Loudoun Now for April 25, 2024

Broadband Expansion Deadline

Pushed to 2025

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

Just months after being told by project leaders that the effort to extend broadband service to more than 8,600 homes in western Loudoun was on track to be mostly completed by the end of the year, supervisors learned last week that the deadline is being pushed back 15 months.

The $61 million project—funded by federal and state grants, Dominion Energy and internet provider All Points Broadband—envisions the construction of 620 miles of fiber, with 175 miles to be attached to utility poles.

The project stems from a 2020 initiative brought forward by Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) and former Supervisor Tony Buffington (R-Blue Ridge), which resulted in the board directing staff to begin working on a way to speed the delivery and expansion of broadband service in underserved and unserved areas of the county.

Assistant Director of Information Technology Dave Friedrich told the board during an April 17 briefing that the increased need for utility pole attachments across the county and the state will push

Flower & Garden

Festival Draws Record Crowds

Record crowds returned to downtown Leesburg on Saturday and Sunday for the town’s 34th annual Flower and Garden Festival. Visitors and locals enjoyed a rain-free weekend and packed the streets to celebrate spring while sampling the offerings of 150 vendors, listening to live music, and enjoying the tastes of carnival food.

“All indications are that attendance at this year’s Flower & Garden Festival surpassed 2023’s record-breaking 40,000+ attendance,” town Public Information Officer

Kara Rodriguez said. “We received reports from our vendors that it was their best day of business at the festival since they began participating, and heard similar comments from downtown businesses about how successful the weekend

the estimated completion date for the project from July 2024 to October 2025. Contractors working on the broadband expansion must submit applications to attach lines to existing utility poles owned by Dominion Energy and the Northern Virginia Electrical Cooperative.

“We’d like to emphasize that our partners are dedicated to having broadband service available to the first county resident in the calendar year 2024,” Friedrich said.

was for them.”

“We were particularly pleased with the lively atmosphere of the Garden

All Points Vice President of Business Development Tom Innes said, despite the delay, the project was moving forward.

“The key number here is that [since December] we have had a 16 times increase in the number of poles that have been made ready for All Points to attach our fiber,” he said, adding that currently 4,400 poles were ready with another 8,000 in the review process.

Initially, the applications to attach to Dominion utility poles totaled about

Patch area that boasted activities for children. We are looking forward to another great event next year,” she said. n

10,000 statewide. But Dominion received requests for approximately 125,000 poles in 2023.

All Points plans to submit applications for 13,000 Dominion and NOVEC poles in Loudoun alone and has surveyed approximately 17,000 individual poles.

Dominion representatives said as the funding for the project increased,

Norman Styer/Loudoun Now

The Town of Leesburg Parks & Recreation Department would like to thank Sponsors, Businesses, Residents, and Festival Goers for their support .

Schools Award 4 for Educational Leadership

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

Loudoun County Public Schools teachers Andrew Bango and Kimberly Poole and principals Nikisha Diehl and Jeffery Joseph were announced Tuesday as the 2024 teachers and principals of the year.

Bango is a P.E. teacher at Arcola Elementary School. Poole teaches Career and Technical Education at J. L. Simpson Middle School. Bango is the division’s nominee for the 2024 Washington Post Teacher of the Year Award.

Two winners were selected in each category this year as part of an effort to adjust the award timeline to allow the division to continue to participate in the regional Washington Post awards program.

“I am fortunate that I love my job and I love to wake up on Mondays and get to work and every week that has never changed. I work with the best school, the best teachers, the best staff and I couldn’t do it without them,” Bango said.

In her comments, Poole noted Bango was in her class as a seventh-grade student during her first year teaching in Loudoun.

“God blessed me the day he chose me for Simpson. Simpson is my home. I’ve been there since 1995. I’ve been married there, had two kids there…. I teach with my sister and I teach with my niece. Simpson is an incredible place I am so blessed to have worked with the students there for

all of this time,” Poole said. “I told them the other day I don’t know why anyone would be anything other than a teacher it is so incredible. Its iso rewarding. My heart is just beyond full.”

Bango holds a bachelor’s degree from Campbell University and has been at Arcola Elementary since 2011. In addition

to teaching, he also coached wrestling at Tuscarora High School for 10 years. Poole has a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree from Shenandoah University. She started her teacher career at Simpson in 1995.

Diehl has been the principal at Mercer Middle School since 2019. Before that she

was assistant principal of River Bend Middle School from 2016 to 2019 and dean at Smart’s Mill Middle School from 2015 to 2016. She has a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University and a master’s

EDUCATION LEADERS continues on page 32

Johnson, McAlister Among 117 Honored During Chamber Valor Awards

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The county’s first responders were honored after another year of protecting and serving the community during the Loudoun Chamber’s 39th Valor Awards ceremony held April 18 at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne.

The event was emceed by ABC7 News evening anchors Scott Thurman and Victoria Sanchez and Chamber President and CEO Tony Howard.

“Today, we gather to honor 117 courageous individuals including 82 of Loudoun’s career and volunteer public safety team and a record 35 civilians who have all earned valor awards for their heroic actions in the year 2023,” Howard said. “Loudoun County is truly blessed to have so many dedicated public safety

heroes who every day make the commitment and the sacrifices necessary to keep our families and our community safe.”

But this year’s events held special significance for the community after volunteer firefighter Trevor Brown was killed and 10 other firefighters were injured in a home explosion in February.

A table was set up to honor Brown and other first responders killed in action. Fire and Rescue Combined System Chief Keith Johnson also took the opportunity to thank the community for the support they showed following the incident.

“Thank you to each of the agencies, departments, county and town staff, elected officials, stakeholders and

VALOR AWARDS

continues on page 32

April 18, 2024.

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

The Loudoun County Combine Fire and Rescue System, Sheriff’s Office and Leesburg Police Department present the colors during the 39th annual chamber Valor Awards Ceremony

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

From left, Superintendent Aaron Spence, School Board Chair Melinda Mansfield (Dulles), Nikisha Diehl, Jeffery Joseph and Vice Chair Arben Istrefi (Sterling) smile for a photo April 23. Diehl and Joseph were awarded Principal of the Year.

Loudoun

County’s Development Fee Increase to Be Phased Over Two Years

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

After years of working to update the county’s Capital Intensity Factors, the Board of Supervisors voted to phase in the development proffer increases dictated by the new formula over the next two fiscal years during a meeting April 16.

The CIF is the formula that determines how much a new residential unit costs county taxpayers for new government facilities during rezoning applications and is used when officials are evaluating those applications and negotiating proffers associated with them.

The new CIF includes recommendations to update impact figures associated with conventional and age-restricted housing, adds impact costs for urban multi-family attached development, introduces a cost differential based on housing size, and replaces the regional roads contributions with a new Roads CIF.

The updated formulas increase recommended capital facility proffers significantly.

The standard CIF for a single-family detached suburban home is calculated with a population per housing unit of 3.84, county cost per capita of $7,139,

child per unit of 1.13 and school cost per child of $70,329 resulting in the total cost of $106,900 per unit. Beginning July 1, county staff will only use 60% of that, or $64,100 during proffer negations with developers. On July 1, 2025, that number will increase to $85,500.

Under the former CIF, 100% of the cost for that same unit type was $47,554.

During a meeting in March, supervisors Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) and Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) proposed the idea of phasing in the new factors out of concern that the sudden increase in costs would negatively affect the housing market—a concern shared by the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce.

County staff members had not evaluated the proposal by that meeting but brought a phase-in recommendation to the board April 16. The proposal will begin with 60% of the total cost going into effect July 1, 2024, 80% July 1, 2025, and 100% July 1, 2026.

“I thought we were pretty accommodating. The development industry was getting hit pretty hard with the new capital intensity factors and we said, ‘alright, we’ll phase it in over two years.’ And I think that’s a reasonable approach,” Turner said.

“It’s really about just trying to make

sure that we understand the consequences of what the impacts of this are going to be,” Letourneau said.

Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) said she did not support the proposal because the development industry already is not paying as much as they should be.

“The taxpayers are having to bear a larger share of that cost than I think they should have to,” she said.

Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony (D-Little River) said that developers had been part of the Fiscal Impact Committee that updated the cost calculations, a point made by Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling), during the March meeting.

“They gave input into the formula to justify the cost behind the contributions,” TeKrony said.

The board also voted at a recent meeting to implement an interim policy that exempts attainable housing projects from making the contributions toward capital facilities, regional roads and transit services.

“So, the developer is getting a credit on attainable housing, which I absolutely support,” she said.

The motion to phase the CIF passed 6-3, with Umstattd, Saines and TeKrony opposed. n

PDR Program Moves to Transportation Committee

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The county’s Purchase of Development Rights program is headed to the Transportation and Land Use Committee after a discussion by supervisors April 16 on whether to keep it at the bottom of their priority list or not.

In January, the board removed the spring deadline for the program changing it to “TBD” indefinitely and halting years of work by staff. During budget discussions, the board also cut funding for two proposed PDR full-time equivalent personnel.

County planning staff last week presented a department work plan to be approved or amended by the supervisors

with options to keep the PDR in TBD or remove it from the list of items completely.

The purpose of the PDR initiative is to revive the program that enables the county government to purchase development rights from private landowners for land conservation purposes.

Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony (D-Little River) said she would like an update presented to TLUC on where the project was when staff stopped working on it in January.

Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) agreed he would like to send it to the committee but proposed taking it a step further and letting them refine the plan. He said he understood that the board was not ready to fund

ON THE Agenda

Panel Endorses Roundtable Process for Dulles Noise

The Board of Supervisors’ Transportation and Land Use Committee last week endorsed a plan to enter into a community roundtable process with the Federal Aviation Administration to address neighborhood concerns about aircraft noise at Dulles Airport.

Under the plan, which is subject to approval by the full board, potential changes to Dulles flight rules would be studied by a community roundtable comprised of representatives of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, local jurisdictions, and key community groups within a 10-mile radius of Dulles Airport.

Also, the county government would issue a request for proposals to hire a consultant to help lead the process. Vianair has been providing that service over the past year, but procurement rules require a new round of competitive bidding for a larger contract. Additionally, the committee has endorsed a proposal to retain the Aloft Group as a subcontractor to assist with community engagement.

Debate over ways to reduce noise or change flight patterns at Dulles began early last year with the county adopted updated planning policies that placed more homes in the designated high-noise zones around the airport. Late last year, FAA leaders suggested a roundtable approach to study potential changes to flight rules.

the program with staff this budget cycle but said if the PDR was more refined by the fiscal year 2026 budget, maybe the board would be more willing to fund the necessary personnel.

“At least we need an opportunity to discuss it in TLUC and ask a number of questions that we really have not had the time to flesh out,” he said.

Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) who opposes the PDR program, said he did not object to TLUC getting an update on where in the process staff had halted work, but that he did not think it should be included in the current planning and zoning

PDR PROGRAM

continues on page 6

County to Study Options for Horse Trails in Banshee Reeks

A simmering four-year debate over whether to allow horses in the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve has finally arrived at the Board of Supervisors dais.

Last week, the board’s Transportation and Land Use Committee endorsed plans to commission a study of the 695-acre park south of Leesburg to determine which trails could be used by equestrians.

Currently, horses and bicycles are prohibited in the park.

The county’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space Board has been

continues on page 7

County Planners Recommend High School With 5,000-Seat Stadium

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

A conflicted county Planning Commission recommended approval of a new high school and elementary school next to Watson Mountain Middle School near Brambleton after debate over whether a proposed 5,000-seat stadium was needed.

The 173-acre parcel is planned for a 350,000-square-foot high school and 120,000-square-foot elementary school. In addition to the 5,000-seat stadium, the high school will accommodate 2,100 students and house a 3,000-person gym, practice field, baseball field, softball field, tennis courts and soccer fields.

The gym and stadium are larger than what is typical for other schools because the division is hoping to use them for regional events, such as football state finals.

During a public hearing in March, residents from the nearby Willowsford and Hartland neighborhoods opposed the application voicing concerns about light pollution and other potential impacts on their homes.

During a second public hearing April 11, a motion by Commissioner Robin-Eve Jasper (Little River), whose district includes the property, to forward the item to a future meeting until school administrators designed a plan with a smaller stadium, seating 2,100 to 2,700 spectators, failed 2-5-1 with only her and commissioner Dale Polen Myers (At Large) supporting it. Commissioner Ad Barnes (Leesburg) abstained from the vote.

Jasper said although she supported the new schools, she thought the stadium was too big.

“This property is within the rural and the transition policy area, and while I appreciate the desire to host regional events, there’s nothing compelling about hosting the regional events at this particular location,” Jasper said.

Myers agreed saying a stadium of that size did not match the neighboring low-density residential neighborhoods or the nearby vineyard and the road network did not support the level of traffic a larger stadium would bring.

“This is not the right location. This is not the appropriate location for this. This is not sustainably supportive of what’s going on around it,” she said.

Barnes said he had concerns about the size of the stadium as well, but he did not think forwarding it to a future work ses-

sion would solve anything.

Other commissioners worried that the group was stepping outside of its purview for issuing a commission permit, which signifies a project conforms to county planning policies.

“The application does meet all the requirements for approval of a commission permit,” Mark Miller (Catoctin) said.

He said, while it is true that the stadium is proposed in the Transition Policy Area, it was along the border of a suburban zoned area.

“Even me, with my bad shoulder, can throw a football from the Transition Rural Policy Area to the Suburban Policy Area. … We’re not building this in Waterford,” he said.

Commission Chair Michelle Frank (Broad Run) said she also thought that a denial recommendation based on the size of the stadium was outside the purview of a commission permit.

“This is a perfect example of the challenges that we face as a county when we have very large amounts of by-right residential development, which Willowsford and Hartland are giant examples of,” she said. “When that happens, we don’t get a plan for a community that includes locations for schools, proffered land for schools or anything. And we are put in the position that we find ourselves in today of trying to find the perfect sites that are affordable and in the right location and everything else, to serve those communities.”

The item will now advance to the Board of Supervisors for consideration. If approved, the schools are scheduled to open in the fall of 2028. n

Loudoun County

A depiction of the proposed plans for a new high school and elementary school being considered by the Planning Commission at the location of Watson Mountain Middle School.

Jewish Community Speaks Out Against Briskman’s Call for Ceasefire

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

Members of Loudoun’s Jewish community spoke out during a Board of Supervisors meeting last week to criticize statements made by Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) regarding the war between Israel and Hamas sparked by a series of coordinated attacks and kidnappings by the Palestinian Islamist militant group on Oct. 7.

In a statement written with the Loudoun County government letterhead, posted to X and included in Briskman’s April 4 newsletter, she said she supported an “immediate ceasefire to end the human suffering in Gaza.”

“I condemn the heinous terrorism of Hamas, including their attack on October 7th and the taking of hostages. However, Israel’s response has gone beyond proportional. The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have demonstrated a disdain for human life. The IDF just this week attacked an Iranian Embassy in Syria, threatening to expand the war. This situation is just as dangerous as the war started by Russia against Ukraine,” she wrote.

During the April 16 meeting, members of the Jewish community said the letter was offensive and antisemitic.

“When you call for an immediate ceasefire, you’re not only calling to sacrifice the more than 130 lives of Jewish people still being held, raped and tortured by

PDR Program

continued from page 4

work plan.

“Until or unless the board is actually going to take it up and want to do it. Which is not where we are based on the budget vote because we didn’t give them any staff to do it,” he said.

Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) questioned why the board was voting on it again when a decision had been made in January to leave it with a “TBD” designation.

