Loudoun County Public Schools
is looking at ways to address chronic absenteeism after the Virginia Board of Education revised its accreditation model last month, changing the process to collect data for the previous year only.
Chronic absenteeism is one of nine indicators in the state’s school accreditation model.
Amid rising college costs, Loudoun County offers alternative education and career options for students and adults wanting to pursue professions outside of the traditional four-year college route.
Fees are higher across the board for public, private nonprofit and private
for-profit schools. Between 1980 and 2020, the average price of tuition, fees, and room and board for an undergraduate degree increased 169%, according to a report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.
But for students who want a good job without the cost of college, there are plenty of options right here in Loudoun.
One option that is available to Loudoun
County residents comes from the Northern Virginia Community College, outside of the traditional two-year associate degrees that are often associated with community colleges. NVCC offers a wide variety of certificate programs designed to get students ready for the workforce quickly.
ALTERNATIVE CAREERS
continues on page 34
For the past two years, the VBOE operated under special provisions to suspend or exclude chronic absenteeism in the accreditation calculations, allowing for threeyear averages. However, the new accreditation model now bases it solely on data from the previous year.
During an April 25 School Board work session, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Asia Jones and Director of Student Mental Health Services Jennifer Evans gave an update on the VBOE’s April 20 decision to not continue to use the special provision to suspend chronic absenteeism as one of the accreditation indicators for
ABSENTEEISM
continues on page 36
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(without lifting a finger)
Dozens of women gathered Friday morning to hear from successful business women at the Loudoun Coalition on Women and Girls’ Entrepreneurial Women’s Business Seminar at Ida Lee Park.
Women in various stages of business development, from just thinking about it to being fully immersed in the process, networked with other women, listened to a panel of female entrepreneurs, and learned from various subject matter experts in small roundtable discussions.
Alberta Souanga and Natasha Kumi came to network and expand their catering business, Mama Spice, which specializes in west African food. They said right
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
Middleburg residents were joined by law enforcement officers from around the commonwealth May 3 to celebrate the promotion of Shaun D. Jones to take over as the town’s police chief.
Before a standing-room-only crowd at American Legion Post 295, Jones took the oath of office from Loudoun County Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens and Spotsylvania County Clerk of the Circuit Court Christayn M. Jett. Jones fills the post following the retirement of A.J. Panebianco after 11 years leading the department.
He joined the Middleburg Police Department in 2020 when he left the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office to become assistant chief, effectively beginning a two-and-a-half-year interview process for the opportunity to take over when Panebianco stepped down. Town leaders said he certainly passed that interview.
“This is a milestone in your career. You have worked a long, long time to get here, and you’ve earned it,” Town Manager Danny Davis said. “You have continued to show great dedication and commitment in everything you
now they go to farmers’ markets in Fairfax and Prince William counties, but are looking to do more in Loudoun and make connections.
Cheryl Wiehn, owner of Brown Dog Bookkeeping, opened her business in July 2022. She is a virtual bookkeeper who likes to work with women-owned businesses that are just starting out on their journey because, she said, “a lot of women have a fear around numbers, or they don’t understand finance and I want to help women get over that and help them understand it’s not a hurdle to starting a business.”
Wiehn, who has a degree in business administration, worked for years managing books for several companies but stepped away to start and then raise a
family. She decided to start her own company so she could have the flexibility for her family.
She said someone considering starting a business should take the leap.
“Just do it! You are never going to be perfect,” she said. “You are going to stumble along the way. Every single person that has done it has stumbled and made mistakes, then you look back and say I can’t believe I did that, but you didn’t know any better. There is so much you don’t know until you stumble upon it.”
The members of a panel discussion also talked about taking the leap and overcoming fear. Those included ARM
The most recent survey of Loudoun residents showed they rate the county’s services, economy, safety, and quality of life overall more highly than residents of similar counties across the nation, with some unsurprising exceptions.
The 2022 National Community Survey polled residents on a range of topics among government services, quality of life, and the economy. And especially when compared to other counties with similar population sizes, they rated Loudoun more highly in many areas, especially in terms of how safe they feel, how the county treats diverse and vulnerable populations, employment opportunities, and government services ranging from street repair, to drinking water, to libraries, to law enforcement, and fire and rescue services.
