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Pg. 10 | n OBITUARIES
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LOUDOUN'S 2021 OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS INSIDE
VOL. 6, NO. 23
We've got you covered. In the mail weekly. Online always at LoudounNow.com
MAY 6, 2021
SCC Rejects Greenway Toll Increases BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
at Segra, where the team was expected to pay back more than a half-million dollars in 2020. The county ultimately plans to be paid back all the money it put up in financing—as well as owning the stadium. But with fans locked out of the stadium, county supervisors voted to defer $621,233 in rent, spreading that payment
The State Corporation Commission on April 26 handed Loudoun commuters a rare victory over the Dulles Greenway, denying most of the requests for toll increases over the next five years. The Dulles Greenway’s operators, Toll Road Investors Partnership II, which is owned by an Australian company, had asked to raise both peak and off-peak tolls every year for the next five years. The decision from the SCC, issued more than more than five months after the final arguments in the case, mostly knocked that down: instead, the SCC approved only off-peak toll increases in 2021 and 2022. That will mean a 5.3% increase in off-peak tolls this year to $5, and another 5% increase next year to $5.25. It also means that this year, for the first time in years, there will be no peak-hour toll increase on the Greenway, currently $5.80, unless the Greenway files and wins approval for another request. “The SCC’s decision represents the most significant victory in opposition to TRIP II’s continued toll increases—ever,” stated Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles).
SPRINGTIME AT SEGRA continues on page 34
GREENWAY TOLLS continues on page 35
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Old Glory DC, the newest pro sports team to Loudoun, plays their first-ever home game at Segra Field, a come-from-behind victory over Rugby ATL.
Springtime at Segra
Loudoun’s Pro Sports Teams Return to the Field BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
In 2019, Loudoun United opened the gates at the county’s first professional sports venue: Segra Field, just outside of Leesburg at Philip A. Bolen Memorial Park. Including the stadium, practice fields, team headquarters and training facilities, it was the product of secret negotiations
with county officials, tens of millions of dollars of financing both public and private, and plenty of hype—and Loudoun United kicked off its inaugural season in front of a sold-out crowd. But only a few months after the team’s first season wrapped up in October 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, scrambling the league schedule and closing sporting venues across the country to the public. That was hugely disruptive to the deal
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MAY 6, 2021
Visit Loudoun celebrates...
National Travel and Tourism Week May 2nd-8th, 2021
In celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week, Visit Loudoun wants to thank the thousands of hospitality professionals who make Loudoun a must-visit destination. Travel and tourism is a powerful industry and critical to rebuilding Loudoun’s economy. Travel will bring visitors to Loudoun’s unique shops and restaurants, through the streets of our historic towns and will revive our communities and agritourism businesses. This industry that supports countless jobs will be an avenue for reconnecting family and friends while driving Loudoun forward.
That is the Power of Travel.
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MAY 6, 2021
PAGE 3
Randall’s Former Chief of Staff Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $150K from Nat’l Sorority LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (DAt Large)’s former chief of staff, Jeanine Arnett, and her husband, Diallo, pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $150,000 from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., a national service sorority and DC-based nonprofit, while Arnett was executive director. Arnett joined Randall’s office as chief of staff at the beginning of Randall’s first term in 2016. She left Randall’s office in July 2017 to take a job as executive director at Delta Sigma Theta, the largest Black American women’s organization in the
Jeanine Arnett
world with more than 300,000 members around the world, and second only to the NAACP in size among organizations representing Black Americans. Arnett subsequently left the job at the sorority in August 2019, and returned to Loudoun County to take her old job again. As of April 20, Arnett was once again gone from Randall’s office. In a statement issued April 29, Randall said she was unaware of the issues at the sorority until she was contacted April 20 by the sorority, informing her that Arnett had been under investigation by the FBI for the past year, and that the sorority would be issuing a press release. Randall
did not disclose this publicly until April 29. After leaving the job at the sorority, Arnett had been given a severance package, and a routine reference check with the sorority before hiring her back to the chair’s office returned a clean record of employment. “Once learning of the details of the investigation, I confronted Ms. Arnett who confirmed the major facts as they had been related to me by Ms. Smith,” Randall wrote. “After contacting the County Administrator and the County Attorney ARNETT continues on page 33
Loudoun Business Leaders Look Back on Year of Pivoting BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com
Kicking off a scaled-down celebration of Loudoun Small Business Week on Monday was a virtual mini-conference, where business leaders joined sessions on topics ranging from recovery to ramping up production and returning to profitability, all major themes that have emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. The keynote session focused on how three local entrepreneurs pivoted their business models to meet the economic challenges. GloveStix owner Krista Woods acknowledged that word “pivot” drove her crazy, but acknowledged that’s exactly what she and many others had to do in the past 14 months. For Woods, whose GloveStix company creates deodorizing inserts for athletic gear and shoes, she had to look for new opportunities once the sports market dried up last spring during the initial Local business leaders shared their stories of how they overcame the adversity of COVID-19 during the keynote session of Monday’s Loudoun Miniperiod of quarantine. She spent one day Conference. Moderator Eric Byrd of the Loudoun Small Business Development Center, top left, was joined by panelists Krista Woods of GloveStix; Justin reading through every review custom- Dobson of Comfenergy; and Tony Stafford of Ford’s Fish Shack. ers had written about her products, and looking for any unusual ways they were demic, the ecommerce giant shut down azon capped the amount of inventory she of both cash and clearing out inventory, she made deals with both Good Morning using GloveStix. She soon discovered a her listing, and would not allow her to could send in. “That was a very big challenge,” she America and a hockey supplier to sell her new marketing opportunity for workers send in additional inventory as part of an who had to stand for long hours, and effort to make extra room in the ware- said. “I had to find new ways to bring in products direct to consumer at deep diswould use her products to deodorize houses for in-demand items like toilet business in June and July. I had to restart counts. With those moves, she had the paper, antibacterial wipes, and hand san- everything and totally redo how I did cash to reinvest back in her business last their shoes. August. She upgraded her website, and Woods also faced a challenge with itizer. During June and July, when the business.” Woods said she did not want to lower Amazon, which accounts for 70% of her economy was slowly opening back up PIVOTING continues on page 35 sales. Shortly after the onset of the pan- and sports activities were resuming, Am- the quality of her product but, in need
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MAY 6, 2021
Loudoun
Randall Briefs St. Louis Residents on Downzoning Plans BY PATRICK SZABO AND RENSS GREENE
pszabo@loudounnow.com rgreene@loudounnow.com
County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) met with a group of close to 50 residents from the village of St. Louis last week at Banneker Elementary School to present them with a proposal by Supervisor Tony Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) to downzone the village, in an attempt to prevent future projects like the embattled 30-home Mojax subdivision. Mojax LLC, headed by Jack Andrews, is planning Middleburg Preserve, a 30home subdivision—which is allowed to be built by-right—near the village. That proposal has upset many area residents over the past two years, who have cited worries that the development’s wells could adversely impact the community’s water supply. The Board of Supervisors recently abandoned a proposal to give Mojax the
Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) discusses the possibility of downzoning the village of St. Louis with a group of about 50 residents at Banneker Elementary School on April 27.
county-owned Aldie Tavern and surrounding land along with money aid the
tavern’s renovation in a trade for the St. Louis land. In Aldie, supervisors are now
considering a new offer from resident and Aldie Heritage Association member Guy Gerachis, who has proposed to restore the buildings on the property and put them back into use with a less intensive development plan than Andrews’ envisioned. But that also left St. Louis residents still looking for an answer, prompting Buffington to propose launching an effort to downzone the rest of the village. But, Randall clarified in a phone call after the April 27 meeting, the downzoning is not targeted at the Mojax property—a move that could set up a legal battle with the property owner by reducing the value and development potential of the land. Instead, because the development proposal is by-right—needing no approval from the Board of Supervisors, only normal permits—Randall said she is focused on making sure everything is in order with Mojax’s applications before building permits are issued. ST. LOUIS DOWNZONING continues on page 5
Loudoun County Taking Offers for Aldie Tavern Property The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is taking offers for the Aldie Assemblage, a collection of three parcels that includes the Aldie Tavern. Supervisors voted April 20 to advertise the property for sale, and will vote on accepting an offer June 9. State law also requires a public hearing. But they’ve already got a proposal in mind—one from from Aldie resident and Aldie Heritage Association member Guy Gerachis. Gerachis has written to the county proposing to buy the land to restore the Aldie Tavern and nearby Satterfield Cottage as residences, refurbish the 19th century “Cellar House,” and renovate other buildings in the assemblage for retail space and possibly another residence. His offering price has not been disclosed. The properties are located at 39469, 39483 and 39491 John Mosby Highway, and were purchased by the county in 2015 as a possible option for relocation of the Aldie Fire Station. It was the second of three properties the county would buy for the project—each time, supervisors negotiated a new piece of real estate behind closed doors, then after paying for the property, the county would be chased
Loudoun County
Aerial image of 39469, 39483 and 39491 John Mosby Highway shown in yellow.
off by public opposition to the site. Including the third and final site at Gilbert’s Corner, where a fire station is expected constructed by 2023, the county has spent $2.25 million just buying land for the fire station. At the Aldie Tavern, against outcry from village residents and preservation
organizations, supervisors went so far as to begin the process of skirting their own development rules and Historic District Review Committee by removing the land from the village’s historic district. Ultimately supervisors would reverse that decision and even vote to expand the district instead.
They would then strike a deal to trade that land and just over $2 million for land near St. Louis, where a developer is planning a 30-home subdivision. That deal, too, fell through amid public outcry. Now, according to a press release, the county is seeking purchasers with an interest in purchasing the land and preserving several historic structures existing on the property. People living in St. Louis are still waiting for a solution to their own development headache—supervisors’ plans to downzone the village do not include the planned development, although attendees at a public meeting last week have said they got the impression from that meeting that the property was included. The parcels fall under Rural Commercial and A-3 Agricultural Residential zoning districts, and portions are covered by Zoning Overlay Districts including Floodplain, Historic, Village and Mountainside Overlay Districts, which can restrict development. Letters of intent and offers are due by 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 26 to Karen Lanham, Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure, at karen.lanham@ loudoun.gov or 571-233-0778. n
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
MAY 6, 2021
St. Louis downzoning continued from page 4 “It is important to me for the county to ensure that before building permits are issued to them—and building permits have not been issued to them at this time— that their applications absolutely perfect in every way,” Randall said. “And there are quite a few things that they still have to do before their application would be in order and they could receive a building permit.” The idea of downzoning the village concerned some residents during the April 27 meeting. One resident, who said his family had lived in St. Louis for seven generations, said new zoning regulations would restrict longtime residents from building new homes. Randall said that the proposed zoning ordinance amendment could not eliminate by-right development all together, but would restrict large, dense developments from going in. To expedite the Comprehensive Plan amendment and downzoning process, Middleburg Mayor Bridge Littleton, who serves on the county’s Zoning Ordinance Committee, said during the meeting the county government could speed up the process of adoption by holding required public hearings by the county Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors in quick succession. “They know that this is an issue. It’s a sense of urgency,” Littleton said about the Board of Supervisors. Some residents also raised concern that Randall’s office, and the county government in general, wasn’t keeping them as informed as they could be. Randall disagreed with those comments but urged residents to write her and the county government even more, and to show up in person to meetings. “I’d like to see more people in the
room,” she said. Overall, Randall said she was opposed to Mojax’s plans for Middleburg Preserve primarily because western Loudoun villages aren’t the places for high-density housing, because development would gentrify the village and “tax people out of their land,” and because the village’s well system could be adversely affected. Already, Mojax’s well drilling operations were cited for damaging wetlands, resulting in a Department of Environmental Quality consent order requiring Mojax to pay a $32,275 civil penalty, restore the wetlands and purchase 0.6 acres of wetlands credits. On Tuesday, one area resident asked if Mojax had complied with that consent order. Randall said, to her knowledge, Mojax had not yet completed all remedies. Job Woodill, the president of the Friends of St. Louis civic organization, said the remedies DEQ proposed in the consent order weren’t onerous enough, which is why the group, he said, has filed suit against DEQ. Littleton said the battle against Mojax was important, but “not the last one.” Rather, he said it would be one of a thousand such battles against large-scale development in the rural west in the next five years. Still, Littleton urged residents at the meeting to not demonize Mojax and other developers for doing what they do to make money and feed their families. Rather, he said those developers just don’t have visions for Loudoun like the people who live in the rural west do. Randall said the Board of Supervisors could set a public hearing on the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment and downzoning as early as May or June. She assured St. Louis-area residents that she would apprise them of any substantial changes related to the matter within 24 hours of their occurrence. n
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MAY 6, 2021
AROUND town
Leesburg
Cartwheels Resumes Service Downtown In yet another sign of life returning to normal as pandemic threats ebb, Cartwheels will relaunch its shuttle service in downtown Leesburg this weekend. The golf cart service will begin Friday night and continue Saturday afternoon and Saturday night. Seatbelts and masks will be required on the rides. To schedule a pickup time and learn more about the service, download the CartWheelsVA app at cartwheelsva.net/get-the-app
Balch To Host Historical Diseases Lecture
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Donation boxes stand in the Battlefield Center shopping plaza at the intersection of Edwards Ferry Rd. and the Leesburg Bypass.
Town Council Looks to Regulate Donation Boxes BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ
krodriguez@loudounnow.com
The Leesburg Town Council is hoping to cut down on overflowing—and at times unwanted—donation boxes popping up throughout town. According to a staff report, the town has been receiving complaints from shopping center owners regarding donation boxes that seemingly appear overnight. The large containers serve as collection points for donations of clothing, shoes or even books for organizations with either a local or national presence. However, many times these donation boxes have been showing up on
shopping center property without the owner’s consent, and the cost to remove the bins is borne by the property owner. It is also not uncommon to see them overflowing, with donations spilling onto the parking lots, and susceptible to damage from weather elements. Leesburg does not have any zoning regulations governing donation boxes, Zoning Administrator Michael Watkins advised the council this week. Mayor Kelly Burk recalled one instance when a donation box showed up, unwanted and unannounced, on the property of a local nonprofit’s thrift store, diverting donations away from the local agency. She also
said she has heard from the local nonprofit community that, more often than not, the donations collected in these boxes do not support local residents. “This is not a new issue, this is something that’s been on the radar for a while,” she said. “I think we’re being taken advantage of by a particular group now that’s very aggressive in just putting them anyplace.” Last week, the council unanimously initiated amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to define and create use standards for donation boxes. These potential changes will go before both the Planning Commission for review, and back to the Town Council for approval. n
Andrew Jampoler will present his virtual lecture “Disease in History” on Wednesday, May 19 at 1 p.m. The pandemic has forced society to relive and rethink the impact of disease on history. Before the age of modern medicine, lethal epidemics and fatal disease shaped human history as much—arguably more— than did geography, the acts of great men and women, and the events of politics and wars. Learn how plague, influenza, yellow fever, and smallpox (as well as the “great pox,” syphilis), and especially cholera, powerfully changed the direction of time, as COVID-19 is doing again. Jampoler is an alumnus of Columbia College and the School of International and Public Affairs, both of Columbia University, in New York City, and of the US State Department Foreign Service Institute’s School of Language Study. While in the Navy, Jampoler served on the personal staffs of the chief of naval operations, the secretary of defense, and the commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet, and also on the ground in Vietnam. Jampoler has been researching and writing non-fiction books for more than 20 years. Pre-registration is required for this event. Call 703-737-7195, email balchlib@leesburgva.gov, or register at leesburgva.gov/departments/ thomas-balch-librar y/librar ynews-events/event-registration.
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
MAY 6, 2021
PAGE 7
Leesburg Resident Celebrates Outlet Store Grand Opening A 20-year Leesburg resident has opened a storefront in one of the town’s premier shopping destinations. Mariam Heydari celebrated the opening of her Heydari Fashion store in Leesburg Premium Outlets last week. The noted women’s clothing designer is already well known by those who frequented her boutiques on M Street in in Georgetown and King Street in Alexandria. Heydari blends patterned imported fabrics with designs that flatter women of all ages and body types. Her clothing de-
Development Disclosures Could Become New Town Standard
signs are featured in more than 600 stores throughout the U.S. and Canada and all of her clothing is made in the states. The Heydari 2021 Spring collection showcases casually elegant creations ranging from smartly styled, fine linen and youthful seersucker to sophisticated, layered chiffon with ethereal silhouettes. Heydari Fashion is located in Unit #461 at the outlet mall, next to Talbots and across from Calvin Klein. For more information, go to heydarifashion.com. n
Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk celebrates the opening of Heydari Fashion with store owner Mariam Heydari.
Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
McEnearney Associates, representing our communities for 40 years T H E T R U S T E D R E A L E S TAT E R E S O U R C E F O R LO U D O U N C O U N T Y
BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ
krodriguez@loudounnow.com
The Leesburg Town Council is hoping to be more forthcoming with its future residents on development plans near their property. The council last week initiated a series of amendments to the Town Code, Zoning Ordinance, Design Construction Standards Manual, and Subdivision Land Development Regulations that would require disclosures to be provided to homebuyers alerting them to “potential adverse impacts” during the land development process. The goal of the changes is to help homebuyers avoid being blindsided by new development after they take occupancy of their homes. Loudoun County government already has such a requirement for a disclosure to be provided, and homebuyers are permitted to review development plans. “I think we can tighten it up just a bit just to let folks know what’s going on going forward,” Councilwoman Suzanne Fox said of the changes. The council unanimously supported the initiation of the amendments, which will now go to the Planning Commission for review before returning to the council for final approval. Public hearings will be held at both entities. n
CONTRACT PENDING Chantilly | $770,000 3660 Malin Court Kaaren Lofgren 703.862.9194 KaarenLofgren.com
CONTRACT PENDING Leesburg | $735,000 18977 Coreopsis Terrace Mary Dionisio Roberge 540.687.5256 MaryRoberge.com
CONTRACT PENDING Gainesville | $450,000 8228 Crackling Fire Drive Jim Pumphrey 703.909.4269 JimPumphrey.com
SOLD - REPRESENTED THE BUYER Millwood | $2,050,000 388 Mount Airy Farm Lane Linden Ryan 703-408-4696 McEnearney.com
SOLD Ashburn | $1,700,000 19808 Rothschild Court Geri Deane 703.615.4126 GeriDeane.com
SOLD - REPRESENTED THE BUYER Purcellville | $1,300,000 19970 St Louis Road June Hambrick 540.878.8220 JuneHambrick.com
SOLD - REPRESENTED THE BUYER Purcellville | $740,000 37446 Whitacre Lane Elizabeth Coppersmith 703.328.5430 ElizabethCoppersmith.com
SOLD Leesburg | $630,000 18513 Perdido Bay Terrace Linda Thornell 703.738.8268 LindaThornell.com
SOLD - REPRESENTED THE BUYER Washington, DC | $539,000 1439 Chapin Street, NW #103 The Remuzzi Team 703.609.8462 RachaelRemuzzi.com
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LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 8
MAY 6, 2021
Education
School Division Puts First Electric Buses in Service BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com
Loudoun County Public Schools unveiled its first set of electric buses with a plugging-in ceremony at Park View High School Tuesday afternoon. The school system’s first five electric school buses are part of a program led by Dominion Energy, which has partnered with Sonny Merryman and Thomas Built Buses for manufacturing, and Proterra to provide the batteries for the Jouley buses. Representatives from the school division and those four companies, as well as six students, were on hand for the ceremony. The buses feature zero emissions, with one bus equivalent to removing 5.2 cars from the road each year; five-times cleaner air inside; a quieter cabin for better communication between bus drivers and students; and an operating range of 134 miles, which will “easily cover” a typical daily bus route, according to a statement
Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
Loudoun County Public Schools unveiled its first few electric buses during a plugging-in ceremony at Park View High School on Tuesday with the help of some students.
from Dominion. The batteries get their power from 60kW plug-in DC charging stations and take two to three hours to
reach capacity. The school system is paying the same amount for each bus it has for diesel buses
in the past, with Dominion offsetting the additional costs. Overall, the new electric buses are expected to be 60% less expensive to operate and maintain. At the plugging-in ceremony this week, Sonny Merryman President and CEO Floyd Merryman said the technology has allowed the company to enter a new era. “We look forward to delivering a lot more of these in the future,” he said. Proterra Senior Director of Channel Sales Eric Reynolds said the buses are proven, safe and reliable, and noted that it won’t be long before the 500th and 5,000th electric buses are delivered. Dominion Vice President of Innovation Policy & Implementation Dan Weekley said the buses are quieter and cleaner than their diesel ancestors, and urged students to use the three-point lap and shoulder seatbelts in the buses. He said Dominion has been focused on decarbonization for a several years and that its carbon avoidance program has equaled the planting of 150 acres of trees. n
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MAY 6, 2021
SCHOOL notebook School Division Reports First Classroom Quarantine Interim Superintendent Scott A. Ziegler last week announced the first case of students sharing a classroom being required to return to distance learning for a period of home quarantine. He said the case involved an elementary school class where two students had tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. As a precaution, the entire class has reverted to distance learning until May 11. It was the first case of on-campus spread that triggered the school division’s protocols to close a class, a school, or schools within a region when there is evidence of transmission. Some form of in-person learning has been offered in Loudoun since early last fall. The division expanded its two-day in class hybrid program in January, and last month began offering four-days of in-person learning to all K-12 who selected the hybrid program.
Stone Bridge’s Chen Lands Cooke Scholarship Stone Bridge High School senior Yiyang
Chen is one of 61 students nationally to be awarded a Cooke College Scholarship of up to $40,000 annually to cover the cost of undergraduate education. The scholarships are offered by the Lansdowne-based Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. The program seeks to close the gaps in higher education access for driven students with financial need. Chen was one of four Virginia students selected for scholarships.
Sims Tapped to Lead Alternative High School Veteran Loudoun County Public Schools administrator Jeanene Sims has been named the inaugural principal of the planned alternative high school that will begin operation next year on the Park View High School campus. Sims has served as an assistant principal at Park View since 2015. She started her career in education as a Spanish teacher for Roanoke City Public Schools and taught Spanish in Prince William County Public Schools before becoming an administrator at the elementary, middle and high school levels for Fairfax County Public Schools for 11 years. The alternative school is scheduled to open for the 2021-22 school year. It will serve a up to 60 students in grades nine through 11 who require a flexible sched-
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ule because of difficult life challenges such as parenting and family responsibilities, homelessness, socioeconomic pressures, the immigration process and other social/ emotional issues. The program will offer small class sizes and innovative scheduling to support the circumstances of each student.
Nikoolkan Joins Equity Committee in AAPI Seat The School Board found its choice to fill the newly created Asian American Pacific Islander seat on the division’s Equity Committee close to home.
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From among 50 self-nominations, the board last week appointed Isra “Max” Nikoolan to the post. He is a 2010 graduate of Broad Run High School who majored in Asian American studies at the College of William and Mary where he helped lead the Asian American Student Initiative, before returning home to teach English language learners at Meadowbrook Elementary School in Sterling. With the addition of the AAPI representative, the committee that was established in 2019 to examine ways to ensure marginalized and historically disenfranchised groups receive equitable treatment in the school district now has 30 members.
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MAY 6, 2021
Public Safety 14 Apartments Damaged in Sterling Fire; Nonprofits Step Up to Help The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of a large fire in a Sterling apartment building Friday morning. Just after 10:15 a.m. April 30, fire and rescue units from Sterling Park, Cascades, Kincora, Ashburn, Moorefield, and Fairfax County, were dispatched to 1220 Chase Heritage Circle for a reported fire on the third floor of the apartment building. Residents were being evacuated upon arrival of first responders and a search confirmed all occupants were out of the structure. Fire and rescue crews knocked the bulk of the fire down with an interior fire attack and the ladder truck’s master stream. One civilian was treated and transported for smoke inhalation. Three Sheriff ’s Office deputies who assisted in evacuating were also treated at local area hospitals for minor smoke inhalation. Fourteen apartments were damaged in the fire. In the wake of that destruction, nonprofits are stepping up to help. Women Giving Back is collecting
Photo courtesy of Thorn Castillo
Crews work to extinguish a fire at the Chase Heritage apartments on April 30.
clothes, toiletries, and other items to assist families impacted by the fire. Donors can drop off clothes this Saturday, May 8 APARTMENT FIRE continues on page 11
SAFETY briefs Leesburg Man Arrested After Break-ins, Carjacking Attempt A 42-year-old Leesburg man faces a host of criminal charges following a series of incident last week. According to Leesburg Police, dispatchers were called shortly after 8:30 p.m. April 27 from a home on Edwards Ferry Road where it was reported that a man forced entry and grabbed a woman in the residences. A man in the home struck the suspect “with a household object,” allowing the woman to break free. The suspect fled on foot. Patrol Officers responded to the area, found the suspect, James Lacey III, and arrested him. Investigators learned that prior to forcing his way into the Edwards Ferry home, he allegedly broke into and ransacked an unoccupied residence on Washington Street NE. Additionally, the agency said that after Lacey had fled the Edwards Ferry Road residence, he attempted to enter a vehicle occupied by woman and a girl near the intersection of Edwards Ferry Road and
Catoctin Circle. Lacey was charged with destruction of property, unlawful entry, burglary, assault, abduction, and attempted carjacking. He is being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. Investigators determined that Lacey did not know any of the victims and that they were not specifically targeted.
Home Destroyed After Mulch Ignites Fire and rescue units from Kirkpatrick Farms, Dulles South, Brambleton, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and Fairfax County were on called April 27 to a massive fire caused by spontaneous combustion of mulch. Crews were dispatched just after 6 p.m. to Feldspar Place in the Stone Ridge neighborhood and found heavy fire and smoke coming from the second floor and roof of a large, single family home, according to Loudoun County Fire-Rescue. The occupants had already evacuated and were outside. SAFETY BRIEFS continues on page 11
MAY 6, 2021
SAFETY briefs continued from page 10
Fire crews entered the home and encountered heavy fire conditions on the second floor and in the attic. They retreated outside until the ladder truck’s stream could knock down the fire. Once safe, firefighters re-entered the home to locate hot spots and ensure the fire was extinguished. No injuries were reported, but the four occupants have been displaced from the home, and there was an estimated $1.36 million in damages, including $20,000 in damages to two neighboring homes. Fire-rescue investigators determined the fire was caused by the spontaneous combustion of newly placed mulch, resulting in a mulch fire that spread to the building. The fire prompted a warning from the Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office to use caution and follow safety precautions when using landscaping mulch. “Spontaneous combustion can happen when a decomposing, organic material such as mulch generates enough heat to ignite without an outside source,” stated Chief Fire Marshal Linda Hale. “Because of this, a large or compacted area of mulch can create sufficient heat to spontaneously combust. Remember, in all cases, mulch
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fires are more likely to start when the weather is hot, and it has been dry for an extended period.”
Monkeypox Threat Seized at Dulles Airport U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at Dulles Airport last week seized 100 porcupine quills that may pose an animal and human virus threat. CBP officers referred a U.S. citizen, who arrived on a flight from Africa on
April 21, to a secondary examination after the traveler declared possessing an animal horn. An agriculture examination also discovered an ivory bottle opener and the 100 porcupine quills. On April 22, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised CBP to seize the quills as a potential vector for the monkeypox virus. The United States last experienced a monkeypox virus outbreak in 2003. According to the CDC, 47 confirmed and probable cases of monkeypox were reported in six states—Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
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Investigators determined that a shipment of animals from Ghana, imported to Texas on April 9, 2003, introduced monkeypox virus. Following that monkeypox virus outbreak, the CDC prohibited the importation of all African rodents into the United States, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the sale, distribution, transport, or release into the environment of prairie dogs and six specific genera of African rodents within the United States CBP released the traveler and turned the quills over to the CDC.
Apartment fire continued from page 10 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 20 Export Drive in Sterling. There is a high need for in-season, good condition children’s clothing and shoes, as well as men’s casual clothing. Women Giving Back will also collect new toiletries at that time, supplies for kids snack packs and easily prepared meals. Additionally, New Virginia Majority has established a GoFundMe page to collect monetary donations for those impacted by the fire. The money will be distributed directly to families to use for their needs in the coming weeks, including food, clothes, and rent in their new homes. According to New Virginia Majority, the families have been left with none of their belongings and nowhere to go, and most are low-wage workers in Loudoun County without savings or a safety net. Donations are at gofundme.com/f/ funds-for-chase-heritage-fire-survivors; as of noon Tuesday, the campaign had raised $1,085 of a $5,000 goal. And the American Red Cross is providing aid to the displaced residents. n
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Greenway Run Raises $156K for Loudoun Charities For a few hours on Saturday morning, the westbound lanes of the Dulles Greenway were turned over to running enthusiasts who enjoyed their first live race since the onset of the pandemic and helped to raise more than $156,000 for 27 area nonprofits, whose fundraising efforts have been sharply curtailed over the past year. The Run the Greenway event attracted more than 1,200 Northern Virginia runners for a 5K, 10K, and 800-meter Kids Fun Run. Runners were brought to the course in small groups for staggered starts to maintain distancing guidelines. The event also featured a virtual race option, which had participants from across the United States and from around the world, including runners from Great Britain and Luxembourg. The 5K winner was Josh Martin of Broadlands, completing the course in 17:39. Marisa Poe of Washington, DC, was second with a time of 18:40. In the 10K, Matthew Denlinger of Harrisonburg posted the fastest time, 32:32. The top female finisher was Kristen Lincoln of Leesburg, crossing the finish line with a time of 41:33. The Greenway invited Loudoun-based nonprofits to participate in the creative fundraising opportunity as featured community race partners. Run the Greenway raised over $156,000 to support 27 participating charities in Loudoun County. The Greenway made donations totaling $24,500, including $18,500 donated to the top fundraising organizations and the
Kristen Lincoln of Leesburg was the top female finisher in the inaugural Run the Greenway 10K, crossing the finish line with a time of 41:33.
designated charities of the top fundraising individuals. Another $6,000 will be donated to the chosen charity of in-person event age group winners. The top fundraising charities were Step Sisters at $15,171 and Friends of Homeless Animals, which raised $7,317. The top individual fundraisers were Heidi Lacy, $5,401; Nolen Crew, $3,385 and Ashley Campolattaro, $2,545. For more information about the Dulles Greenway, go to dullesgreenway.com. n
BENEFIT Calls for Musicians as Crossroads Music Festival Returns
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After a one-year hiatus because of the pandemic, BENEFIT is preparing for the second Crossroads Music Festival throughout downtown Leesburg this fall. The organization is inviting regional musicians and bands to participate in the fundraising event supporting nonprofits serving children in Loudoun County. Established in 2017, Bands Empowering Nonprofits with Engagement and Fundraising Improving Tomorrow (BENEFIT) is a coalition of musicians and community leaders uniting people with music to raise funds and aware-
ness for nonprofits serving children in Loudoun County. BENEFIT’s 2021 Crossroads Music Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 18, at multiple locations in downtown Leesburg. “BENEFIT’s Crossroads Music Festival is an event that is all about community,” said Ara Bagdasarian, co-founder of BENEFIT. “The festival will showcase original music by artists in our community while highlighting and raising funds for several community nonprofit CROSSROADS continues on page 13
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Community Cabinet Grants $98K for Growing Nonprofits The Loudoun Community Cabinet, a fund of the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, has provided grants totaling $98,000 to two local nonprofits to support their work to build capacity. The Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter was selected to receive a $76,500 grant, and Loudoun Literacy Council received $21,500. The grants will fund efforts to expand their services and improve their fundraising. Earlier this year, the Cabinet invited a select number of nonprofits to interviews to determine how to grow their internal operations. Both grants bolster data collection and analysis to plan for expanding service delivery and strengthening fundraising. The Cabinet also awarded mini-grants of $2,500 to five organizations for general support, totaling an additional $12,500. The Loudoun Community Cabinet was established with seed funding from the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation in
late 2019 through the efforts of Executive Director J. Lambert, who helped to connect with local philanthropic investors. Each joining Cabinet member makes a personal gift of $100,000, so far totaling more than $1 million. The Cabinet is chaired by Dr. William Hazel, deputy executive director of Claude Moore Charitable Foundation The Cabinet awarded its first round of grants to nonprofits last August, providing three nonprofits a total of $160,000 in COVID-19 relief to ensure they kept operating despite the financial challenges
caused by the pandemic. After its COVID emergency grants were made, the Cabinet turned its focus to helping nonprofits build capacity to strengthen internal operations in areas like fundraising, program evaluation, and long-term planning. “We see great opportunity for Loudoun’s continued progress toward best practices, increased talent pools, and commitment to public-private partnerships,” Hazel stated. “Our members have a keen understanding of the responsibility to
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channel collaborative philanthropy to catalyze that progress.” The next phase of the Cabinet’s work will focus on a review of gaps in Loudoun County, and innovative approaches to connect need and solution that engage the corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors. The goal is to get the highest rate of return to the greatest benefit to Loudoun County. People interested in learning more about joining the Cabinet can contact Community Foundation Executive Director Amy Owen at amy@communityfoundationlf.org or 703-779-3505, ext. 1. n
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Crossroads continued from page 12 organizations.” The 2021 Crossroads Music Festival hopes to feature the region’s top original artists who are willing to donate their performance to raise funds for children’s services charities in Loudoun County. “One of the driving forces behind BENEFIT is that music makes a difference,” said Amy Bobchek, co-founder of BENEFIT. “The pandemic had a drastic effect on performing musicians, and artists had to adapt quickly and find safe, alternative ways to share their music with live audiences. As musicians ourselves, Ara and I know that our live music community is excited to get back to performing. BENEFIT’s 2021 Crossroads Music Festival is an opportunity for musicians to give back to the community while being part of a festival that will put them in front of audiences safely and in support of nonprofit organizations in Loudoun.” Musicians interested in joining BENEFIT and offering their time and musical talents at the 2021 Crossroads Music Festival event are encouraged to register online at www.crossroadsmusicfest.org. A final lineup of performers will be announced in late summer. For more information about BENEFIT’s 2021 Crossroads Music Festival, go to BENEFIT.Live. n
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Business
Announcements
Loudoun Restaurants Win VA Travel Association Grants LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
Two Loudoun restaurants were among the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association’s selectees for 2021 DoorDash Restaurant Operator Relief Grants. More than 690 restaurants in Virginia applied for the grants, which awarded $3,500 each to 128 businesses across the state—including Lost Fox Hideaway and The Difference Baker, both in Ashburn. “I’ve been in the restaurant business for my whole life—this restaurant was the first opportunity I had to own and operate a business myself, and I invested all of my life savings to build it. Construction finished almost exactly when COVID hit, and as a result, I could not open it,” said Jonathan Ball, owner of The Lost Fox Hideaway. “I was able to open in a very limited basis in December 2020, and, so far, the feedback has been tremendous from the local community.”