“If we send it to TLUC and the members of TLUC wanted to refine the program or dig into it, it would require staff time, yes? So, we have made it clear we want it in TBD and no staff time spent on it and we did not fund the two positions for it,” she said.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At

said that the damage from the statement had already been done and asked Briskman to make it right as much as she could.

“As a rabbi, I ask that whatever follow up statement needs to happen to correct the inaccurate information should be done,” he said. “I say thank you. Thank you for all your leadership. Thank you for all that you guys do for our county.”

Other speakers asked Briskman what she would envision as an appropriate response from Israel, and said that just because more German citizens had died during World War II than Allied forces did not mean that the Germans had the moral high ground then.

“Civilian death toll has nothing to do with the moral superiority in war,” Steven Grutman said. “And in this case, it demonstrates the truth—that Israel uses its weapons to defend its citizens and Hamas uses their civilians to defend their weapons.”

Briskman’s fellow board members said they felt that the issue was not one that supervisors should be commenting on and that they should stick to local issues.

mean that we should always exercise that right on any topic.”

Randall thanked the Jewish community for their response.

“I think that really I have been so heartened … that the Jewish community’s overall response was not to say, ‘you’re anti semitic.’ It was to say, ‘can we sit down and talk?” she said.

After listening to the 13 residents speak about her letter, Briskman said she was not yet ready to make a comment on the matter.

“I’m not going to make any statements tonight, partly because I don’t want to exacerbate any situation that is happening,” she said. “And secondly, because I want to take time to sit with the comments that were said tonight. I want to take time to sit with and absorb a more than two hour meeting I had with Chair Randall and seven rabbis just yesterday.”

On Wednesday, Briskman sent a statement to Loudoun Now saying she the community had helped her continue to learn about “about this extremely difficult issue.”

Hamas, you’re also calling for Hamas to continue existing and to continue its stated mission to annihilate Israel, the Jewish people and all of western civilization,” Fay Dubinsky said.

Rabbi Chaim Cohen, of the Chabad of Loudoun County, said he was among a group of rabbis who met privately Monday with Briskman and County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large). Cohen

Large) said some of her colleagues were trying to kill the program.

“TBD doesn’t mean it’s dead,” she said. “It means to be determined. We’re at this point determining, so don’t be surprised that the people who wanted to talk about it more actually took you up on your TBD.”

She said without a PDR program or a prime agricultural soil program the county might as well not have a rural part of the county at all.

“That is where we’re headed for because we’re not doing anything, we’re not putting anything in place to protect those areas,” Randall said.

Turner agreed.

“If you kill the PDR program and you don’t enhance the conservation easement grant program and you vote against the cluster ordinance, just come out and say you’re not interested in saving farmland in western Loudoun. Just be honest about what you’re doing,” he said.

“We have a lot of issues that come before the county, and we really should do our best to stick to those issues here,” Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said. “Now it is every supervisor’s right to use this time we have right now to say whatever they want. There is not going to be rules or regulations restricting anybody’s rights. We live in a free country and we have a free board here, but that doesn’t

“Let’s not have the hysteria on this either,” Letourneau responded. “Because I could just as easily turn around and say, ‘you want to do PDRs in eastern Loudoun County? You don’t care about affordable housing then, do you? You don’t want to build more houses.’ That’s silly.”

He said the PDR program is a wealth transfer from eastern to western Loudoun and he did not think it would work.

Director of Planning and Zoning Daniel Galindo said he could prepare a presentation for the transportation committee without much staff time needed, but if the committee wanted to make substantial changes to the plan, it would take add more work to the staff, essentially counteracting the TBD designation.

“If the board wants to have TLUC listen to staff and then create a list of ideas that come back to the board that staff does not do anything with, that might be one option. Then the board can sign off or not

“Loudoun County has residents of all faiths and backgrounds who deserve to be seen and heard. I will continue my efforts to learn and represent all of my constituents to the best of my ability,” she stated.

Briskman also pointed to efforts she had taken in the past to connect with the Jewish community including giving opening remarks at a holocaust remembrance ceremony hosted by Cascades Library. n

on what those are. Staff does not have to do any additional work beyond that unless the board directs it,” he said.

Tuner said while he liked the idea by Galindo to create a list of suggestions for the board, the notion supported by some board members to send the item to the committee but not let them make changes did not make sense.

“I’m the chair of the TLUC committee and if it comes to TLUC I’m going to do what I darn well please,” he said. “…I’m a little offended that members of this board would say, ‘you can look at it, but you can’t do anything.’”

PDR will retain its TBD designation on Department of Planning and Zoning’s work plan but will also advance to the transportation committee. The motion to send it to committee passed 5-4 Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg), Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling), Letourneau and Briskman opposed. n

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) listens to community members speak out against her call for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist militant group, Hamas, April 16.

ON THE Agenda

continued from page 4

wrestling with requests to permit horses, which have met with strong opposition from naturalists who fear trail riding will damage the park—concerns ranging from increased trail erosion to the introduction of invasive plant species transported in horse dung.

Under the recommendation of the parks board, endorsed by supervisors at the April 17 committee meeting, an independent contractor will be hired to study the park’s trails and make recommendations for those that could be suitable for horses.

“I would be shocked to the point of unhappy if the consultant came back and said there were no trails appropriate at all for horses in Banshee Reeks. That cannot be what the answer is,” County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said.

Randall and other committee members noted it was odd that horses weren’t permitted in the nature preserve, but drones and model airplanes were welcome.

The proposal now moves to the full board for final action.

Hazardous Waste Collection Set for May 2

The county is hosting a hazardous waste collection for businesses and non-residential generators on Thursday, May 2.

Pre-registration is required by no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, April 26. The event is one of two held each year and provides an opportunity for organizations to properly dispose of toxic, reactive, ignitable and corrosive materials.

Qualified organizations must generate less than 220 pounds a month, less than 2.2 pounds of acutely hazardous waste a month and no more than 2,220 pound of hazardous waste on-site at any one time.

Hazardous waste disposal through this

program typically results in reduced costs for participants as compared to establishing collection service directly with a hazardous waste management company. The business or organization pays for disposal of the material but does not pay for the waste collection or mobilization.

Go to loudoun.gov/bhwp for registration forms.

Dulles Town Center to Host Electronics Recycling Event

The county is partnering with the Dulles Town Center and Securis to host an electronics recycling event on Saturday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Dulles Town Center parking lot.

Fees will be charged for televisions, computer monitors, and hard drive destruction services if requested. Only credit cards will be accepted.

Typical electronics that will be accepted at the event including televisions, computers, servers, mainframes, circuit boards, hard drives, modems, printers, fax machines, scanners, copiers, network cables, power cables, extension cords, electrical wire, holiday lights, uninterruptible power supply, surge protectors, answering machines, microwave ovens, calculators, phones, pagers, stereo and video receivers, DVR/CD/DVD/VHS players, video game consoles, stereo speakers, radios, vacuum cleaners, toaster ovens, coffee makers, blenders, hair dryers, curling irons and clothes irons.

There is a limit of five items per vehicle, however a 12” x 12” x 12” box or equivalent size container filled with smaller items will be considered one item.

Electronics that will not be accepted include household appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, air conditioners, stoves, washers and dryers, smoke alarms, mercury thermostats, batteries, ballasts, light bulbs, smoke detectors, equipment that contains chemicals, asbestos, radioactive components, liquid fuels, microwave glass plates, aerosols or equipment that contains mercury. n

• Free Estimates & 100% Financing Plans Available

• Your Trusted, Local Fence Provider For Loudoun County

• Family-Owned & Professionally Operated

703-887-0927

infoallaboutfences@gmail.com allaboutfencesllc.com

“Large enough to serve, small enough to care”

Leesburg

Huber Family Buys Landmark Bank Building

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

As crews worked late into Friday night to prepare displays for the weekend’s Flower and Garden Festival, the new owners of one of downtown’s landmark

Gold on Ice

buildings were preparing for their introduction to the community.

Last weekend, the Loudoun National Bank building at the corner of King and Market streets debuted as a pop-up shop for Belfort Furniture and Stone Tower Winery, two businesses owned by the Huber family, who closed on the purchase

Skating fans got up close with some of the sport’s top talent on Friday during the Gold on Ice event at the Ion International Training Center. The show featured the 2024 World Champion Ilia Malinin, known as the “Quad God,” along with a lineup of skating royalty including Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Dechamps and Isabeau Levito.

of the building last week.

The building was constructed in 1901 as the third downtown location for the bank, which was chartered in 1871. The original two-story structure was

BANK BUILDING

continues on page 9

AROUND town

Veterans Park Moves Toward Construction

After nearly a quarter century of planning, construction of the first phase of Veterans Park at Balls Bluff is expected to begin this summer.

The town acquired the 86-acre tract adjacent to Nova Park’s Balls Bluff Battlefield Park in 2000.

The initial phase includes construction of a 0.75-mile access road between Balls Bluff Road and the Potomac River, a boat ramp, a picnic area, and trails. The county government has contributed $4 million to the project.

Crews got an early start on the project by clearing trees over the winter, work require to be complete on a schedule to not interfere with the long-eared bat mating season.

That work got the attention of neighbors concerned about the impact the park could have. In recent weeks, town leaders have been meeting with the Potomac Crossing HOA to improve communication about the project and neighbors have been working with the Residential Traffic Commission to monitor traffic levels and speeds.

A pre-construction neighborhood meeting will be held before crews deploy on site this summer.

Briefing Set on W&OD Lighting Project

Staff from the town’s Public Works & Capital Projects Department will hold a public information meeting about the W&OD Trail Lighting project on Thursday, May 2.

The project involves the addition of streetlights along 1.25 miles of trail through downtown Leesburg, between Catoctin Circle in the area of Flagship Carwash to Catoctin Circle near Loudoun County High School. The project is intended to improve pedestrian safety. The discussion will include options to build the project in phases.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. May 2 in the lower-level banquet hall of the Ida Lee Recreation Center.

For more information, go to leesburgva.gov/WODTrailLights.

AROUND TOWN continues on page 9

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

The lobby of the former Loudoun National Bank building in downtown Leesburg was converted to a popup Belfort Furniture showroom and Stone Town wine bar during last weekend’s Flower and Garden Festival.

Pictured, right, 2024 World Champion skater Deanna Stellato-Dudek performs at the Ion International Training Center during the April 19 Gold on Ice event.

Photo by David LaMay

Next Mural: A Leesburg Postcard

A new mural is coming to Leesburg.

The Town Council on Tuesday signed off on the recommendation of the Commission on Public Art selecting Leilani Romero to paint a large wall at the Leesburg Premium Outlets.

After issuing a “Call for Walls” in January, the commission selected the mall wall as the next mural location in town. A call for artists in February garnered 18 submissions.

Romero’s design, which was selected in collaboration with the mall owners, depicts imagery of downtown Leesburg with the historic courthouse as a prominent feature. As archway in the design provides space for visitors to shoot selfies under the words “Leesburg Virginia.” The design also features Virginia identifiers, including the American Dogwood flower, the Virginia Cardinal and the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly.

The mural project will be funded by Leesburg Premium Outlets.

A public art mural designed by Leilani Romero is planned for a wall at the entrance to the Leesburg Premium Outlets.

What we o er

• Cheerful, serene, state of the art of ce

• Digital x-rays (reduces radiation by 90%)

• We le all dental bene t claims

• Cosmetic Dentistry (veneers, white llings, and Zoom Whitening)

• Crowns and Bridges, all phases of Implants, Root Canals and Dentures

Bank building

continued from page 8

renovated in the early 1920s when a third floor was added.

The building has been for sale since last fall and the ground floor vacant since latest anchor tenant, Primis Bank, closed its office.

For the Flower and Garden Festival, the bank space was converted into a showroom of patio furniture from the Belfort Furniture store in Sterling and the teller

AROUND town

continued from page 8

Town Rolls Out Mapping Technology

A new Maps Portal is the latest feature added to the town government’s website.

The portal was created by members of the town’s Geographic Information System team and provides residents, visitors,

line was set up as a wine bar showcasing wines from Stone Tower Winery near Leesburg.

Matt Huber, who manages the family’s operations at Belfort, said it was still too early to know how they’ll use the building in the long run. For now, the upper floors will remain office space and lower level used for special events.

Huber said they were looking forward learning more about the history of the building and giving it “a little bit of love and renovation.” n

and business owners a resource to locate, access, and view geospatial information using maps and web mapping technology.

Interactive web maps include floodplains, snow removal routes, parking facilities, and parking zones. There are also “story” maps, and a collection of thematic and reference maps of different areas throughout the town.

The Town Maps Portal can be accessed under both the Residents and Government tabs at leesburgva.gov. n

• Certi ed Invisalign Provider

Conveniently located in the Village of Leesburg 1503 Dodona Terrace #210

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

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

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

All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-9753.

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

School Board Members Question Focus-Group Approach in Review of Transgender Student Polices

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

As administrators move closer to hiring a consultant team to lead community focus groups on potential revisions to the school division’s policies for transgender students, some School Board members are questioning whether that is the best approach.

During the April 18 Student Services Committee meeting, Kari LaBell (Catoctin) sought to rescind the committee’s February directive supporting the focus-group approach, instead recommending the committee take the lead by holding two public work sessions to revise the policy before the committee’s next meeting in May.

In February, committee member Melinda Mansfield’s (Dulles) suggested hiring an “objective” outside organization to lead focus groups to gather feedback to help with potential revisions to the

TRANSGENDER STUDENTS

continues on page 14

Business Partnership Recognizes Five at Annual Breakfast

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

Five school business partnerships were recognized Friday during the 24th annual School Business Partnership Breakfast as the awards program continues to return to pre-pandemic levels.

This morning over 500 people attended the breakfast held at the National Conference Center, a mix of local businesses, students, teachers and administrators.

In the last few years since the pandemic, attendance was limited to just the business and partnerships being awarded. This year marked the first time all of the school business partnerships were invited to attend and thanks to the many sponsors, schools could bring several guests.

The mission of the council is to promote successful development of partnerships between the school division and local businesses and to make sure students get real world experience.

The awards are given every spring as

a way to recognize the success of some of the programs. This year, the School Business Partnership Executive Council chose to recognize five specific partnerships to highlight the different ways businesses can join the division. They included a volunteer, a local small business, a local nonprofit, a Loudoun specific economic partnership and a global company making an impact in Loudoun.

Eighty-year-old Carol “Gigi” Rehman was recognized for her partnership with Frederick Douglass Elementary School for the many years she has volunteered with the school. Rehman began volunteering at the school seven years ago when her great grandchild was attending. She decided to stay and donate her time doing anything from tutoring to clerical work.

“It keeps me young. This school to me is like family,” she said.

Beckstrom Electric was recognized as a local small business that is making a difference in the lives of students at both Loudon Valley High School and

SCHOOL notebook

School Board Panel Continues Collective Bargaining Talks

After nearly four hours of discussion April 15, the School Board’s joint committee on collective bargaining adjourned with no decisions being made on eight items of concern raised by the Loudoun Education Association over how unionization voting will be conducted.

The list includes removing the expiration date on authorization cards, expanding the scope of bargaining, the definition of confidential employees, union access, language around the evergreen clause and impasse language and removing an election threshold.

Woodgrove High School through its apprenticeship program. The company helps students learn about other career pathways outside of a four-year college degree through “lunch and learns” where students can interact and ask questions.

