Loudoun Now for March 30, 2023

Parents of Students with Disabilities See ‘Systemic’ Problems in School System

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

After seven years fighting to get her daughter an Individualized Education Program, Amanda Folks says she believes there are systemic problems within the school division when it comes to getting help for children with disabilities.

“From my experience, I will say LCPS goes to great efforts to avoid the legal responsibility granted to students under IDEA,” she said.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004, or IDEA, is a law that gives free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities and ensures special education and related services to those children, according to the Department of Education. An IEP—a written educational program designed to meet a child’s individual needs—is the main way school divisions provide that education to eligible students. An IEP sets reasonable goals for a child and lists what services—such extra time to take a test, having a test read aloud, or extra resource time—will be provided by the district.

Folks has been on a years-long mission to get her now 12-year-old daughter an IEP and accommodations to help with her disability. She said they have met roadblocks at every grade level.

School Board Approves Collective Bargaining

See page 12

To get an IEP a student is assessed and evaluated for six weeks in what is known as a child study, usually at the request of a parent although it can also be requested by a teacher or administrator. When the assessment is over, everyone who participated in it—the evaluators, the teacher or case manager, the eligibility coordinator, the student and parent—meet to look at the results and determine if the student has a disability.

Sometimes parents bring in professionals or third-party assessments to show

County to Move Forward with Rt. 690 Interchange Amid Conflict with Town

BY HANNA PAMPALONI AND RENSS GREENE

hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

rgreene@loudounnow.com

The county government is moving ahead with the Rt. 7/Rt.690 interchange with or without the town’s sign-off amid continuing conflict between the county and the Town of Purcellville around planned roads and parks in town.

That project had stalled as members of the town’s Planning Commission and Town Council and some residents raised concerns about potential impacts on a floodplain near the Catoctin Meadows HOA to the southwest of the planned interchange.

their child has a particular disability in the hope that it will help them. Parents sometimes hire a special education advocate to help them know their rights.

In 2021, after years of assessments and watching her daughter continue to struggle, Folks was determined to have her daughter get yet another assessment to see if once and for all her daughter could get the help she needed at school. She called

IEP PROBLEMS

continues on page 36

On Monday, Purcellville Mayor Stanley J. Milan wrote in an email to Purcellville resident and county Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) that trust between the two had been broken.

“Your continuous peddling of lies and half-truths about the Town of Purcellville regarding the Fields Farm Project, 7/287 and the 7/690 projects, is unacceptable,” Milan wrote. “Your lack of integrity has shattered any trust that could have existed between us, and it is

690 INTERCHANGE continues on page 37

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now Whitney Mitchell holds her daughter Havilah at her home while she has a seizure. Mitchell said her daughter has many medical issues that require a nurse at school but said one hasn’t been hired yet.

Oatlands Sues National Trust Over Financial Support

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

A four-decade-old partnership governing the stewardship of the historic Oatlands property south of Leesburg is in jeopardy after the nonprofit that manages the former plantation filed suit against the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which owns the real estate and controls the endowment established to ensure its upkeep.

Oatlands Inc. last month filed a sevencount breach of contract lawsuit in Loudoun County Circuit Court alleging the Trust has improperly restricted the nonprofit from accessing funds intended for its use and obstructed other initiatives that could generate income for the property.

The case last week was transferred to Federal District Court, where the Trust filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, characterizing it as “a smorgasbord of overheated, conclusory rhetoric, topped off with a sprinkle of inapplicable trust law principles.”

The Trust also issued a statement saying it has concerns that the local organization “is not fully meeting its responsibility to properly support and manage” the property.

Oatlands was established in 1798 by George Carter, who operated a farm, mills, and vineyard on nearly 2,000 acres. By the 1860s, the operations were supported by more than 100 enslaved people. After the Civil War, in 1903, the property

was acquired by William Corcoran Eustis. His heirs donated Oatlands—400 acres including a Greek Revival mansion—to the National Trust in 1965, along with a $500,000 endowment for its upkeep.

Since 1979, locally controlled Oatlands, Inc. has managed the property

under a co-stewardship agreement with the Trust.

The lawsuit cites frictions between the two partners starting four years ago. In 2014, Oatlands Inc. purchased the adjacent Oatlands Hamlet property with the goal of protecting the viewshed from

development. By 2019, Oatlands was struggling to pay the mortgage on the purchase and agreed to deed the land to the Trust. According to the lawsuit, the Trust then used part of the Oatlands endowment—$1.35 million from a fund established by a gift of A.V. Symington in 2004—to pay off the note.

As part of that transaction, according to the suit, the Trust agreed to place a conservation easement over the Oatlands property, a transaction expected to generate about $2 million in revenue from the sale of tax credits to add to the endowment. However, it was later discovered that because the Trust was an easement holder on other properties, it was ineligible to sell the tax credits.

Oatland Inc. also claims that the Trust “wrongfully and arbitrarily” reduced the nonprofit’s annual draw from the endowment, which typically had been 5% of the balance but has fallen as low as 3.5%, according to the lawsuit.

The nonprofit claims it has suffered approximately $3 million in damages as a result of those actions, while investing $175,000 of its own funds on maintenance and restoration and drawing down its own reserves by up to $200,000 per year.

Caleb M. Schutz, who took over as Oatlands executive director in 2018, said the Trust’s actions, the impacts of the pandemic closures, and costly maintenance projects have stressed the nonprofit’s

OATLANDS continues on page 39

Kuhns Look to Sell White’s Ferry to Montgomery County

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

White’s Ferry owners Chuck and Stacy Kuhn have announced they will offer to sell the ferry to Montgomery County, MD after owning it for just over two years without opening.

The ferry has been closed since December 2020, when the cable guiding the ferry across the river snapped and a judge ruled in favor of the owners of the Virginia landing, who had sued for property damage and trespassing after the ferry owner violated their agreement and expanded the landing without authorization. The previous agreement, which let the ferry operator use the landing for $5 a year, had been in place since 1952.

JK Moving founder Chuck Kuhn announced in February 2021 that he would buy the ferry and try to get it started again, but negotiations between Kuhn and the owners of Rockland Farm, the site of the ferry’s Virginia landing, deadlocked. Both sides argued the other made unreasonable demands.

In a statement announcing he would sell the ferry, Kuhn again blamed the family that owns Rockland Farm. He said Rockland Farm rejected an offer of $1.1 million to sell 1.4 acres for the landing, which was funded with money from the Kuhns, former owner Herb Brown, and Loudoun and Montgomery counties.

“We are grateful for the significant and good faith efforts of our local and state governments on both sides of the Potomac

to help us re-open White’s Ferry. It’s unfathomable that one family is standing in the way of people’s livelihoods,” he stated. He said selling the ferry to Montgomery County, MD would clear the way for the Virginia Department of Transportation to pursue taking the landing by eminent domain, an option he had pushed for during his ownership as well. The government can use eminent domain to take property for a public use, such as transportation projects.

“This is not what we had hoped, but we understand the importance of White’s Ferry to the region’s economy—and the ferry needs to get moving again,” Kuhn stated.

Rockland Farm, which sought a fee of 50 cents per vehicle to use the landing, has

also made a range of offers during negotiations—including buying the ferry business and Maryland landing for 20% more than Kuhn paid for it, bringing in an independent operator who had agreed to the fee, and submitting to binding arbitration to resolve the dispute.

“The reason that Rockland Farm turned down the $1.1 M combined offer from Loudoun County, Montgomery County, and Mr. Kuhn is that we will not accept a flat fee for our Virginia landing,” Elizabeth Devlin, one of Rockland’s owners, stated. “We favor a volume-based fee that varies with the amount of traffic encroaching upon our land and will work with either

WHITE'S FERRY

continues on page 36

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Oatlands Inc. CEO Caleb M. Schutz stands on the porch of the Oatlands mansion.

Supervisors Shoot Down Last-Minute Board Raises

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

On the last night of budget talks, March 16, county supervisors voted down a surprise motion from Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) to give the next board another $5,000 raise on top of the $5,000 already approved in January.

“One shouldn’t have to be retired, dual income, independently wealthy or have to kill themselves working two full-time jobs to serve on this board,” Briskman said. She pointed to supervisors’ board meetings, public hearings, committee assignments, and membership on regional and national organizations.

“It takes time to be able to do that and it’s hard to do it when you have another full-time job and a family as well,” she said.

Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) pointed out that during their

last conversation on supervisor salaries, the board opted to delay a vote to give the public notice and time to offer feedback.

“This is a topic that the public cares about that we deserve to have scrutiny about,” he said. “…Certainly I don’t think anybody expected this item to come back given that the board had already made a decision, and I’m not aware of any prior notice, other than a few hours today perhaps to a few people, that it was coming back.”

He also said most people aren’t getting big raises this year despite high inflation.

Vice Chair Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling), who led the previous successful effort to approve raises for the next term, said he echoed those comments.

“We had this discussion earlier on this year, it was a good discussion, we had the

RAISES continues on page 5

With Transit Strike Over, Full Bus Service Resumes

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Loudoun Transit bus service has resumed its full schedule after workers ended their months-long strike, the county government announced Friday.

Bus service, particularly commuter bus routes into Washington, DC, had been limited during the strike. Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 members had been on strike since early January in their protracted battle with county contractor Keolis North America. Union leaders on March 17 announced members would end their strike, but have not given up on stalled negotiations with Keolis.

After taking over both local and commuter bus service, previously two separate contracts, the company cut back benefits union members had previously received from the previous contractor and refused to put drivers on the two kinds of bus routes on the same pay scale—local route drivers are paid less. That disparity is unique to Loudoun Transit among Northern

Virginia transit agencies.

Union members pushed county supervisors to intercede on their behalf, including levying fines against the contractor for failure to provide bus service, but other than occasional pronouncements calling on the union and Keolis to negotiate a resolution, supervisors stood back during the strike.

It is the first time Loudoun has offered its full range of Silver Line bus routes. The strike combined with staffing shortages to delay the roll out of the largest expansion of Loudoun’s transit system in more than a decade, which had been planned to coincide with opening the new Silver Line Metro stops and provide bus service to those stops.

Loudoun Transit provides weekday and limited Saturday local bus services from Purcellville through Leesburg and eastern Loudoun County from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find local bus routes and fares at loudoun.gov/localbus.

Loudoun Transit also operates 21 routes to the Ashburn and Loudoun Gateway Metrorail stations in Loudoun and the Innovation Center and Res-

ton Town Center stations in Fairfax County on weekdays, with 156 bus stops. Find Silver Line bus schedules at loudoun.gov/silverlinebusroutes and information about riding Metro at loudoun.gov/silverline.

And Loudoun Transit offers morning and afternoon rush hour commuter bus service from park and ride lots in Loudoun to Rosslyn, Crystal City, the Pentagon, and Washington, DC. Commuter buses are equipped with reclining seats, a restroom, reading lights, overhead bins and fare boxes. Find schedules and fares at loudoun.gov/commuterbus.

Loudoun Transit also offers paratransit and on-demand bus service for residents who are unable to reach fixed-route bus services due to a disability. For more information see loudoun.gov/paratransit.

Find up-to-date information about changes to bus service at loudoun.gov/ buschanges, or subscribe to email and text alerts at loudoun.gov/busbiz or learn about the Loudoun Transit mobile app at loudoun.gov/transitapp.

More information about Loudoun Transit is online at loudoun.gov/transit. n

‘Trees of Character’ Photo Contest Open

Loudoun County has launched its annual Arbor Day tree photo contest, announcing this year’s theme “trees of character.”

Entrants should provide a brief explanation of why they think the tree they photographed has a unique character, such as size, prominence, age, shape, trunk, cavity or other feature that makes it a great “tree of character.”

Entries must be an original photo taken by the entrant of a single tree or group of trees in Loudoun County. High resolution photos are encouraged, and only two entries are allowed per person or group.

Photos will be accepted through April 12, in advance of the virtual Loudoun County Arbor Day Celebration. Winners will be announced April 28.

Submit entries and find more information online at loudoun.gov/trees.

Board of Zoning Appeals, Others Seek Members

Loudoun County is seeking applicants to serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals. There is one opening for an alternate member whose term would begin immediately upon appointment by the Loudoun County Circuit Court.

The board hears and decides appeals of administrative decisions and notices of zoning violations, applications for zoning variances, appeals from the county zoning administrator on the interpretation of zoning maps, and applications for special exceptions when structures have inadvertently encroached into a yard or setback. The board meets approximately once a month.

The board has five members and two alternates, who are appointed by the chief judge of the Loudoun County Circuit Court for staggered five-year terms and must be residents of Loudoun County. The opening was created by a resignation and has a term expiring on Dec. 2, 2026.

The deadline to apply is April 24. More information is at loudoun.gov/bza.

ON THE AGENDA continues on page 7

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) at the Feb. 7 Loudoun Board of Supervisors meeting.

BOARD

Board raises

continued from page 4

public hearing, and I think the numbers we landed on were appropriate,” he said. “Do we put in a lot of hours of work in these positions? Yes, we do, but I think what we did earlier this year is the right number for the next term.”

On Jan. 3 supervisors voted to raise the salaries for the next term by $5,000 in the first year, then by 3% each year of the four-year term after that. That will see supervisors in 2027, the last year of the next term, making $82,956; the vice chair, who is elected by their fellow board members, making $90,536; and the board chair making $99,508. Under state law, the Board of Supervisors’ changes to supervisor salaries cannot take effect until after the next election, and salaries cannot increase automatically.

Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) agreed “it’s a bad look.”

“Do supervisors deserve an extra $5,000 based on how much effort goes into this job? Probably. Is it for the people who are on the board right now if this does pass? No, it’s for whoever gets elected or re-elected to the next board,” Buffington said. “But that being said, I feel like if we were going

to do this extra amount, we should have done it a month or so ago—whatever it was when we did it—and we went through the public process.”

Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) also said Loudoun supervisors are not paid enough, and that the county chair should be paid in line with county constitutional officers, such as the treasurer, Clerk of the Circuit Court or sheriff. Those elected officials make six-digit salaries, with some topping $200,000 a year.

“I do think that this is a discussion that we should have with the constituents, and so I will put it in my newsletter, I will put it on my Facebook page, I will put it out there as far and wide as I possibly can, but I don’t think to do it tonight is the right way to do it,” Randall said.

Supervisors voted 3-4-1-1, with Briskman and supervisors Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run) and Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) in favor; Randall, Buffington, Saines and Letourneau opposed; Supervisor Caleb E. Kershner (R-Catoctin) abstaining; and Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) absent.

During supervisors’ previous talks on board salaries, Briskman was the only supervisor to vote in favor of immediately approving raises, rather than delaying a vote to allow time for public comment. n

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2023 Farmer Trading Cards Unveiled

generation of farmers in Loudoun. Farmer Trading Cards celebrate the importance of local food and products and reinforce the impact that these individuals have on our county,” Loudoun Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer said. “As economic development officers, we work to support and grow Loudoun’s diverse workforce and, by partnering with LCPS, we are able to reach students to help them explore all workforce pathways, including those in agriculture, farming, and agribusiness. I’m extremely proud to present our Farmer All Stars for 2023.”

This year’s starting nine are farmers

Casey and Stacey, Fireside Farm; farmer Charlotte, Lost Corner Farm; farmer George, The Beekeeper’s Farm; farmer Maisie, View of Heaven Farm; farmer Ramesh, Northern Virginia Wholesale Growers; farmer Severino, Maya Farm Services; farmer Mike, Meadow Hill Farm; farmer Terri T., School Hill Garden and Tiny Acre Farm; and farmer Terri Y., Clairvaux LLC.

This year, students will have the chance to meet the farmers in person and get their trading cards signed during the Loudoun United “Loudoun Made, Loudoun Grown” title night on May 6. More information and tickets are at loudoununitedfc.com. n

Loudoun Economic Development and the Loudoun County Public School’s Nutrition Services have announced the return of Farmer Trading Cards for 2023, connecting elementary school classes to area farmers for a seventh year.

The trading cards highlight the importance of farming in Loudoun and help teach students where fresh, local produce and farm goods come from, as well as introduce them to career paths in agriculture.

The release of the trading cards is timed around both the start of the Major League Baseball season on March 30 and the beginning of the growing season. Loudoun Economic Development creates the trading cards and corresponding videos about the farmers through the Loudoun Farms program, which are then distributed to elementary school students across the county.

“This partnership is so important to the future of farms, agriculture, and the next

Loudoun Economic Development

The 2023 collection of Loudoun Farmer Trading Cards.

ON THE Agenda

continued from page 4

Information on serving on boards, commissions and committees is at loudoun. gov/advisoryvacancies. n

County Offers Nonprofit Grant Management Training

Loudoun County will over the Data Management Best Practices Series for nonprofits in April and May, on collecting, managing and presenting data to apply for and implement grant funding.

The in-person and virtual training sessions last between 90 minutes and two hours. They focus on helping nonprofits and their staff to develop stronger grant applications; hone the skills and knowledge needed to find, apply for and receive grants; learn from subject matter experts and their peers; and receive technical assistance on a broad range of topics.

For detailed information, the schedule of sessions and to register visit loudoun.gov/GrantTraining.

To sign up for updates from the county with information of interest to local nonprofit organizations, including county

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

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

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

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

grant and professional development opportunities, go to loudoun.gov/GrantOpportunities.