“I closed our doors on March 13, 2020 and didn’t reopen until April 13, 2020. We had no online presence, ordering process, or delivery services at all,” said Alyssa Marie Sobecki, owner of The Difference Baker. “I had to create my website and online shop in a matter of 24 hours, and started delivering and offering multiple pick-up locations.” Her bakery and bistro is free from gluten, soy, peanuts, treenuts, fish and crustaceans. “Since we are such a niche business concept, we fill a huge void in being able to serve the allergen community,” Sobecki said. “People from all over Maryland, DC, and West Virginia come to our shop since we are one of a kind.” Across the state, $450,000 in grant money was awarded. The grants were for businesses with no more than three locations, with 50 or fewer employees and annual gross revenue of
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MAY 6, 2021
$3 million or less for the brick-and-mortar location applied for, and which experienced a reduction in revenue, financial stress, or disrupted operations from March 2020 through December 2020. In choosing the recipients, judges considered the impact of the pandemic and the ways the business has adapted, the personal story of the business owner, the role the organization plays in their community, and how the grant funds will be used. Priority was given to women-, veteran-, minority-, and disability-owned businesses as well as those which have not received significant pandemic-related financial support from federal, state, or local sources. The initiative is part of DoorDash’s Main Street Strong Pledge, which included a $10 million grant effort in select cities, counties, and states across the U.S. and Canada, according to a press release. n
O’Brien Joins Inova Outreach Team Dorri O’Brien has been named director of Inova Health System’s government and community relations for the western region. She will represent Inova and O'Brien Inova Loudoun Hospital throughout the community and among government agencies and will work with community and civic organizations, businesses and community leaders to facilitate collaborative opportunities. Prior to her work with Inova, O’Brien served in various roles with Loudoun County government including chief of staff/assistant director in the Office of the County AdministraANNOUNCEMENTS continues on page 15
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MAY 6, 2021
Announcements continued from page 14
tor; chief of staff to vice chairman of the Board of Supervisors; and marketing and communications manager in the Department of Economic Development. She also serves on the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce board, was a Visit Loudoun board member and has volunteered with Loudoun Hunger, Leesburg Community Church, Harmony Middle School and Woodgrove High School. O’Brien served as a planning commissioner for the Town of Lovettsville. She earned her bachelor’s degree from George Mason University. “We are thrilled that Dorri has joined the Inova Loudoun team. Her extensive County-wide community engagement and leadership will be a great addition to Loudoun County’s advanced community hospital,” said Deborah Addo, president of Inova Loudoun Hospital.
Swart Promoted at Livesay & Myers Attorney Amanda Stone Swart has been promoted to the position of lead senior associate at Livesay & Myers in Leesburg. “Amanda has always remained steady during high-conflict or high-asset divorce Swart cases,” said Matthew Smith, a partner at the firm. “She has an incredibly detailed knowledge of the law, and an unflappable demeanor when faced with complex family law challenges. She’s made of iron.” She joined the firm as a senior associate attorney in 2015. Originally from Boone, IA, she graduated summa cum laude from Creighton University in Omaha, NE, in 2004, with Bachelor’s of Arts degrees in both Political Science and Journalism. Upon graduation, she worked in politics in Iowa prior to relocating to the Washington, DC, area. She then worked as a legal assistant or law clerk for several firms in DC and Northern Virginia, graduating from George Mason University’s School of Law. She received the prestigious Trial Advocate of the Year award from the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association in 2010. TA Realty LLC this week announced plans to develop a $1.8 billion secure data center campus south of Leesburg. The campus will be situated on the east side of Sycolin Road and bound by Cochran Mill Road to the north and Energy Park Drive to the south. With the initial buildings expected to come online in late
2021, the fully built-out campus will feature more than 1.5 million square feet of space with 300 megawatts of power and a dedicated onsite substation. With more than 18 million square feet of data centers in operation and millions more being planned or developed, Loudoun County is considered to be the world’s fastest growing data center market.
Lansdowne Opens for Business Meetings The staff at Lansdowne Resort cut a ceremonial ribbon last week to celebrate the return of meetings to the facility. The resort hosted more than 50 meeting planners and hospitality associates with Smart Meetings last week. The ribbon-cutting signified that Lansdowne Resort is open for business to groups to meet safely following COVID-19 protocals, according to spokesperson Dianne Murphy. Joining Lansdowne Resort staff for the ribbon-cutting were Anne Hayes and Beth Erickson of Visit Loudoun, County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) and Supervisor Mike Turner (D-Ashburn).
Concierge Rabbinic Service ‘Jewtique’ Launches Rabbi David Greenspoon on April 30 announced the launch of Jewtique Concierge Rabbinic Services. The Loudoun-based business is designed to meet the needs of unaffiliated Jewish families in the capital region and throughout the Mid-Atlantic. “Most American Jews today are not members of a congregation, nor do they enjoy an ongoing pastoral relationship with a rabbi,” Greenspoon stated. “Also, we know that the Northern Virginia Jewish population is the fastest growing segment of the Washington Jewish community. People seeking Jewish life-cycle services and other Jewish engagement are with greater frequency turning to the most open market-place in Jewish history. Jewtique Concierge Rabbinic Services offers high-quality, customized, rabbinic services to people who embrace this approach to Jewish life. Jewtique meets those needs in person or virtually, just about anytime, anywhere.” Jewtique Concierge Rabbinic Services has already announced a calendar of events, beginning with a Shabbat in the Park service at Tuscarora Creek Park on Friday, June 25. A “BYO family picnic” starts at 6 p.m., musical services at 6:30, and a popsicle dessert Oneg Shabbat and lay time follows at 7:30. Capacity is COVID-limited to 60 people. RSVP to jewtique@gmail.com. Learn more at www.jewtique.com or facebook.com/jewtique.
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NOW OPEN FOR IN-PERSON TOURS AND VISITATION! Brand New Assisted Living Community Specializing in Memory Care
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Schedule A Visit Call our Sales and Marketing Director, Bianca Butoi-Patru, to set up an in-person tour. T: 703-936-7300 E: BButoi-Patru@LansdowneHeights.com 19520 Sandridge Way, Leesburg, VA 20176 tel: 703-936-7300 | LansdowneHeights.com
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MAY 6, 2021
Politics
Thank you
Loudoun teachers! Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
New Virginia Majority supporters marched across Sterling Boulevard on Saturday chanting phrases aimed to push local leaders to invest in affordable housing and rent relief programs.
McClellan Highlights Affordable Housing Needs in Sterling March
Thank You to All of Our Outstanding Teachers.
BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com
Residents affected by the high cost of living in Loudoun County raised their voices last weekend and asked state senator and gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McClellan about the housing crisis. About 30 New Virginia Majority supporters on Saturday—International Workers’ Day—marched from Sterling Plaza to a field behind Sterling Elementary School to urge county officials invest in affordable housing and rent relief programs. According to a statement from the group, 39% of Loudoun households making 30-50% of the area median income spend more than half of their monthly income on rent. Once at the field, the marchers continued their chants, sang a song, heard from individuals affected by the high cost of housing and asked McClellan about the housing crisis. McClellan, a state senator who is one of five candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, pointed out that the march was taking place on May 1, the day the first of three incremental minimum wage hikes in Virginia took effect. Now, Virginians earning minimum wage will make $9.50 an hour, rising to a $12 per hour in 2023. But, McClellan said, state leaders still need to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour, invest in affordable housing through the Housing Trust Fund and ensure local governments don’t discriminate against those affected by the affordable housing crisis. “That’s a lot of work but we can do it,” she said. McClellan told the marchers that gov-
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Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
State Sen. and gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McClellan.
ernment is at its best when it works to solve problems, meet crises, improve lives, and invest in communities. At its worst, she said, government oppresses some people for the benefit of others. “It’s time for a governor that brings a new perspective who doesn’t just give you a seat at the table but takes the table out to you who will center your story and your needs and build a Virginia that is stronger and more united and leaves no Virginian and no community behind,” she said. “That’s why I’m running for governor.” Loudoun NAACP First Vice President Ron Campbell told the marchers that “housing is a human right.” “We are not standing alongside of you, we are you,” he said. “It’s not affordable if it’s not attainable.” n
The Lincoln Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization would like to Thank our Teachers and Staff for the hard work and patience this school year!
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MAY 6, 2021
PAGE 17
Loudoun County's 2021
Outstanding Educators
This year, the Loudoun Education Foundation is partnering with Loudoun Now to celebrate the educators nominated for Teacher and Principal of the Year. Thank you to the top campaign sponsors: Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, Apple Federal Credit Union, Donald Cooper, Integrus Holdings Inc., Cigna, and WB20, whose donation will help provide a $250 grant to each educator nominated for an award.
Principal of the Year:
Shontel Simon For Shontel Simon, strong relationships are the glue that holds a school together. That’s what came through in the comments from parents, colleagues, and students who nominated her for The Washington Post’s Principal of the Year for Loudoun County. Simon has worked in education for nearly 24 years. For most of her career, she taught third grade, and she has served as the principal of Forest Grove Elementary in Sterling for seven years. Simon assumed Forest Grove’s principalship after the school had two principals in two years. “Even in times of stability, working at a Title I school presents its own unique challenges, let alone the challenges of having inconsistent leadership year after year,” wrote gifted teacher Alan Skubal in nominating Simon. “First and foremost, she took the time and built relationships with the staff, the students and the families. She built upon that foundation to create a community passionate about one cause: everything we do is to benefit the children.”
With most learning taking place online this school year, Simon has had to get creative to build and maintain those meaningful relationships. She sends students and teachers post cards to thank them for their hard work. She regularly pops into virtual lessons to greet classes. And she makes sure to give students who have done something great a special shout out on the morning show. “During every morning show, I tell the students, ‘if no one has told you they love you today, know that I love you,’” Simon said. “I want everyone in this building to know that they’re cared about—I care about them.” It is hard work to truly get to know every one of the 575 students at Forest Grove, but Simon says it’s why she loves her job. In nominating Simon for Principal of the Year, parent Kelly Headley put it this way, “Mrs. Simon connects with the children in her school and forms relationships with them. As a parent, this is more important to me than standardized test scores or school reviews.”
Shontel Simon, now in her 24th year in education, is Loudoun County’s nominee for The Washington Post’s Principal of the Year. She has served as the principal of Forest Grove Elementary in Sterling for seven years.
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MAY 6, 2021
2021 Teacher Nominees BETH ASH-CONKLIN
SHERI CAMPBELL
Kindergarten, Lucketts Elementary Years in Education: 21
First Teacher, Hillside Elementary Years in Education: 22
“The first thing you will notice about Beth when you enter her classroom is her absolute love of teaching. She and her students celebrate every accomplishment, no matter how big or small.”
“Ms. Campbell excels at reaching her students on an individual basis. We all recognize that each child is unique and as an educator, she helps each child grow in their own way to be their own best student.”
— Colleague
Kimberly Jackson, now in her 14th year as an educator, is Loudoun County’s nominee for The Washington Post’s Teacher of the Year. She teaches Advanced Placement Statistics at Riverside High School in Lansdowne.
Teacher of the Year:
Kimberly Jackson Math is not something to be feared, but a helpful tool that anyone can learn to use. That’s the message that Kimberly Jackson, a math teacher at Riverside High School, repeats to her students. Jackson, who is Loudoun County’s nominee for The Washington Post’s Teacher of the Year, is a career-switcher. She had a successful career in pharmaceuticals before becoming a teacher. In the 14 years she’s worked in education, she has nudged students for whom math has been a barrier to pursue upper-level math courses. She tells everyone from her students to veterans in the field of education to think of math as a pump not a filter. “We want math to pump them up and equip them to do great things in the world, as opposed to filter them out of math.” She added, “I know what happens when you count kids out of math.” When students feel labeled as not great at math, they avoid higher level math courses and, ultimately, do not pursue STEM careers, Jackson said. “So many kids are labeled as ‘bad at math’ when their brains are still developing. We may be missing out on doctors or engineers who were filtered out of higher-level math courses early on.” In her nomination packet for Teacher of the Year, Jackson’s colleagues noted that her compassion for students goes beyond the curriculum. She’s been known to keep food in her desk for those who are hungry or even find an immigration attorney for a student seeking to understand their status after becoming housing insecure. Carolyn Briles, a fellow math teacher at Riverside High School, described Jackson teaching style this: “We sometimes describe people as having a heart of gold, sometimes as having nerves of steel, but gold itself is too soft, and steel by itself is too hard. The perfect balance of warmth and strength is an alloy of gold and steel, and that is my colleague Kim Jackson.” Jackson also serves as Riverside’s equity lead and has made it her mission to help English language learners excel academically.
– Parent
DANIELLE BENTELER
CAITLIN CAMPBELL
Resource Teacher, Cedar Lane Elementary Years in Education: 5
World Languages, Dominion High Years in Education: 8
“Miss Benteler is consistently willing to sacrifice her time to colleagues and continues to be someone I turn to when I am in need of a professional opinion.”
“Ms. Campbell is a valued leader at Dominion and one that both fellow teachers and students can look to for support and vision.”