Dulles South Food Pantry was recognized for its partnership with Hutchison Farm Elementary School in providing meals for students with food insecurity. Through the partnership, the pantry provides weekend meals for students in need with the help of the school to identify those students. The school also donates food to the pantry through its food recovery program. Instead of students throwing away uneaten fruits, vegetables or yogurt, the school collects those items and donates them to the pantry.

The Virginia Cooperative Extension Office/ Loudoun 4H was recognized for its partnership with Emerick Elementary

BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP continues on page 11

The committee discussed at length three items—the removal of the expiration date on the authorization cards signed by employees, expanding the scope of bargaining and the definition of confidential employees. Committee members said they weren’t at an impasse, they just needed more time to discuss the items. There may a need to revise the draft resolution to clarify language and definitions before the issue moves back to the School Board.

The committee meets next on May 2 at the school administration building in Broadlands. The panel also set a tentative date of May 16 to meet with third-party mediator, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services.

Smart’s Mill Odyssey Team Heads to World Finals

Smart’s Mill Middle School’s Odyssey of the Mind team is heading to the 2024 World Finals competition in Iowa next month.

SCHOOL NOTEBOOK continues on page 15

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now Members of the joint committee on collective bargaining at a March meeting.

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now Student Services Committee members Anne Donohue (At-Large) and Kari LaBell (Catoctin) at a meeting in February. On April 18 LaBell questioned the committee’s decision to hold focus groups to help with the possible revision of the division’s policy for transgender students.

Business partnership

continued from page 10

School and its Beginning of Life Embryology Program. The partnership exposes students to the biological process of life and the life cycles of animals by hatching chicks in egg incubators.

And finally, Amazon AWS was recognized for its partnership with the division’s computer science department and the Loudoun Education Foundation. Amazon represents a global company having a direct impact on Loudoun County and Loudoun County students. Through its partnership with LEF, AWS has helped provide and deliver thousands of meals to students experiencing food insecurity in the division.

“While we would love to really try to highlight all of the over 1,000 partnerships that we have across all of our 98 schools, soon to be 100 schools in Loudoun County, this morning is really an opportunity to share a few of the fantastic things that are happening across the division with the hopes they will continue to ignite interest, and ideas and action as we move forward,” Superintendent Aaron Spence said in ad-

dressing the crowd.

The Make a Difference Award was given to the Ashburn Village HOA, Virginia Department of Forestry and Change X/AWS in partnership with Farmwell

devotion to the division including over 20 years of participation in the division’s Job for a Day program and new initiatives like the mobile health clinic that provides physicals and health care resources to underserved communities and baseline concussion testing for all division athletes.

And the J. Hamilton Lambert Exemplary Leadership in Education and Community Service Award was given to Odette Scovel. Scovel is a retired division science teacher, former division science instructional supervisor, and one of many leaders who helped bring the Academies of Loudoun to fruition.

Station Middle School for landscape improvements to the school along Ashburn Village Blvd.

The Legacy Award was given to Inova Loudoun Hospital for its continued

Attendees included County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At large), Supervisors Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg); School Board members Chair Melinda Mansfield (Dulles), Vice-chair Arben Istrefi (Sterling), April Chandler (Algonkian), Deana Griffiths (Ashburn), Anne Donohue (At-Large), Linda Deans (Broad Run), and Lauren Shernoff (Leesburg); Del. David Reid (D-28), Del. Atoosa Reaser (D-27), Del. Kannan Srinivasan (D-26), Del. Marty Martinez (D-29), a representative from Sen. Suhas Subramanyam (D32); Sheriff Mike Chapman and members of the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now Amazon AWS was recognized for their partnership with the division’s computer science program and the Loudoun Education Foundation April 19.

Virginia CyberSlam 3.0 Bigger Than Ever

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

Nearly 600 students from high schools around the commonwealth converged on George Mason University on April 17 for the third annual Virginia CyberSlam.

The daylong event was created by Loudoun cybersecurity teachers Chris Starke and Jenn Marden to educate students beyond the classroom and allow them an opportunity to engage with university professors and cybersecurity professionals.

In its third year, the event has grown from one Loudoun County school and 175 students to include high school students from more than 35 schools from across the commonwealth.

Marden said students from as far away as Williamsburg and Virginia Beach made the trek to the conference this year.

New this year was an advanced and novice track each offering six workshops, with students required to select four. Marden said the idea to have the separate tracks came from a survey of the students.

Some of the novice workshops included a course that used a Pringles can to solve codes taught by Heritage High School cyber teacher Elizabeth Hale, a novice digital forensics crime scene, and drones. Some advanced workshops included a threat hunter challenge, an advanced digital forensics crime scene, and advanced Recon/ CTF taught by David Raymond of Virginia Cyber Range.

This year’s opening session also jumped into the workshops more quickly with fewer speakers. Greg Crabb, the former chief information security officer for the United States Postal Service, was the keynote speaker.

“We wanted to keep the opening session moving quickly,” Starke said. “We wanted to have a keynote because I think it’s important to have someone come in and talk to them a little more elaborately about their experience and Greg Crab has incredible experience and I think he was a great speaker to relate to high school students.”

Crabb shared some of his experiences and the lessons he learned from working in the field with Russian operatives, including always questioning the source and seeking the truth behind the data and trusting but also verifying.

He told a story about a years-long investigation into Russian criminal groups that were personal information from people they “hired” in their import/export

business to then steal online goods and use the workers to ship the items to Russia.

He provided students with a five-question quiz to help them narrow down their passions and help them identify what cybersecurity role would best suit them.

Crabb said his goal in speaking to students was to give them perspective on how they can contribute and ignite a spark for the work.

“There is a lot of money for cyber professionals in this field, however, there is a lot of mission also—you know from a protective mission perspective. We need young students that can find a passion and we need really strong leaders in government from a cyber perspective,” he said in an interview. “We need to be able to protect that national infrastructure and we’ve got adversaries that are so brazen and play by different sets of rules and we really need

see all the opportunities in this field that they might not otherwise see in the classroom is rewarding,” Starke said.

Marden said in addition to George Mason University’s Department of Cyber Security Engineering hosting the event for a second year in a row, they received over $16,000 in donations from private donors and companies to fund the event.

She said they are already looking for sponsors for next year’s event.

“I never envisioned it getting this big,” Starke said. “But when you look at it and the fact that we’ve got students from all over the commonwealth coming up here and their teachers and their school systems are supporting them to come up to Northern Virginia and George Mason, I think it’s telling that there is interest in cyber at the high school level,” Starke said.

Both Marden and Starke said there were many people involved in the Herculean effort to plan and execute the conference this year. They thanked the sponsors and teachers Mike Onda and Roxanna Cromwell and division Computer Science Supervisor Nick Grzeda who found funding within the division to pay for charter buses so Loudoun students could attend the event after weather forced a postponement in January. That postponement meant there were no division buses available for the new date.

to prepare the students for the future.”

Crabb said there is a significant need in all industries for better cybersecurity.

Loudoun County High School junior Amriana Gallo attended the conference for the first time. She said she always had an interest in pursuing a career in cybersecurity but wasn’t sure exactly where she wanted to work.

“I’m looking forward to finding my passion,” she said.

“When we started this three years ago the whole intention was to have this for the students, and I think the fact that it has grown from 175 to 400 to now almost 600 is rewarding. To be able to provide kids from across the commonwealth, not just in a certain area, but across the commonwealth the opportunity to be here and interact with educators, professionals, military and government and just be able to

The cybersecurity event was created by Starke and Marden in 2022 after a conversation Starke had with then Loudoun Economic Development Advisory Commission Executive Chair James Leach about the lack of opportunities for high school students to engage with cybersecurity leaders. Leach is also the vice president of marketing and communications at an Ashburn area IT and cybersecurity company.

The inaugural CyberSlam, called LCPS CyberSlam, was held in 2022 at Briar Woods High School and drew nearly 200 Loudoun County students. Last year’s event, renamed Virginia CyberSlam and hosted by George Mason University, included over 400 students representing 22 high schools in five school districts.

Virginia CyberSlam is a 100% volunteer effort and is co-directed by Starke and Marden with planning assistance provided by fellow teachers Onda and Cromwell as well as numerous George Mason University staff and faculty members including Peggy Brouse, associate chair of the GMU cyber security engineering department, and GMU cybersecurity professor Henry Coffman. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Above, Heritage High School cybersecurity teacher Elizabeth Hale teaches a novice class about decoding with a Pringles can. Below, nearly 600 students from 38 schools across the commonwealth attended CyberSlam 3.0 at George Mason University on April 17.

703-956-9470

Transgender students

continued from page 10

policy. The panel supported that approach on a 2-1 vote, with LaBell in favor and Anne Donohue (At-Large) abstaining.

The current policy, which was based on model policies from the Virginia Department of Education in 2021, allows students to use the bathroom or locker room and participate in sports or other activities according to their gender identity. It also allows students on a case-bycase basis to change their name and pronouns without consulting parents. VDOE revised the model polices in 2023, stating students are to use bathrooms and locker rooms according to their sex and not their gender identity. That rule also applies to sports and other activities.

The School Board, which took office in January with all nine seats held by new members, had been debating how to respond to the changing direction from state leaders. The committee voted in January to pick up where the previous board left off and continue the debate on whether to update the policy to reflect changes sought by the Youngkin Administration’s 2023 model policies.

What

“When we first considered this, when it was presented to us Feb. 15, my understanding of focus groups was that it could be any size, it could target any population, and it could take a short time to an enormous amount of time. And I also understood there were a couple of companies that would provide this service for free,” LaBell said.

She said because the proposed solution had grown so “enormously,” she could no longer support it. She said over the past three years that the policy has been in place, there has been ample discussion in board meetings, committee meetings, and via email from all groups of people that could be collected and used instead of forming focus groups.

“I feel that we are all well educated women, certainly capable. We have a lawyer, an educator, an activist—certainly we are capable to doing the work we were elected to do ourselves,” she said.

Donohue and Mansfield voted against reconsidering the plan.

Donohue said she had reservations about the focus group idea when it was first suggested because she didn’t have enough information on the process to hire an outside organization to run the groups and how it would help the committee col-

“I feel that we are all well educated women, certainly capable. We have a lawyer, an educator, an activist— certainly we are capable to doing the work we were elected to do ourselves.”

— Kari LaBell (Catoctin)

lect information needed to consider revising the policy.

She said she was interested in having the procurement process go forward to learn what the vendors could offer the division.

Student Services Assistant Superintendent Tedra Richardson said the request for proposals had not yet been posted. Once quotes were submitted by vendors,

an evaluation team consisting of five to six members including herself and others from the Student Services Department, a School Board representative, and a representative from the Department of Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility, would be formed to evaluate, rank, and recommend a vendor to the School Board. She said the evaluation team would not consist of any parents, teachers, or students.

“I am very interested in learning from the vendors how they would envision focus groups working and how they would plan to obtain opinions and incites form individuals who are vested in the outcome of these discussions. I also think that whether or not we go forward with focus groups, I think there are other tasks that this committee can do to continue the work we are doing on this policy,” Donohue said.

Policy 8040 has been under fire since before its adoption in August 2021 and new critics, including from the Muslim community, have spoken out against it in recent months.

The next Student Services Committee meeting is May 16. n

SCHOOL notebook

continued from page 10

Team Houdini—made up of sixth graders Milo Anderson, Rich Druther, Luke Shumaker, David Smith and Soraya Zabloudil and seventh grader Sarah Macpherson—took second place in their division for their solution to a predefined long-term problem at the Virginia Odyssey of the Mind tournament earlier this month.

Team Houdini’s solution included designing and building a 15-gram wood structure to very exact specifications. The structure was then tested how much weight it could hold. The team’s structure held 247 pounds, 548 times its weight. That second place finish qualified them to represent Virginia at the world finals competition held in Ames, IA, May 21-24.

The Smarts Mill team has created a GoFundMe account to help offset the costs of the trip. As of April 18, they had raised $750 of their $10,000 goal.

To donate, go to gofund.me/ac9649c0.

For more information about Odyssey of the Mind go to odysseyofthemind.com

Six Loudoun Students Awarded Scholarship

Six Loudoun students have been awarded a $2,000 scholarship from the Joyce-Gillespie-Harrington Educational and Charitable Foundation of the Zeta Upsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Nicole Smith of Rock Ridge High School, Kendall George and Nathan Jenkins of Freedom High School, Logan Winthers and Nicholas Glover of Potomac Falls High School, and Jayden Johnson of Independence High School were selected as the 2024 Jewel College Scholarship winners. They each will receive $2,000 to go toward financial support for their freshman year.

Zeta Upsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha promotes academic excellence, leadership development and community service. Through scholarship programs, like the Jewel College Scholarship, mentorship initiatives, and service projects, the chapter strives to uplift and empower individuals in Loudoun and Fairfax Counties, according to an announcement. Scholarship recipients will be formally recognized at the 43rd Annual Black and Gold Scholarship Ball on April 27. For more information, go to jghfdn.org n

Experience the power of a transformed life

Become a CSLI Fellow

n The C.S. Lewis Institute Fellows Program offers a tuition-free year of intensive training that leads to significant life-change. n The program prepares each Fellow to live a powerful transformed life in their church, their community and in their workplace. n It involves Bible study, classic readings, lectures, group discussion, personal mentoring and accountability–all in the context of a small group of likeminded believers. n The program is designed to be achievable even for busy professionals with families. n Join the Fellows Program and learn to live as a fully devoted disciple of Jesus Christ and make an impact for Him in the world. We Invite You To

Contributed

Team Houdini, from left, Milo Anderson, David Smith, Luke Shumaker, Soraya Zabloudil, Sarah Macpherson and Rich Druther after winning second place in their problem and division at the Odyssey of the Mind Regional Competition at Tuscarora High School.

Foundation Launches Lambert Youth Development Endowment

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org

The life, leadership and legacy of J Hamilton Lambert was celebrated during an April 18 reception that highlighted his biography, “J’s Journey,” and the launch of a new youth leadership development program.

The event was sponsored by the Community Foundation of Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, which is managing the J Hamilton Lambert Youth in Service Endowment that will support those seeking careers in civil service and public administration.

“J’s Journey,” written by Gerald L. Gordon in 2022, recounts Lambert’s life from growing up in Loudoun County to his rise through the Fairfax County government— from draftsman in 1959 to his retirement in 1990 as county executive—and his work as executive director and trustee of the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation.

“I did not want his book done. A bunch of people said, ‘Well, if you don’t cooperate, we’d have it done anyway.’ I said I’ll not have y’all digging around in some of those things. So that’s how it got started,” Lambert said, to laughter among the group of community leaders who gathered for the reception hosted by Karen and Fred Schaufeld. “I think that we left some things out and put some things in that were important. I’ve been so lucky all my life. I’ve had great mentors.”

Through his work with the Claude Moore Foundation, as well as with the

Nonprofits

new endowment, Lambert has focused on increasing educational and vocational opportunities for youth. His remarkable rise to the top leadership post in Virginia’s largest county is more remarkable in that he did so with his Loudoun County High School diploma serving as his highest level of education.

“My grandmother taught me reading when I was about three or four years old when I was reading on a fifth-grade level,” he said. “And the other thing is I’ve tried to keep an open mind on anything. I still am in that position in my life right now.”

Cloud Run 4.9K Returns for Second Year

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The second annual Cloud Run

4.99999K and 1-mile run/walk took place Saturday, hosted by the 7x24 Exchange DC Chapter, the Data Center Coalition, Loudoun Economic Development and industry partners as 195 competitors raced through Data Center Alley.

Community members gathered April 20 off Loudoun County Parkway for the race as well as food, games, live music and a Data Center Discovery Zone.