Black Historic Architectural Resources Survey Underway

Loudoun County, in coordination with the Friends of the Thomas Balch Library’s Black History Committee, has begun updating and expanding its African American Historic Architectural Resources Survey. Residents may see surveyors in their communities as they photograph and

document those historic sites.

The survey is intended to document the buildings, settlements and landscapes from the history of Loudoun’s Black communities. The county has contracted with EHT Traceries, Inc. of Washington, DC to help update the survey, which was first conducted in 2004.

The county previously surveyed 210 properties related to African American history dating back to 1770. About 90% of those properties are located within 30 historically African American towns, villages, hamlets or neighborhoods. That

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survey also included recommendations for additional work, and the county Heritage Commission’s African American Resource Protection subcommittee compiled a list of previously unrecorded resources for the current survey.

One of the project’s goals is to create an accessible database and interactive map of those historic resources and update the Virginia Department of Historic Resources’ Virginia Cultural Resources Information System database.

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Buffington Won’t Run Again; Looks Back on 8 Years

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

After two terms on the county board, Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) has formally announced he will not seek reelection this November.

In his emailed announcement March 23, he thanked his constituents for the honor of representing them.

“That being said, while I very much enjoy representing the needs of our District and Loudoun as a whole, those responsibilities consume an enormous amount of my time which often results in missed time with family, and with the majority of my kids entering high school during the next Board’s term, I’ve decided to further prioritize quality time with them over the next several years,” he wrote.

Buffington first took office in 2016, after winning his 2015 election against Richard A. Jimmerson Jr., who ran as an independent. He was reelected in 2019, fending off both a nominating convention contest from Florian Hauswiesner and a general election challenge from Democrat Tia Walbridge.

During that time, he has also changed careers—at the time of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, he was a sergeant with the Capitol Police—moved into the Town of Purcellville, and gotten married, growing his household as he and his wife, Cristina, joined their families,

Politics

with six children between them.

In that time, he has also been charged with representing by far the largest district in Loudoun, both by area and population— and one with a diverse set of communities.

The Blue Ridge District encompasses more than half of Loudoun County’s land. The western edge of the district, climbing the slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, little resembles the district’s eastern reaches with packed townhouse developments and commercial and industrial parks reaching the edge of Dulles Airport property. And as of the 2020 U.S. Census, it was home to more than 88,000 people, more than double the population of the Sterling District with its 41,000 residents.

After the latest redistricting, Buffington no longer lives in the district. The new Little River District, the descendent of the previous Blue Ridge District, still reaches from the county’s western border to Dulles Airport and all along its southern border, but does not reach as far north as Purcellville.

During redistricting talks, Buffington pushed to draw the districts in a way that would encourage electing two western Loudoun residents on the board, but that was a difficult task given the relatively small population of the west and the requirement that election districts have roughly equal populations.

Beginning with this year’s election, the Town of Purcellville is in the redrawn Catoctin District. That puts Buffington in the same district as one of the county board’s

two other Republicans, Supervisor Caleb E. Kershner (R-Catoctin). Buffington was the only supervisor drawn out of his election district.

“While it is possible under the new plan that western Loudoun could be represented by two supervisors, the chances of that happening are extremely low given that the overwhelming majority of population in the Little River District resides in the eastern portion of the District which falls within the much more densely populated Suburban Policy Area,” Buffington wrote. “Therefore, the Little River District Supervisor will most likely live in the more populated eastern portion of the District which has vastly different needs than western Loudoun.”

But Buffington also pointed out that although he has aligned himself with western Loudoun interests, when first elected he did not live in western Loudoun himself.

“That being said, it’s entirely possible— and my hope—that a representative living in the eastern portion of the Little River District will fight just as hard for the needs of those in western Loudoun as he or she will for the needs of those in the more densely populated portions of the District and County as a whole, like I did when first elected and living in Brambleton,” he wrote.

The board faced some of its biggest decisions and milestones during his tenure. That included things like writing a new county comprehensive plan for the first time in nearly two decades, overhauling pay scales for county employees and firefighters, opening the long-awaited Silver Line Metro stops in Loudoun and 260-acre

Harding to Run for Ashburn Supervisor; Quijano Withdraws

BY RENSS GREENE rgreen@loudounnow.com

Tumay Harding, whose family’s story of struggling with the Loudoun County Public Schools’ new Title IX office was featured in news reports and who has been a frequent critic of School Board policies, has announced she will seek the Republican endorsement to the Ashburn District seat on the county Board of Supervisors.

The other candidate for the Republican

nomination, Ana Quijano, has decided to withdraw from the race due to a health issue in the family. If nominated and elected, she would have likely been the first Latina on the county board. She had been endorsed by two previous Republican county supervisors: previous Ashburn District supervisor Ralph Buona, and Mick Staton, who represented the former Sugarland Run District on the county board for one term from 2004-2008. She also had support from former Leesburg Vice Mayor and Town Council member Suzanne Fox and former Republican Party of Virginia chairman and county chair at-large candidate John Whitbeck.

In a statement, she asked for “prayers and to respect my family’s privacy at this

time,” and thanked her campaign team. And she offered her support to Harding.

“I want to thank Tumay for stepping up in Ashburn and I fully support her as a candidate. She will do great things,” Quijano wrote.

Harding’s announcement says she “was compelled to run for office after her family fell victim to the woke culture of Loudoun County Public Schools and its reckless indifference to the safety and dignity of students,” although she is not running for School Board. “While her family was impacted through the school system, she sees woke culture infiltrating the very fabric of our county’s infrastructure.”

“I’m running on a campaign of change. As a daughter of first-generation Turkish-

Hal & Berni Hanson Regional Park, weathering the COVID-19 pandemic, a range of transportation projects in Loudoun’s ever-growing network and, crucially for the Blue Ridge District, inking a deal to bring broadband internet service to all of Loudoun.

In his lengthy farewell note, Buffington highlighted some of his and the county board’s work during his term in office. He pointed to decisions such as new protections for western Loudoun in the new comprehensive plan, never approving a single residential upzoning in the west, and creating the Conservation Easement Assistance Program to help defray some of the costs of putting undeveloped land under easement.

He also pointed to the county’s purchase of several large tracts of land for parks in the west. The county is in the process of the latest of those purchases, 143 acres just west of Purcellville town limits where supervisors plan a new Western Loudoun Recreation Center, a new sports complex, and eventually the replacement for the Purcellville Library. That purchase will tie together more than 700 acres of publicly owned land reaching to the Town of Round Hill’s Sleeter Lake Park. In 2019, the Board of Supervisors bought 106 acres next to that park, which created a contiguous connection to the 199-acre Franklin Park.

In the eastern portion of the district, among other things he highlighted many current and future transportation projects, such as building Northstar Boulevard, widening Belmont Ridge Road, building a new interchange at Loudoun County Parkway and Rt. 50, and extending Loudoun County Parkway. n

Uzbek immigrants, I’m especially sensitive to giving a voice to the voiceless,” Harding stated.

Her announcement included support from Elicia Brand, president of Army of Parents, the group that formed to protest education about racial inequities, referring to it as critical race theory.

“Parents have been ignored in schools and by our elected represents. We worry about the legacy we are leaving for our children,” Brand stated. “Tumay Harding is committed to hearing our concerns and doing what is necessary to ensure the safety and security of our families in our homes, streets schools.”

Harding has lived in Loudoun County for 12 years and taught in Loudoun and Prince William public schools, according to her announcement. She and her husband Jason have three daughters. n

Harding

Buffington

Leesburg AROUND Town

Council Approves Landfill Remediation Study, Advances Redevelopment Plan

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The Leesburg Town Council on Tuesday approved funding to help determine the cost of cleaning up a former municipal dump at a downtown lot being targeted for redevelopment.

It also voted unanimously to continue negotiations with a development team that proposes to build a performing arts center, affordable housing for seniors, and a public parking garage on the 2.37-acre tract.

The $164,000 task order with WSP USA Environment & Infrastructure will— for the first time in two decades—look below the surface of the town’s Liberty Street parking lot to determine the type of material underneath, the size of the dump, and whether pollutants are spreading from the property.

The property was used as a landfill in the 1940s and 1950s, according to a staff report. The site was last evaluated in a

LIBERTY STREET LOT continues on page 11

Town Council Restores Full COLA Proposal in Final Budget Session

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The Leesburg Town Council wrapped up its work on the fiscal year 2024 budget Monday night by reversing its largest cut to Town Manage Kaj Dentler’s proposal.

In a round of straw votes two weeks ago, the council approved a suggestion by Council member Zach Cummings to reduce Dentler’s proposed cost of living adjustment from 3% to 2%. That would save the town about $300,000 next year and reduce the tax bill of the average homeowner by $2 per month.

During the council’s final budget markup session March 27, another straw vote restored that funding.

On Tuesday night, the council unanimously adopted the budget, which maintains the town’s current 17.74cent real estate tax, as Dentler initially proposed.

Holding the real estate tax rate at the 17.74 cents per $100 of value will be a tax bill increase for most residents. On average, property values increased by 8.9%. For the average single family detached home, now valued at $728,347, the proposed budget would result in a $80 increase. On average, townhouse owners would pay $58 more and condo owners $29, according to the town’s calculations.

The budget includes 4% average staff raises along with a 3% cost of living adjustment, at a cost of $1.8 million.

Facing regional competition to

recruit and retain police officers, the budget includes a 5% salary increase for all officers and dispatchers, with another 5% for those with two or more years of experience with the department. The budget also bumps the starting salary for officers from $62,000 per year to $65,000. The compensation package would be a $873,000 increase over fiscal year 2023.

Since the budget was presented Feb. 14, the council made few changes. Most alterations occurred in the capital improvements plan, where the council agreed to accelerate the $2.4 million project to install lighting along the W&OD trail in the downtown area. Under that change work would begin next year rather than fiscal year 2027. n

Business Awards Nominees Announced

Twenty businesses and individuals are nominated for the annual Leesburg Business Awards, which will be presented May 3 at the ION International Training Center. The nominees are:

Community Ambassador Award: Jerry’s Flowers & Gifts, Kettles & Grains, Loudoun Valley Homegrown Markets Cooperative, and The Body, Birth and Baby Center.

Innovations Award: Catty Corner Café, ECHO, Noldus Information Technology, Omnilert, and The Body, Birth and Baby Center.

New/Expanding Business Award: Burn Boot Camp - Leesburg, Dolce & Ciabatta, Elite Brow Studio, October One Vineyard Wine Tasting Shop, ResQ BBQ, and The Body, Birth and Baby Center.

Arts And Cultural Award: Art Together LLC, Dig! Records & Vintage, Finch Knit & Sew Studio, and Frayed Knots.

The George C. Marshall Award: Eung Gil Choi - US Taekwondo Martial Arts Academy, Jason Miller - The Wine Kitchen, and Kindra Dionne – Purpose Worx/Fifty Leven Wine

The event is free and open to the public. Guests are asked to RSVP to the Department of Economic Development by May 1.

County’s Largest Egg Hunt Planned Saturday

The Leesburg Parks and Recreation Department will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 1 from noon to 3 p.m. at Ida Lee Park.

This event is for ages 1 to 8. Pre-registration is required and the cost to participate is $10 per child. Registration ends on Friday, March 31. There will be no day-of registration. Entry will be controlled by time slots.

The event will be held rain or shine and parking will be available in the front fields located off North King Street. For more information, or to register, call Ida Lee Park

AROUND TOWN continues on page 11

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

The Liberty Street parking lot, which is built atop a former municipal dump.

Liberty Street lot

continued from page 10

2003 screening report conducted by the Department of Environmental Quality, which recommended a more detailed exploration and that the material be removed before any redevelopment is permitted. Since that time, town leaders have opted to leave the site undisturbed rather than open a potentially expensive remediation project.

The decision to finally break that seal was prompted by a public-private partnership proposal received last June in response to a town-issued request for redevelopment concepts for the land.

Only one proposal was received. That plan outlined the potential for more than

AROUND Town

continued from page 10

Recreation Center at 703-777-1368 or go to idalee.org.

Of course, the Easter Bunny will be available for pictures.

Water Quality Report Published

The Leesburg Utilities Department has released the 2022 Water Quality Report, which found the town met or exceeded all of the Environmental Protection Agency’s water quality standards last year.

The EPA has required the annual reports since 1999. Leesburg’s report provides customers with information about the sources, treatment, and testing of their drinking water as well as an overview of federal drinking water regulations.

Read it at leesburgva.gov/ waterqualityreport. n

100 units of age-restricted, affordable senior apartments, a 450-seat theater, a conference center, restaurant space, and a 150-space parking garage. Since that time, the project has evolved to include the potential for more parking, up to 350 spaces in a three-level garage, and coordination with a potential hotel project on an adjacent lot.

During Monday’s Town Council work session, the town staff recommended the council terminate consideration of the proposal, citing the potential requirement for a $31 million public investment

and uncertainty over the feasibility of the town operating or leasing out theater and restaurant spaces. However, the development team, which includes Leesburg attorney Peter Burnett and affordable housing developer Kim Hart, said the actual cost to the town would be far less, with numerous other revenue sources available to help underwrite the project.

With strong interest in a performing arts venue, as well as increased downtown parking, council members said they wanted to continue exploring the concept.

Their vote Tuesday night allows further

deliberations, but does not obligate the town to approve the project.

The town and the development team will continue to hash out options to design and finance the project while the environmental consultant determines the scope of the landfill remediation effort. That report is expected by October.

Even if the current redevelopment project ultimately is not selected, removing the contamination is envisioned to be a required step if the property is put to any use beyond its current status as a surface parking lot. n

Education

School Board Approves Collective Bargaining

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

A divided School Board voted Tuesday to allow collective bargaining with teachers and other licensed employees, and to add $3.3 million and 13 new administrative staff to the fiscal year 2024 budget to support it.

The vote was 4-3-2, with Jeff Morse (Dulles), John Beatty (Catoctin) and Tiffany Polifko (Broad Run) opposed, and Denise Corbo (At-large) and Brenda Sheridan (Sterling) absent.

Under the resolution, the School Board would commit to return to the county $3.3 million in unspent fiscal year 2023 year-end funds, and ask the county board to add $3.3 million to the school district’s fiscal year 2024 funding.

“Article eight, section seven of the Virginia Constitution is quite clear, ‘the supervisions of schools in each school division shall be vested in a school board.’ Not in the state legislature, the county supervisors, the PTA, a political party, a social movement or a union,” Morse said. “A union would not represent all of our employees, it wouldn’t even represent all of our licensed employees.”

Morse said he didn’t agree with the way collective bargaining would be paid for— out of year-end funds typically reserved

for one-time payments and not ongoing commitments.

“What is the most beneficial program to spend our limited resources? We’ve heard tonight about [speech language pathologists], we’ve talked about ECS in classrooms, STEP programs, EL teachers, first grade T.A.’s … those are all things we’ve talked about in the last six months that we want to fund and $3.3 million would go a long way in covering all of those,” he said.

“We are facing a $16 million budget recon-

ciliation and we are about to take another $3 million and park that somewhere else not addressing the needs that were identified in our adopted budget.”

Beaty said he didn’t think collective bargaining was necessary because teachers already can negotiate what they want.

Polifko said the students who struggle the most will pay the price and referenced California schools, which are unionized and said they have a literacy rate of less than 50 percent of student

reading proficiently.

Both Polifko and Morse said unions kept kids out of school after research showed it was safe to return to in person learning.

Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) disputed their claims and said it was the School Board that kept kids out of school.

“The idea that unions kept our schools in LCPS closed from being open during COVID is simply wrong. That was a School Board decision. The buck stopped with us,” he said. “That wasn’t a union vote. There wasn’t collective bargaining. There was no binding arbitration forcing us to do that, just a majority of the board making that decision.”

Loudoun Education Association President Sandy Sullivan said the vote was huge for everyone who has worked on the initiative for the past two years.

“It took a while to figure out how all the votes were going to fall, but we passed the resolution to make a resolution for the wording that makes the final collective bargaining agreement,” she said.

Sullivan said she was worried when Sheridan and Corbo weren’t present for the vote because they were two of the votes in favor of collective bargaining.

Sheridan was out of town for work and

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING continues on page 14

Corbo Threatens Lawsuit to Continue Meeting Remotely

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

School Board member Denise Corbo (At-large) on March 17 announced she plans to sue her Loudoun County School Board colleagues, alleging discrimination and harassment after they denied her requests to remotely participate in meetings as a reasonable accommodation for a disability.

In a Facebook post, Corbo said she had “exhausted all attempts to come to a resolution” and said she “had no choice

but to file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.”

“After their thorough investigation, I’ve been issued the Right to Sue and plan to move forward,” she said in the post.

On March 25 she announced she intends to withdraw her name for the at large seat for the School Board for the upcoming November election and will not seek re-election to a second term.

For more than a year, Corbo has asked the board to allow her remote participation in meetings, based on a medical exemption. She has not publicly said what her medical condition is, only that her reason for not attending in person is because of a “temporary or permanent Americans with Disabilities Act disability or medical condition.”

She said she was told in November 2021 by division’s Department of

Human Resources and Talent Development to attend remotely after evaluating her disability. The board at that time was already meeting remotely during a state of emergency declared during the COVID-19 pandemic. That was lifted at the end of June 2021 and in-person meetings resumed. Corbo sought to continue to participate through a video feed.

“Unlimited remoted participation for ongoing health reasons is 100% permitted under VA Law and School Board policy,” Corbo said.