But Loudoun ranked poorly as a place to retire both overall and compared to similarly sized counties. Of 369 communities across the country, Loudoun ranked 348th for quality of life as a place to retire, in the bottom 5% of communities with only 39% of people responding positively. Nationally, Loudoun was also below the benchmarks on cost of living,
ease of walking, and the availability of affordable quality housing. There, too, the difference was stark—the rate of positive responses in Loudoun was in the bottom 11% for cost of living, 20% for ease of walking, and 24% for availability of quality affordable housing.
BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
Sheriff Michael Chapman commended a renewed relationship with Loudoun County Public Schools under Interim Superintendent Daniel Smith, and his deputies’ swift response to the April 2 shooting at Dulles Town Center mall, during a briefing at the May 2 Board of Supervisors meeting.
“I am pleased to say that the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office senior-level collaboration with Loudoun County Public Schools has been much better since the appointment of Dr. Smith as the
interim superintendent,” Chapman said during a rare personal appearance at a quarterly report on crime in Loudoun. “It has been refreshing and completely different from the previous administration. This is evidence that effective communication and collaboration is possible at our most senior levels, and the way things should
COLLABORATION
continues on page 8
Supervisors Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) pointed to a strong majority of respondents, about 7 in 10, who agreed that the county needs smaller
RESIDENT SURVEY continues on page 6
Sheriff Michael Chapman faced questions from County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) on his use of taxpayer-funded official government channels for politics during the May 2 Board of Supervisors meeting.
Alert Loudoun is the county government’s system to disseminate
CHAPMAN QUESTIONED
continues on page 8
Loudoun County Animal Services will host a “Homeward Bound” free pet adoption event Saturday, May 13 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adoption fees will be waived for all available cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, small pets, and reptiles.
All dogs and cats adopted from LCAS are spayed or neutered, have age-appropriate vaccinations and receive a microchip which is registered to their adopter. Adopters will also receive goodie bags with supplies to help their new pet settle into their home. The standard adoption screening process still applies, and most adoptions can be completed on the same day.
See available pets online at loudoun.gov/animals. The animal shelter is at 42225 Adoption Drive south of Leesburg.
As Loudoun County implements new local election districts, the Office of Elections and Voter Registration is mailing all registered voters current information on their precincts and polling places.
The redrawn districts will be used for the first time in the upcoming June 20 Democratic primary election and the Nov. 7 general election. There is no Republican primary this year. The new election districts were adopted by the Board of Supervisors as part of the redistricting process that occurred after the 2020 census.
ON THE AGENDA continues on page 7
“It started out as a normal outing. My wife and I had to run to the grocery store. We were driving down the road casually going over our shopping list when the car ahead of me started to slow down anticipating the yellow light.
I started to move my foot from the gas to the brake as any normal person would do when they see brake lights in front of them but I couldn’t. I couldn’t feel my foot.
The car kept moving forward and I just couldn’t get my foot on the brake. And CRUNCH!
I finally came to a stop when I hit the car in front of me.”
This tragic story was shared with us by Dan S an Ashburn resident who has peripheral neuropathy. And while no one was hurt in this accident, Dan S had suffered almost everyday of his life with tingling and burning in his feet until numbness set in and he could no longer feel even the brake pedal beneath his foot
“The first stage is pain ” shares Rachal Lohr, Acupuncturist of FIREFLY Acupuncture & Wellness “You feel burning, tingling, sharp pains, or you feel like you’re walking on tacks or marbles This pain eventually subsides and the numbness sets in. Unfortunately the numbness brings with it a whole other host of problems.”
This was the case with Dan. “I said I wasn’t going to drive again What if that had been a pedestrian?”
It is terribly common that peripheral neuropathy and its debilitating symptoms interfere with a person’s ability to live their life Dan was now reliant on his wife to drive him around, even the simple pleasure of cruising down to play golf or taking her out to dinner was outside his capabilities. And even more common, Dan’s general practitioner and several specialists told him there was nothing they could do other than prescribe him pills that would ease the pain of his neuropathy.
That’s where Rachal Lohr and her staff at FIREFLY come in.
“About 75% of our current patients come to us suffering from the same condition as Mr. Dan,” tells Rachal.