The first and second place winners of the 5K were Drew Garland with a time of 18 minutes and 42 seconds and Peter Nielsen with a time of 18 minutes and 55 seconds. Both were representing

Stantec Consulting.

The first-place winner in the women’s category was Jordyn Hurley with a time of 24 minutes and 25 seconds.

Proceeds from race registrations and event sponsors will be donated to the Dulles South Soup Kitchen, which supplements local food pantries to provide Northern Virginia families with hot meals and the DC Chapter’s College Scholarship Fund, which helps students interested in an IT career. Applications for this scholarship will open later this spring.

During the event’s first year, the organization donated $20,000 to the soup kitchen and event organizers said they were hoping for an even larger amount this year. n

erational impact.

“We have now in 54 school districts. We have graduated over 22,000 young people,” Lambert said. “I look upon that as one of the greatest highlights of my life, because if you can help somebody … to have a family life and to be able to take care of their families. It’s like throwing a pebble and in the river. It’s going to expand and expand, because they’re going to do that with their kids. And I think that’s one of the greatest things the Claude Moore Foundation has done.”

Gordon read excerpts from his book to the audience, but said Lambert’s story perhaps hasn’t been fully told.

The Claude Moore Foundation’s work focuses on giving those in need a leg up to better support themselves.

“There are so many people out there that are good people that don’t have a chance,” Lambert said. “… It doesn’t take much time to help somebody by sitting down with him and saying, ‘Hey, what’s up? What do you need?’ I can get some people together with the help.”

Lambert’s proudest achievement is the Claude Moore Scholars program that provides students with early training for careers in the health sciences with multigen-

“J alluded to that there are a lot of stories that are not in the book. I have a file at home, it’s probably three inches thick of the stories that are not in the book,” he said. “You’ll never see the stories that were in the original manuscript that J took out. That’s another file. But there are a number of things that are not in the book that will make a great sequel one day.”

Community Foundation Executive Director Nichole Acosta announced that copies of the book have been donated to the Thomas Balch Library in Leesburg, with plans to distribute copies to Loudoun County Library branches as well.

Copies also may be obtained through the Community Foundation, along with an opportunity to contribute to the J Hamilton Lambert Youth in Service Endowment fund.

Learn more at communityfoundationlf .org/jsjourney. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

J Hamilton Lambert poses with, from left, Karen and Fred Schaufeld, Community Foundation Executive Director Nichole Acosta and “J’s Journey” author Gerald L. Gordon during an April 18, 2024, reception to launch the J Hamilton Lambert Youth in Service Endowment.

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) high fives racers at the 4.99999K Cloud Run April 20.

New Trial Set for Remaining Charge Against Ziegler

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

A Loudoun County Circuit Court judge last week set the date for a new trial for fired superintendent Scott Ziegler on allegations he illegally retaliated against a teacher.

During a trial last September, Ziegler was found guilty of retaliation against special education teacher Erin Brooks, a class one misdemeanor, and not guilty for penalizing her for making a court appearance.

However, during a sentencing hearing in January, Ziegler’s attorney Erin Harrigan sought to set aside the verdict arguing the General Assembly didn’t intend for there to be a crime associated with the offense. Harrigan argued an additional element of the retaliation offense—that it was a knowing violation—needed to be introduced by prosecutors during the trial and a more specific additional instruction dealing with that requirement should have been given to the jury.

Special Assistant to the Attorney General Brandon Wrobleski said in January that the defense’s claim that the commonwealth failed to prove an element of the crime came too late—after the jury issued a verdict and after the defendant agreed to the jury instruction.

Judge Douglas L. Fleming Jr. reviewed

both arguments and after seven weeks issued an opinion that set aside the verdict and ordered a new trial, saying there was “ample evidence” to support a jury’s decision.

During an April 18 hearing, Ziegler waived his right to a speedy trial on the charge and Fleming scheduled that trial for five days starting Feb. 3, 2025.

The charges stem from a special grand jury investigation into how Loudoun County Public Schools handled two 2021 sexual assaults that happened at two different schools by the same student. Ziegler was charged by the Attorney General’s Office with three misdemeanors—false publication, prohibited conduct and penalizing an employee for a court appearance. He also was terminated by the School Board.

The latter two charges are related to the firing of Brooks, who, after reporting she was repeatedly groped by one of her students, filed two Title IX complaints. She testified before the special grand jury and spoke out at the School Board meeting on the night her termination was approved by the School Board.

The charge of false publication was dropped in December by Wrobleski who said the Attorney General’s Office was “satisfied that justice had been done” after securing the guilty verdict for the retaliation charge, which has since been overturned. n

Smoking Materials Blamed in Warehouse Fire

The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office has determined the fire that destroyed a Sterling warehouse Monday afternoon was caused by improperly discarded smoking materials.

Just after 3 p.m. April 22, dispatchers were alerted to a structure fire at the Prospect Waterproofing Company on Acacia Lane in Sterling. Units from Kincora, Moorefield, Cascades, Sterling Park, Ashburn, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Fire & Rescue Department arrived to find fire coming through the roof of the one-story warehouse. With the building quickly assessed as a total loss, firefighters worked to prevent the fire from spreading. A second alarm and a Rapid Intervention Task Force were called to bring additional firefighters to

the scene, according to the report.

Because of the the size of the warehouse and the volume of burning of the stored materials inside, it took approximately two and a half hours to bring the fire under control, according to Loudoun County Fire-Rescue.

No civilian injuries were reported. One firefighter was evaluated on scene for heat-related injuries described as minor.

The Fire Marshall’s Office issued a public reminder about the importance of properly discarding smoking materials. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the 2021 national estimates for residential building smoking fires and losses show there were 7,800 fires, 275 deaths, 750 injuries, and $361,500,000 in dollar loss.  n

Towns

Bremseth Talks Challenges, Looks to Purcellville’s Future

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

Nine months after stepping into Purcellville’s embattled town manager role, Rick Bremseth has led the town through a challenging budget season and brought a stabilizing force to Town Hall.

Bremseth took the position during an uncertain time for the town. Hired in July 2023, he was the fourth town manager in six months following the resignations of David Mekarski, John Anzivino and Glen Adams. And beginning this fiscal year, the town owes steep increases in debt payment for its water and wastewater funds, in addition to facing one the worst droughts in the town’s history last summer and fall.

Bremseth’s background, however, is not in local government but in Naval Special Warfare. He served as an early Navy SEAL and then moved into naval intelligence.

When he was approached about applying for the job, Bremseth said it was the challenge that interested him.

“[One] thing I discovered about myself and everybody in Naval Special Warfare, is if you issue them a challenge, usually it’s like, ‘OK, let’s get it,’” he said. “OK, I thought, a big challenge. It’s something I’d never done before.”

Even though he had no experience in local government, his history in the Navy prepared him to thrive in uncertain environments, a skill that a town manger needs, he said.

“I said, ‘this will be interesting because it’s going to be a dynamic environment, from which I don’t have any experience, but I don’t care.’ It’s survival of the fittest, and we’ll see where it rolls. So, I figured there may be some chaos. And I’d say there was,” he said.

But he said he wasn’t facing the challenges alone.

“What I didn’t know and then it took me a while to understand was what a really good team I had inherited … They just needed somebody, who just happened to be me I guess, to help pull them together,” he said.

Right as he was stepping into the role, Purcellville was facing one of the worst droughts in its history, a challenge that he said the staff rose to meet.

“Our public works director, Jason [Didawick], got with me early on, and Stacey Alter, up at the water facility, wickedly sharp both of them. We pulled in the team and said, ‘OK, what are we going to do now to mitigate?’ … We began to do that sequentially.”

Bremseth said this was another challenge that showed his past experiences with the addition of the staff ’s expertise would create a strong combination.

“I didn’t have any background, but it’s OK because, again, it gets back to, can you succeed and ideally excel in a dynamic environment where things are always changing? And then can you affect, through decision making and actions, a positive outcome with the least amount of impact on the citizens?” he said.

Despite the earlier challenges faced by the town, Bremseth said he is looking to the future and leaving what is past behind.

“I did a little bit of research, and some of the stuff that I saw, it was negative, and some people were saying negative things. I just took it and threw it over my shoulder, because one of the other things I tried to do and I have done, is the past is prologue. I wanted to initiate and keep a front-sight focus,” he said.

Looking to the future also means facing the town’s challenges head on. Bremseth said the top three hurdles facing Purcellville are its water and sewer infrastructure, economic development, and downtown

AROUND towns

LOVETTSVILLE

Rezoning Public Hearing Set Thursday

The Town Council is holding a public hearing on an application to rezone the property at 32 S. Loudoun St. from C-1, Community Commercial, to R-1, Residential.

The 4.22-acre tract would allow construction of up to 16 single-family homes. Currently, a 2,000 square-foot single-family home and an accessory structure, both part of the Lovettsville Historic District, are on the site.

An additional 15 residences are expected to add 150 vehicle trips per day on South Loudoun Street, increasing traffic volume by 8%. The project could add approximately 54 residents to town, including 16 students.

The Planning Commission voted 3-1-2, with two members absent and one vacancy, to recommend approval of the application.

revitalization.

To address those them, Bremseth said he and the staff are working with a fiscal plan that spans across multiple years, not just one fiscal year’s budget, to help them effectively plan for the future.

“It’s more stable,” he said. “And so, this was where my experience with the DOD and the government helped because the government does this. … Your focus is going to be what’s right in front of you, but it doesn’t preclude you from looking around the corner looking at what’s coming downstream and better prepares for us.”

With the adoption of the fiscal year 2025 budget this week, Bremseth said he and the staff will now move their focus to continuing to develop a long-term strategic plan with the Town Council, working to build a new water tower, and bringing new life to the some of the older parts of downtown.

“It’s us together for the community and that’s really how it should work,” he said. “To come up with a strategic plan that includes things like, how are we going to best approach and the water and water infrastructure and the revitalization of downtown, economic development, all these strategic objectives? In what order? Prioritize them, and then come up with a plan for which ones to execute and what order, that makes sense within our fiscal constraints. That I would say would be the next thing.” n

ROUND HILL

Water Tower Project Going to Bid

After nearly a decade of planning, the Town of Round Hill is moving toward construction of its Airmont Water Tank project that will provide 500,000 gallons of additional storage capacity and critical redundancy to its main water system.

As the town begins to solicit bids for the project, big questions remain.

One is the cost. Three years, ago the project was expected to cost $3.4 million. Now the town is hoping to keep the price in the $5 million range, as the cost of steel and concreate remain high. Town Project Manager Rob Lohr said there are just five contractors in the U.S. that build the tanks, limiting competition the arena.

The other is the type of tank. The town will be soliciting bids for both a steel pedestal-style tank and a concrete composite tank in hopes that one will generate a cost savings.

The project is supported by a $3.7 million grant from the county

AROUND TOWNS

continues on page 19

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Purcellville Town Manager Rick Bremseth sits in his office at the Town Hall. He has served in the position since July 2023.

Purcellville Council Adopts $30.6M Budget

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The Purcellville Town Council on Tuesday adopted a $30.6 million fiscal year 2025 budget, unchanged from the draft proposed by Town Manager Rick Bremseth six weeks ago.

The budget, described by Bremseth as “lean,” holds the real estate tax rate steady and adds only 0.63 full time equivalent positions to the town’s roster of 89 full-time employees. It includes a 3.2% cost of living increase and the possibility of a merit increase for employees, maintains a real estate tax rate at 20.5 cents per $100 of assessed value, and shows “modest” increases in revenue from the property tax, meals tax, business license tax and business, professional and occupational license fees.

Most significantly, it includes utility rate increases of 16% for water use and 18% for wastewater. The average residential utility bill will see a monthly increase of $7.29 in water fees and $14.69 in waste-

AROUND towns

continued from page 18

government. However, because of the increasing prices, the town may still have to take out a loan of $1 million or more to complete it.

PURCELLVILLE

Town Ranked Safest in Virginia

The town has been ranked as the “Safest City” in Virginia for 2024 by SafeWise.

The determination was made using the latest FBI National Incident-Based Reporting System data.

Mayor Stanley J. Milan said the designation is a “testament” to the police department.

“For those of us who live, work, or visit here, we have always known that Purcellville is a wonderful town, and the recognition as the ‘Safest City’ in Virginia just reinforces what a great community we proudly serve,” Police Chief Cynthia McAlister stated. “The dedication of our officers working together with residents, businesses, and other town staff members is reflected in this acknowledgment.”

The town’s low crime rate of 0.4 per 1,000 residents for violent crime, and 6.2 for property crime, moved it up one place, to take the top spot this year.

water fees starting in July.

The increases are prompted by an additional $8,000 in water debt service in FY 2025, an additional $227,000 in FY 2026 and a wastewater debt service increase of an additional $1.4 million in FY 2025.

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

The budget passed on a 5-2 vote with members Carol Luke and Christopher Bertaut opposed amid concerns about the utility rate increases.

Luke said she thought the budget counted on funds from a possible future annexation, but Director of Finance Liz Krens said that was not the case.

Luke asked if the rate increases “caught up” the budget to reach structural balance where the utlity funds were paying for themselves.

“We are not caught up yet. … The rate increases that we’re talking about for this budget, the 16 and 18%, that doesn’t get us fully where we need to be to reach struc-

Music and Arts Fest Set for Saturday

The town’s 10th annual Music & Arts Festival will be held Saturday, April 27 from noon to 7 p.m., rain or shine.

The free, family-friendly event, held at Fireman’s Field Park will feature live music and performances, an art exhibit, games for all ages, chalk art, a caricature artist, T-shirt decorating, and other activities. There will also be several nonprofits with displays and information. Vendors will be selling hand-crafted items, food, drink, and more.

The Bush Tabernacle Skating Rink will be transformed into the Art Hall and open from noon to 7 p.m. Inside, there will be over 50 works of art on display from 33 local artists. Winners of the student art contest and logo contest for the Purcellville Train Station will also be part of the show. There will be a variety of hands-on activities led by local artists and art organizations, an art demonstration, live music and performances, and face painting in the Art Hall.

Additional parking is available at Emerick Elementary School and the Loudoun Valley Community Center.

For more information about the Purcellville Music & Arts Festival, go to purcellvillemusicandartsfestival.com and follow PVilleMusicArts on Facebook and PurcellvilleMusicandArtsFest on Instagram. n

tural balance,” Krens said.

Even with the 16% increase in water rates, the Water Fund is expected operate at a $437,150 loss in FY 2025, approximately 12% of the funds operating budget. Using that much from the fund’s reserves would leave a surplus of $131,658 over the town’s required rainy day and capital reserve requirements.

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

Bertaut questioned the need for $2.5 million allocated for groundwater testing of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, saying the town still had years to accomplish the required treatments.

He said the Town Council had not had enough time to review the budget in enough detail and ask enough questions and that town residents were only “generally aware” of the budget because the town

had only notified them about the process and content of the budget to the “legally required minimum.” Luke said she would like to see a more robust public notification process.

“As council members we have a duty to the public to seek, find and use the most equitable, efficient, effective and economical needs for getting tasks accomplished,” Bertaut said.

But Mayor Stanley J. Milan said he disagreed with the assertion that the council was not transparent with residents. He said information had been sent to them via mail and utility bills explaining the need for rate increases.

“I find it very disingeniune for council members who say that the budget is being rushed through. Those that say that were on the council last year when we did exhaustive review of the budget line by line and they are intimately familiar with that, as the 13 or so meetings we had. I don’t understand why some people say that the public was not aware of it, when during that timeframe, the chamber was full every session. So, I don’t think we’ve skirted away from the notification to the public this time around,” Milan said.