Each remote participation request requires support from a majority of the School Board members. Five members have routinely abstained from the vote or voted no, including Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge).

Serotkin declined to comment on threatened litigation, pointing instead

back to his comments at the May 10, 2022, School Board meeting, when he said the board had been “intentionally mislead.”

At that meeting he mentioned an email Corbo sent to the board in July 2021 saying she didn’t intend to attend meetings in person until safety protocols were in place to better protect School Board members, including identification screening, weapon screening and bullet proof protection, citing death threats received by the board.

He also said Corbo attended an in-person closed session meeting in August, but requested remote participation for the rest of the month. And he said in October of that year Corbo traveled to

continues on page 14

Corbo

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

LEA Vice President Heather Binkley holds a sign in support of collective bargaining during the March 28 School Board meeting.

Town of Leesburg

Employment Opportunities

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

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

Regular Full-Time Positions

Summer Internship

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

Construction Project Manager/Project Engineer

Meridien Group, LLC is seeking a motivated, qualified individual to handle all aspects of construction project management. Duties include Preparing, scheduling, coordinating and monitoring the assigned projects. Monitoring compliance to applicable codes, practices, QA/QC policies, performance standards and specifications.

Interacting daily with the clients to interpret their needs and requirements and representing them in the field.

We are looking for an accountable project engineer/project manager to be responsible for all engineering and technical disciplines that projects involve. You will schedule, plan, forecast, resource and manage all the technical activities aiming at assuring project accuracy and quality from conception to completion.

Qualifications

• BS degree in Engineering/Construction Management or relevant field

• Prior federal government project experience is preferred, but not required

• Entr y-level/mid-level Position

Contact Info:

Katherine Hicks

305 Harrison Street STE 100 Leesburg, VA 20175

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

Committee Recommends Probation for Middleburg Charter Academy

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

The School Board’s three-member specialized programs and centers committee voted unanimously March 21 to recommend the Middleburg Community Charter School be put on probation for failing to take corrective measures to their financial books after they were given a corrective action plan.

If a school goes on probation and does not meet benchmarks put in place by the board, possible consequences could include withholding funding from the school or in a charter school’s case, the loss of the charter.

Division Chief Financial Officer Sharon Willoughby shared with the committee the ongoing concern with the charter school’s bookkeeping, financial records and efforts to bring it into compliance. She said per the corrective action plan approved by the School Board Jan. 10 for the charter school, two surprise internal audits were put in place in addition to annual audits. One of those was conducted Feb. 8, making it the sixth time the schools’ books were examined for deficiencies.

Willoughby said the February internal audit spanned July 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2022 and found seven items that required correction. She said the scope of the audit was to review the deficiencies identified by the external auditor and to add anything new to their report.

Collective bargaining

continued from page 12

the School Board again declined to permit Corbo to participate in the meeting virtually using a medical exemption or a personal exemption.

Sullivan said LEA hopes to work with the School Board’s Legislative and Policy Committee to determine the process and parameters for collective bargaining. The board now has 180 days to draft and pass a

Corbo

continued from page 12

another state and attended some school events unmasked.

“At this point it was impossible for me to draw any conclusion other than that I had been intentionally mislead,” Serotkin said.

“It’s not because of her stances on

Of those seven items, three—failing to record the fair market value of the school, cash disbursements lacking proper documentation and approval, and failure to obtain proper approval of bank reconciliations—were at the highest level in terms of severity. The rest were easier to manage, and two were cleared and no longer an issue.

She said recording the fair market value of the school could be resolved by June 30 but noted it was considered a high priority because of its reoccurring nature in the audits. The other two high priority items are the biggest concerns, she said.

“If I can kind of put this in layman’s terms, to perform a bank reconciliation you are going to have your monthly bank statement and then your report from your general ledger system. Then you are going to reconcile those, similar to your personal checkbook,” she said.

Willoughby said in Middleburg’s case the reconciliation had been done and signed off on before they received the monthly bank statement.

“Just to be very candid … this is really the backbone of trying to make sure that you’ve got the proper internal controls to make sure you don’t have an environment where fraud could occur,” she said.

Willoughby said there were two times checks for over $2,500 didn’t have two authorized signatures, which is the charter school’s policy, and said in one instance the principal approved a reimbursement for himself, and a time when a staff mem-

resolution outlining those terms.

Prior to the meeting a group of people opposed to collective bargaining gathered outside the school administration with signs.

Daniel Brubaker, a candidate for School Board for the Catoctin District, said he is opposed to collective bargaining and has been speaking up against it for over a year. He said there is no need for it in the division.

“If they want to raise benefits and pay for teachers, they can do it anytime they want to. And if they don’t have enough

issues or a desire to silence her voice or any of the other reasons I’ve heard people claim, but simply that I feel Mrs. Corbo has misled me, has misled the board and misled the public,” he added. He called on her to resign if she couldn’t fulfill her essential duties.

As of this year, Corbo has been approved to participate remotely at three meetings: the Jan. 3 organizational meet-

ber was reimbursed for sales tax.

“I would again like to express my concern regarding the repetitive nature and the lack of controls. I know I sound like a broken record, but it really does set up the environment for where fraud can occur,” she said. “I am absolutely not suggesting that that is what is occurring.”

Willoughby said the controls are in place to protect the principal and the bookkeeper.

She noted that other items in the corrective plan, including both the principal and bookkeeper attending monthly trainings as well as individual quarterly meetings, have been met.

Willoughby noted among the division’s 98 schools in Fiscal Year 2022, 11 schools had the lowest level of audit severity, three schools had the next level of severity and no schools had the highest level severity.

Willoughby said the recent audit was done by the auditor pulling a sample rather than going through every transaction. She said it was concerning to find problems in a sample, which made her wonder what they are missing in the part of the books not being tested.

“It could be worse, there could be more, [it’s] likely there is because we are just doing random sampling,” committee member Jeff Morse (Dulles) said.

Committee Chair Brenda Sheridan (Sterling) said she had wanted to recommend the school be put on probation in December and suggested it be now.

“Unfortunately, I have to agree,” Morse

teachers, they are going to have to. So it’s a false argument on that,” he said.

He said it creates a negative environment, “in which there is animosity that is completely unnecessary between the administration and the employees.”

Meanwhile, another gathering took place with teachers and supporters of collective bargaining. Loudoun Education Association Vice President Heather Binkley said there is a misconception about collective bargaining.

“Educators are not just the front lines for seeing what students are doing and

ing for which she used a personal exemption, the Jan. 12 budget work session when she was granted a medical exemption, and the Feb. 14 School Board meeting in which she was denied a medical exemption but granted a personal exemption. When a majority does not approve her remote meeting request, Corbo is permitted to listen to meetings through the video feed but not participate.

said. “We have been at this a long time … and we have beat this drum, and I think our message has been consistent to the school that we must have accountability in the generally accepted accounting principles, and time and time again we don’t.”

Middleburg Charter Academy Principal Stephen Robinson said he believes the actions put in place have the school on the right track.

“I can’t speak in the future, but my desire is that the next internal audit will be a lot cleaner based on the things we’ve done since Jan. 10 when it was approved by the board,” he said.

He said he didn’t think the next audit would be an issue.

Sheridan said if it was the first time, she might feel differently, and made a motion to send a recommendation to the full School Board that the school be placed on probation.

Willoughby and Deputy Superintendent Ashley Ellis will work with division counsel Robert Falconi to write a letter that will include the terms of the probation for the board to vote on, including any consequences.

Ellis said the last time a charter school was put on probation, it had to write a remedial plan within 30 days of being placed on probation for the board to review. The board could vote to remove the school from probation after it met the terms outlined in its corrective plan. n

knowing what is happening in the classroom, we are also the first line of defense for parents who have questions or concerns. So when you elevate the voice of teachers and educators what you are really doing is elevating the voice of community members,” she said.

She said in school districts with collective bargaining, “the scores are typically higher, the teacher retention is higher, the salaries are higher but the cost per pupil is not higher.” n

State law allows an elected official to participate remotely using a personal exemption in two meetings a year or 25% of the body’s meetings, whichever is greater.

In the Facebook post, Corbo said she would continue to attend meetings virtually and hoped to share more information soon. She responded via email to repeated requests for comment saying she would respond with her side at a later date. n

Rape Suspect Captured After 20-year Search Pleads Guilty

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Franklin Antonio Carcamo Giron on Thursday pleaded guilty to the rape of a 12-year-old family member during a court hearing that was delayed more than 20 years.

He was indicted in December 2001 on two counts of rape and was scheduled to enter a guilty plea the following month. However, he was released from jail on bond prior to his court date and fled the area. He remained missing for two decades.

In 2019, Leesburg Police Department detectives and the department’s crime and traffic analyst determined Carcamo Giron was living in eastern El Salvador. Detectives worked with federal and international agencies to obtain an INTERPOL Red Notice, an international arrest warrant.

Carcamo Giron was arrested there on Aug. 18, 2020, pursuant to the INTERPOL notice. He was transported to Loudoun last August.

During the March 23 Circuit Court hearing, he pleaded guilty to one count of rape. He faces a sentence of five years to life

Public Safety

in prison. Additional charges of rape and failure to appear in court were dropped. A sentencing hearing was scheduled for Aug. 3.

According to a proffer of evidence prosecutors would have presented at trial, Carcamo Giron moved into the Leesburg home with the victim and her extended family in February 2001. Within a few weeks, he kissed and fondled the girl at a time when both of her parents were out of the home. A few days after that he raped her. He told investigators he had intercourse with her 10 times during the ensuing months. The last time was Sept. 17, 2001, after which the victim reported the assaults to her elementary school guidance counselor, who alerted Leesburg Police and Child Protective Services. By that time, the victim was pregnant.

According to the filing, Carcamo Giron claimed to police the relationship was consensual. He said he knew it was wrong but could not resist the temptation. n

Murder Case Against Son in Father’s Death Advances

Eleven months after Loudoun brewer Dean Lake was found dead in his Leesburg home, the murder charge against his son today was certified for review by a grand jury.

Schuyler Lake, 22, appeared in Loudoun County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on Monday morning for a preliminary hearing to determine whether there was probable cause to advance the charge of second-degree murder to trial.

During the hearing, county prosecutors focused mainly on procedural issues to establish that material collected in the case followed chain of evidence procedures and provided no motive for the fatal beating.

During the hearing, a neighbor said he saw Schuyler walking toward his father’s South King Street home the evening of April 29, 2022. His mother, Dean Lake’s former wife, said she discovered the body on the floor of the home on the morning of April 30, when she arrived to pick up his dog to take it to her daughter’s home in New York.

Evidence included blood samples found on Schuyler’s clothing after his arrest later that day, along with injuries to his forehead and right hand, and Schuyler’s DNA under

his father’s fingernails. Also entered as evidence were photos of the scene found on Schuyler’s iPhone.

Judge Avelina S. Jacob ruled there was enough evidence to establish probable cause for the murder charge. She dismissed two other charges related to the incident— credit card fraud and unlawfully obtaining a credit card—after prosecutors declined to pursue them.

The case is scheduled to be reviewed by a grand jury April 10, with Schuyler Lake expected to appear in Circuit Court for scheduling of a trial the next day.

The attack happened two years after a previous altercation between the two resulted in a charge of assault and battery. In that Feb. 14, 2020 case, Schuyler pleaded no contest and Dean Lake secured a protective order against his son. Schuyler was giving an 18-month deferred finding, in which the charge would be dropped if no other offenses occurred during that period.

The charge of second-degree murder carries a sentence of five to 40 years in prison. n

LoCo Disc Golf Makes World-Record Donation to Loudoun Hunger Relief

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

The 2023 LoCo Disc Golf Club Ice Bowl raised more than $41,000 for Loudoun Hunger Relief, a new world record for a disc golf ice bowl.

“We love the community spirit of the LoCo Disc Golf Ice Bowl, and deeply appreciate the support of the LoCo Disc Golf Club,” Loudoun Hunger Relief President and CEO Jennifer Montgomery stated. “Their assistance not only helps us feed our neighbors in need, but also helps get the word out about hunger in Loudoun County. This year, the club raised a world record amount, literally outraising entire state-wide clubs! We are so grateful to this fun, community minded group of folks who truly care that their neighbors have enough to eat.”

It was the 12th year that the LoCo Disc Golf Club participated in the ice bowl, an international series of fundraiser tournaments played in the winter and, as the name suggests, no matter the weather. Two years ago, the Loudoun club’s Ice Bowl tournament became the largest disc golf Ice Bowl fundraiser in the world, passing a tournament hosted by the disc golf club for the entire state of Colorado. They repeated that feat last year, raising more than $30,000 by the time fundraising closed.

This year, the LoCo Ice Bowl fundraiser was a series of nine events. Those included the main event on Jan. 28 at Morven Park in Leesburg, which also included the annual chili cook-off; the Hal & Berni Hanson Ice Bowl on Feb. 4 in partnership with Loudoun Parks, Recreation and Community Services; and the Feb. 19 R’Ice Bowl in Triangle. The series wrapped up with Throw Down The Mountain at Dirt Farm Brewing in Bluemont, where competitors threw discs down the mountain in distance and accuracy challenges, and which featured a raffle to win their weight

in beer.

“This is one of my favorite days of the year. I love being out here with you all, and I love the passion that you bring to really help our neighbors and our community,” Montgomery said at the Ice Bowl tournament Jan. 28.

She said the support is especially important now with rising prices and need, and said the nonprofit continues to see high numbers of people and families coming to them for help with food.

“The fact that you all continue to come

Deadline Nears for Loudoun Laurels Nominations

Saturday is the deadline for the public to nominate community leaders for consideration in the 2023 Loudoun Laurels Foundation honoree.

The foundation’s mission is to honor exceptional community service for the benefit of Loudoun County residents and to develop future civic leaders through scholarships and mentorships. Each year the organization honors community leaders with the Loudoun Laureate award. Nominations for this year’s Loudoun Laureates will close April 1.

This year’s laureate will be announced by June 1 and honored at the Foundation’s annual gala in September.

Previous honorees include Joseph T. Boling, Kristina Bouweiri, Childs Frick Burden, Stanley Caulkins, Di Cook, Dr. John H. Cook, III, Betsy Davis, Fred Drummond, William H. Harrison, G. Kimball Hart, Dr. Edgar B. Hatrick, III, Thomas D. Horn, Chuck Kuhn, J. Hamilton Lambert, Punkin Lee, Sandy Lerner, Joe T. May, Margaret Morton, James P. Roberts, Karen Hatcher Russell, Karen and Fred Schaufeld, Eugene M. Scheel, Judy and Lang Washburn, Robert E. Sevila, Al P. Van Huyck, Su Webb, Cate Magennis Wyatt and Paul Ziluca.

In addition to honoring members of the community for their leadership,

service and philanthropy, the foundation’s Stewardship Trust awards fouryear scholarships to Loudoun County Public School students each year. Typically, these students are first generation college attendees whose potential for success has been demonstrated by hard work and personal sacrifice.

Since 2013, the Loudoun Laurels Foundation has awarded $1 million in scholarships to 25 Loudoun Laurels Scholars. Each $40,000 scholarship is distributed to the Virginia college or university chosen by the student in annual $10,000 increments for the fouryear term of his or her college career.

Learn more at loudounlaurels.org. n

Charity Rebrands as Giving Hands

The Loudoun nonprofit that got its start in 1992 as Christmas In April, and became Rebuilding Together Loudoun County has another new name: Giving Hands.

Loudoun Giving Hands is an all-volunteer nonprofit that annually makes home repairs for people in need. Home repairs are free to the homeowner, with individuals, corporations, local businesses, and other groups providing in-kind contributions and sponsorship fees cover the cost of materials and skilled labor.

LGH plans work in May and October to complete home repairs such as small leaks, faucet replacements, loose steps, drywall repair, painting, and handrail replacement; home modifications like bathroom conversions from tub to shower for handicap access, door widening, installation of grab bars and ramps; and property wellness including repairs to decks, roofs, gutters, yard cleanup, walkways, and brush removal. For more information, go to loudoungivinghands.com.

HealthWorks Opens

Sterling Health Center

HealthWorks for Northern Virginia this week celebrated the opening of its newest service center in Sterling.

The office is located at 21641 Ridgetop Circle #107.

HealthWorks for Northern Virginia is a nonprofit federally qualified health center that offers adult medical, pediatric, gynecologic, behavioral health, psychiatric and dental care services at five full-service healthcare centers with locations in Leesburg, Sterling, Herndon, Reston, and Sully District. Services are provided regardless of age, race or ethnicity, insurance, or ability to pay. The service is supported by community partners and private donations.

Learn more at hwnova.org.

Community Builders Program Applications Open

Applications are open through April 30 for Loudoun Youth’s 20232024 Claude Moore Community

GIVING BACK continues on page 17

Loudoun Hunger Relief

The LoCo Disc Golf Club presents a ceremonial check for $41,356 to Loudoun Hunger Relief, a world record donation for a disc golf Ice Bowl fundraiser.

ICE BOWL continues on page 17

Ice Bowl

continued from page 16

together, you continue to help us, continue to help put dollars into our organization so that we are able to serve, we are able to buy food, we are able to meet the need right where it is—you’re just making a really significant difference,” she said.

Since 2012, the LoCo Disc Golf Ice Bowl has raised more than $150,000 for Loudoun Hunger Relief. Disc golf Ice Bowls around the world have raised more than $5.3 million for nonprofits fighting hunger since 1987.

