n LOUDOUN
Pg. 6 | n LEESBURG
VOL. 7, NO. 23
Pg. 10 | n EDUCATION
Pg. 12 | n OBITUARIES
Pg. 22 | n PUBLIC NOTICES
We’ve got you covered. In the mail weekly. Online always at LoudounNow.com
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APRIL 28, 2022
County Nonprofit Grants Highlight Funding Gap BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
been tough with rent. My husband has been our breadwinner, and his check covers our heads and puts food in our stomach, but this job is going to help us a lot. It won’t be an overnight miracle, but it’s
The county government’s annual competitive grants for nonprofits highlighted the ever-present shortfall in support for human services organizations despite recent increases in funding as the community recovers from of the COVID-19 pandemic. County supervisors and staff members worked for years to devise a grants process for nonprofits that took supervisors—and politics—out of the process of evaluating grant applications. Today, Loudoun’s nonprofits submit applications and are awarded funding based on a scoring rubric evaluated by subject matter experts in the county government. There also is a less-intensive application for mini-grants up to $5,000. Organizations must first achieve a minimum score to be eligible for funding, and then are awarded funding based on their ranking among those scores. But in every year of using that model so far, the money has run out before reaching all qualifying nonprofits. That is despite increases in funding to that pool each year.
MULTI-TASKING MOM continues on page 39
FUNDING GAP continues on page 39
Hayley Milon Bour/Loudoun Now
After two years of financial struggles for mother of five Shamika Foster, her new bus driver position is a godsend she said. She’ll be home when her children get out of school, and she’ll be able to bring her two youngest to work with her.
Amid Bus Driver Shortage, Gig Proves a Fit for Multi-Tasking Mom BY HAYLEY MILON BOUR hbour@loudounnow.com
For many parents, the bus driver shortage has been an inconvenience, one expected to grow next year when staggered school bell times will thrust family routines into chaos. For Shamika Foster, a
mother of five, the shortage was something of a godsend. She will take the wheel of a school bus next year, with her two youngest children on board, giving her the flexibility to earn some much-needed income. “Living in Loudoun County, the cost of living here is extremely expensive. It’s
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10th District GOP Candidates Debate at Patrick Henry College BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
Ten of the 11 candidates in the Republican primary for the 10th Congressional District met for a forum at Patrick Henry College on April 21, facing questions from a friendly student body. John Beatty, Dave Beckwith, Hung Cao, Mike Clancy, Theresa Coates Ellis, John Henley, Jeanine Lawson, Caleb Max, Brandon Michon, and Brooke Taylor took questions on topics, such as a question referencing the Biden administration’s “failures in Afghanistan and Ukraine;” when life begins, to which they all answered “at conception;” and U.S. energy independence, for which the majority answer was to do more fossil fuel extraction in the U.S. Candidates sought to distinguish themselves based on their experience and their chances for beating the incumbent, Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10). Caleb Max, entrepreneur, grandson of longtime 10th District Congressman
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Caleb Max, one of the crowded field of candidates to be the Republican candidate for the 10th Congressional District, speaks during an April 21 candidate forum at Patrick Henry College.
Frank Wolf, and the youngest person in the race, said Democrats hold a strong advantage with people 25 and younger in the district and that winning over his
generation will be key in the 10th District. “By 2032, my generation will be the biggest voting bloc in the country, and I don’t care how good looking or how
much money you have—we are facing an onslaught and if we don’t start winning these hearts and minds soon, we are facing an onslaught as Republicans that we will not be able to overcome,” Max said. “We must take the fight to Jennifer Wexton and these radical Democrats.” Loudoun County School Board member John Beatty, who works as the IT director at The Heights School in Potomac, MD, said “we need people to step up, bring us together, to help us discover our common humanity so that we can all make politics local again” and “big tech has so much control over our life.” “But no one in Congress understands that. Big tech comes in and they run circles around them in these hearings, and we need a programmer in Congress who can speak the language of big tech,” Beatty said. Beckwith, a former military program manager and engineer and retired Air Force colonel, pointed to his experience 10TH DISTRICT DEBATE continues on page 38
Chamber Honors Heroes at 2022 Valor Awards BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce honored dozens of first responders who went above and beyond their already challenging call of duty, along with courageous civilians whose actions over the past year saved lives, during the 2022 Loudoun Valor Awards on April 25. Now in its 37th year, the ceremony annually recognizes members of local fire and rescue and law enforcement with a range of awards. The first award of the event, the Stu Plitman First Responder Community Service Award, is named for and given in honor of the founder of the Loudoun First Responders Foundation. It honors a first responder who shows the highest commitment to fostering positive relationship with the community. This year it went to Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Natalie Martz, whose public safety career began in 1998 when she joined Lovettsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue at 16 years
old. She decided to pursue a career in law enforcement, joining the Sheriff’s Office in 2004 and becoming a field training officer, mentoring young deputies. Today, she serves as background investigator, and continues her mentoring by training new background investigators. And during all of that time, she has continued to volunteer with Lovettsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue and now with the Loudoun County Volunteer Rescue Squad in Leesburg. She also stepped up during the COVID-19 pandemic by assisting with record keeping and vaccinating. And it is not her first day onstage at the Valor Awards—in 2019 she was honored with a Lifesaving Award after she and her husband saved a man they found suffering a medical emergency behind the wheel of a vehicle while she was off-duty. Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Captain Lindsay Jacobs was given a Silver Medal of Valor for her actions Sept. 25, 2021, when while off-duty and driving on Rt. 7 with family she arrived first on the scene of a serious crash near Clayton Hall Road. She found a person
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Natalie Martz was the winner of this year’s Stu Plitman First Responder Community Service Award presented at the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Loudoun Valor Awards.
trapped in a vehicle that had rolled over and was starting to catch fire. She directed her own mother and child to stay in her vehicle while she crawled under the smoke and helped with the trapped per-
son’s head injury until fire-rescue units arrived to extinguish the flames, take VALOR AWARDS continues on page 38
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IT'S LIFE CHANGING Finally! A local Doctor is helping cancer survivors live lives free from the constant pain and suffering associated with Peripheral Neuropathy!
Irreversible is not a word you want to hear from your Doctor but it’s a common one if you’ve been diagnosed with Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy or CIPN. Tom S. of Leesburg survived testicular cancer only to be living life in constant pain. He felt as though he were walking on pins and needles, becoming weaker and weaker everyday. “I was beginning to be worried that one day I would be wheelchair bound.”
Nearly half of patients who undergo chemotherapy will develop Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy or CIPN. Chemotherapy meds travel throughout the body and attack cancer cells; sadly they can also cause severe damage to healthy nerves. CIPN can begin within weeks of starting treatment and can worsen as treatment continues. A high number of really unfortunate people will be forced to endure the symptoms associated with CIPN for months, or even years after they’ve completed chemo. When asked how CIPN was affecting his quality of life, he responded, “It was difficult to even walk up and down stairs and do other things we usually take for granted.”
The most common symptoms include: pain, tingling, burning, weakness, or numbness in arms, hands, legs or feet sudden, sharp, stabbing or shocking pain sensations loss of touch sensation clumsiness and trouble using hands to pick up objects or fasten clothing loss of balance and falling For some, their nerves will recover over time. For most, the nerve damage is ‘irreversible.’ Tom had been told just that by a series of Doctors and specialists. Essentially they could cure his cancer but couldn’t fix the damage done by the drugs used to cure his cancer.
“I remember thinking ‘that’s become mighty easy for me’, I didn’t have to hold on to the hand rail or anything! It’s life changing to have this mobility back!” Again and again, we meet with patients who were once diagnosed as “untreatable” or “incurable” but after receiving Rachal Lohr’s treatments are now living lives free from pain and suffering. For over 14 years she has been reversing the effects of CIPN and other varieties of Peripheral Neuropathy, including that caused by diabetes without invasive surgeries and medications that come with uncomfortable side effects.
If you’ve recently beat cancer only to find that you’re living a life in constant pain and discomfort or you’re struggling with the Then Tom made a call to Rachal Lohr same symptoms as a result of either of FIREFLY|Acupuncture & Wellness right here in Ashburn. Rachal and her team Idiopathic Neuropathy or Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Rachal and the are using the time tested science of incredible team at FIREFLY can help! Acupuncture and a technology originally developed by NASA that assists in Rachal Lohr is now accepting new increasing blood flow and expediting patients but only for a limited time. In an recovery and healing to treat this effort to protect her patients, both current debilitating disease. and future, she has made the difficult decision to limit the number of patients After a series of treatments Tom was seen in her clinic. taking stairs with stride! “We have a beach house and it’s up stairs. This morning I walked right down the stairs and got in the car,” Tom shared.
Only 10 new neuropathy patients will be accepted monthly so call (703)263-2142 now to schedule a consultation.
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LOUDOUNNOW.COM
APRIL 28, 2022
ON THE Agenda
Loudoun
WWII Vet Honored on 99th Birthday
Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now
New apartments going up along Russell Branch Parkway at the Village of Leesburg in 2017. The Board of Supervisors is grappling with how to make housing in Loudoun affordable to more people.
Requiring Affordable Units Has ‘Minimal Impact’ on Developer Profits: Consultant BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
As Loudoun County considers expanding the requirements for residential devel-
opments to include Affordable Dwelling Units, a consultant study has found that expanding those requirements for larger developments would have “minimal impact” on project returns.
Currently Loudoun requires residential developments to include some price-conAFFORDABLE DWELLINGS continues on page 9
County to Study Green Energy Buying Options BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
The Board of Supervisors has set the county staff to work on an analysis of the costs and benefits, as well as the legal questions, around options to shift the balance of energy in Loudoun toward renewables. One is called a Power Purchase Agreement, in which a company arranges for the installation of renewable energy generation such as solar panels on a customer’s property—Loudoun County-owned facilities—at little or no cost to the
customer. The company then sells the power it generates to the host customer at a rate generally lower than electric utility prices, in turn receiving that income and any applicable tax credits. Supervisors directed county staff members to issue a request for proposals for power purchase agreements. The other, community choice aggregation, has more questions still surrounding it. In that system, the county government would purchase and manage the community’s power supply, giving the county control over the mix of fossil and renewable energy sources, while the
electric utility would continue to provide distribution, billing services, and manage outages. A consultant study of that program showed promise for both increasing renewables and cutting electric bills, but also raised complex questions around costs and legal authority, taxation, and Dominion Energy’s authority to charge fees to people who get their energy through municipal aggregation than as a regular Dominion customer. Another question is whether electric GREEN ENERGY continues on page 8
Loudoun County supervisors declared April 10 as Eli Linden Day in honor of the World War II veteran’s 99th birthday. In 1944, Linden landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy during the extended D-Day operation and served in General George Patton’s Third Army. He would go on to be captured and held as a prisoner of war. Linden was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Prisoner of War and the French Legion of Honor medals for his service. Chariots of Honor, founded by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1177 members, organized a procession in Linden’s honor on his birthday at his home at Ashleigh of Lansdowne. Supervisors approved Eli Linden Day 7-0-2 with Supervisors Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) and Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) off the dais.
State of the County Set May 25 County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (DAt Large)’s annual State of the County address is set for May 25 at 6 p.m. Randall The event will available to watch in-person and online at loduoun.gov/meetings or facebook.com/LoudounCountyVa. It will also be available on TV on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FIOS Channel 40.
Leesburg South Fire Station Move OK’d Supervisors have approved a finance committee recommendation to move the planned Leesburg South fire and rescue station ON THE AGENDA continues on page 7
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
APRIL 28, 2022
ON THE Agenda continued from page 6
across Evergreen Mills Road and into the county’s Rural Policy Area. According to county staff members, concerns about the original planned location include incompatible zoning, environmental impacts on wetlands, an open space easement limits development, the need for road widening, and difficulty connecting water and sewer service to the site, also because of environmental impacts. Instead, county planners now propose a county-owned site nearby on the west side of the road, between its intersections with The Woods Road and Marcum Farm Court and next to the county landfill. Supervisors also approved a timeline extension of 245 days for finalizing a Planning Commission permit for the project.
First-Half Personal Property Tax Due May 5 The deadline for paying the first-half personal property tax is Thursday, May 5.
Payments received or postmarked after May 5 will incur a 10% percent penalty and interest, with interest charged on both the tax and penalty at 10% annually. Taxes more than 60 days late will incur an additional 15% penalty. Taxpayers who are having financial difficulties can contact the Office of the Treasurer’s Collections Team at 703-7715656 for assistance. Payments may be made online at loudounportal.com/taxes, by phone at 1-800-269-5971, in-person at a Treasurer’s Office or by mail to County of Loudoun, P.O. Box 1000, Leesburg, Virginia 20177.
Center Offers Career Workshops for Older Americans During May, Older Americans Month, the Loudoun Workforce Resource Center will feature special virtual and in-person events at no cost for adults age 50 and up who are seeking support for job searches and career development. The sessions will include “How Volunteering Benefits Older Adults,” “How to Avoid Job Scams,” “Older Workers & Smart Job Search Strategies,” “Changing
PAGE 7
schedule of events and register at loudoun. gov/wrcworkshops. More information about the Loudoun Workforce Resource Center is online at loudoun.gov/wrc.
Business Hazardous Waste Collection May 5
Careers at Any Age,” a Senior Community Service Employment Program, and “Workforce Data and Career Trends for Mature Workers.” The month will also feature visits to the center from representatives from the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired and the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services on May 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and from the Loudoun County Adult and Aging Programs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 10 and May 13. Some workshops will be virtual, and some in-person at the center at 705 E. Market St., Suite E, Leesburg. Find the
Loudoun County will offer hazardous waste collection for businesses or otherwise non-residential generators on Thursday, May 5. Pre-registration is required and must be received no later than Friday, April 29. The Loudoun County Business Hazardous Waste Program is offered for businesses and organizations located in Loudoun County that are considered “Very Small Quantity Generators,” or that generate less than 220 pounds of hazardous wastes a month and less than 2.2 pounds of acutely hazardous waste per month, and that accumulate less than 2,200 pounds or roughly five 55-gallon drums on-site at any time. Go to loudoun.gov/bhwp for registration forms and event information or call 571-233-1937. n
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Green energy continued from page 6 cooperatives are subject to municipal aggregation, with many Loudouners— including many data centers—currently Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative or NOVEC customers. There also remains uncertainty around how big a project it would be for the county to administer such an agreement. Supervisors Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said he wasn’t sure municipal aggregation would actually move the ball forward on green energy more quickly. “What you’re doing is essentially creating competition for your utility companies, which could be good, but if those utility companies are making their own commitments and they’re investing in, say, solar farms and so on … are you actually not necessarily advancing the ball as much as you think you are because you’re hurting their ability in your particular community to move forward with lower-emissions sources?” he said. But Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) said after discussions on the topic by the board’s finance committee,
Loudoun Now file photo
Solar panels stand at the Hill School in Middleburg.
he’s excited to move forward. Consultants told him even with 100 percent renewables there is a chance for lower bills compared to Dominion. “That just amazed me. So, I think it is absolutely worth pursuing and trying to get all the details on it,” Turner said. “But I was really shocked at the giant leap forward that this option can take right out of the chute.” Supervisors voted 8-0-1 on April 19 to support the measure with Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) off the dais. n
APRIL 28, 2022
Affordable dwellings continued from page 6 trolled Affordable Dwelling Units in projects with 24 units or more with public water and sewer, but exempts projects four stories or higher with elevators. Engineering consulting firm Using building industry and public data, WSP simulated a hypothetical development to test financial returns with and without the county’s requirement to make 6.25% of new apartments ADUs, which are priced to target families making 30% to 70% of the Area Median Income. As of 2021, the Area Median income is $90,300 for a single person and $129,000 for a family of four. The profitability of building projects with ADUs comes in well above the returns for buying existing developments. The study also found that several projects that came in under 6.25% ADUs— BLVD Commons and BLVD Gramercy East with 2% ADUs and Heights at Goose Creek with no ADUs—would have been profitable even with the requirement. The consultants were less clear on projects eight stories and above, which they said see a jump in construction costs
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
and may need to be evaluated on a caseby-case basis. The same night, members of the county’s Transportation and Land Use Committee heard proposals to expand ADU requirements in other ways, as well. The latest draft of the county’s new zoning ordinance would remove an existing minimum density to trigger ADU requirements, and make the ADU requirement apply in more zoning districts. Supervisors are also considering increasing the percentage of units that must be ADUs. In single-family homes and townhouses, that could climb from 12.5% of units to 15% of units. For apartment complexes, that could rise from 6.25% to 10%. Developers may also apply for an increase in allowable development density if a portion of units are Unmet Housing Needs Units, a similar price-controlled program. County staff members said they will come back with recommendations based on further research and conversations with the consultant, as Loudoun County works to update its zoning ordinance. n
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Looking for a Few Good Loudoun Fellows Are you spiritually hungry? Do you want to LIVE your Christian faith in a more challenging and effective way? Are you ready for more study, so that you can deepen your relationship with Christ and further the work of God’s kingdom on earth? Then you are invited to join the Fellows Program, a year-long discipleship program from the C.S. Lewis Institute – Loudoun County, designed for those men and women who are ready to be intentional about spiritual growth and God’s work. The Fellows Program’s lifeThe Fellows Program works! changing opportunity is A survey of our Fellows found designed to be dramatically that 76% would be willing to spiritually transformative. lead a discipleship group in It runs for one academic their home; 100% experienced year (September – June), an increase in their involvement with summer readings in ministry to their family and beforehand, and a retreat community; 88% increased in September to formally their involvement in workplace initiate the year. Each month examines a different biblical ministry; and 84% said the theme, with an overall program had “transformed or focus on spiritual formation, significantly impacted their life.” apologetics, evangelism and our call to serve others. A combination of dynamic teachers and writers, experienced mentors, effective small groups and active engagement with Scripture produces mature believers who can articulate, defend and joyfully live out their Christian faith in every aspect of their life. It is a true feast for hungry souls seeking “more.” Please prayerfully consider joining us for this exciting next step in your journey with Christ. We will be accepting Loudoun County applications through May 15, 2022 (C.S. Lewis Institute Loudoun County | C.S. Lewis Institute). Cost of the Program -- due to generous support of the program, there is no tuition cost to the Program. Each Fellow is only responsible for their books, materials and the cost of the retreat. For more information about the C.S. Lewis Institute and the Fellows Program, please go to www.cslewisinstitute.org or contact Tim Bradley at t.bradley@cslewisinstitute.org.