The town’s budget and rate increases will go into effect July 1. n

LIVE MUSIC

FOREIGNER’S JOURNEY WITH RUDY CARDENAS

8 to 11 p.m. Thursday, April 25

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

MATT HOLLOMAN

1 to 5 p.m. Friday, April 26

Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont. dirtfarmbrewing.com

NATHANIEL DAVIS

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 26

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

BAILEY HAYES

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 26

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

MARK CULLINANE

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 26

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

WILL SHEPARD

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 26

Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com

BRAD THE GUITAR GUY

5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 26

Willowcroft Farm Vineyards, 38906 Mount Gilead Road, Leesburg. willowcroftwine.com

DAVID THONG

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26

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

JASON MASI

6 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 26

ResQ BBQ, 528B E. Market St., Leesburg. resq-bbq.com

MARK DUNN

6 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 26

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

BRIAN HARRIS

6 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 26

Velocity Wings, 1020 E. Main St., Purcellville. velocitywings.net/purcellville

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 21

Putting the Spotlight on Local Authors

The last Saturday in April each year is celebrated as Independent Bookstore Day across the country. On April 27, Birchtree Bookstore in Leesburg plans a full day of activities from a morning storytime to an afternoon local author showcase. Also, Middleburg Books has two special author events this week, featuring Mike Vickers on Thursday and Scott Gates on Saturday.

This week, we also put the spotlight on some local authors by highlighting some of the new books that have come across our desks during the past few months showcasing first time and experienced authors.

Black Swan

BY HELEN HYNSON VETTORI

In the years before the COVID-19 pandemic, Leesburg resident Helen Hynson Vettori was on the front line of the national planning for just such an emergency. But when the virus arrived, she had retired from her post at the Department of Homeland Security and endured the lockdown with the rest of us.

She put her time in relative isolation to productive work—writing “Black Swan Impact,” the first book in a planned sci-fi political thriller trilogy. Set in 2113, the book follows the efforts of Dr. Syia Case, the National Institutes of Health’s director of epidemiology, as she works to guide the nation through a deadly pandemic even as the president and other political leaders steer the county on a questionable course.

“I wrote it in response to my utter dismay at the poor response to COVID-19,” Vettori said in a recent interview. “The reason why it was particularly burdensome to me was I was in the federal government workforce planning and preparing for such an event. I retired before COVID. But even though it was a couple of years after I retired, I felt sure

that all the planning and preparing that we had done would be a good base, and that people who had taken over the reins would move forward and adjust as necessary. Blunders and missteps just came in abundance. And it really, it got me very, I’ll say uneasy and disappointed.”

A seventh generation Washingtonian, Vettori felt her public service calling early in life.

“When I was five years old, I had one of those little pedal fire engines and every time I would hear a crash, which was probably at least once a month, I’d get my little firetruck pedal down to it and watch with awe how the rescue squad aided in and helped,” she said. “So, when it was time for me to go to kindergarten, my mother said you have to go in now she was trying to get me to go in and I was hesitant. She said, ‘why don’t you want to go into school?’ I said because I’m going to be a firefighter and I don’t have to go to the school. I have to go to fireman school.”

She did grow up to become a paramedic EMT. She was doing that and working as a schoolteacher at the time of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. That event prompted her to do more. She joined the Department of Homeland Security as a senior medical

intelligence analyst.

“Ultimately, due to reorganizations and this and that, I ended up in the National Incident Response Unit where I was cast to be the person who would plan and prepare for biological incidents to include pandemics,” she said.

“I had to look ahead and analyze what things were on the radar, and what possible interventions they should or could take. And it was only then that I realized there’s a lot out there and that Mother Nature alone can just devastate us—not to mention terrorism or accidents. That just hadn’t really occurred to me,” she said. “9/11, I think, was pivotal for many, many, many people, perhaps everyone in the United States and even around the world. It certainly was pivotal for me and the direction I took and my interests. To this day, I’m still very much interested in Mother Nature, pandemics, how people respond to biological threats.”

While retired and on the sidelines as COVID-19 spread around the world, Vettori said she and her former co-workers were frustrated watching the federal response.

GET OUT

LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 20

MARK TAYLOR

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, April 26

Belmont Country Club, 19661 Belmont Manor Lane, Ashburn. bandsintown.com

THE PIETASTERS

8 to 11 p.m. Friday, April 26

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $18. tallyhotheater.com

DAVID DAVOL

12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 27

Cana Vineyards, 38600 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. canavineyards.com

STEVE BOYD AND FRIENDS

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 27

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

SOMETHING COUNTRY

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 27

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

ON EASY STREET

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 27

Otium Cellars, 18050 Tranquility Road, Purcellville. otiumcellars.com

HUBIE G AND THE LOST CORNER VAGABONDS

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 27

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

PETE LAPP

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 27

868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro.

868estatevineyards.com

JOE DOWNER

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27

50 West Vineyards, 39060 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. 50westvineyards.com

FAR AWAY SONGS

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27

Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville. sunsethillsvineyard.com

CHRIS COMPTON

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27

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

SHANE GAMBLE

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27

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

KEN WENZEL

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 27

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

DAVE MININBERG

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 27

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

DAVE NEMETZ

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 27

Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church

Road, Hillsboro. old690.com

ZACH JONES

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 27

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

GARY SMALLWOOD

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 27

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

WAYNE SNOW

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 27

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

ANNIE STOKES

2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 27

Middleburg Library, 101 Reed St., Middleburg. library.loudoun.gov

BRYAN ELIJAH SMITH

2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 27

Bozzo Family Vineyards, 35226 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. bozzowines.com

MELISSA QUINN FOX

4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 27

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

THE WALKAWAYS

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 27

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

LAURA CASHMAN

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 27

868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. 868estatevineyard.com

SPENCER HATCHER BAND

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 27

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

LILLIAN HACKETT

7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27

CRAFT, 3 W. Market St., Leesburg. $20. facebook.com/leesburg.movement

THE KODY NORRIS SHOW

7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27

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

CROWDED STREETS

8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 27

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

STANLEY WHITAKER

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28

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

HUBIE G & THE LOST CORNER

VAGABONDS

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 28

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

LIBERTY STREET

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 28

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

LIVE MUSIC

continues on page 22

Best Bets

GET OUT

LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 21

JASON MASI

1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28

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

PURCELLVILLE MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL

Saturday, April 27, noon-7 p.m. Fireman’s Field Park purcellvillemusicandartsfestival.com

This free, family-friendly event features 15 performances on four stages, an art exhibit, games, and other activities. There will also be more than 25 local artisan vendors and nonprofits, along with food and drink vendors.

LEVI STEPHENS

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 28

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

ROBBIE LIMON

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 28

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

ANDREW ODAY

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 28

THE KODY NORRIS SHOW

Saturday, April 27, 7 p.m. Lucketts Community Center luckettsbluegrass.org

See the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America’s reigning Entertainers of the Year perform a show that honors Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, the Grand Ole Oprey and vaudeville at the old schoolhouse.

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

WAYNE SNOW

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 28

Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com

DEANE KERN & ERIC SELBY

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 28

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

CHRIS HANKS

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 28

868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. 868estatevineyards.com

JOSEPH R. MONASTERIAL

4 p.m. Sunday, April 28

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

MAGGIE MILES W/ RYAN WRIGHT & SHALLOW PLANET

8 p.m. Sunday, April 28

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

JASON MASI

6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, May 1

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

ON STAGE

Cinderella: Once Upon A Time - A Musical

7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26

2:30 & 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27

2 p.m. Sunday, April 28, Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville. $17. franklinparkarts.org

HAPPENINGS

AN EVENING WITH ANNE WILSON

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, April 26

Cornerstone Chapel, 650 Battlefield Parkway SE., Leesburg. cornerstonechapel.net

YOUNG BIRDERS WALK AT BLES

8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 27 Bles Park, 44830 Bles Park Drive, Ashburn. loudounwildlife.org

CELEBRATE BIRDS! WALK AT SWEET RUN

8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 27

Sweet Run State Park, 11661 Harpers Ferry Road,

MAGGIE MILES

Sunday, April 28, 7 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

Five years after moving to Nashville to follow her music dreams, Maggie Miles returns to Loudoun to headline a show at the Tally Ho Theater, along with Shallow Planet and Ryan Wright.

Hillsboro. loudounwildlife.org

10TH DISTRICT REPUBLICAN CONVENTION

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 27

John Champe High School, 41535 Sacred Mountain St., Aldie. $25 vagop10.org

LBB SPRING BEER FEST 2024

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 27

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. $35. lostbarrel.com

PURCELLVILLE MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL

12 to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 27

Fireman’s Field, 250 S. Nursery Ave., Purcellville. purcellvilleva.gov

DISCOVERING TREASURES TOUR

12 to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 27

Morven Park, 17269 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg. $15 to $25. morvenpark.org

PET PALOOZA PAW-TY

1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 27

Waltonwood at Ashburn, 44141 Russell Branch Parkway, Ashburn. humaneloudoun.org

GUEST WINEMAKER: JOSH GERARD

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 27

October One, 7 Loudoun St. SW., Leesburg. octoberonevineyard.com

RACE FOR YOUR HEART 5K AND FUN RUN

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 28 Riverside High School, 19019 Upper Belmont Place, Lansdowne. potomac.enmotive.com

ART FOR ALLY

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 28

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

NOOKS & CRANNIES TOUR

4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 28

Morven Park, 17269 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg. $15 to $25. morvenpark.org

LOUDOUN TRANSMISSION LINE

ALLIANCE

6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 1

Lovettsville Fire & Rescue, 12837 Berlin Turnpike, Lovettsville. facebook.com

Local authors

continued from page 20

“We were just dumbfounded and, quite frankly, appalled. When it’s new, you’re gonna make mistakes, but you fix them and move forward with very, very firm and foreseeable milestones. I just never saw that happening,” she said.

Do Dr. Case and her colleagues fare better in their response to the Pyongyang Virus in 2113? “Black Swan Impact” was released March 28 and is available in bookstores and online in book and audio format.

Vettori plans to be at Birch Tree Bookstore in Leesburg on Saturday, April 27 from noon to 3 p.m. at part of a local author showcase on Independent Bookstore Day.

Learn more at helenhvettori.wixsite. com/black-swan-impact.

—Norman K. Styer

Heaven in Your Home

BY SOREN AND EVER JOHNSON

This year, the Trinity House Café and Market in downtown Leesburg celebrates its 10th anniversary. The storefront was an outreach of the family ministry launched by Soren and Ever Johnson in 2006.

Now, the couple is expanding further with its Trinity House Community Group programs already established in seven states and Puerto Rico. That work is supported by a new book, “Heaven in Your Home: Letters & Guide.”

“This is a book that my wife and I cowrote for families and couples to recapture a vision for their family’s life of the Christian faith, and also provide practical strategies for daily life and for when things get messy,” Soren Johnson said in a recent interview.

“In our work with couples and families, we’re seeing that families are so busy, and they often can make the mistake of thinking faith is just something else I’m going to fit in when I have a few minutes, instead of seeing faith as the foundation for everything they’re doing,” he said. “We are certainly seeing families that are overstretched, overwhelmed, too busy, and often missing these opportunities that are right in front of them to really put their children on a path to lifelong faith in Christ. Along with that, we’re seeing a rise in mental anxiety, the challenge of screens and digital media, and various addictions. Our book is an attempt to help families to hit reset and clarify their ultimate goals as a family.”

Through their nonprofit, the Johnsons work to engage families at the coffee shop, offer advice through home workshops and e-letters, and help establish local Trinity House programs in parishes and churches that offer opportunities for participants to gather five times a year to compare notes, encourage one another

and grow in fellowship.

“Heaven in Your Home” is a guidebook to those family journeys.

“We have two kids in college and three at home. The years do go fast, and I haven’t met anyone who late in life regrets time they spent with their family. On the contrary, they’re always regretting that they overvalued work or they overvalued a hobby and they underinvested in those quick years that they had with their children,” he said. “This is a chance to share that vision and kind of set up strategies that families can pick up.”

The book is available for order online or for pick up at the Trinity House Café & Market at 101 E. Market St. in Leesburg. For more information, go to trinityhousecommunity.org.

—Norman K. Styer

Kingfish of The Lodge: The Extraordinary Governorship of Huey P. Long

BY TYLER LUCAS

Loudoun resident and University of Virginia student Tyler Lucas recently released his first book, a biography on Huey Long, former Louisiana governor and senator during the 1920s and 1930s.

Lucas, a history buff, said while he first learned about Long in middle school, as he continued to study his life he was impressed by Long’s genuine concern for the welfare of Louisiana residents.

“He sincerely believed that large swaths of the population were being taken advantage of by the current political establishment at the time and by the corporate interests and the state,” Lucas said. “A lot of people were going through hard times during the depression, and he really wanted to help everyone, even African Americans at the time. He was remarkably progressive in his racial views.”

Lucas called Long a “populist politician” and said the book focuses on his life and early part of his career as governor. Long went on to become a U.S. senator and run for president before being assassinated in 1935.

“He offers a great insight into depression era politics and skillful use of political power for good or for ill,” Lucas said.

Leesburg’s Thomas Balch Library proved to be a critical resource as Lucas was writing his book.

“They have a fantastic selection on southern history, and I really used that to help me with my research particularly with the beginning of my book where I really dive deep into Louisiana history and what all is going on and various factors that helped lead to the rise of Huey Long,” he said.

This is only the first of what Lucas hopes will be a long line of books he authors. He is already working on a sequel that focuses on the second half of Long’s life.

Lucas said he wants to show other young authors that they don’t have to wait to begin publishing books.

“It’s pretty amazing how accessible it is to young people today to be able to do high level research and writing and then publish your findings, whether that be in the scientific field or the history field or fiction,” he said.

Kingfish of The Lodge: The Extraordinary Governorship of Huey P. Long is available on Amazon.

—Hanna Pampaloni

The Mad Scientist Club Series

BY SHARON K. SOLOMON

Lansdowne resident and author Sharon K. Solomon has published 10 books since her first in 2014. They vary from children’s picture books to historical fiction for teens to a series that uses math and science to solve mysteries.

The 77-year-old grandmother said she likes information and is a “fact junkie.”

Her series, the Mad Scientist Club is three books deep, with several more on the horizon.

The first book, “The Pencil That Wouldn’t Die,” follows 10-year-old twins Sam and Abby as they use scientific procedures to try to prove the theory that the average lead pencil can draw a line 30 miles long. As they work to prove the

theory, they deal with the fact that the pencil gets smaller and even misplace it.

She said she got the idea for the book from the lid of a Snapple drink years ago.

“I used to drink a lot of Snapple and the lid had fun facts, one said the average lead pencil can draw a line 30 miles long,” she said. “Basically, I set out and created a fictitious town and these twins, a boy and a girl to entice more readers and wrote the story.”

She said her grandkids would often read her manuscripts before being published and offer suggestions.

In “The Pencil that Wouldn’t Die,” they suggested adding a little tension to the story, like the twins losing the pencil, to keep readers interested.

In the second book of the series, “The Lost Locket,” released in 2022 it follows the same twins but includes a few more friends to the club. In that book one of the new friends loses her grandmother’s locket so the club makes its own metal detector to find it. She said instructions on how to make a metal detector are included at the back of the book.

She said she made a prototype based on the instructions to make sure it was doable.