The main event Jan. 28 was played on two temporary courses designed by famous disc golf course designer John Biscoe. LoCo Disc Golf Club Treasurer John Iliff at the tournament called Biscoe “the Arnold Palmer of disc golf designers.”

It also featured a raffle for a disc golf basket, the goal at the end of the course— and not just any basket. It was used in the inaugural St. Jude Charity Invitational tournament in 2015, which raised almost a quarter-million dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. LoCo Disc Golf board member Stephan Evers won the basket in the 2016 LoCo Ice Bowl, and

with plans to move to Philadelphia, donated the basket back to the Loudoun club for the 2023 raffle prize.

Iliff also ended up winning the raffle. And Biscoe won the vegetarian division in the chili cookoff Jan. 28.

Steve Duncan, who traveled from Pennsylvania to compete, was the first two-time Loco Ice Bowl Chili Cookoff

two-time champion after his victory in the meat chili category. The cook-off was decided in blind taste testing by a panel of judges including Montgomery; Vanish Farmwoods Brewery founder Jonathan Staples; county Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian); Morven Park Executive Director and CEO Stacey Metcalfe Miller, membership liaison Colleen Lovelace and Equestrian Events Manager Hannah McSween; Loudoun Parks, Recreation and Community Services Deputy Director Jeremy Payne; and Loudoun Now Deputy Editor Renss Greene. Vanish also once again hosted the ceremonial check presentation from the disc golf club to Loudoun Hunger at the end of fundraising.

“I think I can say on behalf of the entire Loudoun County Board of Supervisors that we couldn’t be more proud to have events like this in Loudoun County,” Briskman said Jan. 28.

For more about the LoCo Disc Golf Club, go to locodiscgolf.com. For more information or to support Loudoun Hunger Relief, go to loudounhunger.org. For help with food, go to loudounfeeds.org. n

Editor’s note: Chili cook-off judge Renss Greene is the author of this article.

GIVING back

continued from page 16

Builders program. Forty high school students will be accepted into this 10-month program which connects teens with meaningful volunteer opportunities at local non-profit organizations.

Since 2007, with the help of a grant from the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, CMCB has enabled youth to develop leadership skills while serving their communities. Last year’s participants represented 17 Loudoun high schools, supported 40 local nonprofits, and volunteered more than 3,000 hours.

The CMCB program runs from June-March each year, is open to rising 10th-12th grade Loudoun residents. Volunteer opportunities and professional development trainings take place throughout the county. Learn more at loudounyouth.org.  n

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now 2023 LoCo Disc Golf Club Ice Bowl course designer John Biscoe, LoCo Disc Golf Club Treasurer John Iliff and two-time LoCo Disc Golf Club Ice Bowl chili cook-off champion Steve Duncan at the Ice Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023.

‘Loudoun Together’ Summit to Highlight East-West Balance

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Salamander Resort and the Town of Middleburg on April 11 will host a day of panels and speakers from across business, conservation, tourism, and government around Loudoun to outline the ways the county’s rural west and suburban east complement one another—and tools to keep them in balance.

The “Loudoun Together” summit was born as a strategic initiative of the Middleburg Town Council. Middleburg Mayor Bridge Littleton said it begins with exploring the balance between east and west in Loudoun—“let’s remind ourselves of some of the things that really make Loudoun great.”

“To understand all these things, there’s a lot of education that has to happen, especially how the western side and the eastern side are not opposed to one another,” Littleton said. “They actually complement each other, and if we lose that balance of the benefits of both that help offset the other side of that equation, then … we could put the county’s long-term future in jeopardy.”

And he said for local governments, managing that balance boils down to land

planning and zoning.

“This is really around land planning and bringing some innovative tools to the table that could help maintain the balance that we have, and that balance ties into everything beyond just the beautiful open space that we have in the west,” he said. “It ties to our taxes, it ties to our schools, it ties to the infrastructure or lack of infrastructure.”

The summit will feature panels and talks with speakers like Visit Loudoun President and CEO Beth Erickson, agricultural and craft beverage business owners, town mayors, Piedmont Environmental Council President Chris Miller, JK Moving founder and major conservation easement investor Chuck Kuhn, and a keynote speech from retired longtime congressman Frank Wolf, who represented Loudoun and the 10th Congressional District for 34 years from 1981 to 2015.

Littleton said he hopes the summit will bring together stakeholders and decision makers from across the county, and already organizers have reached out to everyone in office in Loudoun or running for it this year, he said.

The summit will also feature some ideas from other places for protecting rural spaces, such as a talk from Montgomery

County, MD, Agricultural Land Preservation Program Administrator Mike Scheffel. Montgomery County’s programs for preserving undeveloped and agricultural land, such as its green bank and its transfer of development rights program, are often held up as an example for other localities. Littleton said the discussions at the Loudoun Together summit can help hash out what’s right for Loudoun.

And he said the summit is only the beginning—if anything comes out of it, the next step will be putting those ideas into action.

“If we don’t focus on making sure that those options and opportunities are available, 20-30 years from now we’re just going to look like Fairfax, and I don’t think the vast majority of people in Loudoun County want to basically be an urbanized endto-end county,” Littleton said. “Bringing some of those opportunities to the table that we’re not currently using really can allow us to have the best of both worlds.”

The Loudoun Together summit will be Tuesday, April 11, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Tickets are $25 and include breakfast and lunch, with all proceeds donated to Seven Loaves Services in Middleburg. Learn more and buy tickets at loudountogethersummit.com. n

Philomont Historic District Added to Landmarks Register

The commonwealth’s Board of Historic Resources on March 16 approved the addition of the Philomont Historic District to the Virginia Landmarks Register.

The registry is the state’s official list of places of historic, architectural, archaeological, and cultural significance.

The district covers 43 acres centered on the intersection of Snickersville Turnpike and JEB Stuart Road and includes many late 18th and early 19th century homes built with log or stone.

Today, many of the original homes, some dating back to the late 1700s, remain. At least 10 log cabins can be identified within a one-mile radius, according to the application. At the heart

of the village is the General Store, the firehouse, and the Community Center, a former school dating back to 1919. Roszell Chapel, which was moved and rebuilt in 1890, continues to hold Sunday services.

Like Airmont and Mountville nearby, the village served as an important commercial center located along a travel corridor that dates back to colonial times. George Washington recorded traveling along the route in his journals.

The completion of the Snickersville Turnpike and Hibbs Bridge fueled a building boom of the 1830s and 1840s and commercial service moved out of homes into purpose build stores.

A second building boom occurred during the 1870s and 1880s, coinciding with repairs made to the Turnpike after the end of the Civil War.

Today, the rural environs remain little changed. “The integrity of the village rests not only in the intact historic resources, but also the pristine surrounding and limited modern intrusions,” according to the application.

With the addition of the district to the Virginia Landmarks Register it also qualifies for the National Register of Historic Places. The designations are honorary and do not come with any additional zoning or regulatory property restrictions. n

HILLSBORO The Players Return with ‘Lifespan of a Fact’

The Hillsboro Players return to the Old School stage this weekend with four performances of “Lifespan of a Fact,” under the direction of Rebecca Baldwin Fuller.

The play follows Jim Fingal, played by Henry Ziegler, a fresh-out-of-Harvard English major, who is assigned by Emily Penrose, the publisher of a prominent but sinking New York magazine played by Danette Illig, to factcheck an essay about the suicide of a teenage boy written by the talented but mercurial author John D’Agata, played by Matt Danielson. What starts professionally quickly becomes hysterical and profane as the three characters explore the truth about facts and fiction.

Performances are Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m., Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. and Sunday at $5. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

Go to hillsboroplayers.org for tickets and details.

LOVETTSVILLE Eggstravaganza Returns Saturday

The Lovettsville/Waterford Ruritans are bringing back the town’s Eggstravaganza on Saturday, April 1, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Activities will include basket raffles, egg toss games, egg coloring, coloring activities, food, drinks, an appearance by the Easter Bunny, and a hunt for 5,422 hidden eggs.

The 13 and up egg toss begins at 1:30 p.m. and costs $5 per team to enter. The egg hunt begins at noon for those three and under, 12:20 p.m. for four and five-year-olds, 12:40 p.m. for six to eight-year-olds and 1 p.m. for nine to 12-year-olds.

Raffle tickets will also be available to win $650 of beef, lamb, goat, chicken, or eggs sponsored by Spring House Farm. The drawing will be held April 12.

Flying on 4 Wheels: Skateboarders Roll in for Dirt Farm Freeride

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

On Easter Sunday last year, Bruce and Janell Zurschmeide were surprised to find a small group of skateboarders flying down the steep driveway leading to their mountaintop tasting room at Dirt Farm Brewing near Bluemont.

On Saturday, a much larger group of downhill long boarders converged on the property for a “freeride” event, attracting some of the sport’s top athletes.

Bruce Zurschmeide said the group of three or four skaters he met at the brewery last year spent the whole day on the hill and raved about the ride afforded by the long, paved, steep driveway. During their conversations, it became clear that their fellow downhill enthusiasts would jump at the chance to experience the ride.

Zurschmeide gave them the green light.

From there, Mark Stapperfenne, a salesman from the Virginia Beach area, started putting an event together.

Not only was Dirt Farm an ideal venue for a downhill event, he said, its location within an easy drive for most East Coast participants and proximity to Dulles Airport was a huge plus. At least one skater is flying in from Nashville, he said.

Typically, skaters have to gather at remote locations in the woods for their

AROUND towns

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MIDDLEBURG Council Sets 12.76¢ Tax Rate

While its budget deliberations continue, the Town Council last week voted to set the real estate tax rate at 12.76 cents.

That is a decrease from the current $13.69 rate, but 3% higher than the equalized tax rate under which the average tax bill would remain unchanged in the wake of increased property value assessments. For the average single family detached home, the tax bill is expected to increase

$61 for the year, according to the town calculations.

Unlike other Loudoun towns, real estate taxes are a relatively small revenue source for the town government. Tourism-related taxes on hotel stays and meals provide more income.

Although the council’s budget work is continuing, it faced a March 31 deadline to provide the tax rate to the county Treasurer’s Office so that bills could be prepared and mailed.

There were no speakers at the March 16 public hearing on the tax rate. The rate was approved on a 5-1 with council member Philip Miller, who supported the equalized rate, opposed.

PURCELLVILLE Town-Wide Clean Up Set

The town is partnering with Keep Loudoun Beautiful for the annual townwide clean-up.

Individuals and groups may volunteer to pick up trash on Saturday, April 15 from 8 to 10 a.m. or noon to 2 p.m.

Families, individuals, sports teams/organizations, scouts, church groups, and all other volunteers are invited to participate in the event, which will focus on roadside and trail clean-up. Volunteers are encouraged to participate by helping the mission of Keep Loudoun Beautiful, which is to

freerides, he said. Dirt Farm checked all the essential boxes for event planning: affordable, accessible, safe (rescue crews were stationed on the course) and fun.

The event was not a race or a competition. And wasn’t just for the pros. It’s also for “guys like me who don’t want to stop riding their skateboard yet,” Stapperfenne said.

It was a day of thrills, spills—and big smiles—for the participants and Saturday’s rain and fog only added to the challenge.

One person who didn’t join in the extreme sport was Bruce Zurschmeide.

“I’m just a country boy. I was raised on gravel. I don’t dare set foot on a skateboard,” he said.

See more photos at getoutloudoun.com. n

maintain the natural beauty and visual quality of Loudoun County; encourage and educate citizens to keep Loudoun beautiful; promote public awareness of environmental challenges and suggested solutions, like reducing, reusing, and recycling; and improve county trash disposal and eliminate illegal dumping.

The Purcellville area leader for Keep Loudoun Beautiful, Clay Grisius, will follow up with those who register to provide additional details about the locations for trash pick-up.

For additional information, email Clay at Purcellville.klb@gmail.com or Amie Ware at aware@purcellvilleva.gov.  n

GETOUT

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

LOVETTSVILLE EGGSTRAVAGANZA

Saturday, April 1, 11:30 a.m.

Lovettsville Town Green, 11 Spring Farm Lane, Lovettsville

Details:  facebook.com/lwruritans

The Lovettsville-Waterford Ruritans host an egg hunt featuring games for all ages, basket raffles and a visit from the Easter Bunny.

LEESBURG EASTER EGG HUNT

Saturday, April 1, noon- 3 p.m.

Ida Lee Park, 60 Ida Lee Drive NW, Leesburg

Details: leesburgva.gov

This beloved holiday event for children 1 to 8 features an egg hunt and photos with the Easter Bunny. Tickets are $10 per participating child. Accompanying family members are free. Advance registration is required by Friday, March 31.

CLAUDE MOORE EGGCELLENT ADVENTURES

Wednesday, April 5, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Claude Moore Park, 21544 Vestals Gap Road, Sterling

Details: facebook.com/ claudemoorepark

Children aged 2 to 11 can hop around to several stations focusing on Mother Nature’s egg-laying animals. Visit live animals and stop by the campfire to roast marshmallows. Tickets are $5 per one-hour session. Advance registration is required.

LOVETTSVILLE PARK EGG HUNT

Wednesday, April 5, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Lovettsville Community Park, 12565 Milltown Road, Lovettsville

Details: loudoun.gov/lovettsvillepark

Children ages 1 to 11 can hunt for eggs at Lovettsville’s new park. Cost is $5 per participant. Advance registration is required. Bring your own basket.

GET OUT THIS WEEK

continues on page 22

Fighting Demons and Telling Stories

TEEN FILMMAKER EVA ULREICH RACKS UP ACCOLADES

BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com

By the time Eva Ulreich was in middle school, she knew animation was what she wanted to do. By age 12, she’d made her first successful short film. At 15, the Leesburg high school sophomore is an award-winning filmmaker with multiple festivals under her belt. And she’s just getting started.

“If you’ve got a story in your head and you want to put it into the world, animation is a very good way to do that,” Ulreich, a sophomore at Tuscarora High School and the Academy of Engineering and Technology, said.

Ulreich’s latest film “Reaper” won third place at the 2023 DC Independent Film Forum’s high school film competition in February. “Reaper” was also an official selection at the 2022 All American High School Film Festival in New York last fall. The film

will be screened at several more festivals this year, including the National Film Festival for Talented Youth in Seattle and the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival in California in April.

For Ulreich, animation satisfies her creative spirit as both an artist and a storyteller. Her beautiful, often dark work contains otherworldly characters and an eerie vibe.

“I’ve been doing art since I could hold a pencil,” Ulreich said, adding that her fascination with cartoons and animation inspired her to take two-dimensional art to the next level.

“I would watch cartoons all the time, and finally in middle school, I was like ‘I want to make those,’” she said. “I thought it would be really cool if I could tell a story. … One day I was like, ‘I’m going to do that—and I did it.’”

Ulreich is particularly inspired by the Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon, known for the 2009 animated fantasy film “The Secret of Kells” and several other Oscar nominated animated films. Cartoon Saloon’s “very

beautiful and intricate animated movies” helped push her to create her own style and aesthetic.

“I look at the techniques and I’m like, who’s doing what here, and how is that working?” she said.

Ulreich created her first award-winning animated short “Anxiety” at age 12 on her Kindle, inspired by her efforts to overcome mental health challenges.

“I had this concept of a girl fighting her inner demons and I realized this is a lot like mental health issues. I sort of went along those lines as I was working on it,” she said. “My entire life since middle school has been centered around my mental health. … Because it was such a big focus— even if it was unconscious—it goes into what I make.”

For Ulreich, storytelling and visual elements are front and center, with sound design as an essential third component. Ulreich is also a violinist with the Loudoun Youth Symphony

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

At age 15, Eva Ulreich already is an award-winning filmmaker, garnering acclaim for her latest work, “Reaper.”

ULREICH continues on page 23

Sheltered Takes Loudoun Youth Battle of the Bands Title

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Sheltered, a four-member rock band from Potomac Falls High School, took top honors in the 2023 Loudoun Youth Battle of the Bands.

The final round of competition was held Friday night at the Tally Ho Theater with 11 performers and bands playing 15-minute sets before an enthusiastic audience and a panel of judges.

The 18th annual event was sponsored by Loudoun Youth Inc. and the Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services.

It was the third year in the competition for Sheltered. The band is comprised of Kyle Kish on bass and vocals, Gavin Ballard and Henry Perkins on guitar, and Manny Ampeh on drums. As the 2023 champion, Sheltered won a $500 cash prize and secured performance slots at next month’s Purcellville Music and Arts Festival and this fall’s Crossroads Music Festival in downtown Leesburg. Also, Realeworks Lighting and Sound will offer the band support at a future show.

Downe Lands was the second-placed band, winning a $300 prize.

First-time entrants 38Dawgz won

the fan favorite voting—and a $150 prize—following a set that included songs by Twenty One Pilots, The Cars and two originals.

Evan Harris won the prize for best original for his solo drum performance synced with video. Harris also was a 2019 Battle of the Bands winner with his band Kage.

First-time contestant Eliza Prymak won the best soloist award. Her prize includes a mentored songwriting session with Todd Wright at his Half King Studio. n

HILLSBORO PLAYERS present ...

Four Shows on The Gap Stage

FRI., MAR. 31 – 7 p.m.

SAT., APR. 1 – 2 & 7 p.m.

SUN., APR. 2 – 5 p.m.