– Fellow Teacher JANINE BOURSCHEID
– Colleague ANTHONY CIMINO-JOHNSON Theater, Rock Ridge High Years in Education: 11
Second Grade, Waxpool Elementary Years in Education: 21 “Mrs. Bourscheid is truly a gem. She is natural in her interaction with kids and puts in a lot of effort to make a difference.” – Parent NICHOLE CABANISS Theater, John Champe High Years in Education: 7 “The adjectives my son uses to describe her are smart, dedicated and caring. These characteristics are displayed in many different ways and are some of the driving forces that make Ms. Cabaniss the extraordinary teacher she is.” – Parent GREG CACCAVO Science, Harmony Middle Years in Education: 26 “Mr. C is the best teacher I know. He is great because he has the best hands-on activities. In his classes you never get bored.” – Student
“Mr. Cimino-Johnson prepares rigorous lesson plans and carries them out with a sense of fun that allows his students to engage without fear of failure.” – Administrator MARYKIRK CUNNINGHAM Kindergarten, Frederick Douglass Elementary Years in Education: 17 “Relationships are the key to Marykirk’s heart and the soul to her success as a teacher.” – Administrator WENDY DALTON Kindergarten, Hillsboro Charter Academy Years in Education: 15 “Ms. Dalton has a true passion for reaching and teaching each individual scholar and honoring the gifts and talents of each one.” – Administrator HANNAH DOSS Teacher, Stone Hill Middle Years in Education: 7
KERRI CAHILL Reading, Kenneth W. Culbert Elementary Years in Education: 9 “Kerri treats every student as an individual and take the time to understand what each one needs to grow with their learning.” – Parent
“Above all else, Hannah is selfless. She is the first to arrive and the last to leave, ensuring our classroom runs smoothly, which is so very important to our environment. At the end of each day, she [Ms. Doss] thanks us for our contributions, makes sure we’re happy, and gives us a pat on the back.” – Team Members
MAY 6, 2021
What You Likely Don’t Know About the Loudoun Education Foundation
The Loudoun Education Foundation may be one of the county’s best-kept secrets. It started in 1991 as a passion project of four School Board members, who wanted to help community members support innovative educational projects that went above and beyond the school system’s operating budget. Projects like classroom grants for teachers, scholarships for graduates, and awards ceremonies to honor high-achieving students. Since then, LEF has raised more than $8.5 million and is now on track to bring in more than $3 million a year to support the public school system. The foundation’s team—including four staff members, 21 foundation trustees, and 14 honorary trustees—is committed to connecting donors’ passions to areas of need within the public schools. For some, it’s a chance to provide weekend meals for food-insecure students that prompts them to give. For others, it’s about sending a student to STEM camp who wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity. Others want to invest in diversifying and preparing the future workforce. They all turn to LEF to make the most of their investment. Here’s just one example of how the foundation puts community resources to work: In 2017, LEF pursued and won a Good Neighbor grant from Jack Kent Cooke Foundation to create afterschool STEM programs that would proactively close the achievement gap among Loudoun County students. Coupled with donations from Howard Hughes Medical Institute and several other community partners, LEF has since expanded PROPEL and Level Up to 10 elementary and four middle schools, respectively. The programs invite economically disadvantaged students to take part in long-term STEM projects that build their confidence and problem-solving skills. Just four years in, teachers are already seeing that students who take part in PROPEL or Level Up do better in math, reading, and science, making them more likely to enroll in Honors, Advanced Placement, and other higher-level coursework. That is real progress that will lead to more students from historically marginalized communities to become scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and computer scientists. Another example of LEF’s work is the special section you’re reading now. For 29 years, the foundation has helped honor the educators nominated for Teacher and Principal of the Year by hosting a banquet. But this year, the celebration is taking the form of this special section. Teachers have had an especially difficult year, as they managed to keep students engaged in virtual classrooms. As part of Teacher Appreciation Week, take a minute to thank a teacher. If you want to put a little oomph behind that thank you, donate $10, $25, or $50 at LoudounEducationFoundation. org to the Making a Difference Teacher Grants program. Thank you for helping us honor Loudoun County’s outstanding educators.
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2021 Teacher Nominees LISA FLORES English Language Learners, Guilford Elementary Years in Education: 13 “I have never met another teacher quite like Lisa, and although it has been over a year since I last worked alongside her, I still frequently find myself thinking, ‘How would Lisa respond to this situation?’ The answer to this question is always: with compassion and action.” – Colleague ANNAMARIE FROST Second Grade Teacher, Sully Elementary Years in Education: 6
First Grade, Guilford Elementary Years in Education: 1
New Secondary Teacher of the Year
“Her ability to connect with her students and her talent at teaching simple concepts, as well as more advanced topics, are both truly superior.” — Principal DANIEL KIM Social Science/Global Studies, Independence High Years in Education: 7
“Annamarie always put the students first when it comes to her attention to detail in planning. Her decisions are made strictly with the students’ best interests at heart.”
“Mr. Kim is the kind of teacher that will laugh along with the class and will set them straight when necessary. He will always keep it 100% real with his students because he truly cares for us and wants us to succeed.”
– Educational Specialist
– Student
RAJI GANGULI
TARYN LANGMEAD
Science, Sterling Middle Years in Education: 7
Science, Loudoun Valley High Years in Education: 7
“As a parent, I felt the power of her [Ms. Ganguli’s] presence at Back to School Night. We left her classroom, and my son (a rising 6th grader at the time) immediately said ‘I know I’m going to love her class.’”
“Taryn builds her lessons on the 5 C’s and therefore the students are automatically learning how to be creative, collaborative, communicative, as well as thinking critically while demonstrating good citizenship with their classmates.”
– Parent
– Teacher/Department Chair
JENNIFER HAHN English, Eagle Ridge Middle Years in Education: 12 “I think Mrs. Hahn should be nominated because she teaches really well. She helps us understand the concepts, and how we should make our writing better. I think her class is making an impact on my learning.” – Student
KELLY LILLY Teacher, Madison’s Trust Elementary Years in Education: 10 “As a parent I could have not asked for a better teacher for our son’s last year of elementary school. I felt we were working as a team in the best interest of my son.” – Parent
CHRISTINA HEPNER Kindergarten, Mountain View Elementary Years in Education: 16 “Mrs. Hepner goes above and beyond every single day for her students. Her honest passion for learning is at the heart of each of her well-developed lessons.” – Parent
— Danielle Nadler, Director of Communications and Strategy for the Loudoun Education Foundation
MEGHAN KELLY
ELIZABETH LITTLE Kindergarten, Legacy Elementary Years in Education: 10 “When she chose to become a teacher, Mrs. Little had spent years in the business world and wanted to make a difference with children. She had volunteered for years but decided that she wanted to dedicate herself to her students and that is truly what she has done.” – Principal
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MAY 6, 2021
DIANA LOPEZ
NICOLETTE PISANI
JENNIFER SEEKFORD
World Languages/Cultures, J. Michael Lunsford Middle Years in Education: 17
Third Grade, Cedar Lane Elementary Years in Education: 6
Math, J. L. Simpson Middle Years in Education: 6
“Fortunately, with distanced learning, we have been afforded the opportunity to witness her (Diana’s) talents as both an educator, a linguist, and a cultural guide. Enthusiasm, passion, dedication, balance, professionalism, and patience best describe why Ms. Lopez commands such respect from our daughter.”
“Nicolette uses her knowledge of the curriculum to plan out fun and creative activities for both whole group and small group lessons—whether it’s singing a song about multiplication, going on a trip around the world to countries, or doing text feature ‘surgery,’ Nicolette has her students actively participating in their learning.”
– Parent
– Fellow Teacher
JENNIFER LUZIER
JENNIFER REEDER
Kindergarten, Cool Springs Elementary Years in Education: 17
Math, Willard Middle Years in Education: 20
– Fellow Teacher PAULETTE REISMAN
– Parent
Instructional Specialist, River Bend Middle Years in Education: 9
MARCY LYLE First Grade, Mountain View Elementary Years in Education: 25
“Mrs. Reisman formed the incredible Buddies Club at River Bend. In this program, she partners students from all grades with her own students to provide mentorship, guidance, and friendship.”
“Mrs. Lyle and I had a journal we shared together for me to share my feelings with her. It helped me write and share my feelings. I knew she cared about me and would be there for me when I needed her."
– Fellow Teacher
– Former Student
CRYSTLE RUSSEL
KATHRYN MCALLISTER
Fourth Grade, Sanders Corner Elementary Years in Education: 6
Special Education, Mercer Middle Years in Education: 5
“Each student is an individual, unique learner, and Mrs. Russell designs each educational experience so that her students can maximize their potential for learning.”
“Ms. McAllister spent time outside of school learning how to use different communication systems. Because of that time spent she is able to model communication effectively for all students.”
– Principal
MEGHAN OSBORNE Social Sciences, Stone Hill Middle Years in Education: 1
DREW SANSONETTI Math, J. Michael Lunsford Middle Years in Education: 5
New Elementary Teacher of the Year
“She brings incredible enthusiasm and knowledge and really gets our students engaged. She is kind and patient when technology is not her friend. Meghan Osborne, what a way to start your teaching career.” — Colleague
– Parent SARAH STARLIPER World Languages, Belmont Ridge Middle Years in Education: 14
“Jenn is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to subject matter. Whenever I have a question about how to approach a topic, she is always the person I want to run ideas by, and she always has a thoughtful and informed response.”
“Every day my son would beg to log into Seesaw to view Ms. Luzier’s comments and words of encouragement on his daily assignment submissions. She was the bright light for every school day for him and by the end of the year, we fondly referred to her as Saint Luzier in recognition of her patience, kindness and commitment to her class.”
“My daughter had Jennifer for Math 6, in the 6th grade. She is now in the 10th grade. Four years have passed and I still consider Jennifer to be a pivotal person for turning things around for my daughter in math. Prior to the 6th grade my daughter had what I call, Math Low Self Esteem.”
“His teaching has made me better at math and a better person. The first thing he and I talked about when I was in his classroom every other day was football. That welcome helped me feel relaxed for the rest of class.” – Student
“Once you step into Ms. Starliper’s classroom, be it virtual or in person you never want to leave! Students never know what new technology, activity or learning experience they will have in Ms. Starliper’s classroom.” – Principal WHITNEY SVENSSON Language Arts, Mercer Middle Years in Education: 9 “Whitney’s personalized learning approach to instruction helps students leave English class feeling seen, feeling valuable, and feeling appropriately challenged by her class.” – Teacher BRITTANY WEBB Fourth Grade, Cardinal Ridge Elementary Years in Education: 11 “Ms. Webb’s teaching is centered on deeper thinking, reflection, and truly intent on putting scholars at the forefront of every decision she makes.” – Principal VIVIENNE WOON Resource Teacher, Liberty Elementary Years in Education: 6 “Ms. Woon’s manner of professionalism is exemplary. She presents herself as an outstanding leader and professional. Her practices are sound, firm and based on the best data and information available.” – Supervisor
Learn more about how to support our public schools at LoudounEducationFoundation.org.
MAY 6, 2021
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Our Towns
TOWN notes HILLSBORO
Photo: Roger Vance
Utility Poles Come Down as Rt. 9 Project Wraps Up
Tranzon
JK Moving Founder and CEO Chuck Kuhn has purchased the 90-acre Middleburg Academy property and will place it in conservation easement.
Kuhn Purchases Middleburg Academy Property BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com
JK Moving Founder and CEO Chuck Kuhn has purchased the Middleburg Academy property and plans to place it in conservation easement to restrict development, averting a planned auction. According to an April 29 statement from JK Moving, Kuhn on April 28 finalized the purchase of the property, which includes 90 acres of land, two primary academic buildings totaling nearly 84,000 square feet and four detached residential dwellings—including a 1920s manor house—totaling 7,400 square feet. The school portion of the property will reopen as a school, with final negotiations in process for the buildings to be leased to a private school operator. A portion of the property will also be used to expand the 149-acre Middleburg Training Center—which abuts the Middleburg Academy property and which Kuhn previously purchased and placed into conservation easement—with more barns and riding arenas. “By buying this property, we are con-
tinuing to serve as stewards of Virginia’s beautiful and historic lands, helping preserve its natural habitats and ecosystems,” Kuhn stated. “Protecting the environment and history are important for future generations.” An April 29 auction was planned for the Middleburg Academy property, with a starting bid set at $5.75 million. According to the county parcel database, the property is assessed at $9.5 million. Kuhn’s purchase price has not been disclosed. The Middleburg Academy property was first used beginning in 1965 as the Notre Dame Academy, an all-girls Catholic boarding school. In 1990, it became a co-educational Catholic day school. In 2000, the school was purchased by the board of trustees. By 2009, it became the Middleburg Academy and began operating as a fully independent, nonsectarian school. In the 2019-2020 academic year, the school transitioned to a classical education model affiliated with Hillsdale College, serving students in grades 8-12. In June 2020, the Middleburg Academy closed following an announcement from its leaders that the school had low enrollment, high financial aid requests
and significant long-term financial needs. Kuhn and his wife, Stacy, through recent years have purchased other properties in Loudoun to place into conservation easement. They purchased Westpark in Leesburg with the intention of placing 135 acres into conservation easement for a park. They partnered with the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy to buy and place into conservation easement an 87-acre parcel of land in northern Loudoun County called Stumptown Woods, which features many native species of plants and wildlife indigenous to Loudoun and Virginia. They started the JK Community Farm on 150 acres of land near Purcellville. And they purchased and placed several thousand acres near Loudoun’s historic villages into easement, including Egypt Farm. More recently Kuhn purchased historic White’s Ferry after the previous owners of the ferry lost a years-long legal battle with the owners of the property on the Virginia side and became unable to use that property for its landing. After negotiations between the two produced no result, the former ferry owners sold the operation to Kuhn. n
Crews this week worked to take down the last remaining utility poles in Hillsboro, as the town’s $14.3 million traffic calming and pedestrian safety project wraps up. In addition to the installation of a roundabout on each end of town along Rt. 9 to slow traffic, the project also saw crews install sidewalks, retaining walls and parking bays along the road, and bury utility lines. The town is planning a June 18 grand reopening celebration.
LOVETTSVILLE Steadman Resigns from Council; Hornbaker Appointed Vice Mayor David Steadman has resigned from the Lovettsville Town Council and Councilman Christopher Hornbaker was tapped to replace him as vice mayor. Mayor Nate Fontaine, in his April 30 email newsletter, wrote that Steadman submitted his resignation last week for personal reasons and increased professional responsibilities that won’t allow him to fulfill his duties on the council “to the fullest extent needed and required.” In Steadman’s place, the Town Council voted unanimously April 29 to appoint Hornbaker as vice mayor. The town is now looking to fill the vacancy on the Town Council. Residents interested in applying to fill the unexpired term can do so by May 21. The Town Council will hold interviews with candidates at its last meeting in May. TOWN NOTES continues on page 22
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TOWN notes continued from page 21
Good Shepherd of Northern Virginia Ecommerce Associate (Full Time) Join a new initiative with the Good Shepherd of Northern Virginia to build, launch and develop the new Ecommerce business to increase sales to our retail division. Our ideal applicant is organized enough to manage our online inventory, Previous experience with selling on eBay, photography, e-commerce and shipping goods a plus. This is an entry level full time temporary to permanent position in Chantilly Virginia, Monday - Friday 8:00a - 5:00p Please Apply In Person, 11am to 3pm, Mon-Fri at Good Shepherd of Northern Virginia 20684 Ashburn Rd, Ashburn, VA 20147 Attention: Human Resources, or submit your resume to GoodShepherdHR@gsnova.org.
Good Shepherd of Northern Virginia Now Hiring for Retail Sales and Production Associates Full Time and Part-Time positions available Sales and Production Associates: Experience in retail sales preferred, must have good customer service skills, on the job training will be provided. Salaries starting at $12-$14/hr. or more based on position. PLUS, Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance offered, PLUS Paid Vacations, and more! * Normal Work Hours - Sunday-Saturday, 10am to 7:00pm (Schedules vary) All positions are full time/part time, with paid holidays, great benefits, and other incentives. Please Apply In Person, 11am to 3pm, Mon-Fri at Good Shepherd of Northern Virginia 20684 Ashburn Rd, Ashburn, VA 20147 Attention: Human Resources, or submit your resume to GoodShepherdHR@gsnova.org.
Good Shepherd of Northern Virginia
Office Manager/Bookkeeper for a small non-profit organization serving the homeless population based in Northern Virginia (Loudoun County) Responsibilities include accounts receivable/payable, basic accounting, monthly financial analysis, HR support, serve as payroll back-up as well as general office administration to include administrative support to employees to promote work productivity and meet company demands. The ideal candidate must be detail oriented, able to work independently and communicate effectively with others. This is a full-time, mid-level position based in Ashburn, Virginia, and reports directly to CEO of the organization and works closely with outside accounting, human resources, and retail store personnel. This position is based in the Ashburn office and not eligible for a permanent work from home status. At least 3 years’ experience in Office Management and Accounting or a similar position that required the skill set referenced above. Benefits: Each full-time position at The Good Shepherd Alliance is eligible for our comprehensive benefits package, which includes paid company benefits including health/prescription/dental/vision insurance, paid holidays, vacation/sick leave, life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, employee assistance program. Free parking and retail store discounts. Submit your resume to GoodShepherdHR@gsnova.org Good Shepherd of Northern Virginia | 20684 Ashburn Rd, Ashburn, VA 20147
Apply at lovettsvilleva.gov/our-town/ our-present/volunteering. The council last week also voted to appoint Steven Brewster, Sean Kirby and Clark Wagner to the Oktoberfest Committee and Brandon Davis to the Planning Commission.
LUCKETTS New Ag School, Fabbioli Cellars Host Loudoun Country Market The New Ag School launched the second edition of the Loudoun Country Market on May 6. The market will be held on Thursdays from 4-7 p.m. at Fabbioli Cellars near Lucketts. There will be about 20 vendors, two food trucks and local art and music at each market, which aim to give exposure to local small businesses. Visitors can also learn more about vineyards and wine making with Doug Fabbioli, the vintner at Fabbioli Cellars. The first installment of the Loudoun Country Market attracted more than 520 visitors across four events from September to October 2020. Learn more at newagschool.org/ loudoun-country-market.