The third book in the series, set to be released soon, is called “The Something’s

LOCAL AUTHORS

continues on page 24

Presents Dénes Várjon

Acclaimed Hungarian pianist Dénes Várjon brings an enchanting program to Waterford with works from Beethoven, Brahms, Liszt, and Chopin.

Sunday, April 28th, 4 PM

Waterford Old School • 40222 Loudoun St., Waterford, VA

Tickets $40 adult, $20 student | Seating is limited: book early!

Major credit cards accepted

Local authors

continued from page 23

Fishy Mystery” and focuses on polluted water on a farm in the fictitious town of Jackson City. The Mad Scientist Club makes their own microscope—instructions for how to do this are also included in the book— test the water and discover it has E. Coli and petition the city to clean it up.

She hopes readers like the mystery and use of math and science in solving it.

“If you get the right book or books for the right kids, they just want to keep reading,” she said referring to her days as a reading specialist where she helped students develop a love of reading. She said finding the right book that holds the interest and is on the right level for a child makes a difference.

Order the Mad Scientist Club books at sharonsbooks.net

—Alexis Gustin

Images of America-Sterling

BY BRITTANY DELONG

Sterling resident Brittany DeLong wanted to capture the love she had for her community as well as the tight knit nature of the town that sits 45 minutes west of Washington, DC.

She said as a lifelong resident she felt the need to publish a comprehensive history on the area because one hadn’t been written before.

“My reason was two-pronged—my personal tie and also my curiosity after doing some research and finding some random stuff about Sterling,” she said. “There wasn’t anything dedicated to Sterling. There are books about Herndon and Leesburg, and I just felt like it was time to do it.”

She got the green light for the book in 2020 from Arcadia Publishing, one of the largest local history publishers in the country and thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic has had four years to work on it.

“It was not the best time to kick off a book project right before a pandemic,” she said, laughing.

DeLong used the Thomas Balch Library and the Library of Congress for part of her research, but said the vast majority of the content of the book came from community outreach on Facebook.

“I’m a member of every local history group you can imagine, and I put out a very large blast saying ‘this is what I’m doing and if anyone is interested to reach out,’ and it went from there,” she said.

She said she followed leads from “cousins that knew someone that knew someone” and gathered stories and pictures all along the way.

“It really encapsulated to me why I love Sterling,” she said. “Those who were reaching out were excited to share their family history and pictures.”

She said she learned a lot about the place she called home, including that its history was a lot older than she thought.

She said she learned about and included in her book the story of a Civil War Skirmish—the Second Dranesville Battle— that happened where the Northern Virginia Community College Campus is today.

DeLong called the book a “community effort” and said she wouldn’t have been able to complete it without the help of her beloved community.

“I wouldn’t have been able to pull this together just from using purely formal resources like the library just because there wasn’t enough information in catalogues of libraries or the history,” she said.

She said she also learned a lot about the African American farmers in Sterling.

She dedicated a chapter to African American contributions in Sterling, highlighting the Nokes, Edds and Fitts families.

Flora Edds owned Pidgeon Hill Farm, where the current CountrySide neighborhood is. Edds had a large dairy farm that shipped goods into Washington, D.C., every day. When her husband William died in 1938, Flora became the primary manager of the farm. The farm had an iconic silo that could be seen for miles away that remained a Sterling landmark and was incorporated into the design of the CountrySide Marketplace shopping center until it was demolished in 2013 after the shopping center was renovated.

She said the biggest thing she has learned from writing the book is the pride and love Sterling residents have for their community.

She said she still gets people who reach out with more pictures or more stories and she plans to create a companion website for all of the new information she has received since the book was released as well as for pictures and stories that didn’t make it into the book.

She said, there may even be a sequel.

“My mind goes to all of the places of what I can do,” she said.

You can pick up Images of America Sterling on Amazon or in a local bookstore.

—Alexis Gustin

There’s a Triceratops on My Toe

BY WENDY BUCK

Another Loudoun author who just released her first book is mom-to-three Wendy Buck, who said her daughters were the inspiration to her simple and fun story on dinosaurs.

“I wanted to have a playful, colorful way for children to learn about dinosaurs, especially some of the lesser-known ones,” Buck said.

The book also includes a pronunciation guide so children, and their parents, can learn the proper way to say the

dinosaur types.

Buck said the reason for the book really lies in her desire to see parents cultivate their children’s interests.

“I have spent a lot of time reading about dinosaurs with my daughters, especially my oldest daughter … I just loved that she was interested in it, and I could tell that she was very curious about it,” she said.

Buck said the story is simple enough for toddlers to follow but advanced enough to keep her 7-year-old, who is learning to read, interested in reading it to her younger siblings—especially since they help form the basis of the characters.

“I could see their faces, especially my older two, that it dawned on them. I could see the recognition of, ‘hey this looks like me. I know who this is,’” she said.

But Buck said even though she enjoys writing, she doesn’t have any plans to publish a second book, unless inspiration strikes like it did for this one.

“The words just kind of came to me one night. I just kind of typed it out on my phone,” she said. “… I think if something comes along organically and that inspiration strikes then I would write another one.”

Buck is also working on getting her book out into the community. She is hoping to read it at an upcoming author event at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn as well as sell it at various pop-up events in the county.

There’s a Triceratops on My Toe is available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.

—Hanna Pampaloni

Obituaries

Tommy Heflin

Tommy L. Heflin of Brokenburg, Virginia died on April 10, 2024 at home.

Mr. Heflin was born in Durham, North Carolina on March 6, 1960. He attended Park View High School in Sterling, Virginia and soon after enlisted in the United States Army where he served as a Military Police Officer. After his time in the military, he worked as a security guard.

Mr. Heflin was also a longtime resident of Nags Head, North Carolina, where he worked as a property manager and very much enjoyed the beach life. He entered retirement at age 62.

Tommy was an avid cyclist, a competitive tennis and racquetball player, and had a lot of fun playing board games with his family.

He is survived by a son, Joseph Heflin (Lauren), of Tampa, Florida.

Tommy will be greatly missed by his parents, Dan and Mary Ashwell, of Sterling, Virginia as well as his two sisters: Cynthia Hall (Toma) of Fredericksburg, Virginia and Alisa Keith (Erik) of Leesburg, Virginia.

His nephew Douglas Hall, niece Stephanie Hall and her three children MJ, Meadow “Meegee” and Marshall, will also cherish his memory.

Mary Legard

Mary “Lou” Legard, age 87, of Hillsboro, VA passed away peacefully on December 30, 2023 at her home on Coffee Creek Farm. It was there that she raised her children and was blessed to watch her grandchildren grow up there as well. Originally from Ohio, she moved to Loudoun County, VA in 1968 where she continued her career in teaching science with Loudoun County Public Schools up until her retirement in the 1990’s.

Lou was a longtime equestrian and member of the Loudoun Hunt and known for her dedicated involvement with the Loudoun Hunt Pony Club.

She was also a beloved member of Leesburg United Methodist Church where she served in many capacities, including its choir and the Stephen Ministry Program.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, April 27th at 10a at Leesburg United Methodist Church.

Lives are like

We’re Hiring.

Loudoun Now is growing. Join the team.

Reporters

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

Sales

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

Production Manager

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

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

The Town of Lovettsville seeks a dedicated, responsive, and experienced individual for the position of Public Works Coordinator.

The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable and capable of performing maintenance, repair, and upkeep activities on Town facilities and grounds including buildings and parks, along with water and sewer infrastructure under the guidance of the Town Manager.

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

Legal Notices

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

The Middleburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers located at 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, VA, to consider the following:

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE SCHEDULE OF WATER AND SEWER CHARGES

If approved, the ordinance would increase the water and sewer user fees as identified below effective July 1, 2024. This would result in an increase of 3% or $8.22 in the average bi-monthly combined water and sewer bill for in-Town customers (with bi-monthly use of 7,000 gallons). (By authority of Virginia Code Sections 15.2-2111, 15.2-2119 and 15.2-2143.) The public is encouraged to submit comments electronically at www.middleburgva.gov/budget

WATER USER FEES %

Bi-Monthly Rates For: Current Proposed Change

In-Town

Minimum of 2,000 gallons $38.56

USE OF WATER BY CONTRACTORS AND OTHER PARTIES (Town Code Section 113-23)

Contractor Rates: Current Proposed Change

Each 1,000 gallons $38.56/1,000

AVAILABILITY FEES & CONNECTION FEES

No change in availability fees is proposed. No change in water & sewer connection fees is proposed.

A copy of the ordinance is available for public inspection in the Middleburg Town Hall, located at 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, VA during normal business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. All interested citizens are invited to attend this public hearing to express their views.

MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL TOWN OF MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ048199-02-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Diana Aljanabi

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

v. Dalya Alkhkree, Mother

The object of this suit is to hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1-281 for Diana Aljanabi.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Dalya Alkhkree, Mother appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before May 14, 2024 at 3:00pm

4/4, 4/11, 4/18 & 4/25/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ047165-01-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Ivory Green

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

v. Kevin Green, Putative Father and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold and adjudicatory hearing pursuant to Virginia Code § 161.-252 for Ivory Green; and hold a dispositional hearing for review of initial Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code § § 16.1-278.2 and 16.1-281 for Ivory Green.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Kevin Green, Putative Father and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before May 2, 2024 at 10:00am (adjudicatory); and May 29, 2024 at 3:00pm (Dispositional)

4/25, 5/2, 5/9 & 5/16/24

OFFICIAL VOTING INFORMATION

The Constitution of Virginia requires that you be registered in the precinct in which you live to be qualified to vote.

For the convenience of the citizens of Loudoun County, the Office of Elections at 750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite 150, Leesburg, is open each week Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Additional information regarding voter registration, same day registration, registration status, absentee voting, what’s on the ballot can be found by visiting www.elections.virginia.gov

EARLY VOTING

Early Voting – All registered voters are eligible to vote early in-person, no excuse required. In-person early voting begins at the Office of Elections on Friday, May 3, 2024.

Important Dates for Leesburg Early Voting –Office of Elections – Leesburg – 750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite 150, Leesburg 20175

• Early voting hours – Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

• Early voting ends Saturday, June 15, 2024.

Please note: The Office of Elections (Leesburg) will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2024, in observance of Memorial Day.

• Extended hours –

o Tuesday, June 11– office remains open until 7:00 p.m.

o Thursday, June 13 – office remains open until 7:00 p.m.

o Saturday, June 8 and Saturday, June 15 – the office will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Important Dates & Deadlines:

Publish: April 25 & May 2, 2024

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ048304-02-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Gustavo Adolfo Constante Anaya

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

v.

Jose Ricardo Portillo Mejia, putative father, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1-281 for Gustavo Adolfo Constante Anaya.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Jose Ricardo Portillo Mejia, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before May 15, 2024 at 3:00pm

4/4, 4/11, 4/18 & 4/25/24

Early voting starts – Saturday, June 8, 2024, at the three satellite early voting locations listed below.

Carver Senior Center – 200 E. Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville 20132

Claude Moore Recreation & Community Center – 46105 Loudoun Park Lane, Sterling 20164

Dulles South Recreation Center – 24950 Riding Center Drive, Chantilly 20152

Dates and Hours –

§ Saturday, June 8, 2024 – 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

§ Tuesday, June 11, 2024 – 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

§ Wednesday, June 12, 2024 – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

§ Thursday, June 13, 2024 – 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

§ Saturday, June 15, 2024 - - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 15, 2024, at 5:00 pm is the last day upon which one may vote an absentee ballot in person for the upcoming election.

To find more information regarding the upcoming election, visit our website at www.loudoun.gov/election

Judith Brown, General Registrar / 750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite 150, Leesburg, Virginia 20175

Email: vote@loudoun.gov / Telephone: 703-777-0380 / Fax: 703-777-0622 4/25/24

Legal Notices

TOWN OF MIDDLEBURG COMMITTEE VACANCY

The Middleburg Town Council is accepting letters of interest from individuals who wish to be considered for service on the following:

Middleburg Planning Commission. The Planning Commission prepares and recommends to the Town Council a comprehensive plan for the growth, development and redevelopment of the Town; amendments to the zoning and subdivision regulations; and policies, ordinances and administrative procedures for achieving plans in a coordinated and efficient manner. The Planning Commission also makes recommendations concerning proposed special use permits, zoning map and text amendment applications. Members must be residents of the Town of Middleburg. This appointment is to fill a vacancy – appointments are normally for four-year terms. Training is available for members of the Planning Commission through the Virginia Certified Planning Commissioners Program at no cost to the members. The Town Council encourages new members to take advantage of this training opportunity. The Planning Commission meets on the fourth Monday of each month in a work session beginning at 6:30 p.m. (as needed) and in regular session beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Anyone interested in serving on the Commission is asked to send a letter of interest, to include relevant qualifications, no later than May 20, 2024, via email to rnorth@middleburgva.gov or via USPS mail to:

Mayor and Members of Town Council

Town of Middleburg

P. O. Box 187

10 W. Marshall Street

Middleburg, Virginia 20118

Attn: Committee Vacancies

Letters of interest may be included in a public agenda packet. Applicants who do not wish for their contact information to be made public should indicate this in their letter of interest.

4/25 & 5/2/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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

Case No. CL 23 5170-00

LOUDOUN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

18 EAST MARKET ST., LEESBURG, VA 20176

Creed

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 Nariah Swales

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Darius Swales, Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before May 28, 2024 at 2:00PM 4/25 & 5/2/24

TOWN OF MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET

Pursuant to Virginia Code Sect. 15.2-2506, the Middleburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on May 9, 2024 at 6:00 p.m in the Middleburg Town Hall, 10 West Marshall Street, Middleburg, VA, on the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, at which time the public will have an opportunity to express their views. A detailed copy of the proposed budget is available for review on the Town website at www. middleburgva.gov and in the Town Hall 8:30 AM-5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. No sooner than one week after the public hearing, the Council will consider an ordinance adopting the budget, affirming tax rates and appropriating funds, which must be accomplished no later than June 30, 2024. The public is encouraged to submit comments electronically at www.middleburgva.gov/budget

Danny Davis, Town Manager

FY 2025 BUDGET SUMMARY

REVENUES EXPENDITURES

v. Auda Alicia Ramirez Aquilar

The object of this suit is obtain a divorce.

It is ORDERED that Auda Alicia Ramirez Aquilar appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before June 7th, 2024 at 2PM.

4/4, 4/11, 4/18 & 4/25/24

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES

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

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

Legal Notices

COUNTY OF LOUDOUN FIRST HALF PERSONAL PROPERTY

TAX

DEADLINE IS MAY 6, 2024

Henry C. Eickelberg Loudoun Treasurer

The deadline for paying the first half of your personal property taxes is May 6, 2024.

Please Note: Payments received or postmarked after May 6, 2024, will incur a 10 percent penalty and interest. Any such penalty, when assessed, shall become part of the tax with interest accruing on both the tax and penalty at a rate of 10% annually. Personal Property taxes remaining unpaid after 60 calendar day from the original due date will incur an additional 15% penalty. Taxpayers who are having financial difficulties should contact our Collections Team at 703-771-5656 who stand ready to assist.

For Your Safety and Convenience, please consider making payments online, by phone or mail.

CONVENIENT PAYMENT OPTIONS AND LOCATIONS

Online: www.loudounportal.com/taxes

Pay using electronic check, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover

By Telephone: 24-hour line 1-800-269-5971 703-777-0280 during regular business hours

Pay using electronic check, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover

Please note: There is a convenience fee added to a Credit Card transaction. There is no fee for electronic checks (e-check).