(Doors open 1 hour before showtime)

What starts professional quickly becomes hysterical and profane as an author, editor and fact-checker explore the truth about facts and fiction.

Tickets: $15 in advance n $20 at the door

BUY NOW at HillsboroPlayers.org

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Henry Zeigler as Jim Fingal Danette Illig as Emily Penrose Matt Danielson as John D’Agata

Proceeds from The Hillsboro Players performances benefit the on-going restoration of Hillsboro’s Historic Old Stone School

The Old Stone School • 337098 Charles Town Pike • Hillsboro, VA

Directed by Rebecca Baldwin Fuller

Screenplay by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell & Gordon Farrell. Based on the book by Dohn D’Agata & Jim Fingal

SCAN ME

Meals available to order from Between the Hills Catering at checkout.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now 2023 winner Sheltered performs in the final round of the Loudoun Youth Battle of the Bands at the Tally Ho Theater on March 24.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Olivia DeWan of 38Dawgz performs in the final round of the Loudoun Youth Battle of the Bands at the Tally Ho Theater on March 24.

Best Bets

GET OUT THIS WEEK

continued from page 20

LIVE MUSIC

MELISSA QUINN FOX

Friday, March 31, 6 p.m.

Belly Love Brewing Company, 725 E. Main St. in Purcellville.

Details: bellylovebrewing.com

Country/Americana songstress Melissa Quinn Fox is known for her story-driven songs, unique vocal tone and captivating live performances.

THE CROWN JEWELS

Friday, March 31, 6 p.m. Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn

Details: www.oldoxbrewery.com

Seasoned performers from some of the region’s favorite bands join forces for a dynamic sound.

FATBOY GITUP BAND

Friday, March 31, 7 p.m.

MacDowell’s Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE, Leesburg

Details: macsbeach.com

TGIF with 80s and 90s favorites from Loudoun’s own FatBoy Gitup.

CHRIS TIMBERS BAND

Friday, March 31, 8 p.m.

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

Details: monksq.com

Get the weekend rolling with the smooth grooves of the Chris Timbers band.

CHRISTIAN LOPEZ BAND

Friday, March 31, 8 p.m.

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

Details: tallyhotheater.com

Martinsburg, WV native Christian Lopez is taking the Americana scene by storm with his fresh brand of alt/folk/ country rock. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $45 for VIP seats.

SCORPION ROSE

Friday, March 31, 8 p.m.

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

Details: spankyspub.com

The high-energy rock quartet returns to Spanky’s for an evening of fun.

LINDA ANDERSEN

Saturday, April 1, 1 p.m.

Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville

Details: creeksedgewinery.com

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

THE FLASHBACKS

Saturday, April 1, 1-4 p.m.

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts

Details: vanishbeer.com

This West Virginia-based band serves up oldies, classics and vintage rock ‘n’ roll from the ’50s through the ’80s.

DYLAN WOELFEL

Saturday, April 1, 2 p.m.

The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton

Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com

West Virginia’s Dylan Woelfel brings country tunes and beyond to his first show at the Barns.

DARRYL MARINI

Saturday, April 1, 2 p.m.

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro

Details: breauxvineyards.com

Marini is a seasoned musician from Los Angeles who now lives in the Shenandoah Valley. A skilled guitarist and vocalist, he has a versatile repertoire covering classic and alt rock, jazz standards, country and pop.

JIM STEELE

Saturday, April 1, 2 p.m.

Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville

Details: twotwistedposts.com

Enjoy an afternoon of fun covers and originals from a longtime winery circuit favorite.

FREDDIE LONG

Saturday, April 1, 3 p.m.

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

Details: flyingacefarm.com

Long returns to Flying Ace with bluesy classic rock and beyond.

BAD PRESS BAND

Saturday, April 1, 7 p.m.

MacDowell’s Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE, Leesburg

Details: macsbeach.com

Bad Press rocks Mac’s Beach with toetapping dance songs, scintillating vocals and jazzy blues tunes.

THE WINERY DOGS

Saturday, April 1, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg

Details: tallyhotheater.com

The hard rock supergroup celebrates a decade of music and their third album with a new tour. Tickets are $45.

POINT OF ROCK

Saturday, April 1, 8 p.m.

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

Details: spankyspub.com

POR returns to Spanky’s with fun dance covers from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.

THE CLENDENEN BROTHERS

Saturday, April 1, 8 p.m.

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

Details: monksq.com

Enjoy American style with bluegrass from the Clendenen Brothers.

ACOUSTIC MOOSE

Sunday, April 2, 2 p.m.

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

Details: flyingacefarm.com

This south-central PA duo with acoustic guitar and dynamic vocal harmonies plays a range of folk rock, blues and classic rock favorites.

SHANE GAMBLE

Sunday, April 2, 2 p.m. Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro

Details: breauxvineyards.com

Rising country music star Shane Gamble returns to Breaux for an afternoon of great tunes.

ZOE JORGENSON

Sunday, April 2, 2 p.m. Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro

Details: doukeniewinery.com

Jazz bassist, vocalist and composer Zoe Jorgenson brings her swinging style to Doukenie.

THE SELDOM SCENE

Thursday, April 6, 8 p.m.

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

Details: tallyhotheater.com

Formed in 1971, the Maryland-based Seldom Scene were instrumental in starting the progressive bluegrass movement with their high energy takes on country, rock and pop. Tickets are $45 to $65 per table.

LOCO CULTURE

‘THE GRUMPY BUNNY’

Friday, March 31, 7 p.m., Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2, 2 p.m. Village at Leesburg, 1609 Village Market Boulevard, Suite 110

Details: aplacetobeva.org

A Place to Be’s latest seasonal show for children tells the tale of grumpy bunny Moe who learns how to acknowledge his emotions and live a less grumpy life thanks to his new friend the Easter Bunny. Admission is free.

‘THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT’

Friday, March 31, 7 p.m., Saturday, April 1, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 2, 5 p.m. Hillsboro Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro

Details: hillsboroplayers.org

The Hillsboro Players present a

continues on page 23

CHRISTIAN LOPEZ BAND

Friday, March 31, 7 p.m. (doors) Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

MILE TWELVE

Friday, March 31, 7 p.m. Barns of Rose Hill barnsofrosehill.org

MR. LEESBURG PAGEANT

Saturday, April 1, noon-5 p.m. Crooked Run Fermentation, Leesburg mrleesburg.com

Ulreich

continued from page 20

Orchestra, and sound and music play vital roles in her work.

Her 2020 short film “The Banshee” is set to Henry Cowell’s 1925 piano composition of the same name. The piece uses manual manipulation of piano strings instead of the keyboard, creating an eerie sound. Ulreich’s “The Banshee” follows a banshee as she retrieves the soul of a dying young woman.

GET OUT THIS WEEK

continued from page 22

thoughtful comedy about a famous writer, a magazine editor and a fact checker who disagree about the meaning of words and facts. Tickets are $15.

WATERFORD CONCERT SERIES: MICHAEL FABIANO

Sunday, April 2, 4 pm.

Waterford Old School, 40222 Fairfax

Ulreich’s 2022 film “Reaper” is animated entirely by hand using Adobe Animate and took six months to make. The film tells the story of a young girl attempting to escape her own death, only to find herself facing a new danger. Fans can view past films, including “Anxiety” and “The Banshee,” on her YouTube channel, but she can’t release “Reaper” until the spring festival season is complete.

Ulreich has a career in filmmaking in her sights, but animation has also been a way to process the challenges teens around the world have experi-

Street, Waterford Details: waterfordconcertseries.org

One of the world’s top tenors, Fabiano sings at the Met, Covent Garden, La Scala, the Kennedy Center and other leading venues. His Waterford program includes pieces from Puccini, Verdi and other favorites. Tickets are $45 for adults, $20 for students.

LIBATIONS

CROOKED RUN MR. LEESBURG

PAGEANT

Saturday, April 1, noon

enced in the past three years.

“I very much see it becoming a career for me,” Ulreich said. “It’s also a creative outlet. It lets me engage in art and different kinds of media. There are tons of different aspects that go into making a good film. It’s something I really enjoy doing, and it’s been helping me move along.”

To check out Eva Ulreich’s animated lms, go to youtube.com/@evadivaanimations.

Fans can also follow Ulreich on Instagram at @evadivairene and TikTok at @evadivairene_art.

Crooked Run Fermentation, 205 Harrison St. SE, Leesburg Details: mrleesburg.com

Crooked Run’s inaugural Mr. Leesburg pageant raises funds for several local charities benefiting at-risk women and youth. Contestants will participate in talent, costume and interview segments hosted by Leesburg’s own Zeke Mihelcic. Entry fee is $20 and supports designated nonprofits, including LAWS and Mobile Hope. Admission for spectators is free, but a $5 donation is encouraged.

Sunday, April 2nd, 4 PM Waterford Old School 40222 Loudoun St., Waterford, VA

Tickets: $45 adult, $20 student

Seating is limited: book early! Major credit cards accepted

For Tickets & Info, visit www.waterfordconcertseries.org

Experience the exceptional vocal talent of celebrated tenor Michael Fabiano featuring captivating performances of works by Tosti, Puccini, Verdi, and more.

Legal Notices

PUBLIC AUCTION

This proceeding is for the judicial sale of real properties located in Loudoun County, Virginia, for payment of delinquent taxes pursuant to the provisions of Virginia Code §§ 58.1-3965, et seq. Pursuant to Orders entered by the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, Virginia, the undersigned Nicholas J. Lawrence and Robert J. Sproul, Special Commissioners of Sale of said Court, will offer the real properties described below for sale at public auction to the highest bidder in front of the Historic Loudoun County Courthouse, facing King Street near the intersection of King and Market Streets, at 18 East Market Street, in Leesburg, Virginia on:

April 20, 2023

3:00 p.m. RAIN OR SHINE

Registration Starts at 2:30 p.m.

the chain of title. Any costs incurred by a bidder to inspect or investigate any property are the bidder’s responsibility and are not reimbursable.

The owner of any property listed below may redeem it at any time before the date of the auction by paying all taxes, penalties, interest, costs (including the pro rata costs of publishing this advertisement and attorney’s fees) incurred through the date before the auction.

Below is a brief description of each property to be offered for sale at the auction. More detailed information may be obtained by examining the files in the Clerk’s office of the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, or by contacting the Special Commissioners of Sale at (703) 777-0307; or N. Rebekah Long, Deputy Treasurer for Collections at (703) 771-5656.

TERMS OF SALE:

1. The sale of any real property is subject to the approval and confirmation by the Circuit Court of Loudoun County.

2. The Special Commissioners of Sale reserve the right to withdraw from sale any property listed and to reject any bid by declaring “NO SALE” after the last bid received on a property.

3. Any person who wishes to bid on any property during the auction must register with County staff before the start of bidding. As part of the registration process, potential bidders must: (i) have sufficient funds on hand to pay the Minimum Deposit required for each parcel on which they want to bid; and (ii) sign a form certifying that they do not own any property in Loudoun County for which any delinquent taxes are due, or for which there are zoning or other violations.

4. The Minimum Deposit required for each parcel is specified below, as part of the property description. The full amount of the Minimum Deposit must be paid by cashier’s or certified check made payable to Gary Clemens, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, at the time the auctioneer declares the sale

5. In lieu of attending the auction, bidders may submit written bids to the Special Commissioners of Sale, at the address listed below. All written bids must be accompanied by the applicable Minimum Deposit, which shall be paid by cashier’s or certified check made payable to Gary Clemens, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Loudoun County. Written bids must also be accompanied by a certification that the bidder is not the owner of any property in Loudoun County for which delinquent taxes are due, or for which there are zoning or other violations. A written bid form, which includes the required certification, can be obtained from the Special Commissioners of Sale or the Treasurer’s website.

6. Written bids (with the required deposit and certification) will be received by the Special Commissioners of Sale at any time prior to the date of auction and held under seal until the date of the auction. If a written bid exceeds the highest live bid received from the audience during the auction, the audience will have an opportunity to bid against the written bid. If a higher bid is not received from the audience, the Special Commissioners of Sale may declare the sale to the proponent of the highest written bid or may reject all bids by declaring “NO SALE.”

7. If either a written bid or a live auction bid is approved by the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, the balance of the purchase price must be paid in full within 30 days of Court approval.

8. Once a submitted written bid or a live bid has been accepted during the auction, it cannot be withdrawn except by leave of the Circuit Court of Loudoun County. Any bidder who attempts to withdraw his/ her bid after it has been accepted by the Special Commissioners of Sale may be required to forfeit his/her deposit.

9. Properties are offered “as is”, with all faults and without warranties or guarantees either expressed or implied. Prospective bidders should investigate the title on properties prior to bidding. The sale of the properties is not subject to the successful bidders’ ability to obtain title insurance. The sale of the properties is made free and clear only of liens of defendant(s) named in the respective judicial proceeding, and of those liens recorded after the County filed a lis pendens with the Circuit Court of Loudoun County.

10. All recording costs (including but not limited to any grantor’s tax/fee) will be at the expense of the purchaser. All property will be conveyed by Special Warranty Deed from the Special Commissioners of Sale.

11. Announcements made on the day of sale take precedence over any prior verbal or written terms of sale.

The Special Commissioners of Sale represent that information regarding the property to be offered for sale, including acreage, type of improvements, etc., is taken from tax and/or land records, and is not guaranteed for either accuracy or completeness. Bidders are encouraged to make their own investigation to determine the title, condition of improvements, accessibility, and occupancy status of each property and to bid accordingly. The sale will be made subject to matters visible upon inspection, and to restrictions, conditions, rights-of-way and easements, if any, contained in the instruments constituting

THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN v. HEIRS AT LAW & SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF DOUGLAS PETERSON, Sr, a/ka FRED DOUGLAS

PETERSON, Sr., and JOSPEHINE PETERSON, et al

CIVIL ACTION NO. CL 22-5153

LOUDOUN COUNTY TAX MAP NO. /53////////36/ PIN 653-37-8651-000

Nicholas J. Lawrence, Special Commissioner of Sale

Robert J. Sproul, Special Commissioner of Sale

Minimum Deposit Required: $18,444.00

0.41 acres, more or less, with improvements, located at 33670 Austin Grove Road, Bluemont, Virginia 20135, and described of record, among the land records of Loudoun County, Virginia as:

All the following described tract and parcel of land, with all the improvements thereon and appurtenances thereunto appertaining, situated, lying and being in Loudoun County and near the Trapp (a town in said County), Virginia, adjoining the lands of Dr. Wiley and others and bounded as follows by a survey made on the 28th day of November 1928, by A. C. Bell. Beginning in the center of a road and running N 13 ¼ E 12.20 poles to Fig. 2, a stake, thence N 68 ¾ W 4.72 poles to Fig. 3, a stake in a line of fence, thence in the center of the said road S 79 ¾ E 5.48 poles to Fig. 1 the place of beginning, containing sixty-five and seven tenths (65.7) poles, more or less, also known as:

33670 Austin Grove Road

Bluemont, Virginia 20135

AND BEING a portion of the same property, conveyed to Robert L. Peterson and Estus Peterson by deed dated May 10, 1930, recorded at Deed Book 10-F-320, 4-D-441 WB, among the land records of Loudoun County, Virginia.

THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN v. HEIRS AT LAW & SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF DOUGLAS PETERSON, Sr, a/ka FRED DOUGLAS PETERSON, Sr., and JOSPEHINE

PETERSON, et al

CIVIL ACTION NO. CL 22-5153

LOUDOUN COUNTY TAX MAP NO. /53////////38/ PIN 653-37-8564-000

Nicholas J. Lawrence, Special Commissioner of Sale

Robert J. Sproul, Special Commissioner of Sale

Minimum Deposit Required: $15,790.00

0.25 acres, more or less, of vacant land with miscellaneous improvements, no situs address, located near Bluemont, Virginia and described of record, among the land records of Loudoun County, Virginia as:

All the following described tract and parcel of land, with all the improvements thereon and appurtenances thereunto appertaining, situated, lying and being in the County of Loudoun and State of Virginia, and near the place called the Trapp, and bounded as follows: Lot No. 3 beginning at post and running S 68 ½ E. 8.24 poles to a cross fence, thence with said fence N 14 ¾ E 10 poles to an iron pin thence N 72 W 7.28 poles to an iron pin, thence S 20 W 9.60 poles to the place of beginning. Containing 10,662 square feet, more or less.

Nicholas J. Lawrence

Robert J. Sproul

Special Commissioners of Sale

Office of County Attorney

1 Harrison Street, S.E.

P.O. Box 7000

Leesburg, Virginia 20177-7000

(703) 777-0307 3/30,

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER MINOR SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION

TLSE-2023-0001 TRU URGENT CARE/BELLEWOOD COMMONS

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Minor Special Exception application TLSE-2023-0001, Tru Urgent Care/Bellewood Commons.

The subject of the application proposes an emergency care facility in the existing building at 531 East Market Street. The property is zoned CD-CC, Crescent District – Corridor Commercial and is further described by Loudoun County Parcel Identification Number (PIN) 188-15-9031-000.