MIDDLEBURG NOVA Parks Continues Guided Battlefield Tour NOVA Parks will continue hosting guided tours of the Mt. Defiance battlefield from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 8, 15 and 22. Mt. Defiance battlefield was part of the June 19, 1863 Battle of Middleburg, which, along with the Battles of Aldie and Upperville, resulted in the Union cavalry being thrust across the Loudoun Valley, which prevented them from finding Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s army. The tour will look at site features and battle events in context, and will include strategic military aspects of the battle, landscape features and engaging human-interest stories. Admission to the tours is free and no reservations are necessary. Visitors are asked to meet in the parking lot at 35945 John Mosby Hwy. Learn more at novaparks.com.
National Sporting to Host Virtual Gallery Talk The National Sporting Library & Mu-
MAY 6, 2021 seum will host a virtual gallery talk from artist Tucker Smith at 10:30 a.m. May 22. Smith is exhibiting his work in the museum. The exhibit, “Tucker Smith: A Celebration of Nature,” features more than 75 original oil paintings with pieces ranging from Smith’s early years as a professional artist to his most recent paintings. During the talk, Smith will walk through the gallery and discuss the composition, color, style, techniques and subjects featured in his work, which will remain on display through Aug. 22. Admission to the talk is free for museum members and $10 for non-members. Go to nationalsporting.org for more information and to register for the event.
Thoroughbred Equine Exhibit Extends to June 20 Artists in Middleburg will host a thoroughbred equine-themed juried exhibit from May 22 through June 20. The exhibit, “The Horse in Art IV,” will feature artwork predominantly depicting thoroughbred horses, but will also include all breeds of horses. Artists have until 5 p.m. this Friday, May 7 to submit their work. The Anita Baarns Award will be awarded for the best in show, which will include a $200 prize. The exhibit will be judged by artists Dana Lee Thompson and Mary Cornish. For more information and to submit work, go to theartistsinmiddleburg.org.
PURCELLVILLE Town Reports Clean Drinking Water in 2020 Report The Town of Purcellville last week released its 2020 Water Quality Report, in which Town Manager David Mekarski reported that the town staff had “kept clean drinking water flowing to homes, fire hydrants, schools and businesses.” According to the report, the town’s water treatment plant treats more than 200 million gallons of water annually. That water is pulled from the J.T. Hirst Reservoir and groundwater wells across town. In the past year, the town staff took hundreds of samples of the water to detect the presence of radioactive, biological, inorganic, volatile organic or synthetic organic contaminants. According to the report, “the drinking water produced by the Town of Purcellville Water Department met all federal and state standards for drinking water.” The report also notes that the town added two new wells to the water system, both of which are located within the Suzanne R. Kane Park and are expected to add more than 100,000 gallons of water each day to supply. Read the full report at purcellvilleva.gov
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Lovettsville Kindergarteners Celebrate Arbor Day BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com
Lovettsville Elementary School students for years to come have a new tree to enjoy and be reminded of the importance of caring for the environment. A group of the school’s kindergarteners commemorated Arbor Day last Thursday morning by helping members of Dominion Energy’s Forestry Department plant a
tree outside the schoolhouse doors. Before the kindergarteners sang a song and took turns reading poems about trees, WUSA9 Meteorologist Howard Bernstein talked with them about the environment. Bernstein told the kindergarteners the tree would be a “legacy” that students for decades to come—possibly even those kindergarteners’ own children—would enjoy. The event was part of Dominion Ener-
gy’s Project Plant It, an environmental education program that’s been teaching students about the importance of trees since 2007 and the essential role of pollinators since 2020. According to Dominion, a single tree over a lifetime will provide a day’s worth of oxygen for up to four people, remove about 14 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year, and recycle $37,500 worth of water. n
Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
Lovettsville Elementary School kindergarteners help members of Dominion Energy’s Forestry Department plant a tree outside the school April 29 for Arbor Day.
HELP WANTED AT FAMILY PRACTICE
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
Accounting Associate III
Finance
$52,446-$89,790 DOQ
Open until filled
Deputy Clerk of Council
Clerk of Council
$52,446-$89,790 DOQ
5/17/2021
Maintenance Worker I
Public Works & Capital Projects
$38,075-$65,186 DOQ
Open until filled
Police Officer
Police
$53,233-$89,590 DOQ
Open until filled
Senior Systems Analyst
Information Technology
$70,374-$120,339 DOQ
Open until filled
Systems Analyst/Infrastructure & Asset Management
Public Works & Capital Projects
$70,374-$120,339 DOQ
Open until filled
Utilities Project Manager
Utilities
$76,941-$131,689 DOQ
Open until filled
Utilities IT Systems Administrator
Utilities
$70,374-$120,339 DOQ
Open until filled
Utility Inspector II
Utilities
$56,956-$97,512 DOQ
Open until filled
Utility Plant Operator: Trainee, I, II or Senior
Utilities
$41,353-$89,790 DOQ
Open until filled
Utility Plant Supervisor
Utilities
$61,857-$105,896 DOQ
Open until filled
See the full job listings at
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.
FULL TIME FLAGGER Traffic Plan seeks FT Flaggers to set up and control traffic around construction sites. A valid drivers license is a must, good pay, and benefits. If interested please fill out an application at 7855 Progress Court Suite 103, Gainesville VA on Tuesday and Thursday from 8AM-10AM or online at www.trafficplan.com
Large family practice in Loudoun County with 6 locations and 28 providers looking for FT LPN’s or MA’s with a dedication to excellence. New LPN graduates welcome to apply. Pediatric and or family practice experience preferred. EHR experience highly recommended. We offer competitive pay rates, health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401K and many other benefits. Please send your resume to: lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-726-0804 attention Lisa
NowHiringLoudoun.com
NOW HIRING Servers / Kitchen / Hosts / Food Runners Full time or Part time Apply online at BRGrill.com or in person between 2:00-5:00 ASHBURN (703) 729-0100 44065 Ashburn Shopping Plaza, Ashburn VA 20147
BRAMBLETON 703-327-1047 22865 Brambleton Plaza Brambleton VA 20148
LEESBURG 703-669-5505 955 Edwards Ferry Rd. Leesburg VA 20176
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MAY 6, 2021
THINGS to do
Loco Living
LOCO LIVE Live Music: Dave Mininberg
Friday, May 7, 4:30 p.m. Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont Details: dirtfarmbrewing.com Well known for his work with the band 7th Son of WV, Mininberg brings a blend of originals, classic rock, blues and country.
Live Music: Panic for the Vibe
Friday, May 7, 5 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com Get your groove on with funk, reggae and rock from Bristow.
Live Music: Will Shepard
Friday, May 7, 5-7 p.m. Williams Gap Vineyard Details: williamsgapvineyard.com 35785 Sexton Farm Lane, Round Hill Singer/songwriter Will Shepard brings terrific tunes to Loudoun’s newest winery.
Live Music: Nate Ihara
Photo Danielle Lussier
Scythian developed their energy stage performance busking on the streets of Alexandria.
Scythian Brings Folk Music Joy to B Chord BY JAN MERCKER
jmercker@loudounnow.com
It was a sense of joy and connection that drew two classically trained first-generation sons of Ukrainian immigrants to Celtic and traditional American music. Over the past two decades, the band Scythian, launched in DC by brothers Alexander and Danylo Fedoryka in 2002, went from busking in the streets of Old Town Alexandria to headlining traditional music festivals around the country. “We found that we had this gift to connect with people and get them up and dancing ... ‘Old time, good time’ was kind of our motto,” Danylo Fedoryka said. “If it’s joyful, it’s worth putting everything into it. The sound kind of grew around that.” After a year of writing, recording, and livestreaming, Scythian performs its first live shows of 2021 at Round Hill’s B Chord Brewing May 7 and 8. And the Fedoryka brothers and their bandmates are more than ready to share some joy with Loudoun County. The Fedoryka brothers, who spent much of their childhoods in Front Royal, grew up performing in a family classical ensemble that drew headlines with shows at the Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap and venues around the region. Their mother, Juilliard-trained pianist Irene Fedoryka, worked to instill a
love of music in her 10 children with Suzuki method training. “She was so determined that we would have the gift of music,” Fedoryka said. In their 20s, the brothers fell in love with the energy of Celtic and traditional American music and the connections those genres created with their audiences. “I always thought there was a disconnect in classical music between me and my audience,” Fedoryka said. His older brother, Alexander, a classically trained violinist, was the first to fall in love with the “unstoppable drive” of the Irish fiddle. Fedoryka shifted from piano to guitar to join Alexander in the band, which they named after a group of Ukrainian nomads in honor of their family’s roots. “When we started playing folk music, we found the sense of connection that we yearned for. We had this hunger as brothers to interact with the audience and make them part of the show, and folk music gave us that,” Fedoryka said. The brothers launched Scythian in 2002 while in graduate school in DC and started busking at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria. Before social media, they built an email list and a significant following. Those early days also were crucial to building their beloved get-up-and-dance style. “It was the time in the streets that also taught us how to engage audiences,” Fedo-
ryka said. “The crowds in the streets are basically the toughest audiences you can have. ... You’ve got to catch their attention.” Scythian got their big break when they were hired as the house band at Fado Irish Pub in DC’s Chinatown, with weekly shows drawing 200 to 400 people. “It kind of became the thing to do on Thursday night,” Fedoryka said. Those DC crowds helped them develop the big, joyful sound they’re known for— and a regional following, with several sellout shows at the 9:30 Club. As their reputation grew, coverage from the Washington Post and other outlets helped them earn a place in the Celtic and bluegrass/Americana festival circuits. And Fedoryka says their reputation for getting people dancing often snagged them the coveted spot as final band in the dance tent at festivals. “We’ve done over 2,000 shows and it was always the audience that made each show different and unique,” Fedoryka said. Scythian launched their own Appaloosa music festival in Front Royal in 2014, and the event drew more than 8,000 people in 2019. After skipping the 2020 edition because of COVID, this year’s edition of Appaloosa is scheduled for Sept. 3-5 in Front Royal. Family ties and Appaloosa’s success SCYTHIAN continues on page 25
Friday, May 7, 6 p.m. Social House South Riding, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, Chantilly Details: socialhousesouthriding.com DMV-based Ihara has hit the big time as a co-writer and producer, but regional audiences can still catch him behind the mic with his ’80s and ’90s pop-influenced tunes.
Live Music: JJ Billings Band
Friday, May 7, 6-9 p.m. Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights Details: facebook.com/harpersferrybrewing Billings makes his HFB debut with rock music from the ’90s through today.
VAL Plaza Party: Chasing Autumn
Friday, May 7, 6-9 p.m. Village at Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg Details: villageatleesburg.com DMV favorites Dan Gallagher and Josh Earls serve up originals and covers.
Live Music: Zoso The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience Friday, May 7 and Saturday, May 8, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com The Tally Ho presents two nights of Zeppelin favorites as Zoso returns for a seated show. Tickets are $20-$30
Live Music: Liberty Street
Saturday, May 8, 1-4 p.m. The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com Kick back with soft rock favorites from Eric Stanley and Doug Wall.
Live Music: Matty D
Saturday, May 8, 1 p.m. Bear Chase Brewing Company, 18294 Blue Ridge Mountain Road, Bluemont Details: bearchasebrew.com Matt Davis returns to Bear Chase with favorite tunes from a range of genres and eras.
THINGS TO DO continues on page 25
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
MAY 6, 2021
THINGS to do continued from page 24
Live Music: David Davol
Saturday, May 8, 1-5 p.m. Maggie Malick Wine Caves, 12138 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville Details: maggiemalickwinecaves.com David Davol returns to Maggie Malick’s with folk rock and country favorites from the Eagles to James Taylor.
Live Music: Jason Masi
Saturday, May 8, 1:30 Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville Details: sunsethillsvineyard.com Masi returns to Sunset Hills with his signature brand of acoustic soul and R&B.
Live Music: Ken Wenzel
Saturday, May 8, 2 p.m. Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Details: breauxvineyards.com Wenzel returns to Breaux with his roots-rock, countryjazz take on love, learning and life in America.
Live Music: Ashleigh Chevalier
Saturday, May 8, 3-6 p.m. Barnhouse Brewery, 43271 Spinks Ferry Road, Leesburg Details: barnhousebrewery.com Ashleigh Chevalier fuses roots rock and funky jam blues with genre bending powerhouse vocals.
Live Music: Steve George and Friends
Saturday, May 8, 5 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com Get ready for an afternoon of great views and great tunes. When Steve George and crew show up, there’s always fun to be had.
Live Music: Will Baskin
Saturday, May 8, 6 p.m. Social House South Riding, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, Chantilly Details: socialhousesouthriding.com Baskin was raised on Elvis, Johnny Cash and the Beatles and mixes jazz, motown and contemporary music into his sets.
Live Music: Rowdy Ace Band Saturday, May 8, 6 p.m.
Scythian continued from page 24 eventually drew the brothers and their bandmates out of DC and back to the Shenandoah Valley. Band members’ geographic proximity and decision not to quarantine from each other allowed them to be musically productive during the COVID year. “We decided we’re going to be family for this,” Fedoryka said. The band—made up of the Fedoryka brothers with Ethan Dean on upright and electric bass and Louisiana-raised Johnny Rees on drums--stayed afloat with support from fans tuning into biweekly livestreams. Scythian cranked out 1,000 hours of livestreams and devoted time to rehearsal and recording.
Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro Details: harvestgap.com Rowdy Ace returns to Harvest Gap with a fun mix of country and rock.
VAL Plaza Party: Shane Hines
Saturday, May 8, 6-9 p.m. Village at Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg Details: villageatleesburg.com Hines energizes VAL with his unique brand of indie pop.
Live Music: Cramer & Ivy
Saturday, May 8, 7 p.m. Saigon Outcast, 44921 George Washington Blvd., Ashburn Details: saigonoutcastva.com Dean Cramer and Adrian Ivy bring nostalgia and fun as an acoustic duo.
Live Music: Moonlight Ride
Saturday, May 8, 7 p.m. Black Walnut Brewery, 212 S. King St., Leesburg Details: facebook.com/blackwalnutbrewery Acoustic rock renditions of songs you love, featuring three-part harmonies and dynamic, unplugged arrangements of guitar-based rock, pop, and Americana tunes from across the decades.
Live Music: CAISO Steelband
Sunday, May 9, noon-3 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com Celebrate a mellow Mother’s Day with steel drum favorites.
Live Music: Acoustic Moose
Live Music: Josh Sowder
Sunday, May 9, 1 p.m. Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Details: breauxvineyards.com Sowder plays tunes from a range of genres from the ’50s through the 2000s. Sunday, May 9, 1-5 p.m. 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro Details: 868estatevineyards.com Long is part introspective singer/songwriter and part bluesy soul man classic rocker. Live Music: Andrew O’Day Sunday, May 9, 1:30 p.m. Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville Details: sunsethillsvineyard.com O’Day’s returns to Sunset Hills with soulful tunes and influences from R&B to country.
Live Music: Pete Lapp
Sunday, May 9, 1-4 p.m. The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com Kick back with acoustic interpretations of classic and alternative rock songs from Bon Jovi to Mumford and Sons.
Live Music: Tim Marcum
Sunday, May 9, 2-5 p.m. Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro Details: harvestgap.com Great country tunes from a LoCo cowboy.
Live Music: Bluegrass Scenario with Derek Kretzer
Live Music: Chris Bone
Live Music: Robbie Limon
“It kept us creative,” Fedoryka said. The band released two albums last year: “Roots & Stones” and “Quaranstream,” which Fedoryka describes as made up of “quirky b-sides.” Scythian played a weekend of sold-out shows at B Chord last fall as the venue built a reputation for attracting big-name national and regional acts thanks to its outdoor space, top-notch sound system and COVID protocols designed to keep musicians and audience members safe. This week, they return to B Chord for outdoor shows May 7 and 8. Friday’s show features drummer Johnny Rees’ brother, Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist Stevie Rees and promises a Cajun flair, while Saturday’s show offers a Celtic/Americana beat. With the band’s former banjo player Ben-David Warner joining the lineup as a guest musician,
TICKETS ON (703) 777-1665 SALE NOW! wwww.TallyHoTheater.com
TWO NIGHTS!
Live Music: Freddie Long
Sunday, May 9, 1-5 p.m. Maggie Malick Wine Caves, 12138 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville Details: maggiemalickwinecaves.com This south-central PA duo with acoustic guitar and dynamic vocal harmonies plays a range of folk rock, blues and classic rock favorites. Sunday, May 9, 1 p.m. Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg Details: lostbarrel.com Celebrate Mother’s Day with great tunes from western Loudoun singer/songwriter and one-man band Chris Bone of the Bone Show.