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 10
APRIL 28, 2022
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A rendering of a proposed mural at the Loudoun Museum.
Concerns Linger Over Proposed Black History Mural BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ
Krodriguez@loudounnow.com
Although it’s a discussion that has been ongoing for more than a year, and the look of the mural itself has seen some significant changes, there are still concerns persisting over a Black history mural proposed for the eastern wall of the Loudoun Museum building in Leesburg. Carmen Felder, president of the 89 Ways to Give Foundation, appeared before the Town Council on Monday night with an update on her project, which would be funded entirely by 89 Ways to Give, its founder, former NFL receiver Santana Moss, and the O’Shaughnessy Hurst Memorial Foundation. Felder spent much of 2021 engaging with community groups, including the NAACP, the Thomas Balch Library Black History Committee, Visit Loudoun, the town’s Board of Architectural Review and Commission on Public Art and the museum board of directors, on the mural project. It’s the content of the mural itself that continues to elicit opinions from community members, not the least of which includes the museum’s Board of Directors. The original mural pictured Harriet Tubman, the famed American abolitionist and perhaps most prominent conductor on the Underground Railroad, extending her hand while holding a lantern. Those who
objected to the mural last year mostly pointed to Tubman’s status as a native of Maryland, with no known ties to Loudoun County and no historical evidence that she ever passed through the county. Several groups pressed Felder to consider instead including noted Black historical figures from Loudoun County, like Bazil Newman and Leonard Grimes, both known for their assistance in helping to transport enslaved people further north to freedom. The newest iteration of the mural does include both Grimes and Newman and his brother, although the prominent image of Tubman remains. The image portrays Tubman with her hand raised to help those seeking freedom. In between, the mural shows enslaved people who had already crossed over the Potomac River with the assistance of the Newman brothers, and Grimes is also portrayed with his hand out to assist others trying to reach the Potomac. Felder explained that Newman and his brother, pictured in one of their ferry boats, have their backs turned to the viewers because there are no known pictures of them for the artist, Shawn Perkins, to work from. “There’s no real display of Black history in Leesburg and I think we need to have the representation,” Felder said in advocating to move the mural project forward. MURAL continues on page 11
APRIL 28, 2022
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
Leesburg to See Overnight Road Closures Around Courthouse LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
Roads in Leesburg around the courthouse construction project will see overnight closures starting May 1 and running for an estimated two weeks as the county continues utility work on the project. Those include Edwards Ferry Road from Harrison Street NE to King Street; Church Street from Edwards Ferry Road and Market Street to Cornwall Street; and Market Street from Harrison Street SE to King Street. Construction is planned 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. Sunday
Mural continued from page 10 Felder acknowledged that some of the stakeholder meetings have been contentious, pointing in particular to a Commission on Public Art meeting that occurred earlier this year. She said COPA had been supportive of the initial mural that just portrayed Tubman, but did not support the new version that included the local freedom fighters, but were vague on the reasoning. “It was more of a statement of this depicts the history that we don’t want to show as African Americans, meaning they want to show only happy things and not show what really happened,” Felder said. “We all know through struggle you can’t forget where you came from.” She added that the funding partners are supportive of doing future Black history murals that could show the Black community developing and “being more accepted.” But perhaps the biggest disappointment for Felder was, after the Loudoun Museum board members had initially raised objections to the mural’s placement on its town-leased building last year, it had appeared at a certain point they were on board, before changing course. Felder even credited Sharon Virts, the museum’s board president, with coming up with the latest draft of the mural. “At some point, I think we were all on board and then Loudoun Museum backed out; they said they had a different idea,” Felder said. “We were very surprised because we had worked together until that point.” Virts told the council that a group of anonymous donors had come to the
through Friday, weather permitting. Traffic will be detoured around the construction, with road closure barriers, construction signs and detour signs posted during that work. Access will be maintained to businesses at 114 and 116 Edwards Ferry Road in Colonial Square. The current county courthouse also remains open. For more information about planning a trip to the courthouse, visit loudoun.gov/courthouse. For more information about the courthouse construction project, visit loudoun.gov/courts-expansion. n museum board offering to fund a virtual exhibit wall on the same museum wall proposed for the mural. Using state-of-the-art visualization projection technology consistent with local preservation measures, the wall would be an interactive exhibit displaying featuring museum artifacts. She said a stagnant mural displaying Tubman could mislead potential visitors. “Our directors feel we are going to be constantly asked by visitors where are the Harriet Tubman artifacts, and we don’t have them. If we do decide to paint a mural on the building it needs to be reflective of Loudoun’s history,” Virts said. “We only have 1,100 square feet in the museum; if that wall is available it could be exhibit space that we would like to use.” Virts said the images shown in the projection would rotate every six months, following endorsement from COPA and the Board of Architectural Review. Separately, the museum is planning an immersive indoor exhibit evoking the sounds and smells of the Do Drop Inn, a popular social spot for the Black community that was formerly housed in the museum building. Although the council did not take a position Monday on the mural versus projection show, Councilwoman Kari Nacy suggested that a compromise could be including the mural image within the projection, if that were to move forward. At Councilman Ara Bagdasarian’s suggestion, the council appeared poised to move forward with forming a committee including two members of the council, two representatives from the Loudoun Museum, and two representatives from 89 Ways to Give on the mural project. The committee formation was expected to be formally voted on at the council’s Tuesday meeting. n
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LOUDOUNNOW.COM
APRIL 28, 2022
Education
Evergreen Christian School Celebrates Building Dedication BY HAYLEY MILON BOUR hbour@loudounnow.com
The Evergreen Christian School celebrated its inaugural school year with a dedication ceremony on April 23 attended by Virginia’s First Lady Suzanne Youngkin and Supervisor Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin) The Leesburg-area school opened last fall, welcoming students in ninth and 10th grades. It will add an 11th grade next year, and a 12th grade the following year. The ceremony commenced with a performance of the National Anthem by the school’s choir and an address by Head of School Michael Dewey. “Our focus is on developing the next generation of Christian leaders, who not only know what they believe and why they believe, they also are able to defend it and apply it to the important issues facing our world today,” Dewey said. Youngkin addressed the crowd of roughly 200, saying she knew about plans
BY HAYLEY MILON BOUR hbour@loudounnow.com
Hayley Milon Bour/Loudoun Now
Virginia First Lady Suzanne Youngkin addresses a crowd at the Evergreen Christian School building dedication ceremony Saturday, April 23.
for the school long before it was established, through friend Lou Giuliano, the chairman of the ECS Board of Directors. Youngkin used her address to reiterate the importance of parents’ rights, a campaign sentiment of her husband’s.
“We are all reminded that the Code of Virginia actually gives parents a fundamental right to be in charge of their child’s upbringing, their education, and DEDICATION continues on page 13
Reid Expects Attempt to Shorten Board Terms to Fail BY HAYLEY MILON BOUR hbour@loudounnow.com
The Loudoun delegation to Richmond debriefed the School Board on its legislative agenda April 20 and officials spoke out against Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s attempt to cut short the terms of board members. A bill sponsored by Del. David Reid (D-32) sought to make largely technical updates to legislation last year to implement staggered terms for Loudoun County School Board members. That bill passed the House of Delegates with a 100-0 vote, and the senate with a Senate with 39-0-1 vote, before Youngkin’s suggested amendment that would cut short those elected terms by one year, requiring School Board elections both this year and next. Reid reviewed the process that originally had been requested by the School Board with the Legislative and Poli-
Judge Rules School District Doesn’t Need to Release Report
cy Committee, and called Youngkin’s amendment “unconstitutional” and “nongermane.” “I think what has happened is this has gone way beyond the political issues that were going on that the governor was using and has now really crossed the line and gotten into the undermining of democratic principles,” Reid said. He said that his colleagues in the Democrat-controlled Senate assured him that the bill would not be supported in that chamber. “Hopefully that will be the final outcome,” he said. Many of the representatives brought up the polarized discourse surrounding education. Del. Suhas Subramanyam (D87) said he’s never seen education politicized in the way it is right now. “I think it has had nothing but a negative effect so far on school systems, on parents, teachers and administrators,” Subramanyam said.
School Board Chairman Jeff Morse (Dulles) thanked the delegation for pursuing staggered terms for the School Board and criticized Youngkin’s proposed amendment. “I think what we saw was the exact opposite, moving away from local control to the governor’s control,” Morse said. “The School Board unanimously pushed back on that we do not support that. Obviously, the Loudoun County electorate selected us to serve a four-year term and we intend to continue that, so thank you very much for that.” If Youngkin’s amendment were to succeed, it would shorten the terms of seven elected public officials in a locality he lost by nearly 10 points. Two School Board seats are up on the 2022 ballot in a special election. Andrew Hoyler (Broad Run) will seek election to the seat he was appointed to in October 2021. Tom Marshall (Leesburg) was appointed to his seat in December 2021. n
The school division won’t have to release the report on its handling of a sexual assault scandal, Circuit Court Judge James E. Plowman Plowman ruled on April 20. Fight for Schools, the group organizing the removal effort against School Board members, sued for the report to be made public after the division refused to release it, citing FOIA exemptions. The action came a day after Fight for Schools sent a request to the FOIA Council requesting an advisory opinion on the division’s use of FOIA exemptions for Superintendent Scott Ziegler’s emails. Plowman offered to review the report to give assurance to the public that the division acted in good faith following the report’s findings, but school division attorneys declined. The report was prepared by the law firm Blankingship and Keith, which the division retained for legal counsel in the spring of 2021. Ziegler said on Nov. 5, 2021, that the firm would conduct an “independent review” of the division’s handling of two sexual assaults in Ashburn high schools involving the same assailant. Attorney General Jason Miyares’ office is investigating the handling of assaults and a special grand jury has been assembled to review the cases. n
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
APRIL 28, 2022
Dedication continued from page 12 their care. As such, one of the very first actions Glenn took immediately following his swearing-in in January was to provide parents an opt-out for mask mandates,” she said. Kershner also addressed the crowd, praising the founders for creating a new private school option for Loudoun County. “School choice has been a huge division line for many years. I was the product of a private Christian school and homeschool,” Kershner said. “As we have seen throughout this country and right here in this county during the last election, that choice doesn’t exist really like it should. This vision and what’s happened here is just one of many that I believe will happen and need to happen.” ECS mother Amy Rogers shared her family’s experience with the crowd. Rogers said her son was an A student in public schools, but it wasn’t a fit. She enrolled her son at ECS after hearing about the school during church service at Cornerstone Chapel. “We moved here for Loudoun County Public Schools, and then it went off the
rails,” Rogers said, also alluding to the turmoil plaguing the school division. “Instead of getting all A’s in the public school with no substance, our son is learning so much more at Evergreen with critical thinking and having a closer relationship to God.” As ECS is set to expand in coming years, other religious schools are planned for Loudoun County. In fall of 2023, Cornerstone Chapel plans to open a school at the former site of Middleburg Academy, offering grades K-8. n
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APRIL 28, 2022
Public Safety
Family Testifies in Brambleton Murder BY RENSS GREENE AND HAYLEY MILON BOUR rgreene@loudounnow.com hbour@loudounnow.com
The victim’s children took the stand for the first time Tuesday during a lengthy preliminary hearings for a man arrested in Dubai and charged with the murder of a woman in Ashburn, and the man accused Syed of being an accessory to the crime. Furqan Syed, 40, was arrested in Dubai in March after an international, multi-agency search. He is charged with fatally shooting 57-year-old Najat Chemlali Goode in her Brambleton home on Dec. 30, 2021. Syed’s attorney, John Boneta, previously said his client was on his way back to Loudoun from Dubai when he was ar-
rested, and a Loudoun County dispatcher confirmed that Syed had called authorities to say that he was returning. In her opening statements during the April 26 hearing, Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Michele Burton described Chemlali Goode as “a hard worker for a tech company who had two children who loved her life.” On Dec. 30, Chemlali Goode’s son, Alexander “Amir” Abbas, returned home to find her unresponsive inside her home on Connie Marie Terrace. She was taken to StoneSprings Hospital Center where she died from her injuries. “She was the kindest, most giving person I can ever think of … the least deserving person to have this happen to her,” Abbas said. He recalled finding his mother after she was shot. He said he returned from work around 8:30 p.m., and his mother was on the floor laying in a pool of blood. He said the home’s door to the garage and the backdoor were both left open. He also said that the home’s security camera,
which normally was pointed toward the street, was pointed to the ground. He recounted his phone call to county dispatchers, in which he was instructed to perform CPR on his mother until emergency crews arrived. Abbas said on Dec. 27, 2021, the day when Syed allegedly met his younger sister at the front door of the family’s home, his sister Facetimed him and seemed “distressed and confused.” “I’ve never had a conversation with my sister where she looked that sad and freaked out,” he said. He also said that Chemlali Goode’s brother-in-law is the head of Messiah Foundation International, the same international religious group to which Syed belongs. Syed’s brother, Urquan Syed, is the president of the organization’s chapter in the U.S. Chemlali Goode’s daughter, Shema Abbas, recounted meeting a man she identified as Syed at the front door of the home on Dec. 27. She said she was painting in the dining room when she heard the door-
bell at around 3 p.m., and encountered a tall South Asian man standing at the door who asked for “Brother Amir.” When she said Amir wasn’t home, the man asked if he “he still works at that mobile store.” She also described being “really shaken” by the interaction, and described details like teeth that were “long, and flat, and had a brown outline around every tooth.” “It was a really unfriendly smile, it was a smile that kind of didn’t reach his eyes,” she said. Syed was identified as a suspect through neighborhood security camera footage and cell phone data. Burton said that cell phone data located Syed near Chemlali Goode’s home, both at the time of her killing and in the preceding days, when Syed allegedly stalked her. Burton suggested that Syed established Chemlali Goode’s pattern of life in the days before the shooting, and knew to manually open the garage door, which she frequentBRAMBLETON MURDER continues on page 15
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Health Department Tracks E. Coli Outbreak from Petting Goats LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
The Loudoun County Health Department is notifying the public of exposure to a specific type of bacterium, called Shiga Toxin Producing E. coli or STEC, by several people who came in contact with goats at Georges Mill Farm in Lovettsville between March 6 and April 20. Several people experienced diarrhea and other symptoms of illness. The bacterium was isolated and identified by the Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services. Following the Health Department’s announcement, Georges Mill Farm owner Sam Kroiz clarified that the risk is no higher or lower than usual, but that baby goat visiting is closed for the year out of an abundance of caution. “We feel horrible that several of our baby goat visitors got sick after their visit and that the Loudoun County Health Department considers contact with the baby goats as the source of the illness. We wish those sickened a speedy recovery and we have and will continue to make every effort to minimize the inherent risks of baby goat visiting,” he stated. “E. coli is a naturally-occurring, normal part of animal gastrointestinal systems, and we take every precaution to minimize contact issues such as hand washing and sanitizer stations. “We take public health very seriously, so we closed baby goat visiting upon notification from the Health Department of our association with the ill individuals out of an abundance of caution, even though we don’t believe there has been any greater risk this season than there has been at
Brambleton murder continued from page 14 ly propped open to ventilate her garage when she smoked. However, Syed’s attorney successfully kept some of that footage out of evidence, arguing that prosecutors had failed to establish the foundation for using that video. A second suspect, Abdul Waheed, 54, of Leesburg, had been charged with being an accessory before and after the murder, accused of driving Syed to and from Goode’s home. Prosecutors sought to have the two men tried together, but defense attorneys successfully defeated that, arguing that doing so could be detrimental to each defendant’s case as evidence
any time during the last decade of baby goat visiting. Visiting will remain closed as the baby goat season comes to a close as normal at the end of April. We will open again next spring with our current risk-mitigation systems, as well as any additional recommendations from the Health Department, and continue to be a conduit for interactive experiences with animals for our community in as safe a way as possible given the inherent risks.” Anyone who had contact with these goats during this time frame and has not yet communicated with the Health Department is advised to monitor for illness, and if they become ill, seek medical attention and notify their healthcare provider of their possible exposure. They are also asked to report their exposure to the Health Department. Coming into direct contact with animals, particularly livestock, presents a risk for illnesses. The Health Department advised people to practice healthy habits around pets and other animals such as hand washing. Symptoms of E. coli illness usually start two to four days after exposure, but can occur as quickly as 12 hours or as long as 10 days after exposure. In a very small percentage of cases, approximately 2% to 7%, particularly higher risk groups such as children under the age of 5, the immunocompromised, and the elderly, a more severe complication known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome may occur. The farm’s staff have assisted the Health Department in identifying who may be at risk of illness and by helping to prevent future infections. There is no evidence of ongoing risk to visitors. n that might otherwise only be admissible in the other’s case was heard in case. They also argued that the defense had not been given timely notice—prosecutors only entered the motion to join the two cases during the preliminary hearing. Prosecutors also dropped some charges, including one count each of shooting in the commission of a felony and use of a firearm in commission of a felony for Syed, and accessory to murder before the fact for Waheed. At press time the hearing, which was expected to last late into the night, was still underway. If the judge ruled there was probable cause supporting the charges, the cases would be referred to a grand jury for indictment and then to the Circuit Court for adjudication. Check LoudounNow.com for updates. n
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APRIL 28, 2022
SAFETY briefs Ashburn Fire Started at Car Charger
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The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office has determined that last week’s garage fire at an Ashburn home started at an electrical vehicle charging system. Just before 12:30 p.m. April 18, fire-rescue units from Ashburn, Lansdowne, Kincora, Moorefield, Leesburg, and Cascades were dispatched to Mossy Brook Square after a neighbor called to report smoke visible in the garage. The operation included simultaneous coordination of fire attack, ventilation, and search operations to confirm everyone had escaped. The fire was quickly extinguished and contained to the garage. Investigators determined the fire was accidental, originating in the charging system while charging the electric vehicle. Fire damages are estimated to be $15,400. The homeowner was evaluated onscene for smoke inhalation but did not require transport to the hospital. A firefighter was evaluated after falling while making entry into the garage but did not require transport. The resident was displaced because of the damage and will be staying with rela-
tives, according to the report. To help prevent similar fires, the Fire Marshal’s Office urges residents to monitor any battery or device that is being charged during the entire charging cycle and to keep batteries, charging cords and charging devices clear of combustible materials.