By Mail: County of Loudoun P.O. Box 1000 Leesburg, Virginia 20177-1000

TREASURER’S OFFICE LOCATIONS

Extended Hours: Friday, May 3 – 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday, May 6 - 8:00AM to 5:00 PM

Regular Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

1 Harrison Street, S.E. 46000 Center Oak Plaza 1st Floor 1st Floor

Leesburg, Virginia 20175 Sterling, Virginia 20166

A 24 hour drop box is located outside the Sterling and Leesburg office.

Please contact the Loudoun County Treasurer’s Office at 703-777-0280 or email us at taxes@loudoun. gov with questions or if you have not received your bill.

Stay up to date on tax information by subscribing to the Tax Notices category of Alert Loudoun at www.louduon.gov/alert. You can also text the word “TAXES” to 888777 to receive text messages about tax-related information, including upcoming deadlines.

For information regarding Real Property or Personal Property Tax Exemptions or Deferrals, please contact the Exemptions Divisions of the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office at taxrelief@loudoun. gov, by phone at 703-737-8557 or visit www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief

4/25 & 5/2/24

ABC LICENSE

Jackmont of DC, LLC, trading as Rappahannock Oyster Bar, 1 Saarinen Circle, B-B01, Dulles, Virginia 20166.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Mixed Beverage Restuarant; beer, wine, and mixed beverages license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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

Case No. CL24-2021

LOUDOUN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

18 EAST MARKET ST., LEESBURG, VA 20176

In Re: Isaac Daniel Campero v. Raul Ernesto Perez

The object of this suit is to show cause as to why child’s last name should not be changed to mother’s maiden name.

It is ORDERED that Raul Ernesto Perez appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before July 19, 2024 9:00 AM.

4/18, 4/25, 5/2 & 5/9/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046179-06-00; 07-00; 08-00; 09-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Starh Rahimi

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

v. Ahmad Wali, putative father and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a third permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Starh Rahimi and hold a hearing on the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Ahmad Wali, putative father and Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1-283 for Starh Rahimi. Ahmad Wali, putative father and Unknown Father, are hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and time

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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

Case No. CL24001747-00

LOUDOUN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

18 EAST MARKET ST., LEESBURG, VA 20176

Amy M. Boerner

in re: Name Change (Colton M. Goforth)

The object of this suit is to change name of minor.

It is ORDERED that Andrew M. Goforth appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before June 7, 2024

2:00 PM.

Daniel J. Halpern - Managing Member

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

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

4/25 & 5/2/24

4/18, 4/25, 5/2 & 5/9/24

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Ahmad Wali, putative father and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before May 8, 2024 at 10:00 4/11, 4/18, 4/25 & 5/2/24

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLE

6 NONRESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS, ARTICLE 8 PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS AND ARTICLE 9 USE REGULATIONS RELATING TO DATA CENTER USES

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 to consider Zoning Ordinance Amendment TLZNOA2024-0001 revising the following Sections of the Zoning Ordinance:

1. Sec. 6.7 I-1 Industrial/Research Park District to establish Data Center as a special exception use with minimum use standards in the I-1 District.

2. Sec. 8.6 PEC, Planned Employment Center District (PEC) to establish Data Center as a special exception use with minimum use standards in the PEC District.

3. Sec. 9.2 Use Table to reflect Data Center as a special exception use in the I-1 District with applicable use standards.

Copies and additional information regarding these proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments are available at the Department of Community Development located at 222 Catoctin Circle SE, Suite 200, Leesburg, Virginia 20175 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by calling 703737-7009 and asking for Christopher Murphy, Senior Planning Project Manager. This zoning ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLZNOA2024-0001.

At this hearing all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of the Commission at (703) 771-2434 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 04/18 & 04/25/2024

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will conduct a public hearing during its work session on Thursday, May 9 , 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia. The items proposed for public hearing during this work session are as follows:

LEGI-2023-0070, HIDDENWOOD ASSEMBLAGE: ZMAP-2023-0004 (Zoning Map Amendment)

Edward Y. Papazian and Judith C. Papazian; Thomas Devine Harmon and Pornpit Mrigalakshana, Trustees of the Harmon Living Trust; Frank W. Hardesty and Angela Cannady Hardesty; Venugopal Ravva and Vara Laxmi Ravva; Lisa Sweeney Bell and Scott Bell; John A. Ward and Nancy L. Ward; Keith E. Calhoun and Kristin E. Calhoun; Jay Baltzer and Stephanie McGrady; Gary G. Hosaflook and Joyce E. Hosaflook; Brent Bumgardner; Paul C. Farmer and Holly A. Farmer; Abdus S. Azad; Sharmeen Khan and Asim Khan; Kashif Iqbal and Ayesha Iqbal; Michael E. Duncan; and Patricia Catherine Cave and Jonathan Earley of Aldi, Virginia, submitted an application for a zoning map amendment for approximately 29.01 acres of land located east of Racefield Lane (Route 877), south of Cameron Parish Drive (Route 3444) and north of Stone Springs Boulevard (Route 659) in the Dulles Election District (the “Subject Property”) and more particularly described as:

For ZMAP-2023-0004, the applicant seeks to rezone the Subject Property from Countryside Residential – 1 (CR-1) zoning district to the Planned Development – Industrial Park (PD-IP) zoning district. The application is being processed under the land use and development regulations of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance Grandfathering Resolution dated December 13, 2023.

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

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

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

Regularly scheduled Planning Commission work sessions are held on the second Thursday of each month. In the event the work session cannot be conducted on that date due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the work session, the work session may be continued to the third Tuesday of the month. In the event the work session may not be held on the third Tuesday due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the work session, the work session may be continued to the Thursday following the third Tuesday.

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

BY ORDER OF: MICHELLE FRANK, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION 4/25 & 5/2/24

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

LVZA 2024-0001, AMEND ZONING ORDINANCE

ARTICLE

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1117, 15.2-2253, 15.2-2204 and 15.2-2286 of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended, the LOVETTSVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing at its meeting on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 7:00 pm, in the Town Council Chambers, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia, to consider an amendment to Chapter 42, Article VIII-2 of the Zoning Ordinance.

Written comments regarding this item can be submitted to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00PM on the day of the meeting. Members of the public may access and participate in this meeting electronically.

The purpose of the amendment is to consider the addition of Section 42-312, defining special events; adding performance standards that limit the number of events, the length of each event, and hours of operation each day, requiring permits from health and safety agencies, and requiring public notification.

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

The proposed zoning amendment and meeting links 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 8:30 am and 4:30 pm weekdays, holidays excepted. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be readvertised and convened at the next regularly scheduled meeting at the same time and place.

4/18, 4/25/24

TOWN OF LEESBURG DEPARTMENT OF UTILITIES

NOTICE OF WATER MAIN FLUSHING

The Town of Leesburg will conduct controlled flushing of water mains throughout the Town beginning April 15 through May 31st , 2024. This preventative maintenance program is essential for maintaining the Town’s high standards of water quality.

Water mains are flushed by opening fire hydrants and allowing them to flow freely for a short period of time. The flushing cleans out sediment, removes air which may accumulate in the water mains and restores chlorine levels in areas of limited water use.

Water is safe to drink and safe to use during flushing. However, flushing may result in temporary discoloration and sediment in the water. If discoloration or sediment is evident, the Town recommends residents avoid doing laundry until the discoloration subsides. Flushing may also introduce air into the water, which may temporarily cause erratic flow or a milky look. If this occurs, open your cold water tap until a clear steady flow of water is observed.

Some residents and businesses may experience lower than normal pressure during the flushing in their neighborhood. The Town regrets any inconvenience the flushing operation may cause.

Please call the Utilities Department at 703-737-7075 for further information. For after-hour emergencies, call the Leesburg Police Department at 703-771-4500. 4/11,

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING

TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION

TLREZN2023-0004 AND SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION

TLSPEX2023-0005

MEADOWBROOK NEIGHBORHOOD

CENTER, LAND BAY F

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ044061

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Allison Rodriguez

The object of this suit is to hold an adjudicatory hearing pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-252 for Allison Rodriguez; and hold a dispositional hearing for review of initial Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code § § 16.1-278.2 and 16.1-281 for Allison Rodriguez.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before May 3, 2024 at 9:00am (Adjudicatory); and May 29, 2024 at 10:00am (Dispositional).

4/25 & 5/2/24

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Rezoning application

Loudoun County Department of Family Services v. Unknown Father

TLREZN2023-0004 and Special Exception application

TLSPEX2023-0005, Meadowbrook Neighborhood Center, Land Bay F.

The entirety of the subject property consists of approximately 23.56 acres of vacant land located at the intersection (southeast corner) of South King Street (Route 15) and Evergreen Mill Road. The property is zoned Planned Residential Neighborhood (PRN) and Community Retail/ Commercial (B-3). and is further identified as Loudoun County Property Identification Numbers (PINs 232-15-2692, 272-109222, 273-40-7863). The property also lies within the Gateway District (Overlay).

Rezoning Application

TLREZN2023-0004 is a request by Traditional Land, LLC to amend the Concept Plan and Proffers of approved rezoning TLZM-2021-0002 to convert Land Bay F (approximately 8.62 acres), which is an undeveloped portion of the subject property, from open space to a childcare center (12,000 SF), Continuing Care Facility (CCF) (175,000 square feet/175 dwelling units), retail (5,000 SF), and office (14,300 square feet) uses. The childcare center is the subject of a separate special exception request.

Special Exception Application

TLSPEX2023-0005 is a request by Traditional Land LLC for a childcare center within the Planned Residential (PRN) district of 12,000 square feet pursuant to Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Sec. 8.4.3.

The subject property is located in what the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan (LLTP) describes as an “Area to Enhance” on the Area Based Land Use Initiatives Map (LLTP pg. 72). The property is further designated within LLTP as a “Neighborhood Center” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (LLTP pg. 76). There is no recommended density for residential use or a Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) for commercial uses associated with a Neighborhood Center within LLTP. The requested density for the residential units associated with the CCF portion of the PRN is proposed to be 34 dwelling units per acre. The proposed commercial F.A.R. of Land Bay F is .33.

The application includes five (5) requested modifications to the requirements of the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) regulations which include maximum square footage of a neighborhood retail convenience center, maximum density of a continuing care facility, required amenity spaces for a continuing care facility, play equipment setbacks for a childcare facility, and the number of required loading spaces.

Additional information and copies of these two applications are available at the Department of Community Development 222 Catoctin Circle, Suite 200, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Scott E. Parker, AICP, at 703771-2771 or sparker@leesburgva.gov.

At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of the Commission at (703) 771-2434 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 4/18 & 4/25/24

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE BIDS FOR:

PURCHASE OF STREAM MITIGATION CREDITS FOR CROSSTRAIL BLVD SEGMENT C, IFB No. 647814 until prior to 4:00 p.m., May 15, 2024.

TASK ORDER FENCING INSTALLATION, REMOVAL, MAINTENANCE, AND RELATED SERVICES, IFB No. 640810 until prior to 4:00 p.m., May 29, 2024.

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

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

4/25/24

Misc.

SPRING YARD SALE

Check out the list of participants to see what’s for sale and view the community map to find each location at broadlandshoa.org/yardsale

Saturday, May 4th

8:00AM - 2:00PM

Rain or Shine

VEHICLE AUCTION

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

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

VEHICLE AUCTION

ADESA WASHINGTON DC | 705-996-1100

44475 OLD OX ROAD, DULLES, VA 20166

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

Terms: Cash or Certified Check.

Education leaders

continued from page 3

degree from Shenandoah University. She has been with the division for 14 years.

Diehl is the division’s nominee for the Washington Post Principal of the Year Award.

Joseph has been the principal of Dominion Trail since 2013. He previously served as an assistant principal at Emerick, Pinebrook and Arcola elementary schools. He has a bachelor’s degree from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree from Shenandoah University. He’s

Valor awards

continued from page 3

community groups represented here today and many more that offered and provided assistance and prayers to the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company and the entire Loudoun County Fire and Rescue System,” he said.

Loudoun First Responders Foundation

President Tina Johnson said the community had given over $277,000 to the organization to support Brown’s family and injured firefighters.

“I promise you, every single dollar does make a difference,” she said.

The 2023 Stu Plitman Award, created to honor the LFRF founder, was presented to Keith Johnson and retiring Purcellville Police Chief Cynthia McAlister. This is the first year it has been awarded to two individuals. It is granted to first responders who demonstrate the highest commitment to fostering positive relationships with the Loudoun County community in ways that positively enhance the safety and security of its residents.

Among those receiving awards were civilians who joined rescue efforts at Snickers Gap Tree Farm on Nov. 24, 2023, when an eight-year-old boy became trapped underneath a boulder.

Zack Turbyfill, Sam Lung and other unknown Good Samaritans helped to lift the boulder off of the boy who was unconscious. Former school security officer Brad Poindexter and his wife Katie, a nurse, started performing CPR and were successful. The boy, who had suffered a collapsed lung and fractured vertebrae, is on his way to a full recovery and he and his family attended the ceremony to say thank you to the group.

The chamber also partnered with Inova

been with the division for 24 years.

“A heartfelt thank you to the Mercer Middle School team, students and our school community for this nomination and to my family for teaching me that love is the catalyst for any great success,” Diehl said. “At Mercer we stand behind the fiveyear core motto, ‘one voice, one purpose, one vision,’ creating a united team which is why I’m standing in front of you today. This concludes that a recognition for one is a recognition for each an everyone in our school community and I humbly accept this recognition on behalf of every mountain lion tonight.”

Joseph thanked those who hired him

and nominated him.

“All I can tell you is I’ve been brought up to value relationships, respect people and work hard. A true testament to my upbringing,” he said, as he recognized and thanked his parents Ed and Carol Joseph who he said drove from Florida to attend the meeting.

Leesburg special education teacher Alexandra Cooper, Brambleton Middle School math teacher Shreyas Khera, and Rock Ridge High School history teacher Aisha Ahmed previously were announced as the 2024 New Teachers of the Year.

All the winners will be honored at the Outstanding Educator Banquet hosted

Blood Donor Services to host a blood donation drive directly following the event.

Other honorees were:

Loudoun County Sherriff’s Office

LIFESAVING AWARDS: Sheriff’s Office

Sgt. Joshua Edney, Master Dept. Linda Parker, Dept. First Class James Hollar, Dept. First Class Darren Smith, Dept. First Class Justin Sperling, Dept. Christopher Brannan, Dept. Stewart Marcantel, Dept. Cameron McQuade, and Dept. First Class James Gutshall.

UNIT CITATIONS: Deputies First Class

Zachary Blackall, Matthew Connell, Michael Davidson, Joseph Fletcher, Jeremy Reynolds, Abigail Gingras, Daren Smith, Justin Sperling, Joshua Doroski; and Sgt. Joshua Edney, 2nd Lt. Mel Holmes, MD

Anne Ottosen, Regan Alcazar, Jon Boese,

by the Loudoun Education Foundation on May 3.

Also given special recognition during the April 23 School Board meeting were Susan Lynn, Mary “Beth” Paquette and Charles Smith Sr. for their years of working with the division. Lynn has worked in the Department of Support Services for 40 years, while Paquette has worked for 40 years as a band teacher at J.L. Simpson Middle School. Paquette is retiring at the end of the year. Charles has been with the division for 45 years, serving as a business education teacher and counselor. He’s been a counselor at Loudoun Valley High School since 2006. n

taker Zachary Spencer, LT. Jason Ilowite, Tech Stuart Hambel, FF Emma Sweeney, FF II Noah Wing and FF Matthew Lockman.