Minor Special Exception Application TLSE-2023-0001 is a request by Neuman – Bellewood, LLC to allow the re-use of an existing 2,534 square feet in the Bellewood Commons Shopping Center for an emergency care facility pursuant to Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance Section 6.4.2 Use Regulations and Section 7.10.2.G.2 Applicability

Additional information and copies of this application 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 contacting Christopher Murphy, Senior Planning Project Manager by telephone at 703-737-7009, or by email at cmurphy@leesburgva.gov

At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of Council at (703) 771-2733 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 3/30 & 4/6/2023

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

ARCHITECTURAL & ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE WESTERN LOUDOUN RECREATION COMPLEX, RFP No. 594790 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, May 2, 2023.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE EASTERN LOUDOUN GROUP HOME, IFB No. 602790 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, April 24, 2023.

HUMAN REMAINS REMOVAL AND TRANSPORTATION - REISSUE, IFB No. 600791 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, April 10, 2023.

TASK ORDER ROADWAY & TRANSPORTATION DESIGN SERVICES FOR FEDERAL PROJECTS, RFP No. 502787 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, April 20, 2023.

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

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

3/30/23

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE

The Town Council of the Town of Purcellville will hold a public hearing in the Town Council Chambers located at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 6:00 PM for the purpose of receiving comments on, considering, and possibly voting on the following item:

A Special Use Permit application, identified by the Town as “SUP22-01,” to permit a drive-through facility. The drive-through facility is proposed to serve a not-yetconstructed free-standing restaurant, to be located at the north-east corner of The Shoppes at Main and Maple, directly behind the existing Walgreens building. The property is addressed as 711A East Main Street, Purcellville, Virginia, and is further identified in Loudoun County land records as Parcel Identification Number (PIN) 48830-6864 (“Property”). The application is submitted by the owner of the Property, SRB Enterprises, LLC.

Additional information regarding the Special Use Permit application is available for review at the Purcellville Town Hall, 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.

At this public hearing, all persons desiring to present their views concerning this matter will be heard. In addition, all persons have the option of sending an email to the Town Clerk, Diana Hays, at dhays@ purcellvilleva.gov, with written comments or questions concerning the proposed application. Emails sent by 4:00PM the day of the Public Hearing will be part of the written record for the public hearing, but may not necessarily be read aloud into the record at the public hearing.

Stanley J. Milan, Sr., Mayor

Town of Purcellville

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

LEESBURG TOWN CODE AMENDMENT:

CHAPTER 32 (TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES); ARTICLE V (STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING); DIVISION 1 (GENERALLY); SECTION 32-143 (PARKING CERTAIN VEHICLES ON TOWN STREETS PROHIBITED)

In accordance with the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended §§ 15.2-1427, 46.2-1222.1, 46.2-1224, and 46.2-1315, the Leesburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on:

Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA

at which time the public shall have the right to present oral and written testimony on the proposed amendment to Town Code Chapter 32 (Traffic and Vehicles) by amending Section 32-143(c) (Parking Certain Vehicles on Town Streets Prohibited). The proposed amendment to the Town Code will add language that would allow motor homes that are owned or leased by a homeowner/resident to temporarily park within reasonable proximity to the owner’s residence for a limited period of time to load or unload the motor home.

A copy of the proposed ordinance is available from the Town Clerk, located in Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.); or by calling Eileen Boeing, Town Clerk, at 703-771-2733.

At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at 703-771-2733, three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

3/30/2023 & 4/6/2023

School Board Seeks Name Suggestions for New School

The Loudoun County School Board is seeking name suggestions for a new elementary school.

A Dulles South area elementary school (ES-32), which will be co-located on the Lightridge High School/Hovatter Elementary School campus, is under construction and scheduled to open in fall 2024.

A School Board-appointed naming committee may consider geographic and historic names, as well as names of deceased individuals who significantly contributed to improving life in Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), Loudoun County, the Commonwealth of Virginia, or the United States of America. The School Board will not consider naming a school facility for any individual unless the individual has been deceased for at least five (5) years.

School name suggestions should be sent to LCPS Division of Planning and GIS Services, 21000 Education Court, Ashburn VA 20148 or emailed to LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG by no later than Monday, April 10, 2023. Citizens suggesting a school name are requested to provide background information to aid in the committee’s review process.

The School Board naming committee meetings are open to the public and are scheduled for the following dates:

Dulles South Area Elementary School Naming Committee Meetings

Thursday, April 13, 2023, 6:00 p.m., Hovatter Elementary School Library

Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 6:00 p.m., Hovatter Elementary School Library

Additional meetings may be scheduled at the request of the committee.

03/24/23 & 03/31/23

Hovatter Elementary School is located at 41135 Collaboration Drive, in Aldie. 3/23, 3/30 & 4/6/23

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2023, in order to consider:

ADOPTION OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY ANNUAL PLAN FOR LOUDOUN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM

Pursuant to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations at 24 CFR Part 903, the Board of Supervisors hereby gives notice that it intends to conduct a public hearing for the purpose of considering and adopting the Public Housing Agency (PHA) Annual Plan (FY24) for the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development Housing Choice Voucher Program. The draft plan provides information on current housing programs and the resident population served.

A copy of the full text of the above-referenced plan is available and may be examined at the Loudoun County Department of Housing & Community Development, Front Desk, 1st Floor, 106 Catoctin Circle, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia 20175 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday or call (703)737-8213 to request hard copies or electronic copies. Documents are also available for viewing at all ten (10) branch locations of the Loudoun County Public Library during regular business hours. Library hours and locations can be found at: https://library.loudoun.gov/contactus. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 252 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY Employees

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-1427 and 15.2-1508, the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intent to amend Chapter 252.02 Bonuses of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County. The proposed amendment will add an additional basis upon which the County Administrator is authorized to pay a monetary bonus to County employees and officers, namely, “for hiring or retention purposes.”

A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed ordinance is on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the County Administrator, at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

PROPOSED CONVEYANCE OF COUNTY PROPERTY

Grant of Easement to Loudoun County Sanitation Authority

41759 John Mosby Highway

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1800 et seq., the Board of Supervisors shall consider granting a 25-footwide sanitary sewer easement to Loudoun County Sanitation Authority d/b/a Loudoun Water through and across a portion of County property for the purpose of installing, laying, constructing, operating, repairing, altering, and/or maintaining underground public sewer facilities. Said easement will service the adjoining property located at 41859 John Mosby Highway (PIN 204-45-3260). The County property, PIN 203-153714, is located on the east side of Northstar Boulevard and south of John Mosby Highway (Route 50) in Aldie, Virginia, in the Dulles Election District.

Copies of the draft deed of easement and plat showing the location of the above-listed conveyance, and associated documents, are available for review and may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center; Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

PROPOSED CONVEYANCE OF COUNTY PROPERTY

Conveyance of Property on Grottoes Drive to the Ashburn Village Community Association, Inc.

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1800 et seq., the Board of Supervisors shall consider conveying 0.42 acres of County owned land near Grottoes Drive to the Ashburn Village Community Association, Inc. for their continued use and maintenance of their internal trail system. Said parcel is an abandon unimproved segment of Grottoes Drive right-of-way and is east of Glenhazel Drive and west of Ashburn Road (Route 641), as shown on Tax Map 65, running between parcels 36-1, 54-16 on the north and parcels C15-1, C15-28C2 and C8-28G to the south, in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 085271552000.

Copies of the draft deed of conveyance and plat showing the location of the above-listed conveyance, and associated documents, are available for review and may be examined at the Loudoun County Government

Center; Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”)

PROPOSED LEASE OF COUNTY PROPERTY

Proposed Lease Extension - Loudoun Hunger Relief

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1800 et seq., the Board of Supervisors shall consider extending an existing lease of County owned property, located at 750 Miller Drive S.E. Leesburg, Virginia, in the Leesburg Election District, to Loudoun Hunger Relief. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 085271552000. The current lease is set to expire in 2030 and Loudoun Hunger Relief has requested an extension of the lease until 2040.

Copies of the draft of the lease extension and associated documents, are available for review and may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center; Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”)

ZMAP-2021-0018 & ZMOD-2022-0081

FIREFOX DULLES

(Zoning Map Amendment & Zoning Modification)

Firefox Dulles LLC of Herndon, Virginia has submitted an application to rezone approximately 24.6 acres from the MR-HI (Mineral Resource – Heavy Industry) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to permit the development of 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 applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s):

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION

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

Reduce the building and parking setbacks along the future Tall Cedars Parkway/Route 50 Alternate Road from 100 feet and 75 feet respectively to 50 feet.

The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, within the Ldn 65 or higher aircraft noise contours, and partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District). The subject property is approximately 24.6 acres in size and is located north of John Mosby Highway (Route 50), west of Pleasant Valley Road (Route 609) on the north side of Wade Drive (873) and south side of the South Perimeter Road in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 097-40-9598. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Industrial/Mineral Extraction Place Type) which designate this area for large Manufacturing, contractor with outdoor Storage, and other Productive uses at a recommended FAR of up to 0.6.

WITHDRAWAL (EARLY)

REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL OF LAND BY THE MARSH REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST FROM THE NEW HILLSBORO AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-4314 and the New Hillsboro Agricultural and Forestal District Ordinance Section 1226.04 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, Survivors Trust of Marsh Revocable Living Trust of 16483 Hillsboro Road, Purcellville, Virginia, has submitted an application to withdraw a 20.51-acre parcel from the New Hillsboro Agricultural and Forestal District. The subject property is located north of Allder School Road (Route 711) and on the east side of Short Hill Road (Route 718), in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 520-28-0478. The New Hillsboro Agricultural and Forestal District currently has a 4-year period that will expire on April 10, 2026, and is subject to a subdivision minimum lot size of 20 acres.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the applications may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-7770246

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Legal Notices

(option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (12-5-2022 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). 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”).

REVIEW AND RENEWAL, MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF THE MIDDLEBURG EAST AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT

The current period of the Middleburg East Agricultural and Forestal District will expire on July 17, 2023.

The District has a four-year period and a subdivision minimum lot size of 50 acres. Pursuant to Chapter 1226 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, the Board of Supervisors has directed staff, the Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC), and the Planning Commission to conduct a review in order to determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate the District. Parcels currently enrolled in the District are located within an area generally south of Sam Fred Road (Route 748), Cobb House Road (Route 629), and Stonewall Farm Lane, west of New Mountain Road (Route 631), east of Landmark School Road (Route 776) and Foxcroft Road (Route 626), and north of and adjoining the boundary of Fauquier County, in the 2022 Little River Election District.

During this review, land less than 5 acres, or 20 acres or greater, in size that is currently enrolled in the District will be automatically renewed. However, any parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres will be ineligible for renewal and inclusion within the District unless the owner submits an application on forms provided by the Department of Planning and Zoning and one or more of the following criteria is met:

1. Management Plan that specifically states that the property owner(s) are accumulating the required 5-year production records in order to qualify for agricultural, to include horticulture, land use tax deferral.

2. Animal Husbandry including Equine uses (commercial or non-commercial) with a Management Plan that relates the pasture carrying capacity to limit the number of animals allowed.

3. Forests and woodlands with a management plan that specifies the actions required to maintain and enhance the stands.

4. Wetlands, flood plains, streams and/or rivers that have Management Plans that set forth the terms for their maintenance and enhancement.

During this review, land within the District may be withdrawn, in whole or in part, at the owner’s discretion by filing a written notice with the Board of Supervisors at any time before the Board acts to continue, modify, or terminate the District.

Landowners of the following parcels, currently enrolled in the Middleburg East Agricultural and Forestal District, were notified by certified mail of the District’s review.

Parcel Listings:

* Indicates a parcel whose owner is withdrawing it from the District.

** Indicates a parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres whose owner did not properly apply for renewal.

The ADAC held a public meeting on January 30, 2023, to review and make recommendations concerning whether to continue, modify, or terminate the Middleburg East Agricultural and Forestal District, and to review renewal applications and requests for withdrawal of land from the District. The Planning Commission considered the matter at its public hearing on February 28, 2023. The reports and recommendations of the ADAC and the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its public hearing.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the applications may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac 1-30-2023 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

REVIEW AND RENEWAL, MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF THE MIDDLEBURG WEST AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT

The current period of the Middleburg West Agricultural and Forestal District will expire on July 17, 2023. The District has a four-year period and a subdivision minimum lot size of 50 acres. Pursuant to Chapter 1226 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, the Board of Supervisors has directed staff, the Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC), and the Planning Commission to conduct a review in order to determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate the District. Parcels currently enrolled in the District are located within an area generally south of Beaverdam Bridge Road (Route 733), Quaker Lane (Route 630), and Newlin Mill Road (Route 790), east of Willisville Road (Route 623), west of Leith Lane (Route 767) and Polecat Hill Road (Route 696), Foxcroft Road (626), and Landmark School Road (Route 776), and north of and adjoining the boundary with Fauquier County, in the 2022 Little River Election District.

During this review, land less than 5 acres, or 20 acres or greater, in size that is currently enrolled in the District will be automatically renewed. However, any parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres will be ineligible for renewal and inclusion within the District unless the owner submits an application on forms provided by the Department of Planning and Zoning and one or more of the following criteria is met:

1. Management Plan that specifically states that the property owner(s) are accumulating the required 5-year production records in order to qualify for agricultural, to include horticulture, land use tax deferral.

2. Animal Husbandry including Equine uses (commercial or non-commercial) with a Management Plan that relates the pasture carrying capacity to limit the number of animals allowed.

3. Forests and woodlands with a management plan that specifies the actions required to maintain and enhance the stands.

4. Wetlands, flood plains, streams and/or rivers that have Management Plans that set forth the terms for their maintenance and enhancement.

During this review, land within the District may be withdrawn, in whole or in part, at the owner’s discretion by filing a written notice with the Board of Supervisors at any time before the Board acts to continue, modify, or terminate the District.

Landowners of the following parcels, currently enrolled in the Middleburg West Agricultural and Forestal District, were notified by certified mail of the District’s review.

Legal Notices

ZMAP-2021-0003, SPEX-2021-0004, SPEX-2021-0011, ZMOD-2021-0003

ZMOD-2021-0004, ZMOD-2021-0005, ZMOD-2021-0006

ZMOD-2021-0047 & ZMOD-2021-0092

RIVANA AT INNOVATION STATION

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

DWC Holdings LLC of Chicago, Illinois has submitted applications for the following: 1) to rezone approximately 4.92 acres from the PD-RDP (Planned Development – Research Development Park) zoning district under the 1972 Zoning Ordinance, 18.47 acres from the PD-OP (Planned Development – Office Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and 50.6 acres from the PD-TC (Planned Development – Town Center) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-TC zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop a maximum of 2,719 attached multifamily dwelling units at a proposed maximum density of 34.27 dwelling units per acre, and a maximum of 3,297,000 square feet of nonresidential development at a proposed maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.85; 2) a Special Exception to permit incidental structures greater than 840 square feet of floor area in the Floodplain Overlay District and to permit passive and active recreation uses up to 10% of the floodplain area pursuant to Sections 4-1506(E) and 4-1506(F); and 3) a Special Exception to permit surface parking pursuant to Section 4-803 and Table 4-803. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s):

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§4-802, PD-TC Planned Development – Town Center, Size, Location, and Components.

§4-802(A), PD-TC Planned Development – Town Center, Size, Location, and Components, Town Center Core.

§4-805(C)(2), PD-TC Planned Development – Town Center, Lot Requirements, Other yard requirements, Adjacent to Other Districts.

§4-806(A), PD-TC Planned Development – Town Center, Building Requirements, Lot Coverage.

§4-806(B)(1)(a), PD-TC Planned Development – Town Center, Building Requirements, Building Height, Town Center Core, Maximum Height.

§4-806(B)(2)(a), PD-TC Planned Development – Town Center, Building Requirements, Building Height, Town Center Fringe, Maximum Height.

§4-808(A)(3), PD-TC Planned Development –Town Center, Land Use Arrangement, Generally.

§4-808(A)(4), PD-TC Planned Development –Town Center, Land Use Arrangement, Generally.

§4-808(C)(1), PD-TC Planned Development –Town Center, Land Use Arrangement, Town Center Fringe.

§5-1002(D)(1), Scenic Creek Valley Buffer, Scenic Creek Valley Buffer Established.

§5-1102(D) and Table 5-1102, Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements, Number of Parking and Loading Spaces Required, Parking. and Loading Requirement by Use.

§5-1103(A), Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements, General Location Requirements, Parking Facilities.

§5-1303(A)(1), Tree Planting and Replacement, Canopy Requirements, Site Planning.

Allow Town Center Core to be located within 10,000 feet of another Town Center Core.

Allow for single use buildings in the Town Center Core.

Allow for a zero foot setback for buildings, parking, storage and loading areas adjacent to Fairfax County line.

Eliminate the 0.80 maximum lot coverage requirement in the Town Center Fringe.

Increase the maximum building height from 120 feet to 230 feet.

Increase the maximum building height from 60 feet to 240 feet.

Allow for a maximum of up to 65% of the total gross floor area be devoted to residential use.

Allow for the minimum 3% civic use to be calculated by total land area in lieu of total gross floor area square footage.

Increase the Town Center Fringe maximum perimeter distance from 1,600 feet to 2,150 feet.

Reduce the Scenic Creek Valley Buffer setback from 150 feet to 50 feet.

Allow for a parking reduction of up to 40% of the maximum requirement.

Allow for parking facilities to be located within 1500 feet of the principal entrance of the building lot being served.

Allow the 10% tree canopy requirement to be calculated based on the overall PD-TC zoning district rather than on a per site plan basis.

* Indicates a parcel whose owner is withdrawing it from the District.