PAGE 25
Sunday, May 9, 3-6 p.m. Crooked Run Brewing, 205 Harrison St SE, Leesburg Details: crookedrunbrewing.com Derek Kretzer of The Plate Scrapers hosts fellow bluegrass musicians from all over the east coast on the porch. Thursday, May 13, 5 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com Robbie Limon returns to the beach with favorites from ’70s-era songwriters including The Eagles, John Denver, Gordon Lightfoot, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Roy Orbison, The Doobie Brothers, Jim Croce and Willie Nelson.
Fedoryka said the band will dust off some older fan favorites. Saturday’s show also will feature some tunes designed for kids earlier in the afternoon. Fedoryka says the band and their fans are looking forward to another taste of the socially distanced but connected musical vibe B Chord is known for. “It didn’t take away from the musical experience,” Fedoryka said. “There was a real feeling of togetherness.” Scythian plays B Chord Brewing Friday, May 7 and Saturday, May 8. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the show starts at 6 p.m. both days. Tickets are $30. Children are welcome and kids under 12 are admitted free of charge. For tickets and information, go to bchordbrewing.com. For more information about Scythian and the Appaloosa music festival, go to scythianmusic.com. n
COWBOY MOUTH
THE WAILERS
FEB 1
UFO FAREWELL TOUR
FEB 13
FEB 21
ZOSO:
SOUL ASYLUM WITH LOCAL H
UNCLE
CARBON LEAF
KRACKER THE ULTIMATE LED ZEPPELIN FEB 28 FEB 29 EXPERIENCE!
FEB 22
19 W Market St., Leesburg, VA
5/7/21
For a full schedule please visit
DOORS: 7PM www.TallyHoTheater.com SHOW: 8PM
BROTHERS IN ARMS TOUR
ND 2/7 COBS BA CHRIS JA 2/8 RE FI BY TRIAL 5 ts 2/14-1 Two Nigh IA AN 6 3/ EAGLEM S AR AN YE THE REAG
5/8/21UT O7PM DOORS: LD 8PM O SHOW: S
REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND 05/14/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
TWO SHOWS OF METALLICA
THE FOUR HORSEMEN THE ALBUM QUALITY METALLICA TRIBUTE! 5/15/21 DOORS: 3PM SHOW: 4PM
DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
CAS HALEY 05/19/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
THE DC IMPROV PRESENTS: COMEDY NIGHT IN LEESBURG 05/21/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
TRIBUTE TO 70S ROCK: FOREPLAY! 05/22/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
TWO SHOWS!
JOURNEY TRIBUTE!
TRIAL BY FIRE 05/28/21 & 05/29/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
TWO SHOWS!
CARBON LEAF 06/03/21 & 06/04/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
PAGE 26
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
MAY 6, 2021
BEST BETS Deepak Sarin, the chef at Bhai Sahab in Lansdowne, serves up authentic Punjabi and Rajasthani cuisine. Photo/Visit Loudoun
Cramer & Ivy Saturday, May 8, 7 p.m. Saigon Outcast, Ashburn saigonoutcastva.com
Loudoun’s Global Dining Tour BY DOUGLAS ROGERS Visit Loudoun
Dhruv Sarin, the 18-year-old co-owner of the spectacular Bhai Sahab north Indian restaurant in Lansdowne, smiles when he sees customers lining the street to get into his restaurant. “It’s electrifying – and it’s all thanks to my father Deepak, the chef. He knew it would be popular.” Father, son and two family friends are partners at the chic, high-ceiling space specializing in authentic Punjabi and Rajasthani cuisine, including a traditional thali served every Thursday. A thali is a mélange of vegetarian dishes—dal bati, gatta curry, kadhi pakora fritters, spicy sauces—presented on a large round metal plate and eaten communally. Northern Virginia residents have taken notice, hence the long lines. The quality and authenticity should not be a surprise. Dhruv’s father not only ran the biggest catering company in Udaipur for 30 years, but in the early 2000s moved to London where he became Head Chef at Masala Zone, a high-end chain frequently rated for serving the best Indian food in the British capital. London’s loss is Loudoun’s gain. The family moved to Virginia in 2016, opening Bhai Sahab in 2019 soon after Dhruv finished high school. What about going to college? we ask Dhruv. “I’m not sure,” he grins. “Every day I live to defy all human odds and I have big plans for the restaurant.”
While America is the great melting pot, we’re often led to believe you can only find authentic ethnic cuisine in big cities. Bhai Sahab blows away the stereotype. Indeed, Loudoun has palates from all corners of the globe—and plates to match. Lebanese food? Sterling is home to the opulent Sahara Restaurant Lounge. The Sahara may be a desert in Africa but the food here – grape leaves, falafel, tabouleh, chicken shawarma—is delectably Middle Eastern. Diners sit at low slung tables under lantern lights, hookah pipes are passed around and Arabic music fills the air. You will think you’re in Beirut. While there’s no shortage of sushi or Thai in Loudoun, we take a special shine to quirkier joints like Thai Pan in Leesburg, popularly known as the “Gas Station Thai” place since it’s located in the brick kiosk of the Liberty gas station downtown. The setting may be underwhelming but the food – specialties like crispy duck basil and pla lad prik (whole fish in chili sauce) all made with fresh ingredients – is to die for. Similarly quirky is Rodeo’s Mexican Grill in downtown Lovettsville: authentic enchiladas, fajitas and chile relleno in the heart of town owned by local contractor Victor Juarez. Here, they feature the best Chimichangas this side of Oaxaca. Over in Purcellville, meanwhile, are the Greek and Turkish delights of the recently opened Mediter-Rustic Cuisine. The menu includes babaganoush, grilled halloumi and eggplant musakka, the latter a Greek classic and our personal favorite. Welcome to the melting pot! n
Zoso—The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience Friday, May 7, 7 p.m. (doors) Saturday, May 8, 7 p.m. (doors) Tally Ho Theater, Leesburg tallyhotheater.com
Jason Masi Sunday, May 9, 2-5 p.m. Doukénie Winery, Hillsboro doukeniewinery.com
Obituaries Charles Robert Norris, III Charles Robert Norris, III, 88 of Leesburg, Virginia passed on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at Inova Loudoun Hospital, Leesburg, Virginia, with his loving wife of sixty years, Frances (Bunny) Carnes Norris, at his side. Born on July 28, 1932 in Alexandria, Virginia, he was the son of the late William Norris and the late Margaret James Norris, brother to the late Elizabeth (Betty Jane) Martin, and nephew to the late Eleanor W. James. Charles is also survived by his son Charles (Rob) R. Norris IV and grandson Charles (Charlie) R. Norris V, all lifelong residents of Loudoun County, VA; nephews Geoffrey Schelhorn (Betty), Robert Schelhorn (Terry), Thomas Schelhorn and niece Rebecca Dunlop, all of Virginia; Joni Owens of Carey, NC, Tim Owens of Stephens, City, VA, Vicki (Duane)
LoudounNow To place an obituary, contact Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or email: sstyer@loudounnow.com
Greenfield, Lancaster, PA, Andy (Kellie) Owens, Leesburg, VA, Paula and (John) Flamish of Ashburn, VA He attended George Washington High School, Alexandria, VA and The Columbia Technical Institute, Washington, DC. Chuck, as he was affectionately known, had a wonderful voice accented with a smile. He could really tell a joke and laughed along too. A true people person, he also enjoyed working with his hands, had a long career in the construction, millwork and building materials business and was one of the founders of Shenandoah Sash & Door of Purcellville VA. He was an Emeritus member of the Advisory Board of Kolbe and Kolbe, Wausau, WI. He was, most importantly, a kind, thoughtful person and will be missed by everyone his beautiful soul touched. A Memorial Visitation will be at 12:00 Noon, with Service following at 1:00pm on Saturday, May 15th at Loudoun Funeral Chapel located at 158 Catoctin Circle, SE Leesburg, Virginia 20175. Following the service, interment will be at Union Cemetery, Leesburg, VA.
Lives are like rivers: Eventually they go where they must, not where we want them to.
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
MAY 6, 2021
PAGE 27
Legal Notices PUBLIC HEARING The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Monday, May 24, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:
DOAM-2021-0001 AMENDMENT TO THE LOUDOUN COUNTY LAND SUBDIVISION AND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE TO ADOPT A NEW FEE SCHEDULE (Development Ordinance Amendment – Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance)
Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-107, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2253 and 15.2-2241(A)(9), and a Resolution of Intent to Amend adopted by the Board of Supervisors (“Board”) on March 16, 2021, the Planning Commission hereby gives notice of proposed amendments to the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (“LSDO”), including the Facilities Standards Manual, in order to establish new, and clarify, revise, and/or delete existing, regulations in regard to fees. The general purpose of the proposed amendments is to adopt a new fee schedule reflecting 100 percent cost recovery as Appendix A for various fees collected pursuant to the LSDO, to update the procedure the Board uses to set the amount of LSDO fees, to add language regarding collection of fees for inspection of facilities required to be installed by the LSDO, and to exempt certain governmental entities from the imposition of LSDO fees. The amendment proposes revisions to Section 1242.12, Fees, and to such other Chapters, Sections, Subsections, and provisions of the LSDO 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 of the LSDO. The proposed text amendments under consideration include, without limitation, the following: Amendments to Chapter 1242, Amendments and Enforcement: · Establish a new Appendix A containing a fee schedule for all fees collected pursuant to the LSDO and a list of governmental entities exempt from the imposition of such fees. · Under Section 1242.12, Fees, clarify, revise, and/or delete existing standards in regard to what activities conducted by the County are to be compensated through fees. · Under Section 1242.12, Fees, clarify, revise, and/or delete existing standards in regard to how the amount of fees are set. Proposed Fee Changes Application Type
Current
New Fee
Construction Plans & Profiles (CPAP & CPAR) (2 Reviews)
Application Fee Type Boundary Line Adjustment (BLAD) (2 Reviews)
Current $1,750
$3,495
$275
$525
$2,445
$4,920
$520
$1,075
$1,880
$3,630
$465
$545
$2,860
$5,545
$465
$855
$1,890
$3,560
$315
$625
Each Additional Review Beyond 2 Dedication of Right-of-Way (DEDI) (2 Reviews) Each Additional Review Beyond 2 Easements (ESMT) (2 Reviews) Each Additional Review Beyond 2 Family Subdivision (SBFM) (2 Reviews) Each Additional Review Beyond 2 Plat of Correction (POCO) (2 Reviews)
New Fee
Each Additional Review Beyond 2
Preliminary Record Subdivision (SBPR) (2 Reviews) Non-Residential
$3,750
$6,075
Rural Residential (septic and well)
$3,750
$6,075
Urban Residential (public water and sewer)
$3,750
$6,075
Each Additional Review Beyond 2
$1,195
$1,930
Residential and/or Roads
$7,085
$8,295
Each Additional Review Beyond 2
$2,535
$3,540
Non-Residential
$4,518
$6,790
Residential and/or Roads CPAR
$2,535
$3,540
Each Additional Review Beyond 2
$1,430
$2,290
Industrial or Office Park
$2,575
$3,870
Rural Residential (septic and well)
$4,905
$7,860
Each Additional Review Beyond 2
$850
$1,660
Each Additional Review Beyond 2
$1,650
$2,645
Industrial or Office Park CPAR
$850
$1,660
Urban Residential (public water and sewer)
$7,630
$12,430
Each Additional Review Beyond 2
$1,890
$3,000
Facility Standard Manual (FSM) Waiver Request Rural Economy Site Plan (REST) (2 Reviews)
$1,190 $2,300
$610 $6,600
Preliminary Subdivision (SBPL) (2 Reviews)
Application Fee Type Non-Residential
Site Plans (STPL) (2 Reviews)
Current
New Fee
Record Subdivision (SBRD) (2 Reviews) $2,395
$6,075
$750
$1,070
Each Additional Review Beyond 2
Site Plans > 1 acre
$7,605
$8,670
Rural Residential (septic and well)
$2,545
$6,075
Each Additional Review Beyond 2
$3,225
$3,470
Each Additional Review Beyond 2
$1,080
$1,070
Site Plans 1 acre or <
$4,800
$5,200
Urban Residential (public water and sewer)
$3,740
$6,075
$900
$1,000
Each Additional Review Beyond 2
$1,540
$1,070
$3,405
$3,190
Subdivision Base Density (SBBD) (2 Reviews)
$2,735
$4,645
As Built Submissions for Occcupancy
$300
$60
Each Additional Review Beyond 2
$440
$715
As Built Submissions for Bond Release
$300
$185
Subdivision Extension
$230
$360
Subdivision Exception (SBEX) per submission
$1,490
$2,145
Subdivision Waiver (SBWV) (2 Reviews)
$2,415
$4,645
$430
$715
Each Additional Review Beyond 2 Site Plan Amendment (SPAM)
Application Type Preliminary Soils Report Flood Plain Alteration (FPAL Type 1)
Current $1,450
New Fee $1,795
$500
$715
Flood Plain Alteation (FPAL Type 2)
$2,500
$3,590
Flood Plain Study (FPST)
$3,525
$5,180
Additional Reviews Beyond 2
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 28
MAY 6, 2021
Legal Notices Performance Bond Fees Extensions
$300
$500
Reductions
$785
$1,215
Re-Inspection
$200
$285
Release
$500
$1,645
Public Bond Release
$500
$2,310
SWM Release
$500
$850
The public purposes of these amendments are to achieve the purposes listed in Code of Virginia §§ 15.2-2200 and 15.2-2240 and to assure the orderly subdivision of land and its development.
ZMAP-2020-0010 & SPMI-2020-0013 ARCOLA GROVE COMMERCIAL
(Zoning Map Amendment and Special Minor Exception) Northpoint Investments I, LLC, of Bethesda, Maryland, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 23.44 acres from the RC (Rural Commercial) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop by right special exception uses in the PD-IP zoning district up to a 0.6 Floor Area Ratio (FAR). The modification of the Additional Regulations applicable to the proposed PD-IP uses are authorized by Minor Special Exception under Section 5-1409(B)(1), Waivers and Modifications, Legislative Modifications, Road Corridor Building and Parking Setbacks (the Minor Special Exception application is not subject to consideration by the Planning Commission and requires approval only by the Board of Supervisors), pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification: ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION §5-1403(B) Road Corridor Buffer and Setbacks Matrix, Table 5-1403(B)
PROPOSED MODIFICATION To reduce the road corridor setback from Arcola Boulevard for buildings from 100 feet to 75 feet and parking setbacks from 75 feet to 35 feet.
The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, within the Ldn 65 or higher aircraft noise contour. The subject property is approximately 23.44 acres in size and is located east of Stone Springs Boulevard (Route 659), south of Arcola Mills Drive (Route 621), and north of Route 50 in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as: PIN
ADDRESS
162-15-1929
N/A
203-10-9057
N/A
162-15-4753
N/A
203-10-7367
N/A
The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area), in the Suburban Employment Place Type, which supports primarily office, production, flex space, and warehousing uses as well as startups and established businesses with limited retail uses at a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0.
ZMAP-2021-0002 ALDIE HISTORIC DISTRICT ADDITION (Zoning Map Amendment)
The Board of Supervisors acting through the Department of General Services of Leesburg, Virginia, has submitted an application to expand the Aldie Historic District. The procedure to expand historic districts is established by Section 6-1806 of the Zoning Ordinance. The subject property is currently zoned RC (Rural Commercial) and A3 (Agricultural – Residential 3) under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The subject property is located within the VCOD (Village Conservation Overlay District) and partially within the MOD (Mountainside Development Overlay District). The subject property is approximately 3.71 acres in size and is located on the south side of Route 50 and west of New Mountain Road (Route 631), at 39483 and 39469 John Mosby Highway, Aldie, Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 36145-8246 and PIN: 361-45-5744. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Rural Policy Area (Rural Historic Village Place Type) and the Loudoun County Heritage Preservation Plan, which designate this area for traditional small-scale residential and commercial development which maintains the distinguishing features of individual rural historic villages at no more than 4 dwelling units per acre.
ZMAP-2020-0001, SPEX-2020-0005, ZMOD-2020-0024 & ZMOD-2020-0025 LINDSAY DETAIL FACILITY (Zoning Map Amendment Petition, Special Exception & Zoning Modification)
Lindsay Holding, LLC., of Alexandria, Virginia, has submitted applications for the following: 1) to rezone approximately 5.826 acres from the PD-CC(CC) (Planned Development-Commercial Center (Community Center)) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-GI (Planned Development-General Industry) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to allow Motor Vehicle Service and Repair, Light, in the PD-GI zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance at a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.40 (up to 0.6 by Special Exception) and 2) a Special Exception to allow an outdoor automobile inventory lot that will be a second principal use in support of the detail facility. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed uses are listed as a Special Exception use under Section 4-604. The Applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s):
ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION
PROPOSED MODIFICATION
§4-607(D)(1) PD-GI Planned Development – General Industry, Use Limitations, Outdoor Storage.
