n Roger Vance is the mayor of Hillsboro. His column, A View from the Gap, is occasionally published in Loudoun Now.
PAGE 30
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MARCH 26, 2020
Loudoun Medical Group Opens Drive-Through COVID-19 Testing The Loudoun Medical Group on Monday began centralized, drive-through COVID-19 testing for its patients on an appointment basis. LMG is the county’s largest physician group, with 330 healthcare providers and 150 clinical locations. “We have been monitoring the COVID-19 crisis closely and have organized centralized testing in response to a lack of readily available tests for our patients,” said LMG Board Chairman Dr. Kevin O’Connor. The testing tent was set up in the parking lot of the LMG Cornwall Urgent Care
center at 211 Gibson St. in Leesburg. Patients will be authorized for the service upon the order of their doctor. Testing is scheduled between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays, with appointments set up 10 minutes apart. Testing will be offered as long as test kits and protective equipment are available. “The wellbeing and safety or our community, including both our patients and our staff, is our utmost priority,” said Dr. Anthony Crowley, LMG’s medical director. The shortage of testing kits has been a
Closures continued from page 1 fice,” Northam said. “The sooner we can get this health crisis under control, the quicker our economy can recover.” Also, dine-in services at all restaurants has been prohibited, but take-out and curbside service is allowed to continue. The same rules will be applied to breweries and wineries. Non-essential brick and mortar businesses also will be allowed to remain open, but will be limited to 10 patrons at a time with requirements to maintain social distancing. Essential businesses—which includes a broad swath of businesses including not only grocery stores and pharmacies, but also stores like auto parts suppliers and repair garages, electronic retailers, home improvement and hardware stores, beer and liquor stores, banks, laundromats and pet stores—are permitted to stay open but must adhere to social distancing protocols and sanitization as much as possible. Other retail businesses must limit patrons to no more than 10 at a time, and if they cannot, must close. Even before Northam announced his mandate, all county libraries were shut down.
“This will change every part of our life. It will require everyone to live differently.” — Virginia Govenor Ralph Northam Residents have been encouraged to stay home if possible. Bare shelves in area stores remained a familiar sight as families stock up on toilet paper, meats and other critical supplies. Meanwhile, employees have increasingly moved to work-at-home operations or, especially in the hard-hit hospitality industry, found themselves laid off or furloughed because of the economic shutdown that is expected to last weeks, if not months.
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major complaint of residents and a frustration for county leaders and the medical providers. Last week, County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large), on behalf of the Loudoun Board of Supervisors, joined the rest of the region and Gov. Ralph Northam in writing letters to President Donald J. Trump to add the DC region to the priority locations for federally supported COVID-19 testing sites. “The National Capital Region, of which Loudoun County is a member, is home to over six million residents and the seat of the Federal Government, with hundreds of thousands of employees and contrac-
While the spring weather has enticed cooped up families to get fresh air outside, it also has caused problems with achieving social distancing goals designed to keep residents from unknowingly spreading the virus. Large outdoor gathering prompted local authorities to close public playgrounds and even a plea to keep off the Appalachian Trail, which has been crowded with hikers during the past two weekends. Northam said the nation essentially is “fighting a biological war.” “This will change every part of our life. It will require everyone to live differently,” Northam said. Locally, Northam’s executive order will be enforced by the Sheriff ’s Office and Loudoun’s three town police departments. For example, a deputy may charge people with trespass if they are improperly or illegally on county-owned property or facilities where “No Trespassing” signs are properly posted. The sheriff ’s office may also, with authorization from homeowners’ associations, enforce “No Trespassing” rules on HOA-owned property such as playgrounds and basketball courts. If people are publicly congregated in groups of 10 or more, the sheriff ’s office will “assess the scene and encourage and
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tors serving the country,” Randall wrote. “The health of the National Capital Region is a top priority for the continuity of our democratic government and critical to continuing Federal Government functions.” Randall said regional leaders could work together to facilitate the establishment of COVID-19 testing sites. “Given our extensive planning efforts as a region, we are well-positioned to make the best possible use of federal support for this vitally needed virus testing,” Randall wrote to Trump. “We stand ready to assist and coordinate this critical initiative.” n