LIFESAVING AWARD: Chief Kathleen Harasek.

BRONZE MEDAL OF VALOR: FF II Max Walsh.

CERTIFICATE OF VALOR: Tech John Atchinson, Capt. William Bliss, FF/EMT Tiffany Borggen, Lt. Robert Doody, FF/ EMT Brandon Ferguson, FF/AEMT

Milton Fletcher, FF Jonathon Miranda, Lt. Michael Quinn, FF/EMT Jonathan Sauter, FF/EMT Taylor Stong, Tech Chris Waybright and FF/Paramedic Adam White.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority

LIFESAVING AWARD: Corporals Christopher Conboy, Kelly Matthew and Jason Robinson.

Virginia State Police

Sean Conroy, Blair Forrester, Denise Gay, Jessica Hoffman, Michael Hovermale, Becki Houchins, Jeffrey Kish, Desiree LoBianco, Krissy Meredith, Lauren Parker, Diane Shew, Jessica Snowden, Quinn Vanderbilt, Toni Wilson and Capt. Jacob Sherer.

CERTIFICATE OF VALOR: Deputies First Class James Gutchall and Jeremy Reynolds.

Combined Fire and Rescue System

UNIT CITATION: FF Brady Kelly, Asst.

Chief Chris Kermode, Tech/EMR Edward Jackson, EMT Ethan Stephens, Capt.

Nicole Artisst, FF Daniel Bishop, FF Brian Brandt, Capt. Bob Enright, Lt. Earl “Kenny” Fox, FF/EMT Kyle Fogle, FF/EMT

Alan Hornyak, FF/AEMT Joshua Kehne, Lt. Clayton Parmenter, FF/AEMT James Ryan, FF/EMT Kaylah Smothers, call

BRONZE MEDAL OF VALOR: Sgt. Christopher Ihara.

Civilians

MERITORIOUS CIVILIAN AWARDS:

Matthew Kakol, Vivienne Campbell, Dr. Twana Black, Katherine Dannerfrank, Kory Dannerfrank, Suzanne Lyles, Jade O’Faolean, Jennifer Fletcher, Patrice Frazer, Yomara Hidalgo-Vilchis, Genevieve Akouele Zebada, Olivia Greene, Jennifer Roberts, Rachael Sasanecki, Jen Brodefuhrer, Kerry Brophy, Lorelei Nelson, Melanie Skinner, Kari Svetahor.

MEDAL OF VALOR: Bernadette Boyle, Sean Groft, Tiffany Hall, Brendan Quigley, Vickie Singer, Erin Barlow, Mitch Raymo, Shane Bradley, Mark Pembleton, Josmar Hernandez, Samuel Lung, Connor Lyons, Katie Poindexter, Brad Poindexter, Zachary Turbyfill and Jennifer O’Riley. n

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

From left: Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue Sytsem Chief Keith Johnson, Purcellville Police Chief Cynthia McAlister, Sheriff Mike Chapman, Leesburg Police Chief Thea Pirnat, and Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Chief David Huchler pose for a photo before the Loudoun Chamber’s Valor Awards April 18.

BY KURT ASCHERMANN

Having retired from a career in the nonprofit sector some 15 or so years ago, some have asked why would I agree to jump back in and become Executive Director of Loudoun Community Media?

It was quite an easy decision for me. Simply put, my wife and I love living here in Loudoun County and Loudoun Now provides a public service like no other to this place where we live. Joining the Loudoun Now team is my way of also providing service to the place I love.

During a recent Leesburg Rotary Club meeting Publisher and Editor Norman K. Styer and I laid out the reasons for supporting Loudoun Now

Broadband expansion

continued from page 1

requests for attachments also increased dramatically.

“Dominion is invested heavily, and we’ve invested in contract resources to solve this problem,” a representative said. “We have over 80 contractors helping with this, so that equates to how we’re able to ramp up with these kind of numbers. Loudoun County is in a very good situation compared to some of the other counties with what’s been applied for and what’s been looked at.”

Middle mile is the physical fiber optic infrastructure needed to enable internet hook ups to individual homes. It is made up of high-capacity fiber lines that carry large amounts of data at high speeds over long distances.

Although All Points does not need 100 percent of middle mile fiber complete before making service available in some areas, it does need middle mile fully constructed and connected into its last-mile network before the entire project can be considered complete, according to a staff memo.

“We can’t just go out and attach to 20 or 30 electric utility poles at once and leave either end of the cable hanging,” Innes said.

Nonprofit News

Why I Joined Loudoun Now

He did a great job describing the history of Loudoun Now, having been born from the intentional demise of Leesburg Today, and he spelled out what makes Loudoun Now different in that it is more public service than flashy newspaper. At Loudoun Now, he said, we try to report the facts and leave it to the reader to decide how to feel about them.

When it was my turn to talk about the path to stable nonprofit status, I began by telling the audience what I wrote above: I love living here in Loudoun County. I was surprised how many people smiled and nodded their approval seemingly saying they felt the same way.

And, I continued, that made it easy to join a newspaper that prides itself on being part of the community, not separate from it, as we work under our new nonprofit umbrella to invite the entire county to join us in this public service that is Loudoun Now

The other reason I joined the effort is my fear that locally sourced and written news and information is disappearing rapidly from America’s towns and cities. In the past few years small, local, mostly weekly, newspapers have closed at a clip of two a week. Two a week!

We can’t let that happen here. But to guarantee that it doesn’t, a new model is needed. And that model is for us to ask our readers to become part of the team that makes it the best source of local news in Loudoun County by supporting us financially.

In future columns, I will outline the steps we are taking to transition Loudoun Now from a for-profit to nonprofit. I will tell you about the great board we already have that has to get greater. I will write about our efforts to reach out to all segments of the population in our county to make tax deductible contributions to our operation.

And, I will describe the renewed and intensified effort to invite even more advertisers to join the effort because Loudoun Now is by far the best way for them to reach their customers.

We know it is combined robust contributions and strong advertising sales that will be the vehicles to guarantee the future of your public service newspaper.

I’m thrilled to be part of the great Loudoun Now and look forward to working with you to make it even greater going forward. n

Kurt Aschermann is Executive Director of Loudoun Community Media, the parent nonprofit of Loudoun Now. Before joining Loudoun Now, he worked in the nonprofit sector as a fundraising and marketing professional. He is also the author or coauthor of four books. He lives in Leesburg with his wife Anna. Reach him at kashermann@loudounnow.com.

To date, Dominion has released 85 miles of middle mile fiber for construction and has completed 30 miles. It has another 41 miles waiting on designs, town negotiations, easements, and scheduling of existing hardware relocations.

Kershner said he and his staff had been meeting monthly with project leaders to stay up to date on the project.

Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony (D-Little River) asked if there was a way residents could learn when they were going to be connected or where their home sits on the priority list.

“We would love to be able to say who is going first and on what day, but until we have enough of those approvals in a row, in a contiguous fashion. We don’t

know exactly where that first mile of construction would happen,” Innes said. He said residents would be notified of their hookup opportunities 90 days in advance.

Western Loudoun residents interested in getting broadband service and status updates are encouraged to register at apbfiber.com. n

Aschermann

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Crews work to extend the backbone of fiberoptic cable from Waterford to Taylorstown along Loyalty Road in April.

Opinion

Remarkably Prudent

With the adoption of its fiscal year 2025 budget Tuesday night, the Purcellville Town Council did something remarkable.

It acted with a sense of fiscal responsibility in adopting rather significant utility rate increases— perhaps painful for some, probably unpopular, but essential, rate increases.

Acting in such a responsible manner shouldn’t be remarkable at all. Other municipalities do it all the time.

But this is Purcellville.

For a decade the town’s elected leaders have looked for every way possible to keep utility rates artificially low while claiming there were magic solutions to be found if they just kept looking harder.

Not A Solution

Editor:

There’s a dirty little secret about single-use plastic bags—the flimsy plastic is tough to recycle. It gets tangled up in the recycling machinery.

The thin plastic bags often aren’t durable enough to use more than once, either. And research has also shown that consumers typically don’t even reuse the more durable bags that are designed to be used again.

So, what good is Loudoun County’s 5-cent tax on single-use plastic bags? If the tax is truly funneled into programs that clean up litter, that’s a point in its favor. But it still won’t keep the bulk of those bags out of the landfill.

The Board of Supervisors has, at best, mandated a tax that has little impact on the environment and could even be making things worse. For example, in California, which had banned single-use plastic bags, consumers threw away heavier, reusable plastic bags, creating a weightier environmental problem.

Instead of penalizing Loudoun County residents with a plastic bag tax, why not encourage retailers to promote recyclable paper bags?

Currently, Virginia provides a tax cred-

Each time a council majority championed this fallacy to avoid the obvious rate math, the future deficit only grew deeper. It was an unsustainable path that has at least one of the municipal credit rating agencies taking a closer look at its assessment of the town’s commitment to fiscal management.

Even with this year’s double-digit water and sewer rate increase, the town will be burning through nearly $1.5 million in reserve funds to meet its obligations. Town leaders are faced with adopting similarly high increases again next year as they strive to bring the long-underfunded system into balance.

The year was a half-step toward getting the utility system back on firm footing, but it was a big step in taking the town to a new level of fiscal stewardship. n

LETTERS to the Editor

it to businesses that purchase recycling equipment. But most plastic bags don’t even make it to the recycler.

The state should extend a tax incentive to retailers to stop offering single-use plastic bags and to encourage the use of recyclable paper bags. Included in that program would be receptacles for collecting paper bags for the recycler. The receptacles could be stationed at the store entrance.

Retailers could find a way to reward customers who recycle with extra points in their loyalty club. Durable, recyclable, and reusable shopping bags promoting the store name and sustainability could earn extra loyalty points at checkout or discounts on various products, like organic produce.

Our Board of Supervisors—and the state of Virginia—should find a more creative solution to the plastic pollution problem. A plastic bag tax is neither creative, nor very effective.

— Daniel Meredith, Leesburg

Degrading Liberties Editor:

Last Friday, U.S. Representative Jennifer Wexton voted against an amendment requiring law enforcement to obtain a

warrant to surveil American citizens.

The 4th and 5th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution are explicit on this issue. For government to spy on a citizen, it must produce probable cause and articulate said cause before a judge for approval.

There are no maybes or ifs. Government either has justifiable reasons for obtaining a warrant, or it does not. Only the naivest believe government does not abuse our Constitution on a regular basis. Actions like Wexton’s codify a chilling disregard for our civil liberties.

Wexton has a history of supporting the suppression due process protections. She has, and is, an ardent supporter of “no-fly lists” and “watch lists,” which suspend due process to innocent individuals who mysteriously find themselves on them.

There was a time when the most vociferous defenders of American civil liberties were our self-proclaimed “liberal” neighbors. Now, nothing but silence and concurrence.

On Monday, April 15, taxation day, the House voted to confirm a continuation of warrantless searches and privacy abuse by government. While Wexton did not vote that day, the damage is already done.

READERS’ poll

What is the best approach to preserving Loudoun’s farmland?

•

• 33.0% Tighter zoning controls

•

• 31.3% Keep agriculture profitable

•

• 22.7% Conservation easements

•

• 7.4% Purchase of Development Rights

•

• 5.7% Buy It

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:

16 people are in the running to represent us in Congress. What should be their top priority?

Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls

LETTERS to the Editor

continued from page 34

Appallingly, Congress exempted themselves from this erosion of civil liberties which they voted to inflict on Americans.

With Rep. Wexton stepping down, now is the time to question the plethora of candidates running to serve the people of the 10th district where they stand on warrantless searches on citizens.

If they tell you degrading your liberties is about your safety, then you know they’ll be looking to strip away at even more constitutional rights with enthusiasm. If they obfuscate, then you’ll know they’re ignorant of basic of civil liberties.

No other nation on the planet provides more protections for the individual against government oppression than the United States. Never believe the old lie of giving up a bit freedom will protect you; it never has in history, and it never will.

— Chris Manthos, Leesburg

Here First

Editor:

In response to last week’s letter “Under the Flightpath,” I would like to remind the readers that both Dulles and Leesburg airports were built by design out in the country so as not to be a noise issue.

It was both the Town of Leesburg and Loudoun County zoning that has allowed

residential housing near those airports. In their greed for more tax dollars, they did not do their due diligence for the people who would be affected. But also the people who purchased or rented the affected property should have done their due diligence before purchasing or renting properties near airports.

If you live near an airport there is going to be noise. It’s not the airport’s fault housing was allowed in areas that would be affected by their noise.

Remember, the airports were there first. It was the residential housing that has encroached on the airports.

— Jeff Brannock, Leesburg

Standing Up

Editor:

I am writing in support of Juli Briskman and her call for a ceasefire.

A top U.N. court, the ICJ, ruled that a plausible genocide is occurring in Gaza. Furthermore, the UN investigation by the Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has found that “there are reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating the commission of the crime of genocide has been met.”

As signatories on the Geneva convention on Genocide, we are all obligated to do what we can to stop a genocide. The horrifying and disproportionate response against the besieged and civilian population of Gaza by the State of Israel has led to the murder of over 35,000 Palestinians,

CHIPshots

— By Chip Beck

over 15,000 of those being children.

There are now over 17,000 orphans in Gaza, every university has been destroyed, hundreds of mosques have been destroyed, churches have been destroyed, UN shelters and schools attacked, aid convoys attacked, over 250 humanitarian aid workers killed, over 130 journalists killed, and over 2.3million people facing a forced starvation.

I commend Juli Briskman for her stand and having the moral courage to call for a ceasefire to stop this genocide and end further suffering. A ceasefire will allow for the return of hostages on both sides and will stop further bloodshed and destruction.

Thank you to Juli Briskman for thinking of humanity and standing up for justice. This issue is an issue for all of those with beating hearts, including you and me.

— Shahnaz Naeem, Brambleton

Perspective

Editor:

Supervisor Briskman really did it this time. She involved the Board of Supervisors into international politics when they can’t even focus on Loudoun County politics. It is not going to end until she retracts her email on Loudoun County letterhead.

Let’s put the situation in its proper perspective. In 2005, Israel evacuated (some forcefully) all the Jewish people from Gaza, closed synagogues, businesses,

even relocated the dead. Israel turned over Gaza to the Palestinian Authority.

In 2007, Hamas was elected in Gaza. There was never another election. Hamas immediately built an extensive tunnel system, armed themselves to the hilt, and fired a thousand rockets into Israel. Hamas did very little for the people of Gaza.

There is a question of accuracy with regard to the Hamas health department listing that 30,000 people have been killed cited by Ms. Briskman. Let’s not squabble about numbers, only six million Jews were killed in World War II.

Ms. Briskman stated, “The IDF attacked an Iranian embassy in Syria, threatening to expand the war.” She failed to research the fact that Israel blamed Iran for an earlier drone attack against a naval base in southern Israel. It is also important to note that Israel killed senior commanders and their officers in the attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria who were a part of the terrorist group the Islamic Revolutionary Guard.

When it comes to war, there is no such thing as proportionality. You either fight to win or you lose.

I agree Israel has the right to defend itself, however Hamas should surrender, and release the remaining hostages without conditions.

Let’s remember there was peace on Oct. 6.

— Donna Widawski, Ashburn

On any kitchen and bath remodeling (Minimum job required $25k)

Additional $3000 Discount on any kitchen or bathroom project (Limited time offer, minimum job $40K)

CALL (703) 793-8307 for free in-home estimate

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

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