To permit the outdoor storage of vehicles within the front yard.
§5-1406(A) Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Screening of Certain On-Site Functions
Permit perimeter parking lot landscaping and a minimum 6-foot tall ornamental metal fence adjacent to Shaw Road and the property identified as PIN 044-20-2995 in lieu of required screening under Zoning Ordinance § 5-1406(A).
The subject property is located within the Route 28 Tax District, the Route 28 Corridor Business Optional Overlay District and the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District outside of but within ne (1) mile of the Ldn 60 noise contours. The subject property is approximately 5.83 acres in size and is located east of Shaw Road (Route 638) and south of W. Church Road (Route 8625), in the Sterling Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 044-30-1539. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)), which designates the area for a compact, pedestrian-oriented environment consisting of a vertical mix of residential, commercial, entertainment, cultural, and recreational uses within the Suburban Mixed Use Place Type at densities up to 1.0 FAR.
CMPT-2020-0009 & SPEX-2020-0026 MILESTONE TOWER – WATERFORD (Commission Permit & Special Exception)
Milestone Tower Limited Partnership IV of Reston, Virginia, and the Board of Supervisors, acting through the Loudoun County Department of General Services, have submitted applications for the following: 1) Commission approval to permit a 132 foot tall (130 foot tall with a 2 foot lighting rod at the top) Monopole and a related equipment compound in the AR-1 (Agricultural Rural - 1) zoning district; and 2) A Special Exception to permit a 132 foot tall (130 foot tall with a 2 foot lighting rod at the top) Monopole and a related equipment compound. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use pursuant to Section 5-618(B)(2)(a) and requires a Commission Permit in accordance with Section 5-618(B)(3) (j). The subject property is approximately 13.26 acres in size and is located north of Charles Town Pike (Route 9) and the west side of Hamilton Station Road (Route 704), in the Catoctin Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN 344-45-5673. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Rural Policy Area (Rural North)), which designates this area for rural economy uses and limited residential development is envisioned with a target density up to 1du/20ac and cluster development with target density up to 1du/5ac. The proposed use is specifically governed under the policies of the Telecommunication Plan. 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 703-777-0246 (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. To arrange a time to view the file at the Loudoun County Government Center, please email dpz@loudoun.gov or call 703-777-0246, or you may view the file electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. 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). Additionally, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically the week before the hearing at www.loudoun.gov/pc. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, members of the public are encouraged to view the public hearing electronically; however, the Board Room will be open for any members of the public who wish to attend in person with appropriate physical distancing. Planning Commission public hearings are available for viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23, Open Band Channel 40, and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are livestreamed at loudoun. gov/webcast. All members of the public will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. If you wish to sign up in advance of the hearing, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing. Speakers may also sign up at the hearing. Written comments are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 3rd Floor, MSC #62, Leesburg, Virginia 20175, or by e-mail to loudounpc@loudoun.gov. Any individual representing and/or proposing to be the sole speaker on behalf of a citizen’s organization or civic association is encouraged to contact the Department of Planning and Zoning prior to the date of the public hearing if special arrangements for additional speaking time and/or audio-visual equipment will be requested. Such an organization representative will be allotted 6 minutes to speak, and the Chairman may grant additional time if the request is made prior to the date of the hearing and the need for additional time is reasonably justified. Citizens are encouraged to call the Department of Planning and Zoning on the day of the public hearing to confirm that an item is on the agenda, or, the most current agenda may be viewed on the Planning Commission’s website at www.loudoun.gov/pc. In the event that the second Thursday is a holiday or the meeting may not be held due to inclement weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend, the meeting will be moved to the third Tuesday of the month. In the event that Tuesday is a holiday or the Tuesday meeting may not be held due to inclement weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend, the meeting will be held on the following Thursday. The meeting will be held at a place determined by the Chairman. Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings at all other locations. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246. Please provide three days’ notice. BY ORDER OF:
FOREST HAYES, CHAIRMAN LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
05/06 & 05/13/21
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MAY 6, 2021
Legal Notices
PAGE 29
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
MIDDLEBURG PLANNING COMMISSION The Middleburg Planning Commission will hold a public hearing beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 24, 2021 to hear public comments on the following:
TOWN OF LEESBURG
DEPARTMENT OF UTILITIES NOTICE OF WATER MAIN FLUSHING The Town of Leesburg will conduct controlled flushing of water mains throughout the Town beginning April through June 30th, 2021. 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. 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. 04/01 & 06/30/21
Zoning Map Amendment 21-03 - AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE PROFFERS ASSOCIATED WITH CONDITIONALLY ZONED R-1 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, R-3 RESIDENTIAL AND MUV MIXED USE VILLAGE DISTRICT PROPERTIES AT PINS 538-25-6474 AND 53827-7860 AND A PORTION OF 500 NORTH PENDLETON STREET (PIN 570-40-5809). This is a proposed amendment to the original, 2007 Salamander Hospitality proffers, as subsequently amended. Substantive elements within this application include proposals to: eliminate the extension of Reed St. to the north of Stonewall Ave. and replace with a pedestrian connection; revise the sidewalk layout within the proposed residential development; and, allow construction traffic to use either N. Pendleton St. or Foxcroft Rd. THIS IS A SEPARATE REQUEST FROM PROFFER AMENDMENT ZMA 2102 OF SIMILAR ORDINANCE TITLE. The Commission meeting and public hearing will be conducted remotely in accordance with the Resolution Confirming the Declaration of a Local Emergency and the Ordinance to Implement Emergency Procedures & Effectuate Temporary Changes to Address Continuity of Governmental Operations during COVID-19. Public participation will be available 1) by calling (301) 715-8592, Webinar ID: 921 0867 5541, OR 2) online via zoom.us/j/92108675541. Those who plan to participate in the hearing are encouraged, but not required, to contact the Town Office at (540) 687-5152 no later than 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting to register to speak. For those who only wish to observe the proceedings, the meeting can be viewed on the Town’s website at www.middleburgva.gov/town-meetings The file for this application may be reviewed at the Town Office, 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. Questions may be directed to Deputy Town Manager Will Moore at (540) 687-5152 or by email at wmoore@ middleburgva.gov The Town of Middleburg strives to make its hearings accessible to all. Please advise of accommodations the Town can make to help you participate in the hearing. 05/06 & 05/13/21
NOTICE
MIDDLEBURG TOWN COUNCIL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING On Thursday, the 13th day of May, 2021, the Council of the Town of Middleburg, Virginia (the “Town”), will hold a public hearing on the proposed issuance of bonds of the Town in the estimated maximum principal amount of $8,000,000 to finance various capital improvement projects for governmental purposes, including but not limited to the design, acquisition, construction and equipping of a new Town Hall. Such bonds shall be general obligations of the Town to the payment of which the Town’s full faith and credit shall be irrevocably pledged. The public hearing, which may be continued or adjourned, will be held at 6:00 P.M., local time, or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, in the Town Hall Council Chambers at 10 West Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia 20118. Interested persons may appear at such time and place and present their views. Those who are interested in participating in the public hearing remotely may do so by calling 1-301-715-8592, Webinar ID: 95876721615, or via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/95876721615.
TOWN OF LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL MEETING Remote Public Participation Available Members of the public who wish to speak during the petitioners’ section and Public Hearings of the May 11, 2021, Leesburg Town Council Meeting can do so remotely. Information on how to participate remotely can be found on the Town of Leesburg’s website www.leesburgva.gov/agendas or on the agenda that will be posted outside of the Clerk’s Office and in the lobby of Town Hall (25 West Market Street) by close of business on May 5, 2021. If you need more information, contact the Clerk of Council at eboeing@leesburgva.gov or 703-771-2733.
Rhonda S. North, MMC Town Clerk Town of Middleburg, Virginia
05/06/2021
04/29 & 05/06/21
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316
MIDDLEBURG TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING
Case No.:
The Middleburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers located at 10 W. Marshall Street, to consider AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH TOWN ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER OF ODD-NUMBERED YEARS. Due to recent amendments to the State Code, municipal elections must move to November. Unless the Council immediately takes action to move them to odd years, they will automatically move to even years under the terms of the State Code amendments. Changes to the election date as proposed will affect current Town Council terms. In addition, the filing deadline for candidates for November 2021 elections will be June 8, 2021, requiring citizens interested in running for Town Council to file appropriate paperwork by that date. Copies of the proposed ordinance are available for public inspection in the Middleburg Town Hall, located at 10 W. Marshall Street, during normal business hours or on our website at www.middleburgva. gov. Interested persons may appear at such time and place and present their views. Those who are interested in participating in the public hearing remotely may do so by calling 1-301-715-8592, Webinar ID: 95876721615, or via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/95876721615. MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL TOWN OF MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA 05/06/21
JJ044669-03-00
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, Unknown Father
PUBLIC NOTICE
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) The Town of Leesburg will accept sealed proposals electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia.gov), until 3:00 p.m. on May 27, 2021 for the following:
RFP No. 500640-FY21-35 Hauling and Disposal Services of Non-Stabilized Sewage Sludge, Wastewater, and Grit Screening and Scum The Town of Leesburg is soliciting proposals to establish a term contract to provide sewage sludge hauling, and disposal services of sewage sludge including grit screening and scum material produced at the Town’s Water Pollution Control Facility. For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard
The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for 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 to protect their interests on or before May 24, 2021 at 10:00 am. 04/22, 04/29, 05/06 & 05/13/21
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Legal Notices
MIsc. PRAYER TO THE BLESSED MOTHER
PUBLIC NOTICE
TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER DONATION OF REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE TOWN OF LEESBURG, VIRGINIA TO THE LOUDOUN FREEDOM CENTER Pursuant to Virginia Code Sections 15.2-953, 15.2-1800, and 15.2-2100, the LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a Public Hearing on:
AT&T proposes to erect a new 29.6’ metal pole and install a top-mounted antenna at 35’ near 42283 Onyx Ter, Aldie, VA (20210408). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856-8091202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties. 05/06/21
TUESDAY, May 11, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia to consider the donation of certain real property owned by the Town and known as the Sycolin Community Cemetery, located on Sycolin Road in Loudoun County, Virginia, and being a portion of the lots identified as Loudoun County PIN Nos. 192-26-3267, 192-26-3648, and 192-26-4027, to the Loudoun Freedom Center, a Virginia nonstock corporation exempt from taxes under IRC § 501(c)(3), upon certain terms and conditions. Copies of the proposed Ordinance, the proposed Agreement for Donation of Real Estate between the Town and Loudoun Freedom Center, Inc., and additional information regarding the proposed donation of real property, are available from the Clerk of Council, located in Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.); or by calling Eileen Boeing, Clerk of Council, at 703-771-2733. At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at 703-771-2733, three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 04/29 & 05/06/2021
TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSE-2020-0003 VILLAGE AT LEESBURG (for THE PLAYFUL PACK DOGGY DAY CARE) 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 11, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Special Exception application TLSE-2020-0003, Village at Leesburg (on behalf of the Playful Pack Doggy Day Care). The subject of the application is a vacant 4,050 square-foot commercial space within Building B at the Village at Leesburg, 1608 Village Market Blvd, Suite B-115. The property is zoned B-4, Mixed Use Business District, and is further described as Loudoun County Parcel Identification Number (PIN) 149-28-0225. Special Exception Application TLSE-2020-0003 is a request by the Village at Leesburg on behalf of the Playful Pack for a Special Exception to allow a 4,050 square foot doggy day care and accessory kennel, pursuant to Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Section 6.6.2, Use Regulations.
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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. 05/06/21
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Additional information and copies of this application 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 contacting Scott E. Parker, Senior Planning Project Manager at 703-771-2771 or sparker@leesburgva.gov.
LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR:
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In addition, the Applicant is requesting one (1) zoning modification per Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Section 3.4.13, Compliance with Use Standards.
At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of the Council at (703) 771-2733 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 04/29 & 05/06/21
(never known to fail). O Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendour of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show herein you are my Mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech thee from the bottom of my heart to succor me in this necessity (make request). There are non that can withstand your power. O show me herein you are my Mother, O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (3 times). Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands (3 times). Thank you for your mercy to me and mine. Amen. This prayer must be said for 3 days, and after 3 days your request will be granted, and the prayer must be published. JJ
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MAY 6, 2021
Opinion Valuing the Villages It wasn’t long ago that the Board of Supervisors was working to shoehorn a large, modern fire station into the heart of Aldie—so determined that county leaders threatened to carve away the community’s historic district to remove barriers designed to ensure the village’s preservation. It wisely abandoned that ill-advised concept, but the board now is struggling to form and implement a vision for two historic rural villages—deciding what use to allow on the property where the firehouse had been planned, and joining neighborhood opposition to a subdivision in St. Louis that seems to meet county zoning requirements. While supervisors appear to be making up their response in reaction to the latest criticism, the county’s land use planning efforts have long laid out strategies to help preserve these rural communities, or to help them evolve in a productive way. Until the most recent General Plan, which lays out basic guidelines for “historic rural villages,” past plans recognized the challenges facing each community and offered tailored policies. Aldie has long been among the communities where the adaptive reuse of existing structures has been promoted to preserve the historic character of the community. A fire house didn’t meet that test. Supervisors are ready to embrace that concept now. It appears the first bid to tackle that effort was shot down more because of the animosity against the developer behind the proposal than the scale of the project. As the board moves through a more public process to dispose of the now surplus, it must strive to find the best deal for taxpayers while also selecting a new owner who will prove to be a better steward of the property than the county has been. In St. Louis, a historically Black community, the goals had centered around steps that would allow those families to remain and grow on that land, even in the face of Loudoun’s ever-increasing development pressures. A core strategy was to prevent the encroachment of McMansions while providing more opportunities for affordable housing. Rather than downzoning land, previous plans sought to promote smaller lots, apartments in existing structures and accessory dwellings. Although many of those families have moved away, there are still merits in pushing back on gentrification of the village. If the next step is to conduct a detailed planning study of the land use options in St. Louis, supervisors should consider similar examinations of Aldie and the other historic rural villages. These communities are special places in the fabric of our community and residents would be well-served by planning to maximize their opportunities rather than reacting to the threats that arise. n
Norman K. Styer, Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com
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LETTERS to the Editor Decision Time for Loudoun’s Rural Areas Should Loudoun continue to allow more than twice as much new residential development in its rural areas as is allowed in neighboring Clarke, Fauquier and Prince William counties? In principle, the county’s rural policies say “no.” The new Comprehensive Plan states that the county will “limit residential growth to protect the land resource for agricultural operations, rural economy uses, and open spaces; minimize traffic impacts; and reduce the demand for additional public facilities and services.” Prior plans had similar language. In practice, however, the answer seems to be “yes.” Under the current zoning ordinance, adopted 20 years ago by a pro-development Board of Supervisors, rapid rural development is allowed and even encouraged. Unless something changes, the county projects that 11,000 more residences may be built in our rural areas. This would more than double the rural population in the northern part of the county and add at least 100,000 more vehicle trips per day to existing traffic congestion on our roads. It would also result in the loss of another 70-80 square miles of farmland – more than half of what currently remains. And the loss would be permanent – once farmland is lost to new development, it is lost forever.