direct the groups to disperse,” according to the county’s press release. Recreation venues such as theaters, concert venues, museums, gyms, beauty salons, tattoo shops, bowling alleys and aquariums were ordered to close at midnight Tuesday. And if the sheriff ’s office gets a call that a business directed to close is still open, deputies will respond and advise the owner to close. Deputies could also take legal action and notify the health department for a follow-up. Violating the governor’s order is a misdemeanor with a punishment of up to a year in jail and up to a $2,500 fine. The COVID-19 outbreak has been a fast-changing challenge for local leaders. The county Board of Supervisors scheduled an emergency meeting Wednesday, March 25 to pass an emergency ordinance detailing how its members could meet remotely if needed, to ratify a decision by County Administrator Tim Hemstreet to adjust transit services and to waive fees during the pandemic, and hear an update on the county government’s ongoing response to the pandemic. Go to loudoun.gov/coronavirus for information about COVID-19 and to sign up for email and text updates. n
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MARCH 26, 2020
Small business continued from page 4
Stay in Touch and Get Listed Another important thing to do right now: stay in touch with your customers and business partners, Byrd said. The Small Business Development Center’s website has some pointers on how to do that, including some tips on crisis communication and materials that are free to use. “Let people know that you’re aware of what’s going on, let them know you care about them, and let them know that you’re still here and here’s how to do business with them,” Byrd said. One way to do that is to get listed with one of the local organizations that are letting people know what local businesses are offering right now. Get included on LeesburgToGo.com, loudounchamber.org/ supporting-our-local-restaurants, or biz. loudoun.gov/support-our-businesses.
Ask for Flexibility from Creditors, Landlords As the pandemic hits, some business owners are looking at their books and wondering if they can make rent. But this is also a time to reach out to creditors, landlords, and other people who business owners owe money and ask for
Unemployed continued from page 4
Local Financial Relief Options On a local level, financial relief has presented itself in different ways, other than by simply offering individuals and businesses large sums of money to cope with temporarily struggling finances. The Board of Supervisors last week approved Treasurer Roger Zurn’s request to move the personal property tax deadline from May 5 to June 5. Many utility companies are not charging late fees and keeping services on for customers who are unable to pay their bills. AT&T, Comcast, Verizon and Loudoun Water are just a few of the many companies doing that. All Loudoun towns have also followed, or will soon follow, suit—offering extensions and payment plans on water and sewer payments for affected residents. Many banks and credit unions are also offering their members financial flexibility. For instance, Bank of Charles Town, which
ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM extended terms. “First off, be honest about the situation,” Byrd said. “Just let them know you’re having a hard time. Nobody is going to be surprised by that, nobody is going to think less of you because of that, because literally everybody is having a hard time right now. So, they will understand what’s going on, and they will really appreciate you letting them know what’s going on.” Stafford said he has reached out to all of his landlords asking for some rent relief, but understands they also are in a similar boat, having to pay bills. Byrd said if you’re uncomfortable asking for something specific, just ask if there’s anything they can do to help—“once the conversation’s open, usually you can figure out how to get to something useful.” “They get it,” Byrd said. “They would rather get paid later than have you go bankrupt and never get paid. So, people are working with people all over the place.”
Get Help with Financing, Taxes Business owners in Loudoun are eligible to apply for low-interest disaster recovery loans from the federal Small Business Administration as of late last week. Rizer said his staff is trying to counsel business owners on those resources, and the sometimes-complicated application process. He said he also has had multiple calls with both of Virginia’s senators, Mark operates three Loudoun branches, is providing assistance in the forms of payment deferral options for home equity, mortgages or personal, small business or commercial loans; modifications of loan repayment terms; and access to capital and continued use of existing lines of credit, among other options.