“They’re in constant pain from neuropathy and it prevents them from not only living their lives but more importantly, it prevents them from enjoying it.
Depending on the severity of their nerve damage, we typically see tremendous progress in 3-4 months of treatment. I like to say we’re in the business of making your golden years golden.”
“I can’t lie,” confides Dan. “I was skeptical at first. The folks down at my pain center told me there was nothing that could be done and then there’s a doctor right here in Loudoun who tells me she can help. Turns out she was right! About three months after treatment I was able to confidently drive myself to my appointments!
My wife and I celebrated by buying ourselves a new car! It’s hard to put into words how incredible this is, quite frankly [Rachal] gave me my life back.”
While FIREFLY specializes in acupuncture and it’s definitely part of their protocols in treating neuropathy, the real secret is in a more modern medical solution called ATP Resonance BioTherapy™. “This technology was originally developed by NASA to expedite healing and recovery” shares Ann, a Senior Patient Care Coordinator at the clinic. “It’s like watering a plant. ATP Resonance BioTherapy™ stimulates the blood vessels to grow back around the peripheral nerve and provide them the proper nutrients to heal and repair.”
You can learn more about Rachal Lohr and FIREFLY at FIREFLYAcuAndWellness.com. If you’re ready to schedule a consultation call (703)263-2142 and do so quickly.
FIREFLY is a very intimate clinic and the staff takes pride in their ability to take their time with each patient so they are very limited in their ability to take on new patients
Local clinic has a modern, medical solution to treat your Peripheral Neuropathy and is seeing incredible results!
Just over $57,000 in tourism funding will come to Loudoun County to support Visit Loudoun programs and US Endurance’s Gravel Grinder National Championship bike race.
The funding comes from the Virginia Tourism Corporation, through programs designed to leverage local marketing dollars to attract more tourists and spending. Visit Loudoun was awarded $20,000 each to support the Loudoun County Official Visitors Guide and the forthcoming LoCo Adventure Trail.
Meanwhile, US Endurance will receive $7,200 for its Grinder Nationals marketing and another $10,000 to support the event itself. US Endurance last year made Loudoun’s miles of gravel roads the home of its more than 100mile Grinder Nationals, and will return this Saturday, May 13.
The grants are among more than $3.2 million in matching grants and sponsorship funds to 236 programs across the state announced for National Travel and Tourism Week May 7-13. That adds to $15.5 million in local funding for those programs.
“Driving inbound out-of-state overnight visitation is a key economic
continued from page 4
single-family homes.
“It’s something that we talked a lot about in the 2019 comp plan, and then quite frankly I don’t think we’ve really delivered on much, and I’m calling attention on it partly as sort of a clarion call to the development community, because this survey shows there’s appetite for that type of product,” Letourneau said.
Conversely, eight in 10 strongly disagreed that the county needs mobile homes, and half disagreed it needs tiny homes.
Loudoun residents’ assessment of the county school system has dropped steadily in the biannual survey, from 87% pos-
strategy and the VTC grant and sponsorship programs help create unique partnerships that have tangible economic impacts across Virginia in all nine GO Virginia Regions,” Virginia
Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick stated. “Many of these programs also support regional marketing initiatives designed to encourage Virginians to explore their
own state.”
Funding comes from the VTC’s Regional Marketing, Marketing Leverage, and VA250 Marketing Leverage programs. n
itive in 2018, which was above national benchmarks. In 2020 that dropped to 76% positive, and in 2022 to 66% positive, both statistically similar to national benchmarks.
Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) said the results “makes perfect sense—that’s really the result of marketing.”
“I would like to see more granular data as to what that was based on, but if we’re asking people what they think, and they’ve been bombarded for 18 months with negative messaging about Loudoun schools—yeah, OK,” he said.
Education was also the only area in which a majority of respondents said they would be willing to endure a tax increase to improve the service.
Survey results also reflected a downward trend in many areas nationwide.
“Respondents to the survey really rated Loudoun County services very highly overall, so while we did see that decline, we saw compared to our similar benchmark communities, those who have similar populations to Loudoun County, that we actually fared high on 50 out of those 123 indicators,” Loudoun County Division Manager Megan Cox said. “So, while we are looking at a national phenomenon of something trending downward, we are still faring very well against our benchmarks.”