Ashburn Man Sentenced in 2019 Fatal Crash Just days before the scheduled start of a five-day jury trial, an Ashburn man pleaded guilty on a felony charge in connection with the November 2019 crash that resulted in the death of 31-year-old Heather Wren. During an April 21 Circuit Court hearing, Brian Foley, 33, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and no contest to a charge of first-offense driving while intoxicated. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with nine years suspended and five years of supervised probation in the manslaughter charge. He was sentenced to 12 months in jail, with seven months suspended and five months of supervised
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SAFETY briefs continued from page 16
probation on the DWI charge. His driver’s license was suspended for 12 months. Just before 2 a.m. on Nov. 16, 2019, Foley was driving eastbound on Ashburn Farm Parkway when he lost control crossed into the westbound lanes and landed at the bottom of an embankment off the side of the road just east of Starflower Way in a residential backyard. Foley and Wren, who had both been drinking that night according to testimony during a preliminary hearing, were thrown from the car. Wren died at the scene.
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 17
photo of a firearm and threatening statements toward Farmwell Station Middle School. The 18-year-old had been a student at the school.
Mailed Marijuana Seized at Dulles Airport U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers recently seized 100 mailed parcels containing 150 pounds of marijuana bound for addresses in London. According to the report, officers were conducting routine outbound mail inspections on April 16 when 62 parcels
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers recently seized 100 mailed parcels containing 150 pounds of marijuana bound for addresses in London.
weighing nearly 99 pounds were seized. The next day, another 38 parcels that col-
lectively weighed a little more than 51 pounds were discovered. The seized cannabis will be destroyed. Eighty of the parcels were shipped from senders in California, 15 from Las Vegas, and five from Washington state—all states where possession of personal use amounts of marijuana has been decriminalized, according to the CBP. However, bulk smuggling remains illegal, and possession and distribution of any amount remains a violation of federal law. CBP officers and agents seized an average of 4,732 pounds of drugs every day at ports of entry during 2021. n
Bristow Man Pleads Guilty to Outlet Mall Stabbing The 34-year-old Bristow man who initially was charged with attempted murder following a Dec. 28, 2021, stabbing attack at the Leesburg Premium Outlets pleaded guilty to malicious wounding last week in Circuit Court. Leesburg Police officers were called to the mall at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 28 for a report that a 27-year-old woman had been stabbed outside a store. Witnesses said the male attacker armed with a knife ran away toward the Sycamore Hill neighborhood behind the outlets. Corinthian Witcher was found nearby and taken into custody without further incident. Police said the suspect and victim knew each other. The attempted murder charge was reduced during a District Court hearing in February when the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office told the judge that the victim had agreed to the changes to avoid having to testify during a trial and to achieve a quicker conclusion to the case. Witcher is scheduled to return to court Aug. 25 for sentencing.
Deferred Finding Entered in School Threat Case The Fairfax County teen whose social media posting prompted an emergency lockdown at Farmwell Station Middle School last December will see the criminal charge dropped if he remains on good behavior for the next year. Shane D. Lucas appeared in Loudoun County Circuit Court on Monday for a plea and sentencing hearing and was provided with deferred disposition that will allow the charge to be dismissed on April 27, 2023. He was charged with making threats of bodily injury or death to persons on school property, a Class 6 felony. He was cited by investigators as the source of a Dec. 7, 2021, social media post that included a
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APRIL 28, 2022
Business
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Regional Beermakers Join to Brew for Ukraine BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
Eight breweries from across the region, including Loudoun Brewing Company in Leesburg and Quattro Goombas Brewery in Aldie, have joined to brew up a recipe from a Ukrainian brewery and raise money for World Central Kitchen. Pravda Beer Theatre, based in the Ukrainian city Lviv, created Putin Huilo, a dry-hopped golden ale named for a phrase mocking Russian president Vladimir Putin. The illustrated label also satirizes Putin’s imperialist ambitions, particularly Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. In 2018, the beer won bronze at World Beer Idol, an international beer competition based in the Czech Republic. Loudoun Brewing Company owner Phil Fust said the breweries got together to buy the recipe from Pravda Beer Theater at a higher price, brewed 60 barrels of beer at Ornery Beer Company in Manassas. It will be available at all eight participating breweries in cans and on tap, with a portion of sales benefiting Pravda Beer and World Central Kitchen. It is only the latest of several collaborative brews at Ornery. “I called it brewing with benefits,” Fust said. In addition to Loudoun Brewing, Quattro Goombas and Ornery, participating
Contributed
The label of Putin Huilo, a beer created by Pravda Beer Theatre in the Ukrainian city Lviv that will soon be available at two breweries in Loudoun to benefit Pravda Beer and World Central Kitchen.
breweries include Tucked Away Brewery of Manassas, Lake Anne Brew House of Reston, Winchester Brew Works of Win-
chester, Fair Winds Brewing Company of Lorton, and Caboose Brewing Company of Vienna. n
J&L Interiors Announces Scholarship LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Leesburg-based J&L Interiors has announced the Pathways of Design Scholarship for a graduating Loudoun County high school senior interested in pursuing a career in the creative arts. The scholarship totals $5,000 and will be awarded on an ongoing annual basis to help pay for trade school or university with a preferred interest in studying abroad. That is meant to allow
the student to explore and be inspired by the city’s arts, culture, and history. The scholarship can be used for travel expenses, tuition expenses, books, and lodging. “We are so grateful to our clients, partners and vendors throughout Loudoun County and beyond that we could think of no better way to celebrate our 25th business anniversary than to encourage a talented student in his or her interest in the creative arts,” stated Julie Hoffmann.
“We love Loudoun County. We raised our families here, built our business here and we believe in giving back to the community. Helping a student reach his or her potential reflects our core values and will make a difference in his or her life for years to come,” stated Lori DuVal. Applications are due by May 15. The J&L Interiors Scholarship Committee expects to announce a winner by June 1. Learn more at jandlinteriors.net. n
Exclusive Automotive Group Prepares for Move Exclusive Automotive Group is preparing to move into its new $15 million car dealership off Russell Branch Parkway in Ashburn, where it plans to sell luxury cars including Aston Martins, Bentleys, Karmas and Koenigseggs. The group is a partnership between Karma Automotive, Koenigsegg, Aston Martin Washington, DC, and Bentley Motors. Starting next week, the dealership will operate out of its new 4-acre site and 42,000-squarefoot showroom, displaying more than 20 cars at a time. The new dealership will add to Loudoun’s high-end auto options. Already, Loudoun is home to a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, McLaren and Rolls-Royce dealership. The new location is 45180 Russell Branch Parkway. Learn more at exclusiveautomotivegroup.com.
Telos Awarded Air Force Academy Wi-Fi Contract Telos Corporation on Friday, April 22 announced it was awarded a $3.1 million contract for the United States Air Force Academy wi-fi network expansion program. Under the contract, Telos will upgrade and expand the wi-fi system in the Dean of Faculty, Cadet Wing and 10th Force Support Squadron’s facilities. The wi-fi replacement system expands the USAFA wireless network capabilities so students, faculty and administrative staff can access the separate, commercial internet called “MissionNet,” which allows them to connect to internal resources, such as the Student Information System. For more information about Telos’ secure mobility capabilities, go to telos.com/offerings/ secure-mobility. n
APRIL 28, 2022
d NONith and will
Sample Daily Schedule
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
8:45am – 9:00am Check-in (at Foxcroft)
PAGE 19
Sample Daily Schedule
9:00am – 9:15am Stretching and Warm-Ups
8:45am – 9:00am Check-in (at Foxcroft)
9:15am – 12:00 pm Skills development,Tennis foundation, Games
Fun Tennis Day Camps
12:00pm – 12:15pm Transition to Lunch, AM dismissal
TGA is now offering summer FUN and NONCOMPETITIVE camps for children with and without tennis experience. Also, 12:15pm 1pm we will focus on developing life skills– and encouraging students to be kind. Our goal is to establish long-term relationships and Lunch strengthen the tennis community in our neighbourhood.
Fun Day Camps Sample Daily Schedule
Again, we will heavily focus on strengthening 1pm – 1:45pm your foundation, physical movements, and help you advance to the next Practice new skills and perfecting strokes level. Each player will be individually evaluated and receive personalized training activities that fit you the most.
1:45pm – 2:45pm ur goal TGA is now offering summer FUN andgame, NONOption Time – Pool,outdoor tennis 1pm – 1:45pm 8:45am – 9:00am ps and COMPETITIVE camps forPractice children withand and new skills Check-inoutdoor (at Foxcroft) play, STEAM activities our perfecting strokes without Also, we will 9:00amtennis – 9:15am experience. 1:45pm – 2:45pm Stretching and Warm-Ups focus on developing life skills and Time – Pool,outdoor 3:00pm 9:15am – 12:00 pm2:45pm –Option game, encouraging students to betennis kind. Our goal Skills development,Tennis Clean Up, Pack Up outdoor play, STEAM activities Games is foundation, to establish long-term relationships and 2:45pm – 3:00pm sical 12:00pm – 12:15pm strengthen the tennis community in our Clean Up, Pack Up Transition to Lunch, AM dismissal 3:00pm -3:30pm to the neighbourhood. 3:00pm -3:30pm 12:15pm – 1pm Dismissal at Foxcroft dually Dismissal at Foxcroft Lunch d Again, we will heavily focus on Prices AGES ost. strengthening your physical Half-Day $299 • Full-Day $399 foundation, 7-17
Intensive Camps
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9:15am – 12:00 pm Skills development,Tennis foundation, Games Intensive camps are created for dedicated tennis
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Half-Day excel quickly. We will$299 put your limits and help you reach the12:00pm next level during this summer. – 12:15pm Full-Day $399 Please note that we ask you to commit to our 2-week Transition to Lunch, AM dismissal
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camp to see the difference. If you need to skip a week in between, please contact us for an arrangement.
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Week 1: 1 Coaching Staff Includes Former ATP Coach, Week 2: July 5 - July8 – 1:45pm 1 Former D11pm and #173 ITF World-Ranked Player Weeknew 3: skills Julyand 11 -perfecting July 15 strokes Practice and Physical 2 Mental Strength Trainings Week 4: July 18 - July 22 1:45pm – 2:45pm Week 5:–and July 25 - July 29game, Singles Double Option Pool,outdoor tennis 3 Time Strategies outdoor play, STEAM activities
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Nonprofit
Girl Scouts Bring Awareness to Autism and Spread Kindness BY HAYLEY MILON BOUR hbour@loudounnow.com
Seven-year-old Lily Won is a hero to her 5-year-old autistic sister Alana. Their mother Melissa said the two are inseparable, and that Lily is always keeping an eye on Alana, and tries to include her with friends and activities. During Autism Awareness Month, though, Lily acted as a hero to 34 autistic children, making “kindness packages” alongside her fellow Girl Scouts from Troop 70235 at Hillside Elementary. “We normally do service projects when the holidays are around,” Melissa Won, who is also a troop leader, said. “We thought, ‘let’s do one every month.’ We call it the elf project. There are 12 girls, so every girl gets a month to lead a project.” Lily was assigned April coinciding with Autism Awareness month. “She said she wanted to do something to recognize her sister,” Melissa Won said. She added that the troop poured enthusiasm into the project, with the girls
Contributed
Girl Scout Troop 70235 at Hillside Elementary were eager to get behind their fellow scout, Lily Won, to spread kindness during Autism Awareness Month.
crafting cards with inspirational messages and donating sensory toys. They worked with Alana’s speech therapist Pooja Aggarwal at Progressive Speech Therapy to
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identify autistic kids in the community. Aggarwal said the recipient families were touched by the packages and cards. “It warms my heart to see Lily Won
step up to raise awareness of autism and other communication differences,” Aggarwal said. “Seeing the children and their parents’ faces light up with joy is truly inspiring.” The impact went beyond those receiving the packages, though. Melissa Won said that many of the girls in the troop didn’t know about autism before taking part in the project. “Now they’re asking questions and want to know more and that was part of the intent. We even know of a teacher who read a book to her class about autism,” she said. She added that it’s important for the troop to do similar outreach projects because of the impact that the pandemic had on kids’ mental well-being. “I’m really proud to see that generation and have that bit of empathy and to understand that there are others who have those challenges, and they just need a bit of kindness. Just seeing that they want to help. The world is a crazy place so the fact that they want to reach out and be better,” she said. n
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APRIL 28, 2022
Post your job listings at NowHiringLoudoun.com
Loudoun Education Foundation
Volunteers from the 7×24 Exchange DC Chapter, a not-for-profit group that represents companies that build and support data centers, pack and organize donated food for the Loudoun Education Foundation’s Backpack Coalition program. The meals will feed more than 1,000 Loudoun County Public Schools students in need.