** Indicates a parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres whose owner did not properly apply for renewal.

The ADAC held a public meeting on January 30, 2023, to review and make recommendations concerning whether to continue, modify, or terminate the Middleburg West Agricultural and Forestal District, and to review renewal applications and requests for withdrawal of land from the District. The Planning Commission considered the matter at its public hearing on February 28, 2023. The reports and recommendations of the ADAC and the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its public hearing.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the applications may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac 1-30-2023 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

§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).

Reduce the required building setback from 75 feet to 35 feet along Innovation Avenue.

And

Reduce the required building setback from 100 feet to 75 feet from Sully Road (Route 28). and

Reduce the required building setback from 75 feet to 50 feet along the Route 28 grade separated interchanges.

The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contours, within the QN (Quarry Notification) Overlay District- Loudoun Note Area, and partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay Dis-

Legal Notices

trict). The subject property is approximately 79.34 acres in size and is located south of Innovation Avenue (Route 209), east of Sully Road (Route 28), and north of the Dulles Toll Road (Route 267) in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as follows:

space in low-density communities with a variety of house and lot sizes. Target densities of 1du/3ac with total nonresidential Floor Area Ratio (FAR) up to 0.1.

Unless otherwise noted in the above notices, copies of the above-referenced amendments, applications, ordinances, and/or plans and related documents may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies, or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. This link also provides an additional opportunity for public input on active applications. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). In addition, for detailed instructions on how to access documents using LOLA, to request that documents be emailed to you, to receive physical copies of documents, or to arrange a time to view the file at the Loudoun County Government Center, please email DPZ@loudoun.gov or call 703-777-0246 (option 5).

The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Urban Policy Area (Urban Transit Center Place Type)) which designate this area for a range of Residential, Retail, Office, Entertainment, and Community Activity uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 2.0.

SPMI-2022-0016

KIRKPATRICK TOWER DISH INCREASE

(Minor Special Exception)

The Board of Supervisors acting through the Loudoun County Department of Information Technology of Leesburg, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Minor Special Exception to modify the Additional Regulations of Section 5-618(C)(3)(d) of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance regarding Telecommunications Use And/Or Structures in order to increase the allowable size of microwave dishes on telecommunications towers from 6 feet to 8 feet in diameter the PDH3(Planned Development Housing 3) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Sections 5-618(C)(2)(c) and 5-618(C)(2)(d)(i). The subject property is approximately 6.91 acres in size and is located on the north side of Gardenia Drive (Route 3460), the west side of Northstar Boulevard (Route 3171), and the east side of Lightridge Farm Road (Route 705) in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN 249-26-9025. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Transition Policy Area (Transition Large Lot Neighborhood)), which designates this area for residential uses and substantial open

NOTICE OF ABANDONED BICYCLES

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

Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings. All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Public input may be provided by electronic means at Board public hearings. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, will be accommodated without advanced sign-up during the hearing, however, members of the public are strongly encouraged to sign-up in advance. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on March 31, 2022, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on April 12, 2023. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up during the public hearing. Citizens may also submit written comments by email sent to bos@loudoun.gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members and made part of the minutes for the public hearing. Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200. At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings.

BY ORDER OF: PHYLLIS RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING EAST BROAD WAY 2A STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS

In accordance with the statutes of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and policies of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on April 27, 2023 at 5:30pm in the Town Council Chamber, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia at which time the public shall have the right to provide written and oral comments on the Town’s East Broad Way 2A Streetscape Improvements project and the associated project design, tentative project schedule, environmental document and right-of-way requirements.

The project includes public improvements comprised of sidewalks, curb, gutter, streetlights, storm drainage, on-street parking spaces and landscaping, storm water management and drainage, waterline replacement, and pedestrian and vehicular safety in the corridor of East Broad Way from South Loudoun Street to South Church Street.

This project will not involve a change(s) and/or break(s) in limited access control. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) an Environmental Document is being prepared. Pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106, information concerning the potential effects of the proposed project is included in the environmental document. Updates will be provided to the public on the status of the environmental studies and the NEPA Document at the public hearing.

All persons desiring to submit written or oral comments will be given an opportunity to do so at this meeting or comments can be submitted by Monday, May 8, 2023 to Charlie Mumaw, Project Manager, Town of Lovettsville, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, VA 20180 or via email: cmumaw@ lovettsvilleva.gov.

Additional details concerning the project including design plans, schedule and funding are available for review at the Town Hall between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays or by special appointment, holidays excepted. In the event the meeting is cancelled, the public hearing will be convened at the next regular scheduled meeting at the same time and place.

The Town of Lovettsville ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact the Town of Lovettsville at (540) 822-5788.

STATE PROJECT: EN18-255-290, P101 TAP-5B01(024), R201 TAP-5B01(287), C501 TAP-5B01(480) UPC

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE, VIRGINIA

Effective July 1, 2023

The Purcellville Town Council will hold a public hearing in the Council Chambers at 221 S. Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 6:00 PM for the purpose of receiving comments on the ordinance setting (1) Personal Property Tax Relief (PPTRA) notes, (2) Park & Recreation event fees for barricades, cones, disposable trash cans, lighting tower, and variable message boards, (3) increasing water user rates, (4) increasing water service fees, (5) increasing water meter fees, (6) increasing bulk water fee usage Rate, and (7) increasing sewer user rates and service fees. Rates and fees are effective July 1, 2023.

The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 6:00 PM in the Town Council Chambers of the Purcellville Town Hall, located at 221 South Nursery Avenue. At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views will be heard. Town Hall is open to to the public from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Citizens wishing to provide comments on this item can email their comments to info@purcellvilleva.gov by 4:00 PM on April 10, 2023.

1) Personal Property Tax: Personal Property Tax Relief (PPTRA) set in accordance with Loudoun County tax billing. (Va. Code § 58.1-3524).

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

overall 6.5%

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

6.5% increase

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Single Family: Water and/or sewer service provided to an individually metered single family residential home. Non-Single Family: Water and/or sewer service provided to a master-metered multi-unit/multi-family dwelling or non-residential (commercial, industrial, and institional).

Legal Notices

Utility Customer Classes Defined:

Single Family: Water and/or sewer service provided to an individually metered single family residential home. Non-Single Family: Water and/or sewer service provided to a master-metered multi-unit/multi-family dwelling or non-residential (commercial, industrial, and institional).

Utility Customer Classes Defined:

Single Family: Water and/or sewer service provided to an individually metered single family residential home. Non-Single Family: Water and/or sewer service provided to a master-metered multi-unit/multi-family dwelling or non-residential (commercial, industrial, and institional).

5) Water Meter Fee: fee for new water meters (Virginia Code § 15.2-2119). Out of Town customer rates are double the in Town rates.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Legal Notices

7) Sewer Utility Rates: The proposed rates include an overall 9.0% sewer revenue increase. Out of Town customer usage rates are double the in Town rates for sewer. (Virginia Code § 15.2-2119) Category

7) Sewer Utility Rates: The proposed Code § 15.2-2119)

Wastewater System

Wastewater Collection System: (Usage Rates Per 1,000 Gallons)

Wastewater Usage Rate (In–Town Rate)

Wastewater Usage Rate (Out of Town Rate)

Wastewater Administrative Service Charge (Fixed Fee Based on Meter Size)

March 23 & 30, 2023

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

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

Date & Time Auditorium of Meeting Spotlight

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

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

Mercer Middle School (42149 Greenstone Drive, Aldie)

Brambleton Middle School (23070 Learning Circle, Ashburn)

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

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

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

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

Kevin L. Lewis, Chief Operations Officer

Loudoun County Public Schools

Department of Support Services

21000 Education Court

Ashburn, Virginia 20148

Telephone: 571-252-1385

Email: LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG

3/9/23 – 4/20/23

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE BOARD OF ZONING

APPEALS

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

LVBZ 2023-0001, APPLICATION FOR VARIANCE

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-2204, 15.2-2309, 15.2-2310, 15.2-2311 and 15.2-2312 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, the LOVETTSVILLE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS will hold a public hearing at their meeting at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at the Lovettsville Town Council Chambers located at 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, VA 20180.

Bret and Amy Lynn Spencer of Lovettsville, Virginia, have applied for a variance to permit a deviation from Section 42-304(d)(1)b, Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems, of the Lovettsville Zoning Ordinance, to waive a requirement that solar panels be flush mounted on roofs that face a public street. The property is zoned T-C (Town Center). The subject property is approximately 0.18 acre in size and is located on the north side of Eisentown Drive approximately 100 feet east of Fox Meadow Drive, at 40 Eisentown Drive. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 369187170. All persons wishing to speak will be given the opportunity but must be present at the meeting. Members of the public may access this meeting electronically. The papers comprising the variance request are available for review on the Town website at: www.lovettsvilleva.gov. You may also request a copy be sent to you via email by contacting John Merrithew, Planning Director at (540) 822-5788 between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays, holidays excepted. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be re-advertised.

3/23 and 3/30/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA CODE §§ 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104

Case No. CL-22-6446

LOUDOUN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 18 East Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re

NAME CHANGE OF MARLON JAHELL FRANCO ECHEVERRIA

JAQUELINE ECHEVERRIA RIVAS V.

MARLON ANTONIO FRANCO, FATHER

The object of the suit is to: Change legal name of minor.

It is ORDERED that Marlon Antonio Franco appear at the above-named court and protect his interests on or before April 28, 2023 at 9:00 AM 3/16, 3/23, 3/30 & 4/6/23

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE SECTION 18-161 FOR PROPOSED INCREASE TO THE MEALS TAX RATE AND SCHEDULE OF FEES FOR FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2023 - JUNE 30, 2024

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-107, 15.2-1427, 15.2-2111, 15.2-2119, 15.2-2122, 15.2-2143, 58.1-3007, and 58.1-3840 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, the LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 6:30pm in the Town Council Chamber, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia at which time the public shall have the right to provide written and oral comments on the following amendment to the Lovettsville Town Code Section 18-161 and amendments to the Schedule of Fees for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024, to increasing the tax levied on the amount paid for meals from 3.00 percent to 3.75 percent effective July 1, 2023.

Proposed amendments are as follows:

• Sec 18-161 Imposed: There is hereby imposed and levied by the town on each person a tax at the rate of three percent on the amount paid for meals purchased from any food establishment, whether prepared in such food establishment or not and whether consumed on the premises or not. There shall be no tax if the total amount paid is $0.50 or less; on larger amounts a fractional cent of tax due shall be rounded to the next higher cent. Such taxable meals purchased shall be taxed at the rate set out in the Schedule of Fees.

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR LOUDOUN COUNTY

IN RE: )

ESTATE OF RHODA RITCHEY )

Probate File No. 19914

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AGAINST DISTRIBUTION

It appearing that a report of the account of W. Franklin Pugh, Administrator for the Estate of Rhoda Ritchey, and a report of the debts and demands against the Estate have been filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Loudoun County, and that more than 6 months have elapsed since the qualification of the Administrator before this Court,

It is ORDERED that the creditors of, and all others interested in, the Estate of Rhoda Ritchey, deceased, do show cause, if any they can, on Friday, April 28, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., before this Court at its courtroom in Leesburg, Virginia, against payment and delivery of said Estate to the Estate's beneficiaries, after payment of remaining administrative expenses and obligations;

3/30 & 4/6/23

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

Copies of the proposed Town Code amendment and amended Schedule of Fees are available on the Town website and are available for review at the Town Hall between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays or by special appointment, holidays excepted. Call 540-822-5788 for more information or visit www.lovettsvilleva.gov. In the event the meeting is cancelled, the public hearing will be convened at the next regular scheduled meeting at the same time and place.

3/30, 4/6/23

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF

ABANDONED

VEHICLES

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

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE, VIRGINIA

Estimated Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2024

July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024

Pursuant to Virginia Code Section 15.2-2506, the Town of Purcellville, Virginia hereby gives notice of a public hearing to receive comments on the Town Manager's proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024 ("FY24"). The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 6:00 PM in the Town Council Chambers of the Purcellville Town Hall, located at 221 South Nursery Avenue. At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning the budget will be heard. Town Hall is open to the public from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Citizens wishing to provide comments on this item can email their comments to info@purcellvilleva.gov by 4:00 PM on April 7, 2023.

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

The following is a brief synopsis of the budget proposed for FY24, relative to the Town's appropriations in FY23:

REVENUES

EXPENDITURES

ATTENTION NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN LOUDOUN COUNTY

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

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

Robert S. Wertz, Jr.

Commissioner of the Revenue Loudoun County

Leesburg Office 1 Harrison Street SE First Floor Sterling Office Loudoun Tech Center 46000 Center Oak Plaza

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

Phone: 703-737-8557

Email: trcor@loudoun.gov

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

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046340-03-00

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

Jason Tucker, putative father

PUBLIC NOTICE

The LOUDOUN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT has accepted application for preliminary plat of subdivision for the following project.

SBPR-2023-0007

West Belmont Place Phase 2

Mr. Matthew D. Kroll of Timber Ridge at Belmont, LLC of Ashburn, VA is requesting a preliminary/record plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately one (1.55227) acre into 16 (16) residential lots, one (1) open space lot, and accompanying right-of-way and easements. The property is bounded by Belmont Manor Lane to the north, Russell Branch Parkway (Route 1061) to the south, Black Pebble Drive to the east, and Tournament Parkway to the west. The property is zoned Residential - 16 (R16), and Airport Impact Overlay District under the provisions of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is more particularly described as Parcel Identification Number 083-26-6046 in the Ashburn Election District.

Additional information regarding this application may be found on the Loudoun Online Land Applications System www.loudoun.gov/LOLA and searching for SBPR-2023-0007. Complete copies of the above referenced application(s) are also available for public review at the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, Land Development File Room, 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Eric Blankenship at Eric.Blankenship@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to the Department of Building and Development 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by May 4, 2023. The Department of Building and Development will take action on the above application(s) in accordance with the requirements for preliminary subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.08 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO).

3/30/23

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 Zarabella Tucker.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Jason Tucker, putative father, appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his or her interests on or before April 26, 2023 at 3:00 PM 3/16, 3/23, 3/30 & 4/6/23

IEP problems

continued from page 1

an advocate who told her what to say to get it.

She also got a third-party evaluation, which she said was “gold” because it provided documented proof of both a visual perceptual disorder and generalized anxiety.

At the end of the school year in 2021, after six years of fighting, the division put an IEP in place, but Folks said the division disregarded the third-party evaluation. She said disregarding third party evaluations is one of the problems within the division.

“[The doctor’s] goal is to identify a learning disability; Loudoun County’s goal is to save themselves the money of paying for services. I know that is a bold statement but that has been my experience. Loudoun County is saving itself money by not serving those with disabilities within their community,” she said.

The Folks’ fight didn’t end there. After living out of state for a year the family moved back to Loudoun only to find the division didn’t recognize the learning disability it had recognized only the year before.

“Advocating for your child and particular for your special needs child in Loudoun County is a full-time job and it requires resources, and if you don’t have those resources you are going to lose,” Folks said.

Folks isn’t alone in that struggle.

Anika Hutchinson fought to get an IEP for her daughter Jenna for several years. Jenna couldn’t read because of a vision disability, diagnosed later. But once it was diagnosed, they learned the school division didn’t recognize it as a disability.

“I didn’t know my rights, I didn’t know I had to self-advocate,” Hutchinson said. “It felt like a game of chicken. The teachers knew she couldn’t read, but they kept advancing her.”

Hutchinson said the division didn’t

White’s Ferry

continued from page 3

county to accomplish that.”

“We needed an agreement that we could build a business model around. Owning landing rights would enable us to understand and manage ferry costs so that we could offer the best product at a price the users can afford,” Kuhn stated. “The states, counties, and towns involved all understand this. Sadly, one entity—one

accept a diagnosis from a vision therapist and wouldn’t give Jenna an IEP.

Jenna finally got an IEP in fifth grade, which she said helped her become an A student. But she ran into more problems as she got older, including battling every year to keep accommodations, like having tests read aloud to her, listed in her IEP, fighting to get accommodations for upper-level courses and being bullied. She said her confidence fell apart and she began to think she had no future.

“The main thing I was told was my grades were too high, so I didn’t need [accommodations]. I would tell them I’m getting those grades because of the help I’m getting, if you take those away I’ll get C’s and D’s again,” Jenna said.

Jenna, who as a 17-year-old said she reads at a second-grade level, got help from a vision therapist which has helped her find her confidence and allowed her to take college-level courses, something she thought at one point would be impossible.

Folks said her daughter also gets good grades and meets the benchmarks, but said it takes her more effort to reach it.

“Just because she’s meeting that benchmark doesn’t mean you are serving her,” Folks said. “At what point is she going to break? At what point do we not give her the support she needs in order to thrive in school? I don’t want her to just survive and pass, I want her to love education and thrive and grow.”

Other parents agreed, and said they felt their child’s IEP wasn’t an individual plan, but a one-size-fits-all effort.

Whitney Mitchell is a mom to a kindergartner who is considered legally deaf and blind, is non-verbal, and has myriad health issues, including extreme seizures that leave her dependent on others to survive.

She said she has been fighting for years, including hiring an advocate, to get her daughter the services she needs. The advocate helped improve her daughter’s IEP but now she says the problem is getting it implemented. She said her daughter hasn’t attended school for 36 days this year be-

family—refuses to be part of the solution and is hurting real people and our local communities.”