All rural residences rely on private wells for their water supply. As more and more subdivisions are built in Loudoun’s rural west, some existing residents have already seen their wells run dry—forcing them to go through the expensive process of drilling new and deeper wells. The county has no information on how much more underground water is available but continues to act on the assumption that the resources are evenly distributed and infinite. They are not. The rapid development of Loudoun’s rural areas creates a fiscal time bomb. The principal roads are already at full capacity and traffic congestion in our historic villages is untenable. As a result of excessive development around the village of Lucketts, county taxpayers already are on the hook for more than $200 million to widen Rt. 15 north of Leesburg. If the rest of Loudoun’s rural areas experiences similar growth, the cost of building roads and other public infrastructure and of providing schooling and other public services will be in the billions. Taxpayers in the eastern part of the county would bear the bulk of that burden. Loudoun would not be facing these threats if our rural zoning were comparable to our neighboring counties. Simply aligning with the zoning that currently applies in Fauquier County, for example, would save hundreds of farms and sigLETTERS TO THE EDITOR continues on page 33
MAY 6, 2021
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Readers’ Poll
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
LAST WEEK'S QUESTION:
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LETTERS to the editor continued from page 32
nificantly reduce the pressures on roads, water resources, and the county budget. The recent outcry over the Goose Creek Overlook project shows that many Loudouners want to protect rural areas and remain concerned about excessive development. What receives less attention is that the reason the Overlook project was proposed – and will continue to move forward with modifications imposed by the County Board of Super-
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visors – is that it is legally permitted by the current zoning ordinance. Public protests may succeed in altering developers’ plans for this individual project but will not prevent many similar projects from moving forward in the future. We need a more systemic and longterm solution. This year, we have perhaps the last best opportunity to find it. The county government is in the process of re-writing the entire Zoning Ordinance, including the regulations for subdividing and developing rural land. Powerful interest groups are already
Arnett continued from page 3 Ms. Arnett was placed on Administrative Leave pending an investigation. At my request, a review of county finances as they relate to my office was completed. No irregularities nor improprieties were revealed. I learned of the matter at approximately 9:00 AM, and Ms. Arnett left the county building at approximately 1:00 PM. She will not be returning to employment in my office.” She wrote Arnett’s “improprieties” at the sorority did not impact the operations of Loudoun County government. “Although I am deeply upset by this revelation, I am also aware that Ms. Arnett has three school age children, thus I plan no further public comments on this issue,” Randall stated. U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia on April 28 announced that the Arnetts, in separate hearings,
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“While Delta Sigma Theta and its members were committed to a mission of public service, the defendants were committed to a mission of personal benefit ...” — Acting U.S. Attorney
Channing D. Phillips.
had pleaded guilty in separate hearings to charges stemming from that embezzlement. The Arnetts admitted that Jeanine Arnett misappropriated more than $150,000 from Delta Sigma Thetas’s bank accounts. That included unauthorized and fraudulent charges for person-
lobbying county supervisors to maintain the existing pro-growth rural zoning. Save Rural Loudoun and other grassroots organizations have provided detailed explanations to the county of the potential consequences of maintaining the status quo and of the need for reform. If we do nothing, farms and other rural Loudoun lands will continue to be rapidly lost to new development. The supervisors’ eventual decisions will depend on the extent to which they hear from their constituents. During the “Envision Loudoun” process a few
years ago, thousands of citizens urged the county to preserve rural areas and restrain growth and development. The policies in the Comprehensive Plan reflect that perspective. To make those policies a reality, we must insist on parallel zoning reforms and other conservation programs. Please call or write to your county supervisors to urge them to adopt rural preservation zoning rules that are at least as strong as our neighboring counties. — By John Ellis Save Rural Loudoun Board of Directors
al items and expenses at, among other places, Amazon, Avis Rent a Car, Century Twenty-One, Coach, GEICO, and T-Mobile. In addition, the Arnetts used the Square Cash App to make nine transactions to transfer $14,162.50 to their account. According to court filings, the sorority terminated Arnett as executive director in August 2019, and in September 2019 discovered irregularities with its credit card accounts, launching an internal audit. After officers of the sorority confronted Jeanine Arnett, she admitted she and her husband had defrauded the organization, and Diallo Arnett did the same in an email to the organization a few days later. “While Delta Sigma Theta and its members were committed to a mission of public service, the defendants were committed to a mission of personal benefit, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars to use for their own pleasure,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D.
Phillips. “The defendants—and others who steal from non-profit organizations to enrich themselves—will be caught, prosecuted, and punished for the damage they cause.” “The Arnetts pleaded guilty to stealing money from this historic women’s organization and used the funds for their own benefit,” stated James A. Dawson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division. “Their selfish actions not only betrayed the dedicated members, but also dishonored the core mission and values of the sorority.” Sentencing is scheduled for July 29. The charge carries a statutory penalty of up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000 or twice the pecuniary gain or loss of the offense. According to U.S. District Court filings, the Arnetts filed for bankruptcy in January 2016, as Randall was beginning her first term in office, and had previously filed for bankruptcy in Maryland in 2005. n
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Small Biz Week Kicks Off with Grant Applications The 10th annual Loudoun Small Business Week takes place this week, May 3 to May 7, with a range of events and grants for local businesses. To kick off the week, the Loudoun Economic Development Authority’s second annual Innovation Challenge opened grant applications at noon Monday, May 3. This year, there will be more categories, awarding grants for best overall innovation and runner up awards for tech ventures, commercial ventures, launch focus, smart county focus, and the people’s choice awards. Small businesses located in or planning to relocate to Loudoun are encouraged to apply. Last year’s 71 applicants resulted in 22 business expansions, creating 169 jobs and investing $14.8 million into Loudoun’s
Springtime at Segra continued from page 1 out over the next six years instead with at least 8% interest. And although the pandemic meant fans weren’t in the stadium, the organization did not sit idly by. Segra Field emerged this spring with two more professional teams: both the Washington Spirit, a National Women’s Soccer League team, and Old Glory DC, a Major League Rugby team, this year are calling Segra home. In May 2020, D.C. United began training at Segra Field, and in January of this year, the major league club broke ground on its new training center and headquarters. “The vision for Segra Field and that campus was always that it was going to be more than just Loudoun United,” said Harry Hardy, D.C. United senior vice president of events and marketing. “So working with Old Glory’s ownership, they identified the same opportunity that we did when we took the team out there.” Virginia’s current guidelines restrict outdoor sports venues to 30% of their normal capacity—1,500 fans, for the 5,000seat Segra Field. On May 15, that will be lifted to 50% capacity, 2,500 fans. “That doesn’t mean we’re going to get 2,500 the first game,” said Loudoun Department of Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer. “People are going to ease back into it and at their own comfort level.” Chris Dunlavey, one of Old Glory DC’s owners, said, so far, Old Glory’s games
economy, according to the Economic Development Authority. “If you have an innovative Loudoun business, we strongly encourage you to apply over the next two weeks. This is capital that can be invested in growing your space, workforce, product or service offering and is just part of the Loudoun EDA’s commitment to entrepreneurship,” stated Loudoun Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer. “If you know any business that would benefit from $10,000 to $40,000, please encourage them to apply today.” Eligibility requirements and application information are online at LoudounInnovationChallenge.com. This week county supervisors will also visit 14 businesses that received of Loudoun Business Interruption Fund
grants across the county. And LoudounSmallBiz.org has been updated with new resources, with a list of current and ongoing funding and financial opportunities; an interactive map of Loudoun’s 14 coworking, incubator and accelerator spaces; a community of more than 80 business ecosystem partners; and startup guides, upcoming events, and inspirational stories. “Every part of Loudoun Small Business Week 2021 is intentional, highlighting the many successes of the community and the range of ways we help businesses every day,” stated Loudoun Small Business and Entrepreneurship Manager Danelle Hayer. “The stories that we get to tell over the course of this week are chosen to help inspire the next generation of transformational innovators in Loudoun County.”
have been filled by season ticket holders, fans who followed the team from their old home pitch, Cardinal Stadium at Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. But as the stadium opens back up, so too will game day—for rugby fans, an all-day event. Before the pandemic, outside the game, Dunlavey said, there were kids’ play areas, a beer garden, live music—”we had a great tailgating area, where a lot of our fans have enjoyed that so much, that we almost couldn’t get them in the stadium at game time to watch the game,” he said. He likened it to the decision among minor league baseball teams to make their gamedays special events, with activities throughout. “[They] created an environment that was about affordable family entertainment, and their business ended up not so much competing with big league sports, but it was more competing with the neighborhood movie theater,” Dunlavey said. “We’re really in that same vein. We’re creating an experience.” And, he added, “you’ll see the fastest-paced, most action-packed sport out there today, and enjoy the amazing experience watching some top-quality professional rugby, and afterward a celebration of a victory.” With Segra’s artificial turf surface, Hardy said, the field can be used every day, in contrast to grass surfaces. And there is more to come. “I think with Segra Field especially, the opportunity is music and concerts,” Hardy said. “We had three or four shows planned
last summer, 2020, that we couldn’t obviously facilitate, so I don’t know whether it’ll be this year or next year, but that’s certainly where we want to go at that stadium.” Dunlavey said while Old Glory won’t know until Segra is fully open whether they lost some fans in the move to Loudoun, there are plenty of fans to be won here. One of the largest and most active youth rugby organizations, he said, is Loudoun Youth Rugby. Hardy said as COVID-19-era restrictions lift, Loudoun United will be picking up where it left off to build the fanbase and keep people coming to Segra. “You see the world over right now, especially with what’s going on Europe, just how much soccer is about the fans,” Hardy said. “If ever that was in doubt, just look at what happened with the European Super League and the fans’ reaction to that. So there is no soccer team without fans.” “Our demographics are so strong for sports, and that drives a lot of the conversations that we have with teams,” Rizer said. “Targeting that youth population, the growth of other sports, the lacrosses and the other things like that—when you look at the demographics of Loudoun and you look at youth participation, it’s an exciting thing for these leagues to look at, because they know that they’re going to have that built-in fanbase.” Despite the disruptions of the pandemic, Rizer said the expectations for Segra Field’s impact in Loudoun remain high, bringing in not only teams, tournaments, and fans, but also building Loudoun’s reputation as a sports destination. County
According to Loudoun Economic Development, businesses with fewer than 20 employees comprise 86% of all businesses in Loudoun, and more than half of all jobs in the county. The department’s early COVID-19 projections in 2020 suggested that nearly 40% of all Loudoun businesses could have been lost, but that outcome was prevented. “These businesses are the backbone of our local economy and were the most vulnerable during COVID-19. Thanks to a supportive community, dedicated funding from the Board of Supervisors, and a willingness to adapt to the moment, small businesses will also lead the way in Loudoun’s economic recovery,” Rizer stated. “Loudoun Small Business Week is always a time for celebration, but this year seems especially meaningful.” n
supervisors plan to make plenty of money from the field, ranging from building Loudoun’s brand as a sports destination to an entirely new tax currently aimed just at Segra games: an admissions tax for professional sporting events. In November 2020, supervisors voted to ask Attorney General Mark Herring whether localities have the authority to apply an admissions tax just to professional sporting events. “I don’t think any of our base assumptions have changed from when we started,” Rizer said. “Obviously, that won’t be the case this year just like it wasn’t the case last year, but I think our base assumptions remain in place, and we still think that this is a fiscally solid project, especially as we continue to add more sports teams to the mix.” Yes, still more sports teams—although Rizer said he doesn’t have anything to announce yet. “We’re always looking at that opportunities and, we do have a couple of more opportunities that we’re in discussions on right now,” Rizer said. “I think one of the things that I find most exciting is that we’re still having these conversations despite the fact that we’re 18 months into the COVID-19 slowdown this year and stop altogether last year. But yeah, we’re still looking at some more opportunities—nothing that I can say that we’ve closed yet, but we do think that there’s some more to come.” In the long term he said he expects Segra will be “something that we’ll be looking back on as something that was a really good opportunity for the county at the right time.” n
MAY 6, 2021
Greenway tolls continued from page 1 “The County mounted a serious, well-reasoned legal effort to prevent these large toll increases, and I appreciate the work of our County Attorney and the entire team. I’m also thankful to our many citizens who participated in this process and allowed the SCC to hear firsthand just how impactful continued large toll increases are to them, their families and their businesses. There’s no doubt that our challenges with high toll rates are not over, but this decision is a step in the right direction.” “We are pleased with this decision by the SCC, since a toll rate increase of this magnitude would have put a heavy economic burden on Loudoun County motorists,” stated County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large). “The proposed toll increase would have had a disproportionate effect on small businesses and lower income citizens, many of whom cannot afford to use the Greenway at the current toll rates.” Toll hikes on the Greenway each year were routine for years under a state law all but guaranteeing them. That law expired in 2020, giving Greenway toll opponents some hope that for the first time they could successfully push back on those increases. But at the same time, the Greenway’s owners filed for five years of annual toll increases as soon as the old law expired. They ranged from a 5% increase on off-peak traffic for 2022 to a 6.8% increase on peak-hour traffic in 2025. If approved in full, tolls would have been at $6.15 per one-way trip in off-peak hours, and $7.90 in peak hours by 2025. Loudouners made their feelings known on that idea, swamping the SCC with incredulous and outraged comments during the public comment phase of that case. Some questioned how the Greenway, which was built 25 years ago for hundreds of millions, today carries debt of close to a $1 billion. Others said they are already avoiding the road because of the tolls— referencing a law that toll increases on the Greenway should not discourage its use. Then in 2021, Loudoun’s delegation in Richmond got together behind a bill intended to give the state stronger oversight over those toll increases. It was the latest version of a bill introduced and killed in the General Assembly for years, but this time passed and signed into law. The current and former state legislators behind that bill cheered the news in a joint press release. “This decision is one of the biggest victories we have achieved in our fight against high tolls on the Dulles Greenway,” stated Sen. John J. Bell (D-13), who introduced a Senate version of that bill. “Toll increases
LOUDOUNNOW.COM on the Greenway have gone unchecked for too long, but it stops today. I’m proud to have carried this bill that puts the needs of Loudoun County commuters over Greenway profit margins. This is a bipartisan win, and I’m grateful to all of the Loudoun officials who supported us in getting here today.” “My goal has always been no more toll increases. Laws passed years ago allowed these increases, which is why we fought successfully to change this moving forward by preventing multi-year toll increases and making it harder to justify any increases. This ruling was a great outcome given the current law, but with my bill we can protect commuters even more moving forward,” stated Del. Suhas Subramanyam (D-87), who introduced the bill in the House of Delegates. “Loudoun County deserves credit for marshaling resources to fight this round of Greenway’s toll increases,” stated former delegate David Ramadan, Subramanyam’s predecessor, and who introduced the first version of the bill in 2015. “The County’s legal experts and analysis were successful in demonstrating that the majority of toll increases weren’t warranted. In the future, the new legislation passed earlier this year by Senator John Bell and Delegate Suhas Subramanyam will impose a higher burden on Greenway operators which will improve protections for commuters even further. I appreciate their bipartisan work and thank them for carrying on this fight which I started eight years ago.” The new law seeks to create measurable standards top determine whether toll increases would discourage motorists from taking the road. It also would allow debt refinancing only when necessary to operate, maintain, or expand the road and would not increase toll rates—seeking to close the loophole that allowed the Greenway to amass around a billion dollars in outstanding debt and count that against its profitability. If the Greenway seeks to stay privately owned beyond 2056, when it is set to become public property, it must make new financial disclosures and have at least a BBB- bond rating from a major credit ratings agency, the lowest investment-grade rating. Currently, none of the three major bond ratings agencies rate the Greenway that highly. And the bill also limits the Greenway to apply for toll increases one year at a time in the future. The SCC ruling this week, which was filed in 2020, was not governed by the new law. n
Pivoting continued from page 3 signed on with a better, and more expensive, marketing team. She happily reported the fourth quarter of 2020 was her best ever. Tony Stafford of Ford’s Fish Shack said he was faced with the unfortunate reality of having to furlough 180 employees last spring, when the restaurant industry was among the hardest hit in the early days of the pandemic. He, like other business owners, started new initiatives, like offering takeout and family meals. Perhaps his most successful venture was being very engaged with Ford’s social media presence, posting regular updates and telling their story. He said that struck a chord with his followers, and it’s now become part of his regular routine. Like Woods, he said it was important for his business to not skimp on the quality customers have come to expect, even if it would cut costs. “You stay strong with your brand, stay strong with what’s gotten you where you’re at. You don’t lose that,” he said. “We sell an 8 ounce chicken breast on our sandwich. I could’ve gone to a 6 ounce, or a different brand. You don’t lose sight of what got you where you’re at, as much as you want to be
PAGE 35 scared and pull your head back like a turtle.” For Justin Dobson of Comfenergy, his rapidly growing business and workforce also came to a grinding halt last spring. Fortunately, in just the previous fall, his business had begun to offer new services that deemed Comfenergy an essential business when quarantine began. He increased his marketing budget, and the company also offered fogging and disinfecting services, which became popular as the pandemic set in. Mother Nature also threw them a bone. “It got to be 95 degrees for 20 days straight and then it rained for a month. We fix hot houses and we fix wet basements, so the challenge [was] we got too much work and not enough people. [The extra marketing money] paid off,” he said. All three panelists encouraged conference attendees to stay true to their brand, and never quit, even in the face of extreme adversity. It’s a challenge all small business owners face, even in non-pandemic years, they agreed. “That feeling, I’m not sure it ever goes away,” Woods said. As a small business owner, “you’re always learning to overcome, adapt, take risks. Sometimes it’s mentally exhausting. Our industries are different but in that way we’re all the same.” n
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