Annual Pack Event Stocks Coalition’s Shelves
Town of Leesburg Employment Opportunities Please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs for more information and to apply online. Resumes may be submitted as supplemental only. EOE/ADA. Regular Full-Time Positions Position
Department
Salary Range
Closing Date
Biosolids Operator: Trainee, I, II, or Senior
Utilities
$50,000-$97,512 DOQ
Open until filled
Deputy Procurement Officer
Finance
$67,175-$115,044 DOQ
Open until filled
Office 365 Systems Administrator
Information Technology
$70,374-$120,339 DOQ
Open until filled
Police Officer
Police
$62,000-$89,590 DOQ
Open until filled
Project Manager
Utilities
$76,426-$130,688 DOQ
Open until filled
Public Information Officer
Public Information Office
$72,952-$124,893 DOQ
Open until filled
Senior Systems Analyst
Information Technology
$70,374-$120,339 DOQ
5/5/2022
Stormwater & Environmental Manager
Public Works & Capital Projects
$82,999-$141,929 DOQ
Open until filled
LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
The Loudoun Education Foundation’s Backpack Coalition got a windfall on Friday, when it received a cash donation and 1,000 bags of meals, each enough to feed a family of four. Members of 7×24 Exchange DC Chapter, a not-for-profit group that represents companies who build and support data centers, packed and delivered the food, and presented a check for $30,688 to Loudoun Education Foundation’s Program Coordinator Julie Sproul. “I can’t thank you enough,” Sproul said at the event, speaking to the dozens of data center industry employees who organized and packed the meal bags on Friday. “At the Loudoun Education Foundation’s Backpack Coalition, we serve over 30 schools and feed more than 1,000 families a week. Partnerships like this help us make a meaningful impact.” Backpack Coalition works with the public schools to provide meals over the weekend to students in need. In most cases, the meal bags are discreetly slipped into students’ backpacks. Backpack Coalition also supports eight school pantries, where families are invited to “shop” weekly for food and hygiene items they need. Each meal bag included a handwritten note and a pamphlet that shared the wide range of career opportunities available in the data center industry, from computer engineering and real estate, to HVAC and marketing. The pack event was held at Rosendin Warehouse in Sterling. “We have been trying to go beyond the building and tell the story of what the industry does,” said Loudoun Economic BACKPACK COALITION continues on page 22
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Utility Inspector II
Utilities
$56,956-$97,512 DOQ
Open until filled
Utility Plant Operator: Trainee, I, II, or Senior
Utilities
$50,000-$97,512 DOQ
Open until filled
Utility Plant Technician or Senior Utility Plant Technician
Utilities
$50,000-$89,790 DOQ
Open until filled
Zoning Analyst
Planning & Zoning
$56,956-$97,512 DOQ
Open until filled
Summer Positions Position
Department Maintenance Worker
Hourly Rate Utilities
Closing Date
$15.00
Open until filled
Flexible Part-Time Position Position
Department
Hourly Rate
Closing Date
Library Assistant
Thomas Balch Library
$20.51-$33.42 DOQ
Open until filled
Senior Engineer
Plan Review
$55.00-$70.00 DOQ
Open until filled
To review Ida Lee (Parks & Recreation) flexible part-time positions, please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs. Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications. All Town vacancies may be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 67 and Verizon FiOS Channel 35. NHLEmployerCard2.pdf
MAIDS NEEDED No evenings or weekends Pay starts at $15/hr Please call 571-291-9746
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DRIVERS NEEDED Regular & CDL Call 703-737-3011
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Post your job listings at NowHiringLoudoun.com
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Obituaries may be made to Bethel Lutheran Church, PO Box 307, Lovettsville, VA 20180 or to Capital Caring Health, 24419 Millstream Drive, Aldie, VA 20105. Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com.
Loudoun Now file photo
A runner competes in the 2021 Salute to Our Troops races in full American flag regalia.
Robin Elizabeth Sanford Age 66 of Hamilton, Virginia
L. “Mae” Bramhall L. “Mae” Bramhall, 91, of Lovettsville, Virginia, passed away peacefully to be with the Lord on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at home with her family. Born on April 23, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Nettie Gibson Hawkins. Her husband, Phillip Bramhall, preceded her in death. She loved to sew, read books, do puzzles, play bingo, gardening, scratch offs, and go shopping. She is survived by two daughters, Betty Bramhall of Lovettsville, and Shirley Webber of Brunswick; one granddaughter, Diane Lamm and her husband, Stanley, of Lovettsville, and two grandsons, Christopher Webber and fiancée, Karissa, and Alan Webber and his wife, Angie; six great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a sister, Gladys Woodferd and her husband, Bobby, and a brother, Bobby Hawkins. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Diane Bramhall; six brothers, Ullis, Alfred, Johnny, Walter, Earl and Leonard Hawkins; five sisters, Eulabelle Frye, Sylvia Cook, Louise Webster, Helen Brown, and Edna Hawkins; and son-in-law, Mark Webber. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 25, 2022 at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1100 North Maple Avenue in Brunswick. A celebration of Mae’s life journey will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at the funeral home in Brunswick. Rev. Andreas Armstrong will officiate. Burial will be at Lovettsville Union Cemetery in Lovettsville, VA. The family wishes to thank the staff at Capital Caring Health (Hospice) for all of their help with making our mom’s journey peaceful. Memorial donations
Noah Hughes, Jr
Age 79 of Manassas, Virginia formerly of Purcellville, Virginia Noah Hughes, Jr. was born December 5, 1942, in Fauquier County, Virginia to the late Florence and Noah Hughes, Sr. Noah graduated from Douglass High School in Leesburg, Virginia in 1962. He later began working at the Hertz Corporation and became a member of the Teamsters Union. Noah retired from Hertz after 41 years of dedicated service where he received numerous citations and awards. Many will remember him as an avid bowler who bowled on leagues for over 25 years and where he met his wife, Edith, of almost 30 years. Noah’s hobbies included exercising through walking, cycling, and gardening and he was a lawn care expert, especially around his own home. He is survived by his wife Edith; two children, Randy Hughes (Grace), Diedre Hughes; stepchildren Jacqueline Hardiman, Stephanie Burks, Lynn Burks, Dwayne Burks; sisters Evelyn McGruder, Deloris Arnold (Marcellus), Roberta Allen, brother James L. Hughes; grandchildren Jasmine, Desmond (Geovanie), Evan, Tia; step grandchildren Evan, Mikaela, Ethan, Jalen; great grandchildren, Destiny, Kai, Daniel. Noah was preceded in death by his father Noah Sr., mother Florence, sister Barbara Garrett and brother Harrison Colbert. Graveside funeral services were held on Friday, April 22, 2022 at 1:00 pm at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Harmony Church Road, Hamilton, VA 20158. Arrangements By: Lyles Funeral Service, Serving Northern Virginia, Eric S. Lyles, Director 1-800388-1913 www.lylesfuneralservice.net
Robin Elizabeth Sanford departed this life quietly and peacefully on April 17, 2022 at Loudoun Hospital . She was born on July 2, 1955 to the late Arthur William Sanford and Ruby Elizabeth. She had two siblings who preceded her on the way to heaven: Terry Ann Woodson-Huff and Edward Arthur Sanford. Robin was a member of the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Hamilton, VA. She graduated from Loudoun Valley High School and attended Northern Virginia Community College. Robin served in the U.S. Air Force for 18 years from 1974 to 1992. After serving in the Air Force, she worked for the U.S. Postal Service, retiring at age 55. She was a big fan of the Bigfoot Travel show and would text to let us know when the show came on. She was our regular TV guide about what was coming on that night. For several years, she would text about Aretha Franklin and was a member of the Aretha Franklin Legend Group. Robin leaves to cherish her memory; her mother, Ruby Elizabeth Sanford of Sterling, Virginia; sister, Paulette Taylor of Tampa, Florida; two aunts, Pearl Lucas and Frances Lucas of Leesburg, Virginia; sister-in-law, Barbara Sanford of Winchester, Virginia and a host of nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 28, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 250 West Virginia Avenue, Hamilton, VA 20158. Interment - private. Arrangements By: Lyles Funeral Service, Serving Northern Virginia, Eric S. Lyles, Director 1-800388-1913 www.lylesfuneralservice.net To place an obituary, contact Susan Styer: 703-770-9723 sstyer@loudounnow.com
‘Salute to Our Troops’ Races Return LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
The Ringing In Hope: A Salute to Our Troops races will return Monday, May 30 in Ashburn for a ninth year. The 5K race, 10K race and 1K Freedom Fun Run honor and celebrate service men and kick off with the timed races at 8 a.m. and the fun run at 9:30 a.m. This year’s event will be a new location, with the race kicking off and concluding on the grounds of Christian Fellowship Church, 44505 Atwater Drive in Ashburn. Participants also may donate to this year’s beneficiary, the Boulder Crest Foundation. The event offers a platform to raise funds and awareness for Boulder Crest and its mission to provide free, world-class, high-impact retreats for combat veterans and their families. Registration and information about what donations are needed are at ringinginhope.com/salute-to-our-troops. Organizers are also still looking for volunteers aged 16 and older to help with the event. n
Backpack Coalition continued from page 21
Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer. “It’s things like this—you all donating your time to give back—that really make a community hum, so thank you.” Participating businesses include Shockey Precast, STACK Infrastructure, Equinix, Yondr Group, Sentinel Data Centers, Digital Realty, Rosendin, Southland Concrete, Vision Tech, Securis, HITT Contracting, Bohler Engineering, Allan Myers, Beckstrom Electric, Clark Construction, Holder, DPR Construction, CPS LLC, Weitz, Sunbelt Rentals, EE Reed, Havtech, Hensel Phelps, Southland Industrial and Trinity Group. Learn more about the 7×24 Exchange at 7x24dc.org. Learn how to support the mission of The Loudoun Education Foundation’s Backpack Coalition at LoudounEducationFoundation.org. n
APRIL 28, 2022
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Loco Living
THINGS to do
‘These Stories Just Have to Be Told’ Leesburg Public Art Tours Benefit Ukraine Relief BY JAN MERCKER
Live Music: Lenny Burridge
Friday, April 29, 5 p.m. Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont Details: dirtfarmbrewing.com Get the weekend started with acoustic blues and Americana, classic rock and new rock from Lenny Burridge.
Live Music: Cory Campbell
jmercker@loudounnow.com
Leesburg’s public art scene is booming with murals and outdoor sculptures popping up all over town. And every piece has a story—from the historical to the deeply personal. Local culture maven Amy Bobchek wanted to dig deeper into the stories behind the work and help Loudouners and visitors alike take a fresh look at new and favorite works. Bobchek officially launched Loudoun Public Art Tours in March. This weekend, she celebrates her first month in business while raising money for an important cause. Bobchek and her team are offering free tours this Saturday, April 30 to anyone who donates to the charity of their choice providing relief for Ukraine. Bobchek is best known to Loudouners as the frontwoman for the band Big Bad Juju and co-founder of the BENEFIT organization which puts on concerts supporting local nonprofits. As a longtime Leesburg resident, Bobchek said she’s blown away by the town’s public art scene over the past decade. When she joined the board of directors for Visit Loudoun, she was inspired by an observation from the tourism agency’s CEO Beth Erickson about an untapped market for public art tours. Bobchek started doing research with the initial thought of supporting another agency, but when she began talking with artists, she knew she wanted to tackle the project herself. “I’m looking at things that have been right in my path for a while that I never really noticed. I’m starting to take note of everything. Then I started reaching out to the artists,” she said. “As they began to share their stories of the pieces but also their artistic stories, I got so invested. These stories just have to be told.” She got things rolling last month after doing a series of trial runs for friends and family over the winter with a focus on putting collections together and weaving a story. Bobchek tailors tours based on the amount of time clients want to spend, their focus and whether they’re locals or visitors. She divides Leesburg’s public art
LOCO LIVE
Friday, April 29, 5:30 p.m. Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg Details: lostbarrel.com Catch up and coming singer/songwriter Cory Campbell for an evening of great tunes.
Middleburg Concert on the Steps: Scott Kurt
Friday, April 29, 6-8 p.m. Middleburg Community Center, 300 W. Washington St., Middleburg Details: middleburgcommunitycenter.com Scott Kurt kicks off the Middleburg Community Center’s Concert of the Steps series with country tunes that blend old-school outlaw grit with guitar-driven rock. Admission is free.
Live Music: Chris Bowen
Friday, April 29, 6 p.m. Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville Details: flyingacefarm.com Celebrate Friday with great tunes from Western Loudoun singer/songwriter and one-man band Chris Bowen.
Live Music: Into The Fog
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Amy Bobchek leads a tour of art installations at the Raflo Park and Sculpture Garden in Leesburg.
into two broad categories: historical work, including some of Leesburg’s most prominent murals and sculptures like the Stanley Caulkins Memorial sculpture on King Street, and the more conceptual work on display at the Raflo Park sculpture garden on Harrison Street. For now, many of her clients are Loudoun residents looking to dive deeper into the work they might drive or walk past on a daily basis. For locals, Bobchek finds that her own stories of real-life connections with the subjects of some of the work, including Caulkins and downtown Leesburg barbershop owner Nelson “Mutt” Lassiter, often hold the greatest interest. “I really weave in a lot more of my personal experiences,” she said. Out of town visitors often want more “formative history” from revolutionary times to the importance of the railroad to Leesburg’s development. And bringing
visitors to key locations where historical events took place is a big draw. Leesburg artist Kaeley Boyle’s vibrant train mural at the King Street Bridge near Georgetown Park on South King Street is a main attraction. “It’s a really great pivot point. That piece represents a real turning point in Loudoun history as the railroad did for American history,” Bobchek said. “Kaeley’s mural is a perfect example of what artists call creative placement. You’re right there where things happened.” Bobchek also is passionate about the conceptual pieces at the Raflo Park sculpture garden and the stories behind the works. She’s on a mission to share those stories with Loudouners in the next month as Leesburg’s Commission on Public Art prepares to swap out the current ART TOURS continues on page 27
Friday, April 29, 7 p.m. B Chord Brewing, 34266 Williams Gap Road, Round Hill Details: bchordbrewing.com Into The Fog is a genre-jumping string band based out of Raleigh, North Carolina. With band members’ backgrounds including bluegrass, country, rock and funk, Into The Fog creates a musical melting pot of sounds with an acoustic/newgrass vibe. Admission is free.
Live Music: Firehouse
Friday, April 29, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com The Charlotte-based hard rockers reached stardom in the 90s with hits like “Reach for the Sky,” “Don’t Treat Me Bad” and “All She Wrote.” General admission tickets are $39.50
Live Music: The New Thirty
Friday, April 29, 8 p.m. Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg Details: spankyspub.com This fun woman-fronted band brings a highenergy mix of contemporary dance, classic rock and alternative hits.
Live Music: Low Water Bridge
Friday, April 29, 8 p.m. Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville Details: monksq.com Low Water Bridge returns to Monk’s with bluegrass and country from the Blue Ridge Mountains.
THINGS TO DO continues on page 25
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APRIL 28, 2022
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BEST BETS
INTO THE FOG Friday, April 29, 7 p.m. B Chord Brewing Co. bchordbrewing.com
THINGS to do continued from page 24
Live Music: Summer and Eric
Saturday, April 30, 1 p.m. Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg Details: lostbarrel.com This DMV duo plays a fun, eclectic and unexpected mix of music from the past and present, as well as original tunes.
Live Music: Just South of 7
Saturday, April 30, 2 p.m. Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville Details: flyingacefarm.com Just South of 7 brings five decades of rock to Flying Ace.
LOUDOUN SYMPHONY PRESENTS JOYS OF SPRING Fri. & Sat., April 29 & 30 - 7:30 p.m. St. David’s Episcopal Church loudounsymphony.org
of legendary New York comedy clubs including the Broadway Comedy Club and The Laugh Factory. Tickets are $20 in advance.
Live Music: My Kid Brother
Saturday, April 30, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com The Leesburg-based rockers are back from a national tour and ready to rock their hometown. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $35 for VIP seats.
Live Music: Ginada Pinata
Saturday, April 30, 8 p.m. Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville Details: monksq.com Shepherdstown-based Ginada Pinata taps the influences of jazz, funk, rock, fusion, trance and drum and bass and blends them to create an organic vibe.
Live Music: AJ Lee and Blue Summit
Saturday, April 30 2 p.m. Lost Rhino Brewing Company 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn Details: lostrhino.com Fox returns to Lost Rhino with her signature highenergy blend of rock and country.
Sunday, May 1, 3 p.m. B Chord Brewing, 34266 Williams Gap Road, Round Hill Details: bchordbrewing.com AJ Lee and Blue Summit draw from influences including country, soul, swing, rock, and jam music, using the lens of bluegrass to express and explore the threads that bind great music of all genres.
Live Music: Jessica Paulin
Live Music: Yngwie Malmstein
Live Music: Melissa Quinn Fox Duo
Saturday, April 30, 2 p.m. 8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford Details: 8chainsnorth.com Enjoy covers from the 60s through today as Paulin covers favorites from Joplin to Gaga.
Live Music: Rowdy Ace Trio
Saturday, April 30, 2 p.m. Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro Details: harvestgap.com Kick back with a fun mix of country and rock tunes from Rowdy Ace Trio.