Creative Thoughts on Finances The perspective on the coronavirus crisis is different among those employees who have lost hours and jobs. Leesburg resident Sammi Eisdorfer typically works as a server at River Creek Club’s restaurant and at the nonprofit OAR—or Opportunities, Alternatives and Resources—which helps inmates better cope with their return into the community. But recently, River Creek closed its restaurant and OAR cut Eisdorfer’s hours to 20 a week. She said the situation at the nonprofit is “creatively evolving,” as the team works to sort work out among its homebound employees. But Eisdorfer said she’s not too worried about finances yet, since she has always
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Warner and Tim Kaine, about what to expect in terms of federal help. “We’re going to need a lot of tools, and a lot of different tools, if we want to help businesses through this,” Rizer said. “I don’t think it’s an SBA or federal or bank one size fits all. It’s really going to be an all of the above situation.” The disaster loan program offers up to $2 million in assistance per small business, though conditions apply. Legislators as of press time were also continuing to contemplate some form of stimulus package. Stafford and his 17 salaried managers are working to keep the restaurants running, but he admits some “hard choices” may be ahead if there’s no immediate relief in sight. “We’re just trying to figure out the best action plan,” he said. “The most important thing is the quickest turnaround.” The Small Business Development Center and Department of Economic Development both offer help with how to apply for a disaster recovery loan from the Small Business Administration. See the Department of Economic Development’s guidance at biz.loudoun.gov/sba-economic-injury-disaster-loan-process, and contact the SBDC at mec20175@gmu.edu or 703-4660466. Many local banks are also offering special deals to help keep businesses going through the pandemic; check a growing list
of offers at biz.loudoun.gov/business-resources-financial. And businesses are also getting a break on state and federal taxes. State corporate tax payments have been delayed; the due date for individual and corporate income tax will now be June 1. Businesses can also request to defer the payment of state sales tax due on March 20 for 30 days. When granted, businesses will be able to file as late as April 20 with a waiver of any penalties. The federal government has also allowed a deferment of up to $10 million of federal income tax payments, which would normally be due on April 15, until July 15 without penalties or interest.
lived below her means and has some money saved up that she was planning to use for a down payment on a house. “I feel cautiously confident,” she said, noting that she’s always been a “hardcore optimistic person.” “I think that I will be able to get by pretty OK—I’m incredibly fortunate to be where I am.” Eisdorfer said that if worse comes to worst, she could sell the crafts she’s been making while sequestered at home. “I’m really confident in my ability to meet my needs even if it means I have to adjust just a bit,” she said. Positive thinking like that is something everyone might be able to benefit from in these times. Licensed professional counselor Neil McNerney said he’s helping his clients focus on the aspects of their lives they can control—their thoughts. He said the more people think that situations aren’t going to get better or that they’ll never find work again, the worse they’re going to deal with those situations. “We can choose whether we’re going to catastrophize, or whether we’re going to fo-
cus on the things that we can do right now,” he said. “We are still so uncertain on how this is going to be affecting us long term, there’s not much benefit for any of us to focus on things that we can’t control, such as how long this is going to go on.” And like Eisdorfer’s resolve to eventually focus on a new source of income, other unemployed or minimally-employed residents can consider doing the same, seeing that some large companies are actually still hiring, according to a March 18 online post by the Glassdoor job recruitment website. Giant Food, one of Loudoun’s more prominent regional grocery stores, made that list. Giant is hiring hourly positions at all of its Loudoun locations—in Ashburn, Leesburg, Purcellville, South Riding and Sterling. It’s also no surprise that Amazon is hiring for warehouse team members to continue its online order fulfillments, that Quest Diagnostics is hiring for all sorts of positions to assist in the increasingly burdened healthcare world, and Uber Eats is hiring food delivery drivers. n
Get Some Training Now is also a good time to get some training. The Department of Economic Development, the Small Business Development Center, Visit Loudoun, and the Loudoun Chamber are all offering a variety of online resources and in some cases regular webinars for businesses. “We’re really trying to coordinate the widest variety of tools we can find,” Rizer said. “A lot is in response to what we’re hearing from businesses. If a business is asking something specific, we’re going out trying to fill that, make sure it’s available on the website.” n
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MARCH 26, 2020
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