But Kuhn’s announcement, Devlin said, could mean her her family ends up buying and reopening the ferry after all.

“Mr. Kuhn’s willingness to sell the Maryland ferry assets to Montgomery County is good news. If the price is disclosed, Rockland Farm will consider buying the ferry assets for the same price and will bring in an independent ferry operator to get a ferry up and running again without

cause the division hasn’t hired a nurse for her daughter to keep her safe.

“The lack of consistency has caused her so much regression. She used to crawl, and I believe by them not letting her go to school she has lost the ability,” she said.

Mitchell said she was so frustrated at the IEP process that she began recording the meetings to have proof when things weren’t done correctly.

“IDEA makes it very clear that there is no medical situation that would prevent a child from receiving some type of appropriate education,” Mitchell said.

Speech-Language Pathologist Jobs Cut

Special Education Advisory Committee Chair Sharon Tropf said under IDEA and the Americans with Disabilities Act every disability should be covered within school divisions. She said she has heard for a few years that students with visual and hearing disabilities face additional challenges in getting access to instructional material within the division. She agreed that Loudoun’s school division, like all divisions, can be difficult to navigate.

Tropf said for the past four years she has told the administration about teacher shortages and other issues, like underreporting of services and needs in IEP’s, rounding down in ratio computations and student and teachers not getting needs met.

She said the fact that the division has maintained its special needs population at 11% for several years, below the national average of 15%, tells her not that there are fewer students with disabilities, but that students with disabilities aren’t being served.

“I don’t know how you could do that without some type of management of numbers, because you would think they would fluctuate either up or down depending on enrollment and needs but they maintain that flat rate, which raises red flags to me,” she said.

Tropf said there seems to be a disconnect between what is reported by staff and

further ado,” she stated.

She said an offer to Montgomery and Loudoun counties to provide a permanent easement for a volume-based fee is still on the table, and the family is willing to work with the counties to explore realigning the landing, buying a new ferry, putting in a maintenance facility and hiring an independent ferry operator.

White’s Ferry first opened in January 1782 as Conrad’s Ferry. After the Civil War, Confederate Colonel Elijah V. White purchased the ferry and renamed the ser-

what is reported by families, and that several families are afraid to speak up for fear of retaliation. Mitchell said the same.

“The administration is very aware of the concerns of families being afraid of retaliation. It says it doesn’t work that way, but families report otherwise,” Tropf said.

During Tuesday night’s School Board meeting, six speech-language pathologists, all wearing pink, spoke about the rising demand for their position and asked the board to keep the 10 positions planned to be cut in the fiscal year 2024 budget, after the temporary COVID-19era funding for those positions will end.

Tricia Fontanilla noted a growth in need for services, and said as of February there were 3,739 students in the division receiving speech language therapy services, an increase of 150 students since October. She also noted an additional 245 students who are undergoing speech language evaluations.

“We are indeed not overstaffed but grossly understaffed,” Kara Vessey said, noting they don’t have substitutes. When a speech-language pathologist takes a leave of absence, another certified pathologist has to take on their caseload.

“There will be voices that are silenced if you do not continue to approve these positions. Please do not exclude special education students in your plan for excellence,” Cheri Holdridge said.

These issues aren’t exclusive to Loudoun. Other divisions are also struggling to meet the need. The Virginia Department of Education is also under federal review after it continued to fall short in monitoring and responding to complaints against school districts in 2020.

Loudoun Now sent multiple requests for an interview with the Office of Special Education for this story.

There are a number of free resources available to parents. The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center offers resources and information at peatc.org. The Special Education Advisory Committee has meetings and resources to guide parents as well. n

vice after his family, and the ferry boat after Confederate General Jubal Early. The ferry’s previous owners bought it in 1946, owning and operating it until stopping service in December 2020 and selling in February 2021.

When last it ran, ferry tickets were $5 one way and $8 roundtrip for cars, $3 one way for motorcycles, $2 for bikes and $1 for pedestrians. It was the only Potomac River crossing between the American Legion Bridge and Point of Rocks, and carried nearly 800 people a day across the river. n

690 Interchange

continued from page 1

disappointing but not surprising to see you continue down this path.”

In a response email, Buffington said that Milan had led the town in the cancellation and rejection of millions of dollars in improvements.

“Given that Purcellville is in my district, and that I was elected by a majority of voters within and around the town, I will continue to draw public attention to actions made by your council that are not in line with what I believe to be in the best interest of the public and are not supported by the majority of public opinion that I am aware of,” Buffington wrote.

Already delays have prompted the county to cancel plans that were decades in the making for a sports complex at Fields Farm, just south of Woodgrove High School. The county is in the process of buying 143 acres just west of town, and at a March 21 meeting, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to put the sports complex—along with an eventual replacement planned for the Purcellville Library and the new Western Loudoun Recreation Center—on that land.

The extended town review of the interchange project threatens one of its funding sources, the state SMART SCALE program, according to county staff members. It is partially funded with $9.6 million of SMART SCALE money, and they have warned taking too long to start construction could not only threaten that funding, but also future applications to support county projects.

County Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure Director Nancy Boyd reported to county supervisors on March 21 that the Virginia Department of Transportation has said it would not adjust the timelines around that funding, and that county staff has reached out to Commonwealth Transportation Board members to explain the delays—and attempt to save Loudoun’s reputation as a grantee.

“Our goal there is to help ensure that future SMART SCALE applications are not viewed in a negative light due to the delays on this project and other SMART SCALE projects within the town,” she said.

Already, the town council’s actions to delay, then approve, then reverse that vote and deny the county’s application to build a park-and-ride commuter lot in town has likely cost the Loudoun taxpayer $3.6 million, SMART SCALE funding which had been awarded for that project, and which without the project will have to be returned.

That vote also halted county staff ’s work

to design road alignments and buffers to for a planned southern connector road to the Woodgrove campus, a project aimed at addressing concerns about that road from people living nearby and which had been agreed to first as part of the county’s application for the Fields Farm project, and then again as part of the commuter lot application, which was subsequently denied.

Now, for the interchange, the county needs the town to review and approve plats that show adjusted boundary lines and easement boundaries. This would include vacating the floodplain easement that is between the town, the county and the Catoctin Meadows HOA.

Typically, that is an administrative process requiring no planning commission or town council vote, although in this case the council has stepped in.

But Buffington said the county is moving ahead with or without the town’s approval. He said if the town does not approve the county’s plans, the county will simply not build the eastbound exit ramp from Rt. 7, which would be in the southwest quadrant of the interchange. County transportation staff members had previously suggested that as a workaround for project delays.

But Buffington also said moving ahead without that offramp would also cancel parts of the project aimed at mitigating impacts to the floodplain and wetlands.

“If we have to move forward without that offramp because they’re opposed to it, then they will not get those improvements that will fix the problem that they’re concerned about,” Buffington said. “… So, my thought is that they should work with us so they’ll get those improvements.”

The county hosted a March 24 community meeting on the interchange at the Purcellville Train Station. Many comments from the audience focused on the impact the interchange could have on byways and neighborhoods that commuters might use as a cut-through, as well as frustrations over the current state of traffic in town.

The day before, March 23, the Purcellville Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the Town Council deny support for the interchange, or apply conditions to its approval requiring the county fully addressing the commission’s concerns. The resolution adopted at the March 23 meeting states, “the Purcellville Planning Commission strongly advises the Town Council to not agree to vacate the easement agreement with Catoctin Meadows HOA and reject any support for the construction of the Rt. 7/690 interchange unless and until the floodplain flow issue is addressed by Loudoun County officials and significantly mitigated.” n

William “Bill” Daid Sargent

William “Bill” David Sargent, 79, of Leesburg, Virginia passed on Monday, March 20, 2023, at his home. Born Monday, February 7, 1944, he was the son of the late William Robert Sargent and the late Virginia Wimmer Sargent. Bill grew up in Princeton, WV and decided to make the move to Fairfax County, VA after graduating from high school in 1962, and was employed as a plumber’s assistant. He then moved to Loudoun County to start his own plumbing business where he developed not only business relationships, but many that turned in to good friendships over the years. Bill also worked for the Loudoun County Government which he retired from after 18 years of service. Two interests that Bill was very passionate about was his love of flying and music. At one time, he had obtained his private pilots license and enjoyed sharing his stories about his flying experiences. He also loved playing his guitar, writing music and recording in Nashville. Locally he was associated with several bands where he played lead guitar and sang. He enjoyed these times with fellow musicians which developed into many life-long friendships. Bill leaves many to cherish his memory including his loving wife of 35 years, Thelma M. Sargent; son, William Chris Sargent of Winchester, VA, stepdaughter, Susan Bukovsky (Brian) of Leesburg, VA, brother, Randy Sargent (Florence) of Princeton, WV, sisters, Gerolene Keillor of Princeton, WV, Dena Turpin of Princeton, WV and Judy Okes of Windermere, FL. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, Timothy Bukovsky and Lauren Bukovsky, as well as many nieces and nephews. Funeral Services were held at Loudoun Funeral Chapel on March 27, 2023. Bill took pride

in giving back to the community and organizations he believed in. To honor his memory, donations can be made to Saint Jude’s, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue, or the charity of your choosing. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.loudounfuneralchapel.com

Ethel Mae Livesay, 94 of Leesburg, Virginia died on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at Heritage Hall in Leesburg, Virginia. Born May 9, 1928, in Sandy Hook, Maryland she was one of twelve children to the late Raymond Howard Speaks and the late Bertha Mae Smith Speaks. Ethel is survived by her daughter, Carol Livesay Fletcher of Leesburg, VA, son Steven Livesay and wife June of Kitty Hawk, NC and son Gregory Livesay and wife Sally of Winchester, VA. in addition to seven grandchildren, seven great- grandchildren and one great-great grandchild along with many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased in death by her husband of 35 years, Milam Earl Livesay; as well as her son, Timothy Wayne Livesay and daughter, Melody Ann Livesay Ethel spent most of her life primarily as a homemaker and was a long-standing member of the Leesburg Baptist Church. A graveside service will be at on Monday April 3, 2023, at 11:00 am at Leesburg Union Cemetery. Online condolences may be made to the family at www. loudounfuneralchapel.com

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

Ethel Mae Livesay

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Big Steps

The Leesburg Town Council this week took another big step toward ensuring the continued prosperity of its historic downtown business district.

Perhaps it would have been easy to simply reject the public-private partnership redevelopment proposal that resulted from its exploratory solicitation a year ago. It’s a complex package of uses—each identified as top town priorities—that comes with a lot of unanswered questions about how, or if, they can sustainably mesh. The council instead opted to take on the hard work of finding those answers.

Perhaps more important was the council’s vote to begin the assessment of the scale of remediation needed at the long-abandoned downtown dump. It’s a recognition that the land won’t achieve a higher use as long as the status of the discarded material underneath remains a mystery. Hopefully, it also is a recognition that the town must ensure the site poses no environmental or health hazard. The don’t ask/don’t look strategies of previous councils was an abdication of that responsibility. It may very well turn out to be a costly undertaking, but it is not one a private landowner likely would be permitted to avoid.

These actions follow the council’s support for standing up a Main Street program to better coordinate downtown events and improvements. Although still in an exploratory, steering committee status, that effort already is demonstrating the benefits that will come from better coordination of historic district stakeholders.

Together these steps demonstrate not only that the council has a vision for the future of the downtown area, but the boldness to explore new ideas to achieve it. It’s a welcome change. n

Need Change

Editor:

The unethical behavior continues within the administration building of LCPS where parents have been saying for years that there is a complete mismanagement of funding and yet with another increase of their operating budget the constituents will continue to bleed money to a school system that is bent on destroying education.

Finally, voices are being heard about the corruption that not only plagues our general education students, but more specifically our special education students. LCPS cuts corners, denies services which is ultimately a violation of FAPE. Some of their most egregious violations are when they claim they lack funding to hire required personnel per child’s IEP, which results in children not being able to attend school. Essentially, it is the children who are being punished because of LCPS’s mismanaged funding and lack of being able to keep good staff employed. This truly speaks to the climate of LCPS.

It bothers me to my core when I hear LCPS continue to press forward with their ideology of equitable education, their gender theories, but this demo-

LETTERS to the Editor

graphic continues to struggle and get swept aside or is taught with outdated methodology that is nothing more than smoke and mirrors to those families thinking their child’s academic needs will be met.

Those teachers that are brave enough to advocate for their students see repercussions from administration and parents see repercussions from teachers when they hold them accountable for implementation of their child’s IEP. These are legal documents that are mandated by federal law to be followed so that every child has the opportunity for free and appropriate public education. Funny how many think these documents are optional!

November’s elections are coming and there will be a changing of the guard. This is only the first step in correcting the corruption within the walls of LCPS. There must be a new standard of operation in every school across the county and not rogue operating systems from school to school. With the new School Board and superintendent, whomever they will be, let us hope for our children’s sake that the focus returns back to education as Virginia’s score across the

state continue to plummet. Let us hope our special education students finally get the programming needed to see growth academically by closing the educational gap and that the bleeding of funds stop so that the quality of education increases for all our students here in Loudoun County.

— Erin Roselle Poe, Broadlands

Fix It

Editor:

As a constituent, Virginia lawyer and someone who voted for Senator Warner, I must ask for immediate attention in modifying the Restrict Act being sponsored in Congress.

It currently fits the profile of bait and switch legislation at best and a highly punitive, overly expandable law at worst. Warner’s TV presentations and the Section 4 introduction of the bill clearly implies the intent and design is to control/ prevent foreign governments and foreign entities from predatorily manipulating mostly American youth.

I could agree with the “bait,” but upon reading Bill 686 the inclusion of any per-

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LETTERS to the Editor

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sons under U.S. jurisdiction for even potential threats spoken to a second person or shared on a social media site or even just “liked” on a site could yield a 20-year prison term, $1 million fine and property forfeiture under a changing definition controlled by an unelected, non-judicial federal employee is the “switch” that has to be changed or deleted.

The chilling effect against our First Amendment rights are painfully obvious.

The act also describes American citizens and illegal aliens as the same under the persons definition. Would you be willing to accept this act knowing that even a verbal threat by one child to another child clearly not executable by a child to hack a video game (included under Section 5-6C) being played would fall under the act as a criminal violation?

Individuals are not entities. Americans are not foreign adversaries. Illegal aliens are not Americans. Sharing a post should not be a crime. The Secretary of Commerce should not be the judge and jury on thwarting American First Amendment rights and most importantly congressional bills should be clearly outlined as to what is included and not included rather than described as patriotic in the front and totalitarian in the back.

Please fix it.

Oatlands

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— Bob Ohneiser, Lucketts

operations. The historic tourism site is down to one staff member other than himself. Also, he said unreasonable Trust restrictions have made it more difficult to complete important repairs, including that a donor’s offer to replace the mansion’s leaking roof fell through when the Trust required a substantially more expensive copper roof. Today, the nonprofit said, $2.5 million is needed for repairs on the property, including $1.5 million for the roof replacement, mold remediation, and repair to the wooden balustrades that provide a safety guardrail on the mansion’s front lawn, according to the lawsuit.

Schutz said his efforts to resolve the concerns over the past several years have been met with inaction by Trust leaders. He said he hopes that the lawsuit will lead to more constructive talks or result in a court order that forces a more equitable treatment.

The statement published by the Trust cites concerns about the local organization’s stewardship of the National Historic Landmark Property and its fundraising capabilities.

“Over the past year, the National Trust

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has become concerned that Oatlands, Inc. is not fully meeting its responsibility to properly support and manage this National Historic Landmark. We have communicated these concerns to the leadership of Oatlands, Inc. consistently and provided specific steps to address these issues collaboratively. However, Oatlands, Inc. has chosen to file a lawsuit rather than work with us in the best interests of this important historic place,” according to the statement.

Specifically, the Trust denies it owes additional funding or property rights to Oatlands Inc. and stated it has worked to resolve the concerns through and open and productive relationship with the nonprofit. “The National Trust has engaged in consistent good faith efforts to find a path forward with Oatlands, Inc. on disputed issues and has told Oatlands, Inc. that it would like to focus attention on resolution, with the assistance of a qualified mediator if needed. Unfortunately, Oatlands, Inc. has not agreed to this path forward, choosing litigation instead,” it stated.

In its motion for denial, the Trust notes the co-stewardship agreement requires Oatlands Inc. “to operate and maintain the Property on a financially self-sufficient basis, without primary reliance on NTHP’s discretionary endowment contributions.”

“OI’s claim of being financially ‘starved’

by NTHP is at odds with the plain terms of the Cooperative Agreement, which, as noted, require OI to operate and maintain the Property on a financially self-sufficient basis, without primary reliance on NTHP’s discretionary endowment contributions. And if OI ever finds that its obligations have become financially infeasible—including based on the amount discretionary financial support from NTHP—OI can terminate them without penalty,” the filing stated.

While pointing to Oatlands Inc. as the source of its own financial stress, the Trust said it was hopeful finding a solution.

“The National Trust’s highest and greatest concern is for the perpetual protection of Oatlands, which serves the Loudoun County community in a number of ways and is an important part of the history of the United States and Virginia. … We remain devoted to its preservation and interpretation for the benefit of the public, and we are deeply saddened that Oatlands, Inc. has chosen this course of action. We urge Oatlands, Inc. to work with us as partners, not opposing litigants, for the benefit of this wonderful historic property,” according to the statement.