Old Ox Comedy Night
Saturday, April 30, 7-9 p.m. Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn Details: oldoxbrewery.com This comedy double-header features laughs from national touring comedians Fred Bevill and Linda Belt. Bevill has performed with pillars of comedy including Jerry Seinfeld, Louie Anderson, Jeff Dunham, Larry The Cable Guy and other big names. Belt has numerous television appearances and is a veteran
Wednesday, May 4, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com The world-renowned Swedish guitarist makes a stop in Leesburg as part of a major U.S. tour. Tickets are $35.
Live Music: Cabinet
Thursday, May 5, 8 p.m. B Chord Brewing, 34266 Williams Gap Road, Round Hill Details: bchordbrewing.com Check out psychedelic roots rock and folk-grass from the rolling hills of Northeast Pennsylvania. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door.
LOCO CULTURE ‘You Can’t Take It With You’
Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 1, 2 p.m. Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville
MY KID BROTHER Saturday, April 30, 7 p.m. (doors) Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com
Details: franklinparkartscenter.org The Goose Creek Players present the Pulitzer Prizewinning comedy about an unorthodox 1930s family. When their daughter falls in love with the son of a Wall Street banker, hilarity ensues as the families cross paths. Tickets are $ 15 for adults, $12 for seniors and children under 15.
Book Signing: Danielle Nadler
Saturday, April 30, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Birch Tree Books, 26 N. King St., Leesburg Details: birchtreebookstore.com Loudoun author Danielle Nadler signs copies of her
FLUID ART BOUTIQUE Tues. – Thurs., May 5 - 7 Cascades Overlook Event Center fluidartboutique.com
nonfiction page-turner “Without a Trace: The Life of Sierra Phantom.”
Loudoun Barrel Tasting Saturday, April 30, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Details: loudounwine.org Loudoun winemakers open their cellars so guests can taste wine directly from the barrel. Visit the website for a list of participating wineries.Tickets are $45.
THINGS TO DO continues on page 27
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Towns
AROUND towns
Round Hill Council Initiates Annexation BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
After years of discussions, the Round Hill Town Council last week formally initiated the first of what could be a series of annexation requests. Under the resolution adopted April 20, the town would work with the Board of Supervisors to complete a boundary line adjustment that would incorporate three county-owned properties, two townowned properties, a VDOT lot and the Hill High Market complex, among other properties. A policy vision of the town’s 2017 Comprehensive Plan laid the groundwork for expanding the town to include other neighborhoods served by its utility system. The council has been discussing the possibility of accomplishing that in phases. The first phase that was the subject of Wednesday night’s vote would target mostly publicly owned tracts. The Western Loudoun Sheriff’s Office Station, the planned site of the Round Hill Fire and Rescue Station and the former Round Hill Elementary School properties would be brought into town, along with a lot on Simpsons Creek Lane used by VDOT to fill salt trucks during winter storms. The
2022 Round Hill Boundary Line Adjustment – Phase 1 (Areas 1 to 8)
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Masons Collect for Food Pantry The Masons of Freedom Lodge No. 118 will hold a food drive to support the Western Loudoun Food Pantry on Saturday, April 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A list of need items can be viewed on the organization’s website, njlclovettsville.org/food-pantry. Donations of non-perishable items may be dropped off at the lodge, 28 E. Broad Way.
Conservation Easement Program Planned
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Town of Round Hill See Attached Spreadsheet and Letters of Support A map shows the parcels on the west side of Round Hill proposed for annexation through a boundary line adjustment process.
council also directed that the town’s Niels Poulsen Park and an adjacent undeveloped 3-acre town-owned civic lot on the north side of town also be included. Other property owners in those areas were given the option to join in the annexation, with
LOVETTSVILLE
the Hill High Marketplace being the largest private parcel to opt in. The resolution was approved on a 4-0-1 vote. Councilman Michael HumANNEXATION continues on page 27
Girl Scouts Plant Tree in Hamilton Community Park LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
The Girl Scout Daisies in Hamilton planted a dogwood tree in the Hamilton Community Park on Sunday as part of the Girl Scouts’ initiative to plant five million trees in five years. The troop attended a meeting at the Hamilton Town Office, where Daisy Scout Caroline Bouvier asked the council for permission to plant the tree. “We asked the town hall if we could plant this so we could have a dogwood tree, so we could have more air to breathe,” Bouvier said. “We can come visit it as we grow up. … It’ll be really really fun.” Troop leader and Caroline’s mother Kristin Bouvier said that the tree plantHayley Milon Bour/Loudoun Now ing is a part of the Girl Scouts’ mission The Girl Scouts have a goal of planting five million trees in the next five years, and the Daisies in Hamilton contributed to the mission by planting a Dogwood tree in Hamilton Community Park. to make the world a better place. n
The Virginia Easement Exchange will offer a free seminar about conservation easements at the Lovettsville Game Club on May 4 starting at 6 p.m. The program will include presentations by attorneys, landowners, and conservation buyers, as well as a free barbecue dinner. Reservations are requested by April 29 to Brook Middleton at 540-364-8071 or dbmcpa@aol.com.
PURCELLVILLE Music, Arts at Bush Tabernacle Saturday The Purcellville Music & Arts Festival returns Saturday with nearly two dozen performances and more than 60 works of art on display at the Bush Tabernacle. The free event will be held from noon to 7 p.m. April 30. Performances will be held on four stages and include sets by Juliana MacDowell, Hard Swimmin’ Fish, Chris Timbers, and The Talton Brothers, among many others. The Art Hall will include art demonstrations, community art projects, and information about local art organizations. The Purcellville Arts Council is creating a scavenger hunt and those who complete it will have a chance to win a prize. For more details go to PurcellvilleMusicAndArtsFestival.com. AROUND TOWNS continues on page 27
APRIL 28, 2022
AROUND towns continued from page 26
ROUND HILL Hoffmann Resigns from Council The Round Hill Town Council again is looking to fill an empty seat. Melissa Hoffmann resigned last week. She joined the council after being appointed to fill a vacancy in 2017 and then
LOUDOUNNOW.COM won election a seat through write-in votes in 2020. The council will publicize the vacancy in hopes of appointing a replacement before the 60-day deadline. A special election will be held in November to determine who will complete the remainder of her term, which expires in 2024. The council operated with a vacant seat through much of last year. Donald Allen resigned last May and his seat remained unfilled until the town election was held in November. n
Annexation continued from page 26 mel, who owns an open space parcel that would be included in the annexation, abstained The next step is to secure formal letters of support from the affected property owners and send the proposal to the county government staff for review. Then the Board of Supervisors and Town Council will how public hearings before sending the request to the Circuit Court for final action. n
Loudoun Now file photo
The Sheriff’s Office Western Loudoun Station is among the properties that will be brought into the town limits if a boundary line adjustment requested by the Round Hill Council is approved.
Art tours continued from page 24 sculptures after two years and put new work on display. Those sculptures are engaging in their own right, she said, but there’s an extra richness in learning about the stories behind them. “Part of the thing that interests me about art is that we’re all invited to react to it without any intervention by the artist at all. … It’s up to you to decide what is the story the artist is trying to tell,” Bobchek said. “When I talked to the artists and got the real stories, in many cases there was so much more to it.” The outgoing group of sculptures includes pieces from local favorites including Brian Kirk and Kim P. Kim. And one of Bobchek’s favorites is the backstory behind Alyssa Imes’ “Sun Flower,” an abstract flower sculpture made from steel and paracord. The Maryland-based sculptor is finishing her master’s degree at the University of Maryland. When Imes submitted her proposal for “Sun Flower,” she was planning to use the university’s studio space to create the large-scale work. When COVID closures shut down classrooms and studios in 2020, the artist had to improvise. Her family mechanic made space in his shop for her to complete the project, and Imes incorporated muffler pipe into the vibrant piece as a tribute to the unexpected twists in the process. “The piece itself is pretty straightforward—it’s beautiful to look at,” Bobchek said. “But who would ever know what [the artist] went through.” As a 30-year Leesburg resident, Bobchek is a booster for moving the town forward as a cultural hub for both the visual and performing arts. And she sees a lot of support from the Leesburg community at large. She hopes the next step will be a Leesburg performing arts center and sees momentum building in that direction.
THINGS to do continued from page 25
Purcellville Music and Arts Festival
Saturday, April 30, noon-7 p.m. Fireman’s Field, 250 S. Nursery Ave., Purcellville Details: purcellvillemusicandartsfestival.com This free family-oriented event features live music from Chris Timbers, Hard Swimmin’ Fish and other favorites, an art exhibit, children’s activities, local vendors, food and drinks.
Loudoun Chorale: ‘Songs of Stage and Screen’ Sunday, May 1, 4 p.m. Leesburg Community Church, 835 Lee Ave. SW, Leesburg
PAGE 27
“You have to look at the Town Council and the people who live here and recognize that this burgeoning arts scene is a reflection of this community that’s growing in Leesburg,” she said. “I think we will continue to attract people here who are really dialed in to the importance of culture and seeking to find culture for their home community.” Bobchek was inspired to offer a day of free Ukraine relief tours when she and her husband took a golf clinic to benefit Ukraine aid. It was a lightbulb moment that spotlighted the wide range of ways every business and individual can find ways to contribute to an important cause in a time of crisis. This Saturday, Bobchek and her team will offer free 30-minute tours at the Raflo Park sculpture garden to anyone who shows proof of a donation to Ukraine relief efforts. It’s a chance for Loudouners to get a behind the scenes look at the current cohort of sculptures before they’re rotated out in June. It’s also a chance for residents of one historic town to show support for historic towns and cities being decimated by war. “It seems to us that while we are celebrating the beautification of our community with the growing collection of public art in Loudoun, our Ukrainian brothers and sisters are watching their cities and towns destroyed,” Bobchek said. “We see this is an opportunity to share some gratitude for what we have and help others in need at the same time.” Loudoun Public Art Tours will offer free 30-minute tours of the Raflo Park sculpture garden Saturday, April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. Guests are asked to show proof of a donation in any amount to the charity of their choice providing relief to Ukraine. Limited walk-up spots will be available, but guests are asked to reserve a spot in advance. Go to loudounarttours. com for more information or to reserve a tour. n Details: loudounchorale.org Enjoy music from favorite films, operas and musicals from Loudoun’s community chorus. There may even be a pirate or two. Tickets are $15.
Music For Dessert: Ian Rodgers
Tuesday, May 3, 7-8 p.m. Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville Details: franklinparkartscenter.org 25-year-old Ian Rodgers made a splash as Horton the Elephant in the recent Arts For All production of “Seussical.” Now Rodgers is in the spotlight with a solo show including “Ian’s Rules” which he wrote about his own life with autism. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for students and $8 for streaming.
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
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APRIL 28, 2022
Legal Notices TOWN OF MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LOUDOUN COUNTY
PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2023 BUDGET Pursuant to Virginia Code Sect. 15.2-2506, the Middleburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on May 12, 2022 at 6:00 p.m in the Middleburg Town Office, 10 West Marshall Street, Middleburg, VA, and online remotely via Zoom (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/95876721615 or by calling 1-301-7158592, Webinar ID: 958 7672 1615), on the proposed Fiscal Year 2023 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 Office 8:30 AM-4:30 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, 2022. The public is encouraged to submit comments electronically at www.middleburgva.gov/budget. Danny Davis, Town Manager
FY 2023 BUDGET SUMMARY REVENUES
EXPENDITURES
GENERAL FUND
GENERAL FUND
Real & Personal Property Tax
$
571,025
Administration
$ 1,081,177
Other Local Taxes
$ 3,716,690
Buildings & Maintenance
$
515,970
Zoning Fees
$
36,928
Police
$
877,104
Fines and Fees
$
14,000
Planning & Zoning
$
290,614
Intergovernmental Revenue
$
55,000
Economic Development
$
613,021
Miscellaneous Revenue
$
54,000
Debt Service
$
270,000
Contingency (Assigned to Reserves)
$
799,757
TOTAL
$ 4,447,643
TOTAL
$ 4,447,643
UTILITY FUND
UTILITY FUND
Water User Fees
$
642,063
Contract Services
$
371,144
Sewer User Fees
$
630,034
Admin. & Insurance
$
84,678
Water Tower Cellular Leases
$
133,153
Operations Water
$
197,750
Miscellaneous
$
8,000
Operations Sewer
$
186,650
Debt Service & Capital Cash
$
563,025
Contingency (Assigned to Reserves)
$
10,003
TOTAL
$ 1,413,250
TOTAL
$ 1,413,250
HEALTH CENTER FUND
HEALTH CENTER FUND
Fund Balance
$
918,656
Disbursements and Donations
$ 918,656
TOTAL
$
918,656
TOTAL
$ 918,656
Capital Revenue – Cash & Grants
$
540,000
Capital Revenue – Fund Balance
$
500,000
Capital Revenue – Debt
$ 8,000,000
TOTAL
$ 9,040,000
CAPITAL FUND – GENERAL FUND
CAPITAL FUND – GENERAL FUND
CAPITAL FUND – UTILITY FUND
Capital Expenditures - General
$ 9,040,000
TOTAL
$ 9,040,000
CAPITAL FUND – UTILITY FUND
Capital Revenue – Cash & Grants
$
350,000
Capital Revenue – Debt
$
540,000
TOTAL
$
890,000
TOTAL ALL FUNDS
$16,709,549
Capital Expenditures – Utility Fund
$
890,000
TOTAL
$
890,000
TOTAL ALL FUNDS
$16,709,549 4/28/22
LoudounNow.com
THOMAS EDWARD REID, et al. Plaintiffs, V. SHERREL S. HARMON, et al. Defendants. CASE NO. CL2200155200 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to effect partition amongst the owners by sale of a 1.1216-acre parcel of land located in Loudoun County, Virginia at 20965 Greengarden Road, Bluemont, Virginia 20165, with a PIN of 655-388138, of which Victoria S. Davis died in 1958 seised and possessed. An affidavit having been made and filed stating that: 1. Defendant SHERREL S. HARMON is a nonresident individual. 2. The Complaint states that there are or may be persons, whose names are unknown. interested in the subject to be divided or disposed of, such unknown parties being the heirs, devisees and successors in title to the following who are deceased: CINDERELLA PRINCE ALBERT (a/k/a LUCINDA) SUMMERS BASIL, LAYTON SUMMERS, JUSTICE (a/k/a JESTER) SUMMERS, ADA SUMMERS, ETHEL SUMMERS, MARY SUMMERS O'NEIL, FLORENCE SUMMERS COBB, LOUISE SUMMERS,WALTER SUMMERS, JAMES SUMMERS, PHILIP SUMMERS, ELLIOT SUMMERS, MARIAH SUMMERS, WARREN SUMMERS, JR., DELPHIA SUMMERS, FRANKLYN SUMMERS, DAISY SUMMERS, HOWARD SUMMERS, CLARENCE SUMMERS and BESSIE SUMMERS, who are made parties defendant by the general description of PARTIES UNKNOWN. 3. That diligence has been used without effect to ascertain the location of Defendant NOKINS SUMMERS, if living, or if dead, then the surviving consort, heirs, devisees, and successors in title to NOKINS SUMMERS, who are made parties defendant by the general description of PARTIES UNKNOWN. 4. That diligence has been used without effect to ascertain the location of Defendants EDWARD BASIL, JR., JEANETTE BASIL McNAIR and LEAH BASIL JOHNSON who are believed to be alive and living in Virginia. It is hereby ORDERED that the said nonresident defendant SHERREL S. HARMON, NOKINS SUMMERS, if living, and the said persons made defendants by the general description of PARTIES UNKNOWN do appear and protect their interests on or before the 10th day of June, 2022, and do what is necessary to protect their interests. 4/14, 4/21, 4/28 & 5/7
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PAGE 29
Legal Notices PUBLIC HEARING The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, May 11, 2022 in order to consider: PROPOSED CONVEYANCE OF COUNTY PROPERTY Grant of Easements to Loudoun Water and The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1800 et seq., the Board of Supervisors shall consider granting (i) a 10-foot wide waterline and 15-foot wide sanitary sewer easement to Loudoun Water for purposes of installing, operating, maintaining, repairing and replacing waterlines, sewer line and related facilities, and (ii) a variable width maintenance easement to The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation for purposes of maintaining a stormwater management pond, including mowing, weeding, algae control, litter and debris removal and maintenance of vegetation. The subject property is identified as PIN 120-170779, including all or portions of PIN(s) 121-38-8763, 121-38-5442, 121-38-4350, and 121-38-4264, which will be adjusted into the County property. The subject property is located on the southeast corner at the intersection of Mooreview Parkway (Route 2298) and Old Ryan Road (Route 893) in the Broad Run Election District. Copies of the plat, showing the location of the above-listed conveyances and associated documents, are available for review and may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).
AMENDMENTS TO SECTIONS 209 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY Revision of Polling Place (Affects the Middleburg Precinct in the Blue Ridge District)
• Revise existing Pre-submission Requirements, Policies, and Procedures to clarify the requirements and materials to be submitted for the Traffic Study Scoping Meeting and FSM Traffic Study Scoping Agreement. • Revise existing Post-Submission Requirements, Policies, and Procedures to clarify the requirements for the FSM Traffic Study Checklist Acceptance Form and the County’s review of traffic studies. • Revise existing Content of Traffic Studies standards (to be renamed Standards for Traffic Studies) to clarify requirements for Project Description; Traffic Study Area and Traffic Count Locations; Data Collection (to be performed by the County); Trip Generation, Internal Capture, and Pass-By Trips; Traffic/Trip Distribution; Traffic Volume Projections (for sites generating less than 500 or 500 or more peak hour trips); Level of Service (LOS) Analysis; Minimum Roadway/Intersection LOS Standards; Safety Locations; Trip Reduction Factors; Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transit Facilities; and Access Management and Circulation. The public purposes of these amendments are to achieve the purposes listed in Sections 15.2-2200 and 15.2-2240 of the Code of Virginia and to assure the orderly subdivision of land and its development.
AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 207 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY Election Districts In accordance with Virginia Code §§ 24.2-304.1 and 24.2-306, the Board of Supervisors of Loudoun County, Virginia, gives notice of its intention to adopt a Redistricting Plan for Loudoun County by amending sections 207.03 through 207.11 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County to establish new boundaries for the County’s Election Districts. As required by Virginia Code § 24.2-304.1, the proposed new Election District boundaries were developed using the population figures from the 2020 Decennial Census as adjusted by the Division of Legislative Services. The proposed names and boundaries for each district are consistent with the proposed 2022 Election Districts Map:
Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-1427, 24.2-306 and 24.2-307, et seq., the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intention to propose for passage amendments to Section 209, Table: Voting Precincts and Polling Places, of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County. In the Blue Ridge District: 1. The polling place for the Middleburg precinct will be moved from the Middleburg Town Office located at 10 W Marshall Street, Middleburg, VA 20117 to Middleburg American Legion Post 295 located at 111 The Plains Road, Middleburg, VA 20117. A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed amendments to Chapter 209 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County and maps showing precinct boundaries and polling places are on file and available at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). In addition, this information is available for inspection at Loudoun County’s Office of Elections website at www.loudoun. gov/vote.
DOAM-2021-0003 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE FACILITIES STANDARDS MANUAL (Development Ordinance Amendment)
Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-2204 and 15.2-2253 and a Resolution of Intent to Amend adopted by the Board of Supervisors (“Board”) on December 7, 2021, notice is hereby given of proposed amendments to the Loudoun County Facilities Standards Manual (FSM) in order to establish new, and revise, clarify, and/or delete existing, regulations in order to: 1) revise existing standards to provide for traffic data collection by the County for traffic studies submitted with legislative land development applications and public school land development applications subject to Section 5-666 of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance; and 2) revise existing traffic study standards to be consistent with the December 2018 Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) “Administrative Guidelines for the Traffic Impact Analysis Regulations.” These amendments will propose revisions to Chapter 4 of the FSM, and such other Chapters, Sections, Subsections, and provisions of the FSM as necessary to fully implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments, or as otherwise necessary to correct typographical errors, section and subsection numbering, and formatting within, update internal cross-references to, and further clarify the requirements of, the above-mentioned Chapters, Sections, Subsections, and provisions of the FSM. The proposed text amendments include, without limitation, the following: Amendments to FSM Section 4.200, Transportation Planning: • Revise existing General standards for Traffic Studies to clarify which land development applications require traffic studies; clarify the requirements for the FSM Traffic Study Scoping Agreement and conducting traffic counts; and establish that the County shall collect and provide traffic data for the traffic study.
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APRIL 28, 2022
Legal Notices The following existing district names are proposed to be retained as shown on the 2022 Election Districts Map: Algonkian, Ashburn, Broad Run, Catoctin, Dulles, Leesburg, and Sterling. Proposed names for the district identified on the map as TBD are Evergreen and Little River. A copy of the full text of the proposed ordinance amendments, which includes the legal description for the proposed new boundary of each Election District, is on file and available for public inspection at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www. loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). In addition, an interactive version of the 2022 Election Districts Map is available at www.loudoun.gov/redistricting. Follow the link for “LT-Revised 1 Plan”.
ZOAM-2021-0003 AMEND THE REVISED 1993 LOUDOUN COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH NEW FEES FOR CERTAIN TRAFFIC DATA COLLECTION AND TRAFFIC WARRANT STUDIES, AND INCORPORATE THE EXISTING LAND DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION FEE SCHEDULE AS A NEW APPENDIX (Zoning Ordinance Amendment)
Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-107, 15.2-2204, and 15.2-2286(6) and a Resolution of Intent to Amend adopted by the Board of Supervisors on December 7, 2021, the Board of Supervisors hereby gives notice of proposed amendments to the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (“Zoning Ordinance”) in order to establish new fees that reflect cost recovery for a County managed traffic data collection and warrant study program for legislative land development applications and public school land development applications subject to Section 5-666 of the Zoning Ordinance throughout the County, and incorporate the existing land development application fee schedule (for land development application types that fall under the Zoning Ordinance) into the Zoning Ordinance as a new appendix. The amendment proposes revisions to Section 6-402 (Fees), and such other Articles, Sections, Subsections, and provisions of the Zoning Ordinance as necessary to implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments or as otherwise necessary to correct typographical errors, section and subsection numbering, and formatting within, update cross-references to, and further clarify the requirements of, the above-mentioned section(s) of the Zoning Ordinance. The proposed text amendments under consideration include, without limitation, the following: Amendments to Article 6 Development Process and Administration, Section 6-402 Fees: • Establish that fees to be paid upon the filing of each application specified in the Zoning Ordinance and for traffic data collection and warrant studies associated with legislative land development applications and public-school land development applications subject to Section 5-666 are set forth in new Appendix A to the Zoning Ordinance. Amendments to Establish New Appendix A: • Establish new Appendix A, to be titled “Land Development Application Fees”. • Incorporate existing fees for the filing of the applications specified in the Zoning Ordinance from the current land development application fee schedule into new Appendix A. • Establish new fees under new Appendix A for traffic data collection and preparation of traffic warrant studies associated with legislative land development applications and public-school land development applications subject to Section 5-666. The public purposes of these amendments are to achieve the purposes of zoning as set forth in Virginia Code §§ 15.2-2200 and 15.2-2283, including, without limitation, furtherance of the public necessity, convenience, general welfare and good zoning practice, and facilitating the creation of a convenient, attractive and harmonious community.
REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL OF LAND BELONGING TO ELIZABETH MERCEDES SOMERSET FARM, LLC FROM THE BEAVERDAM VALLEY AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-4314 and the Beaverdam Valley Agricultural and Forestal District Ordinance, Elizabeth Mercedes Somerset Farm, LLC, of Middleburg, Virginia, has submitted an application to withdraw a 32.69-acre parcel from the Beaverdam Valley Agricultural and Forestal District. The subject property is located on the southwest side of Foxcroft Road (Route 626) and southeast of Unison Road (Route 630), at 21133 Foxcroft Road, Middleburg, VA 20117, in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 593-15-3226. The Beaverdam Valley Agricultural and Forestal District currently has a 4-year period that will expire on June 19, 2022 and is subject to a subdivision minimum lot size of 50 acres. In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the application may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/ adac (2-7-2022 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings,
Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).
CMPT-2021-0010, ZMOD-2021-0041 & SPMI-2021-0005 INTERCONNECTION SUBSTATION (Commission Permit, Zoning Modification & Minor Special Exception)
Virginia Electric and Power Company of Glen Allen, Virginia, has submitted an application for Commission approval to permit development of an Electric Utility Substation (Distribution) in the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance and requires a Commission Permit in accordance with Section 6-1101. The modification of Additional Regulations applicable to the proposed Utility Substation is authorized by Minor Special Exception under Section 5-600, Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following modification(s): ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION §5-616(D), Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, Utility Substations.
PROPOSED MODIFICATION Eliminate the required Type C Buffer along the southern perimeter and reduce the minimum percentage of plant units assigned to evergreen trees from 40% to 20% for the Type C Buffer along the western perimeter.
The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification: ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION §5-1408(B)(2)(d), Buffering and Screening, General Landscape Provisions, Plant Unit Requirements.
PROPOSED MODIFICATION Increase the maximum percentage of plant units assigned to shrubs from 30% to 70% for the Type 3 Road Buffer along the east perimeter and for the 2 Road Buffer along the north perimeter.
The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, between the Ldn 60-65 and outside of but within one mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contours, partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District) and has areas with Steep Slopes (moderately steep slopes). The subject property is approximately 10.18 acres in size and is located on the west and north sides of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 607), east side of Beaumeade Circle (Route 3037) at 21529 Beaumeade Circle, Ashburn, Virginia, in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 042-15-2579. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment Place Type)) which designate this area for Office, Production, Flex Space, and Warehousing uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) up to a 1.0.
ZRTD-2021-0009 45449 EAST SEVERN WAY
(Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District) DIV DAVIN DULLES One LLC of West Palm Beach, Florida, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 9.35 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development-Industrial Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance, as of May 5, 2009, to the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance, as amended, in order to permit the development of all principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance at a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.45 (up to 0.60 by Special Exception). The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District), partially within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contours and contains steep slopes. The subject property is approximately 9.35 acres in size and is located east of Sully Road (Route 28), west of Atlantic Boulevard (Route 1902) and on the south side of East Severn Way (Route 847) at 45449 E Severn Way, Sterling, Virginia in the Sterling Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 030-15-5049. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)) which designate this area for compact, pedestrian-oriented environments with opportunities for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural, and Recreational uses. At a recommended FAR of 1.0.
SIDP-2021-0004 WHITMAN COMMERCIAL VA TIRE & AUTO SIGN PLAN (Sign Development Plan)
Branch Rail LLC of Fairfax, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Sign Development Plan to request alternative sign regulations for permitted signs in order to 1) modify Sign Category (4)(h) Auto Service Station with respect to: a) maximum aggregate sign area, b) maximum number of signs, and c) maximum area of any one sign; and 2) to modify Section 5-1204(D)(7)(m) De Minimis Signs with respect to the maximum area of any one sign. The subject property is being developed pursuant to ZMAP-2016-0023, ZCPA-2016-0017, SPEX-2017-0039, and ZMOD-2019-0035, Whitman Property South. The subject property is located in the PD-CC(CC) (Planned Development – Commercial Center (Community Center)) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance, and pursuant to Section
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APRIL 28, 2022
PAGE 31
Legal Notices 5-1202(E) alternative sign regulations for permitted signs may be requested with the submission of a Sign Development Plan. The subject property is approximately 1.53 acres in size and is located east of Gum Spring Road (Route 659), south of Braddock Road (Route 620), in Chantilly, Virginia, in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 207-39-0065. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Transition Policy Area – Lower Foley (Transition Community Center Place Type)), which designate this area for Retail, Service Commercial, Entertainment Commercial, and Civic uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 0.3.
SPEX-2021-0054 FIVEASH MDOD HOME (Special Exception)
Michael and Jodi Fiveash of Leesburg, Virginia, have submitted an application for a Special Exception to permit the construction of a single-family detached dwelling unit, agricultural barn, well, and drain field in the Highly Sensitive Area of the MDOD (Mountainside Development Overlay District). This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. Because the proposed use would require land disturbing activity in the Highly Sensitive Area of the MDOD, it is listed as a Special Exception under Section 4-1603(A). The subject property is located partially within Highly Sensitive and Sensitive Areas of the MDOD, partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District) minor floodplain and has areas with Steep Slopes (very steep and moderately steep slopes). The subject property is approximately 21.67 acres in size and is located east of Charlestown Pike (Route 9), west of Sagle Road (Route 687), and on the north side of Shady Lane at 12903 Shady Lane, Purcellville, Virginia in the Catoctin Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 544-47-8875. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Rural Policy Area (Rural North Place Type)) which designate this area for Agricultural, Agricultural Supportive, and limited Residential uses at a recommended density of up to one dwelling unit per 20 acres or one dwelling unit per five acres equivalent for optional Residential clustering in large-lot subdivisions.
SPEX-2021-0005 LOUDOUN WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY (Special Exception)
The Loudoun County Sanitation Authority of Ashburn, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Special Exception to permit encroachment into the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District) for the development of two (2) 10-million-gallon wastewater equalization tanks. This application is subject to the 1972 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 740.7.4. The subject property is located in the Planned Development – Industrial Park (PD-IP) zoning district. The subject property is located in the Route 28 Tax District and located partially within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contour, and partially within the FOD, major floodplain. The property is approximately 339.95 acres in size and is located on the east side of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 607), north of Gloucester Parkway (Route 2150) and west of Russell Branch Parkway (Route 1036) at 44771 Loudoun Water Way, Ashburn, Virginia, in the Broad Run Election District. The property is more particularly described as PIN: 041-37- 4022. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area), in the Suburban Industrial/Mineral Extraction Place Type which designate this area for the development of large Manufacturing, Contractor with outdoor storage, and other productive uses up to a 0.6 Floor Area Ratio (FAR).
ZMAP-2020-0014, SPEX-2020-0028, ZMOD-2020-0034 & ZMOD-2021-0009 THE VILLAS AT CASCADES (Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception & Zoning Modifications)
Tradition Companies LLC, of Arlington, Virginia, has submitted applications for the following: to rezone approximately 6.93 acres from the PD-H4 (Planned Development – Housing 4), administered as PD-CC-CC (Planned Development – Commercial Center (Community Center)) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance, to the R-24 ADU (Multifamily Residential – 24 Affordable Dwelling Unit Development Regulations) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance in order to develop 173 stacked multifamily residential units, at a density of approximately 24.96 dwelling units per acre; and a Special Exception to reduce the front yard setback from 25 feet to 10 feet. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance and the proposed modification of the front yard setback in the R-24 zoning district is listed as a Special Exception under Section 7-1003(C)(4). The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s): ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION
PROPOSED MODIFICATION
§3-702(A), R-24 Multifamily Residential, Size and Location.
Permit the development to have direct access to Cascades Parkway by private roads.
§3-707(B), R-24 Multifamily Residential, Building Requirements, Building Height.
Permit multifamily buildings to be constructed to a maximum height of 50 feet without providing an additional setback from streets or lot lines beyond the required minimum yard dimensions.
The subject property is partially located within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District), minor floodplain. The subject property is approximately 6.93 acres in size and is located north of Leesburg Pike
(Route 7), east of Cascades Parkway (Route 1794) and south of Palisade Parkway (Route 1795) in the Algonkian Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as: PIN
PROPERTY ADDRESS
019-27-8810
46303 McClellan Way, Sterling Virginia
019-18-2198
N/A
019-18-1583
46321 McClellan Way, Sterling, Virginia
The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area) in the Suburban Mixed Use Place Type which designate this area for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural and Recreational uses at recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.0.
CPAM-2021-0002 US ROUTE 15 NORTH – WIDENING AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS (Comprehensive Plan Amendment)
Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-2225 and 15.2-2229 and a resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors on March 16, 2021, the Board of Supervisors hereby gives notice of a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPAM) to amend the Loudoun County 2019 Countywide Transportation Plan (2019 CTP) (adopted June 20, 2019, as amended) in order to establish new, and clarify, revise, and/or delete existing policies, guidelines, and maps in regard to US Route 15 (James Monroe Highway) from Montresor Road (VA Route 661) north to the Maryland State Line, in the Rural Policy Area. The amendment proposes revisions to the Countywide Transportation Roadway Plan Map and Appendix 1 – Planning Guidelines for Major Roadways Countywide of the 2019 CTP, and such other Chapters, policies, and provisions of the 2019 CTP as necessary to implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments or as otherwise necessary to correct typographical errors, section and subsection numbering, and formatting within, update cross-references to, and further clarify the policies of, the above-mentioned section(s) of the 2019 CTP. The proposed CPAM would apply Countywide. The proposed text amendments under consideration include, without limitation, the following: 2019 Countywide Transportation Plan Amendments Amendments to Appendix 1 – Planning Guidelines for Major Roadways Countywide: Ø Revise the existing road type descriptions, typical cross-sections, and planning guidelines for the existing/ultimate condition for a segment of US Route 15 (James Monroe Highway) from Montresor Road (VA Route 661) north to the Maryland State Line. Amendments to the Revised 2030 Countywide Transportation Plan Map: Ø Revise as necessary to implement and be in accordance with foregoing amendments. Unless otherwise noted in the above notices, copies of the above-referenced amendments, applications, ordinances, and/or plans and related documents may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies, or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. This link also provides an additional opportunity for public input on active applications. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). In addition, for detailed instructions on how to access documents using LOLA, to request that documents be emailed to you, to receive physical copies of documents, or to arrange a time to view the file at the Loudoun County Government Center, please email DPZ@loudoun.gov or call 703-777-0246 (option 5). Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings. All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Public input may be provided by electronic means at Board public hearings. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, will be accommodated without advanced sign-up during the hearing, however, members of the public are strongly encouraged to signup in advance. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on April 29, 2022, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on May 11, 2022. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up during the public hearing. Citizens may also submit written comments by email sent to bos@loudoun.gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members and made part of the minutes for the public hearing. Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200. At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings. BY ORDER OF:
PHYLLIS RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 4/21& 4/28/22
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APRIL 28, 2022
Legal Notices NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT TO ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLE 3 REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCEDURES FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVISING THE CONTENTS OF PUBLIC HEARING PLACARD NOTICES Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 to consider Zoning Ordinance Amendment TLOA-2022-0001 revising the following Section of the Zoning Ordinance: 1. Sec. 3.1.9.B.2 Contents of Placards revising information to be included on a placard notice of public hearing. Copies and additional information regarding this proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment is available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by calling 703-737-7009 and asking for Christopher Murphy, Senior Planning Project Manager. This zoning ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLOA2022-0001.
April 28, 2022 County of Loudoun P.O. Box 7000 Leesburg, Virginia 20177-7000 703-737-8323 These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the County of Loudoun.
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS
On or about May 18, 2022, the County of Loudoun will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of Housing Choice Vouchers - Project Based, under Section8(o) of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, as amended, to undertake a project known as Sommerset Senior Apartments, a multi-family rental housing project in the County of Loudoun that will be rehabilitated and converted to serve households with incomes at 60 percent area median income and lower.
At this hearing all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at (703) 771-2733 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.
The project involves the rehabilitation of 102 apartments built on a 4.8-acre parcel located at the intersection of 22355 Providence Village Drive in Sterling, VA 20164. The project is an existing senior multi-family three-story building with surface level parking and landscaping that was constructed in 1987. Common areas and amenities include a rental office, dining area, laundry room, game and billiards room, health and wellness center, library, beauty and barber shop and storage spaces. Overall, the location provides good access to employment and other amenities for residents.
4/28 & 5/5/22
The estimated project cost is $36.8 million. The project was awarded ten (10) Project-Based Vouchers.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION NOTICE is hereby given that the Loudoun County Board of Equalization of Real Estate Assessments (BOE) will hear appeals for 2022 Real Estate Assessments at Loudoun County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, between 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. beginning on July 25, 2022, and continuing through December 30, 2022, with the exception of September 5, October 10, November 8, November 11, November 23, November 24, November 25, December 23, December 26, and December 30, 2022. The BOE scheduled hearings will be posted on the County calendar at www.loudoun.gov. Hearing dates are subject to change. Please also refer to the County calendar for cancellations. The BOE will sit and hear all appeals timely presented for consideration. Following the hearing, the BOE shall equalize the taxpayer’s assessment by increasing, decreasing, or affirming such assessment. The BOE will continue to hear appeals until the last day needed to complete all necessary action regarding such appeals, or December 29, 2022, whichever comes first. If you require a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate in a public meeting, please contact the Board of Equalization at 703-777-0289. At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice. Michael Krueger, Chairman Board of Equalization
ABC LICENSE
Evolution Food Group LLC, trading as Cocina On Market, 7 W Market St, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine and Beer Off Premise + Mixed Beverage license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Jason Lage 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. 4/28 & 5/5/22
4/28/22
The County of Loudoun has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development, 106 Catoctin Circle SE, Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday or call 703-737-8323. The ERR will also be made available to the public for review at: http://www.loudoun.gov/pbv.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177-7000, Attention: Housing Finance Project Manager. Written comments may also be emailed to housing@loudoun.gov. All comments received by 5:00 p.m. on May 16, 2022, will be considered by the County of Loudoun prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION
The County of Loudoun certifies to HUD that Mr. Tim Hemstreet, in his capacity as County Administrator of the County of Loudoun, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the County of Loudoun to use Program funds.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the County of Loudoun’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the County of Loudoun; (b) the County of Loudoun has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted via email until further notice in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to: HUD, Public and Indian Housing Program Center, Christine Jenkins, PIH_ Covid-19EnvironmentalObjectionsDCFO@hud.gov. Potential objectors should contact the Washington, D.C. HUD Public and Indian Program Center at (202) 275-6306 to verify the actual last day of the objection period. Tim Hemstreet, County Administrator Certifying Officer
4/28/22
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
APRIL 28, 2022
PAGE 33
Legal Notices 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. YR.
MAKE
MODEL
VIN
STORAGE
PHONE#
2011
NISSAN
SENTRA
3N1AB6APXBL706494
DOUBLE D TOWING
703-777-7300
Trust Local Expertise
4/28 & 5/5/22
PUBLIC NOTICE OF SELECTION OF PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS (PBV) PROPOSALS
Shop LoCo
In accordance with 24 CFR 983.51(d), the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development, a Public Housing Agency (PHA) for the purpose of administering the Federal Housing Choice Voucher program of which the Project-Based Voucher (PBV) program is a part, hereby provides public notice of the selection of PBV proposals to provide housing under the PBV program. All submitted PBV proposals were evaluated in accordance with the Loudoun County Project-Based Voucher Administrative Plan adopted by the Board of Supervisors on May 3, 2016, as may have been subsequently revised. The selected PBV proposals are as follows: Project
Owner
Number of PBV Units
Sommerset Retirement Community
Loudoun Senior LLC
10
Waxpool Apartments
Good Works, LP and Green Street Housing, LLC
8
4/28 & 5/5/22
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
Case No.:
Case No.:
JJ046000-01-00; JJ046001-01-00; JJ046002-01-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Angelie Iraheta Archilla, Mia Isabella Iraheta and Kai Iraheta Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v. Unknown Father(s) The object of this suit is to hold an adjudicatory hearing regarding child protective orders pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-253 for Angelie Iraheta Archilla, Mia Isabella Iraheta and Kai Iraheta, and; hold a dispositional hearing regarding child protective orders pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-278.2 for Angelie Iraheta Archilla, Mia Isabella Iraheta and Kai Iraheta. It is ORDERED that the defendants Unknown Father(s) appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before April 28, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. (Adjudicatory) and May 25, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. (Dispositional) 4/7, 4/14, 4/21 & 4/28/22
The Middleburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers located at 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, VA, and remotely online via Zoom (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/95876721615 or by calling 1-301-715-8592, Webinar ID: 958 7672 1615), to consider the following: AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE SCHEDULE OF WATER AND SEWER CHARGES
Selection records and documentation for the basis of selection of the above-referenced PBV proposal are available for public inspection at the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development, 106 Catoctin Circle SE, Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. Inquiries by email can be directed to hcv@loudoun.gov or by telephone to 703-737-8213.
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA Virginia Code § 8.01-316
JJ044669-04-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Lucas Eduardo Ixcotoyac Castro Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v. Catarina Castro Chiroy, mother, Lucas Ixcotoyac Itzep, putative father, and Unknown Father The object of this suit is to hold an Annual Foster Care Review hearing and Review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.2 and 16.1-281 for Lucas Eduardo Ixcotoyac Castro. It is ORDERED that the defendants Catarina Castro Chiroy, mother, Lucas Ixcotoyac Itzep, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before May 10, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. 4/7, 4/14, 4/21 & 4/28/22
If approved, the ordinance would increase the water and sewer user fees as identified below effective July 1, 2022. This would result in an increase of 3% or $7.70 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: In-Town Minimum of 2,000 gallons Over 2,000 gallons Out-of-Town Minimum of 2,000 gallons Over 2,000 gallons
% Change
Current
Proposed
$36.36 $18.18/1,000 gals.
$37.44 $18.72/1,000 gals.
+3% +3%
$49.12 $27.19/1,000 gals.
$50.59 $28.00/1,000 gals.
+3% +3%
SEWER USER FEES Bi-Monthly Rates For: In-Town Minimum of 2,000 gallons Over 2,000 gallons
Current
Proposed
% Change
$37.44 $18.72/1,000 gals.
$38.56 $19.28/1,000 gals.
+3% +3%
Out-of-Town Minimum of 2,000 gallons Over 2,000 gallons
$50.61 $30.17/1,000 gals.
$52.12 $31.07/1,000 gals.
+3% +3%
USE OF WATER BY CONTRACTORS AND OTHER PARTIES (Town Code Section 113-23) Contractor Rates: Current Proposed Change Minimum of 2,000 gallons $60.62 No minimum -Over 2,000 gallons $23.69/1,000 gals. Superseded -NEW – Each 1,000 gallons -$37.44/1,000 gallons -(2x in-town water rate) AVAILABILITY FEES & CONNECTION FEES No change in availability fees is proposed. No change in water & sewer connection fees is proposed. A copy of the ordinance is available for public inspection in the Middleburg Town Hall, located at 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, VA during normal business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. All interested citizens are invited to attend this public hearing to express their views. MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL TOWN OF MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA
4/21 & 4/28/22
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Legal Notices LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE BIDS/PROPOSALS FOR: ARCHITECTURAL & ENGINEERING SERVICES GENERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING - PHASE 1, RFP No. 502788 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, May 17, 2022. CARPENTRY SERVICES, IFB No. 510782 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, May 26, 2022.
APRIL 28, 2022
Misc
BROADLANDS SPRING COMMUNITY YARD SALE
Multi-family Yard Sale Lots of furniture, housewares, tools/ equipment, clothes, DVDs/Blu-rays and much more! Saturday 29 April 8am-2pm, no rain date Evergreen Meadows subdivision 175 Alpine Dr SE
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. 4/28/22
TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISISON PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLES 15 AND 18 – DEFINITIONS FOR MURAL 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 5, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 to consider Zoning Ordinance Amendment TLOA-2021-0010 revising the following Section of the Zoning Ordinance: 1. Sec. 15.3 Definitions, adding the term “Mural” 2. Sec. 18.1.110.1, revising the definition for “Mural”. Copies and additional information regarding these proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (MondayFriday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by calling 703-737-7920 and asking for Michael Watkins, Zoning Administrator. This zoning ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLOA2021-0010. 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) 7712434 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 4/21 & 4/28/22
TOWN OF LEESBURG DEPARTMENT OF UTILITIES NOTICE OF WATER MAIN FLUSHING
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. If this occurs, open your cold water tap until a clear steady flow of water is observed. Some residents and businesses may experience lower 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. 4/7, 4/14, 4/21, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19 & 5/26/22
To see an online listing of addresses please visit broadlandshoa.org/yardsale. Not all participants are registered. The Broadlands community is located in Ashburn, VA.
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The Town of Leesburg will conduct controlled flushing of water mains throughout the Town beginning April through June 30th, 2022. 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 use, thereby, reducing the potential for bacteriological contamination.
Come shop at the Broadlands Community Wide Yard Sale on Saturday, April 30th, 8:00am-2:00pm, Rain or Shine at private residences throughout the neighborhood.
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APRIL 28, 2022
PAGE 35
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APRIL 28, 2022
Opinion Shaping the Outcome When Loudoun leaders revamped the county’s planning policies in the early 1990s, a key strategy in the rural area was to concentrate new development in and around the existing towns. The resulting Choices and Changes General Plan introduced the concept of drawing urban growth areas around the towns’ borders. Middleburg opted out of that deal. Growth wasn’t in the town’s vocabulary. What has become evident in the ensuing decades is that development doesn’t stop at the town limits. The boundary line only determines who gets to set the rules. A five-vote majority on the Board of Supervisors or the varied by-right allowances
of county’s zoning ordinance can transform a community’s character with municipal leaders largely left on the sidelines. The concerns were exacerbated somewhat by the supervisors’ decision to leave rural development policies unchanged during the most recent comprehensive plan update, forgoing the chance to reexamine land use strategies around the towns. That provides a different context for the new proposal to annex two properties into Middleburg’s corporate limits. Market conditions would indicate that both are prime targets for development. The question before town leaders—and town residents—is who will control the outcome. As the mayor laid out during a community meeting last week, there are opportunities
to achieve some top town goals—among them preserving a section of the long-envisioned town greenbelt and expanding the important mission of the Windy Hill Foundation that has provided affordable housing to generations of town residents. Or the tracts could be carved up into Euclidean subdivisions of McMansions or converted to incompatible commercial uses. Or perhaps the town will hope that, one more time, public opposition successfully can keep change at bay. The good news is that the annexation talks give the town a seat at the table and a chance to shape the outcome. In rural Loudoun, where most development advances by-right, it’s an increasingly rare opportunity. n
LETTERS to the Editor Mischaracterized Editor: My eyes nearly popped out when I read this week’s Loudoun Now front page account of Tuesday’s public information session conducted by Middleburg’s mayor Bridge Littleton. The headline “Middleburg Mayor Pushes Expansion, 126 Homes” literally made my jaw drop. Reading a bit further, I was surprised to see “Littleton pitched separate proposals” by two property owners who contacted the Town asking that their properties be annexed into the Town’s boarders. Both the headline and the later suggestion that Mayor Littleton was “pushing” or “pitching” anything were highly pejorative and completely mischaracterized Tuesday’s well attended public information session. As the mayor stated repeatedly at that meeting, its sole purpose was to inform the Town’s residents
of two owner-initiated proposals to bring their lands into the Town and develop them subject to Middleburg’s zoning and development regulations. To suggest, as the article does so erroneously, that our mayor was “pushing” or “pitching” anything was, at the least, a very poor choice of words. In fact, he was doing nothing more than informing town residents of two annexation proposals which the town has received. — Terence Cooke, Middleburg
Littleton’s Middleburg
Editor: The Town of Middleburg used to be known for conservation, but those days are long gone. For the past seven years, it has been known for Salamander Resort. For the next seven years it will be known for country condos and weekend McMansions. This comes as “Middleburg Mayor Bridge Littleton unveiled proposals to expand the Town’s bound-
aries and build 126 new homes, billing it as protecting the town... and creating affordable housing.” If you are going to open the floodgates to the suburbanization of Middleburg with the “farmdominiums” at Blackwater Farm, at least have the guts to admit that your objective is to increase the tax base, in part to justify your new $9 million dollar Town Mahal. Spare us the “lesser of two evils” logic. If you wanted to stand up against development interests, you would just do it. The Citizens for Fauquier did in Upperville when they stood up against the Easton Porter Group’s expansion of the Blackthorne Inn. The Aldie Heritage Association did when they stood up against the county’s insertion of a fire station in the middle of the historic village. These citizen groups actually cared about conservation. You play us for fools with the whole
“we are doing this to protect the town” rhetoric. We know conservation implies opposition to development, not control of it. Those who care about conservation don’t say, “hey, hold on, let’s control this development together.” Even if the build is supposedly inevitable, you sacrifice pragmatism and put yourself out in front of it. By-right use or not, if you wanted to oppose it, you would. You would at least make it more difficult for development to occur. You would have the stomach to say “no thanks.” You would go to the county and say, “we oppose this project.” You would encourage the citizens of Middleburg to voice their opposition. Instead, you put on a pro-development theater at Hill School. As one resident put it to me, “he should have won an Oscar for that performance.” LETTERS TO THE EDITOR continues on page 37
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THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Should the county government pursue options to boost the local use of renewable energy?
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LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 36 Of course, you are going to say that “this will be the last development.” I am sure it will be, until there is a proposal to demolish the beloved Fun Shop property and replace it with a hideous mid-rise, or turn east Federal Street into another kitschy country Frankenstein. When Littleton—the son-of-a-developer—initially ran for mayor, he had a whole “Preserving Middleburg” act. He said, “I am committed to being a champion for Middleburg with the county to stem development... Middleburg’s authority is exclusive to our town, but our influence must carry beyond... (we must) make our voices heard.” Four years later, he has indeed made his voice heard, as a ventriloquist throwing his voice to dummy an audience. — Vincent Bataoel, Middleburg
Standing with Workers Editor: This month, the Board of Supervisors became the first board in Loudoun’s history to dedicate funding to affordable housing as part of the county budget. The board also voted to allocate $12 million of the county’s remaining ARPA funds to Preservation of Affordable Housing and Displacement Services. Together, this adds up to an historic investment of over $18.2 million to address the county’s housing crisis. New Virginia Majority members have given testimony, attended budget hearings, signed petitions, and met with county officials to raise awareness of the plight of working families spending more than 70% of their incomes on rent. We
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applaud the Board for taking this significant step forward. The investment couldn’t have come at a better time. Thanks to pandemic rental assistance and eviction protections, the county has thus far avoided a massive tsunami of eviction, but what we’re seeing now is the gradual tide of displacement. Landlords are raising rents by hundreds of dollars, forcing many essential workers to make a difficult choice of whether to pack up and leave. Loudoun’s median rent is currently $2,600. In order to afford that rent, a household would need to earn $104,000/ year. Only 20% of Loudoun County workers make at least that amount. Our county has become prohibitively expensive for the vast majority of people who work here, especially for workers in minimum wage jobs. Our members are Loudoun’s essential workers in industries such as childcare, cleaning, restaurants, construction, landscaping, and retail, and they earn less than 40% of the Area Median Income. The fact of the matter is that there is nearly no housing in Loudoun that these essential workers can afford, and we are at risk of losing what little does exist. We are hopeful that with more financial resources, the county can take steps to ensure that the county’s essential workforce can continue to live where they work. County rent subsidies that make up the difference between what landlords are charging and what working class families can actually pay could quickly facilitate access to existing housing. This approach would enable current residents to continue living in their neighborhoods as rents rapidly rise, and keep children in their schools. The county should also adopt—and fully fund—a policy of no net loss of
affordable units in the county. This could be done through the preservation of existing units through public financing, replacement of units on site as part of a larger redevelopment, and replacement of units through new development in transit-friendly locations. The most important aspect of any intervention is that it must be designed for families earning below 40% AMI, or else they will also contribute to gentrification and displacement of existing communities that are home to Loudoun’s essential workforce. We thank the Board of Supervisors for standing with our county’s essential workers and low-income residents by investing in housing and we hope that it is just the beginning of a long-term strategy for affordable housing. — Sofia Saiyed, Sterling Lead Organizer, New Virginia Majority Loudoun
Banning Books Editor: The national news is full of efforts of parents to ban all sorts of books from their school and public libraries. It reminds me of how my mother handled a similar situation when I was in seventh grade in the 1940s. One of the boys in my class obtained a pornographic book about a rape of a young woman. He immediately was besieged by the rest of the boys to read the book. It was decided that each boy in the class in turn would have one night to read the book and then pass it on to the next boy. My turn came and with great anticipation I brought the book home, excused my self right after dinner, and proceeded to get in bed with the covers over my head to read the book by flashlight.
My mother, as was her routine, knocked on my door to pop her head in to say “good night.” An in that micro-second it takes a mother to know something is amiss, she asked what I was doing. “Reading” I said as I came out from under the blankets and she replied “that’s interesting, tell me about it.” Her quick glance at the cover of the book I was trying to hide confirmed the jig was up. I digress from the story to note what she did not do. She did not get angry at me. And she did not threaten to go to the school and demand that they must keep this trash away from the students. What she did was to say in that calm, mother-type voice if the book was so interesting would I please read it aloud to her. There started, perhaps, the worst moments of my life, reading pornographic filth to my mother out loud. Blessedly after a couple of minutes, she asked me to stop and explain to her why I found the book so interesting. I really don’t remember much about the ensuing conversation in my embarrassment, but I do remember one question that I believed help shape my views for the rest of my life. My mother asked me what I thought about how the raped woman must have felt, and we both ended up crying. So ended my interest in pornography. If my mother were still alive today, I think she would say to all those parents screaming to ban books for kids that instead they should check out the books, bring them home and read them with their children and discuss them. They may still have concerns as is their right, but at least they and the children would have an accurate perspective of the issue. — Alfred P. Van Huyck, Round Hill
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10th District debate continued from page 3 in program management. “After watching what the administration has done with the help of Jennifer Wexton over the last year, my passion is to change the direction of this country, not just for me, but for my three children and for my District 10 citizens,” he said. Húng Cao is a refugee from Vietnam who retired as a Navy Captain after 25 years, a career that includes diving to salvage plane wreckage and recovering John F. Kennedy Jr, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and Lauren Bessette; and is a member of the inaugural graduating class at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. He and his family established a nonprofit which builds beeping Easter Eggs for children with visual impairments. He said “everything they’re teaching in this left-wing, woke ideology, this is communism. And I know a lot about communism because I escaped it.” “This country’s not perfect, OK, but what is perfect is that the American spirit, how we’re able to invent the light bulb, the automobile, the plane,” he said. “We put a man on the moon, we invented the radio, the telephone, we did all this stuff without the help of government. My job is to get government out of this.” Some of those inventions are credited in Europe; the first manned mission to the moon was accomplished by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, an agency of the U.S. government. Attorney and Oracle Corporation Senior Vice President Mike Clancy highlighted his time on Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s
Valor Awards continued from page 3 over medical care and extricate the injured person with her help. One civilian and seven deputies were honored for their actions during an apartment fire in Sterling. Carlos Zapata was awarded a Civilian Medal of Valor; LCSO Deputies First Class Abdulah Rasooli, Brandon McGhee and Jorge Zavala were awarded Bronze Medals of Valor; and LCSO DFCs Elvir Hozanovic, Kelsey Long, Joseph Rosado, and Evlin Valladares were given awarded Certificates of Valor for their work evacuating people, even running through the smoke in the building to make sure everyone was out. Rasooli had also found an elderly woman in a wheel-
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technology and cybersecurity transition team. He pointed to his expertise in law and cybersecurity and targeted President Joe Biden on executive orders, blaming them for many long-standing problems. “In Congress, I’ll fight for legislation to rescind Biden’s executive orders that created the border crisis, and the drug trafficking, and the human trafficking at our border, to rescind his executive orders that are stifling domestic energy production and created an economic crisis and record gas prices, and to rescind his executive orders that have created an unconstitutional process equity agenda that’s harming our country, and our schools, and our college campuses,” Clancy said. Manassas City Council member Theresa Coates Ellis said, “we need to have someone win this primary that can win the general,” pointing out she is the only Republican on the city council, and to the healthcare management company she started. “I want to make sure I get our economy back on track. I know how to slash expenses. I’ve run a company, contracted with doctors, I’ve owned clinics. I’m going to look into education and making sure you have choice,” she said. Air Force veteran John Henley talked about his military experience, rising from enlisted to colonel and including in space operations. He also served the Joint Staff and in the Office of Air Force Legislative Liaison, where he helped write the proposal for the Space Force. He said men and women in uniform “deserve a Congress who understands what national security decisions mean” and targeted transgender people. “Why is this race important? Look at our border. You look at the forced vac-
cinations. You look at schools, you look what’s being forced down our throats. You look at men competing in women’s sports, and that should not happen in the United States of America,” Henley said. He also defended people accused of attacking the U.S. capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. “There’s no Republicans down there, stepping up, stepping forward, saying ‘no, it doesn’t matter if you trespass, you still have constitutional rights,’” he said. Prince William County Supervisor Jeanine Lawson pointed to her experience as an elected official, where she said she has worked to lower taxes and to support a program to use local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws, which Prince William ended in 2020, a decision of the Prince William–Manassas Regional Jail Board. “I am proud to stand up for the Second Amendment. I am unashamedly pro-life. I believe and I know that our God never makes mistakes, life begins at conception, no exception. I will defend—I will proudly defend life at every stage in the womb,” she said. “I have won in tough races in Prince William County by standing to our conservative values, not running away from them, not negotiating them.” Max said the country faces “generational challenges that aren’t going to get solved overnight,” such as inflation, on the border, and international rivals like China. “When I get to Congress, I’m never going to back down on our Constitutional rights and values. I’m going to fight to make sure that that not only my generation, but the people of the fine 10th District, have all the opportunities that previous generations were provided. We must
do it. Time is running out,” he said. Brandon Michon is likely the most nationally well-known candidate, going viral on conservative media in a video of him screaming at the Loudoun County School Board to “figure it out” and reopen schools during the pandemic, and later announcing his candidacy on national Fox News talk show Tucker Carlson Tonight. He said he has also had conversations with Youngkin’s office about his campaign about how to flip the district. “We’re going to do it on three things: Education, safety, the economy,” he said. He also pointed to his career as an investment banker: “I’m the only candidate here who has the complex financial background to be able to understand how this is a very difficult economy.” And Brooke Taylor pointed to work both as an educator at Christian universities and in nuclear security, as well as being a single mother. “2016 opened the way in Washington for people like me, that are not of pedigree, popularity, or a textbook politician, to have a place in public service. I found myself on Capitol Hill, working on appropriations and managing the Nuclear Security Working Group,” Taylor said. “I decided to jump into this race in the beginning of February, because you could just see the revival in the state for the Republican Party under Governor Youngkin.” Republicans will pick their candidate for the 10th Congressional District in the November general election during a rankedchoice voting distributed caucus Saturday, May 21. Find information about the caucus and candidates at vagop10.org. n
chair and, with McGhee’s help, carried her out. They successfully evacuated 56 people. Three deputies were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. The families displaced by that fire got a helping hand from the community through April Taylor, founder of Catch A Meal, and from the then-Washington Football Team’s Jimmy Moreland and personally delivered by NFL Hall of Fame member Darrell Green. And the event closed with an incident in December 2021 that shocked the community after a shootout at the Sterling Walmart. On Jan. 2 a Walmart loss prevention officer apprehended a man and held him until a Sheriff’s Office deputy arrived and attempted to arrest him. At that point the man pulled a gun and started shooting, wounding Deputy First Class Cameron
Gentry and two Walmart employees. He then ran out of the store, stole a vehicle and drove south to Fairfax County before police apprehended him. An eight-day jury trial of the suspect is scheduled to begin May 16. The incident also sparked an outpouring of support for Gentry, who underwent multiple surgeries and spent 42 days in the hospital. The Dulles Fraternal Order of Police launched a GoFundMe page to help Gentry with his long-term recovery, raising more than $100,000, and when he left the hospital Gentry was greeted by a crowd of more than 100 supporters. In that incident, meritorious civilian awards went to Jade Pusloskie and Muhammad Amin. A Silver Medal of Valor went to Deputy First Class Charles Ewing, who was there with Gentry during the
shooting and returned fire. Bronze Medals of Valor went to Gentry, Lt. Jason Illowite, Firefighter/EMT Christopher Cloud, and Firefighter/EMT Bryan Jennings, the first rescue crew to arrive on scene and who applied tourniquets to stop Gentry’s bleeding. And a unit citation went to Captain Dan Shealy, Firefighter/EMT Noah Wing and Paramedic/Lieutenant Andrew Fields, who transported Gentry to Reston Trauma Center, performing a blood transfusion en route. In all, the program featured one Civilian Medal of Valor, 10 Meritorious Civilian Awards, 53 Unit Citations, 17 Lifesaving Awards, 13 Certificates of Valor, nine Bronze Medals of Valor, and two Silver Medals of Valor. See the full program of awards at LoudounChamber.org. n
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Funding gap continued from page 1 Additionally, five nonprofits receive funding directly through a government procurement process rather than competitive grants. Originally there were six: HealthWorks for Northern Virginia, the Loudoun Free Clinic, Northern Virginia Dental Clinic, Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers, the Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter, and Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing. However, Blue Ridge Speech and hearing closed after 56 years in 2020. This year, there is $1,864,647 available for competitive grants. Loudoun Hunger Relief President and CEO Jennifer Montgomery told county supervisors at their April 19 meeting that the nonprofits in the Loudoun Human Services Network members are still seeing high demand for their services due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Investing in long-term solutions to human service priorities will take creative partnerships to enact this change, and we can do that here in Loudoun,” she said. And she said the available funding falls short of the need demonstrated by the nonprofits that applied for grants. “This continues to be an issue each year, and the problem has worsened over time,” she said. “The bottom line is that the overall amount allocated to this grant program is long overdue for a right-sizing that takes into account the growing pop-
Multi-tasking mom continued from page 1 going to be a blessing,” she said. She lost her job as a caretaker at the beginning of the pandemic. Shortly after, she found out she was pregnant with her fifth child. “I was like, ‘Dear lord, what are we going to do with another mouth to feed and I’m out of work?’ I’ve pretty much been out of work due to COVID for the past two years,” she said. She turned to the Facebook group “Real Ladies of Loudoun County,” sharing her story and asking for advice as her family scraped by. Hundreds of women took her story to heart, and Foster said the outpouring of support was humbling. “It’s unbelievable how many kind people there are to reach out to a complete stranger with not one kid but five. People
“Investing in long-term solutions to human service priorities will take creative partnerships to enact this change, and we can do that here in Loudoun.” — Jennifer Montgomery Loudoun Hunger Relief President and CEO
ulation of Loudoun, the lasting economic impacts of the pandemic, and the value of services provided by the nonprofits.” A Farm Less Ordinary, one of the five organizations that met the minimum score to be considered for funding but was not proposed to receive any, helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities hone habits, social skills, and behaviors that can be used in any work setting. Co-founder and Executive Director Greg Masucci pointed out that this year’s nonprofit funding shortfall would be felt most heavily among those people. “Unfortunately, four out of the five organizations that fell into the same category as us, also are organizations that serve the cognitively disabled community, and, were sending us snacks and food so we could make our own meals,” Foster said. “It’s truly a blessing to be a part of this community and to have so many people show us so much love during our hard times.” She said things are looking up for the family of seven now that she has a job she can handle, while caring for her youngest kids. “I love helping people in general, kids and the elderly. And I get to take my kids to work, so it was like, ‘why not?’ It’s like a perfect, ideal job for me,” she said.
Changing Start Times Families across the county were dissatisfied when staggered bell schedules were announced for next school year to accommodate bus drivers taking on more of the division’s 519 daily routes. Some elementary schools will begin as early as 7:30a.m., while high schools won’t start
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sadly, this is going to have a drastic and disproportionate impact on the cognitively disabled community,” he said. “We recognize that there are many competing needs and financial requests, but for this the answer is clear,” said Kim Tapper of A Place to Be, another such organization. “Part of why the nonprofit community exists is to help offset the government’s ability to otherwise offer services and a safe and equitable place for all of its residents. So cutting the funding off from qualified nonprofits like A Place to Be just as we’re recovering from the COVID pandemic is detrimental to the very fabric of the human services community that helps everyone within this county to thrive.” Supervisors Caleb E. Kershner (R-Catoctin) and Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) suggested the grants should go further. Kershner said nonprofits that meet the minimum score should receive some funding, or some sort of “backup valve” for funding. “Whether you like it or not, inadvertently your grant process becomes punitive for a significant minority of applicants,” Turner said. Rather than vote on the nonprofit funding recommendations that night, supervisors decided to table the issue until May 3. “I would rather table this for two weeks, sit down with the Loudoun Human Services Network, and talk about what maybe can be done,” said County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large).
Supervisors voted 6-3 to send the decision to May 3, with Supervisors Turner, Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) and Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) opposed. Of the 45 applications for grant funding, 33 met the minimum score requirement, and there was enough funding for 27 awards and part of a 28th. There were also 17 applications for mini-grants, with all 11 that met the minimum score recommended for funding. However, more federally funded help for nonprofits may also be coming. At the same meeting, supervisors channeled another $3 million of American Rescue Plan Act funding toward nonprofits. $2.5 million of that will go to more nonprofit grants similar to previous rounds of ARPA-funded grants, and $500,000 is set aside for to replace Community Development Block Grant funding, to backfill support for positions at the Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter, Northern Virginia Family Services, and Legal Services of Northern Virginia. There were positions that could not be funded with that money such as program managers, clinical supervisors, and managing or consulting attorneys after the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development this year released more restrictive guidelines on how Community Development Block Grant money can be used, now allowing it to be used only on positions directly interacting with clientele. n
class until 9:30 a.m. The school division reports that there still are 25 unfilled bus driver positions and 30 unfilled bus attendant positions. Foster is one of 26 drivers in the training pipeline. A dozen more drivers will begin training the first week in May. Once schools reverted to in-person instruction, many drivers had either found other work, or retired, leaving the district with so few drivers that any staff member with a commercial driver’s license took on routes. Public Information Officer Wayde Byard said in September that the job requires time to bring new hires along. “Driving a school bus is a highly technical job that requires extensive training, background check, drug testing, etc. … Additionally, it’s not a full time, 8-hour job with most drivers working three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon with a mid-day break, thus resulting in a smaller paycheck than a normal
eight-hour position, even if that position pays a lower wage,” Byard said in a statement. To entice more drivers, the division upped wages to $23.83 an hour, and began offering new hires a $2,500 sign-on bonus. It also increased the hours guaranteed to drivers from five a day to six. The division holds two hiring events a month. It’s a problem seen in school districts across the nation. In the fall, 250 National Guard members got behind the wheels of school buses in Massachusetts. Eleven states have sought such relief from driver shortages across their school divisions. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Transportation temporarily waived a portion of a commercial driver’s license skills test to help states recruit more drivers. To learn more about LCPS transportation jobs, go to lcps.org/Page/217574. n
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