Based on the results, the National Research Center and Polco, which conducted the survey, highlighted the economy and safety as assets and priorities for Loudoun residents.
The Loudoun Combined Fire-Rescue Service was the most highly rated among county government services, with 95% of people positively assessing the quality of
Loudoun’s fire services and 93% positively rating ambulance or emergency medical services. That was followed closely by the public library, with a 92% positive assessment.
Loudouners also like their sewer service, with 90% of respondents rating it positively. Almost all public services got a positive response, with only transit services and land use planning polling below 50% positive.
In line with national benchmarks, the county government that provides those services got a 53% positive assessment for value of services for taxes paid, 51% for overall confidence in county government, 47% for being honest, and 41% for being open and transparent to the public.
More information and the full survey results are online at loudoun.gov/survey. n
continued from page 4
Any resident who receives a notice for a voter who no longer lives at the address is encouraged to let the Office of Elections know by writing “return to sender” on the envelope and putting the letter back in the mail. Officials will use the returned letters to update their records. The Office of Elections cannot update voting records by phone.
Early voting for the June 20 primary election began Friday, May 5. Information about the upcoming June primary and the November general election, including voting deadlines, sample ballots, and how to vote at home, is online at loudoun.gov/upcomingelections.
Loudoun County will host a location and design public hearing about the Westwind Drive from Loudoun County Parkway to Old Ox Road project on Monday, June 5 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Stone Hill Middle School in Ashburn.
The four-lane, median-divided road will include a new section of Westwind
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap.
All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.”
This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-9753.
Drive from State Street to Ladbrook Drive and a four-lane bridge over Broad Run. It will directly link the roadways between the Loudoun Gateway and Ashburn Metrorail stations by connecting Loudoun County Parkway and Old Ox Road.
Comments will be accepted during the meeting or by June 19.
Meeting materials, more information, and a comment form are available online at loudoun.gov/westwind. Comments can also be mailed to Yuliya Esmond, Loudoun County Department of Transportation & Capital Infrastructure, 101 Blue Seal
Drive, Suite 102, Leesburg, VA, 20177; or emailed to dtci@loudoun.gov, referencing “Westwind Drive” in the subject line.
The three major bond ratings agencies have again affirmed their triple-triple-A rating on Loudoun’s general obligation bonds, noting the strong financial performance, a robust economic profile with a diverse tax base, and strong management.
Loudoun County has held the Aaa rating from Moody’s since 2004, and AAA from
Fitch Ratings and S&P Global since 2005.
The ratings agencies also affirmed Loudoun’s AA+ and Aa1 ratings on the upcoming sale of public facility revenue bonds through the Economic Development Authority, as well as outstanding appropriation-backed bonds.
The triple-A ratings allow the county to finance capital projects at the best possible interest rates, keeping the cost of those projects down.
More information is online at loudoun.gov/bondratings. n
$440,000 15 Crab Apple Court Jessica Dean 540.931.5249 VirginiaLifestyleHomes.com
ACTIVE Winchester | $345,000 136 Myrtle Avenue Kaaren Lofgren 703.862.9194 KaarenLofgren.com
UNDER CONTRACT Fairfax | $785,000 4764 Farndon Court Susan Thomas 703.674.9896
Joe O’Hara 703.350.1234
SOLD | REPRESENTED BUYER Lovettsville | $620,000
8 Shetland Way
Geri Deane 703.615.4126 GeriDeane.com
fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov www. fairhousing.vipnet.org
SOLD Fredericksburg | $455,000 321 Cannon Circle Paula Owens 703.201.1294 PaulaJOwens.com
SOLD | REPRESENTED BUYER Berryville | $699,900
136 Rose Hill Lane Jessica Dean 540.931.5249
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SOLD Stephens City | $230,000 397 Surrey Club Lane
Christine Binnix 540.683.0309 SellingWarrenCountyVA.com
continued from page 4
always work.”
A lack of communication between agencies and public feuding between Chapman and former Superintendent Scott Ziegler was criticized in a December 2022 special grand jury report on the school district’s handling of two sexual assaults committed by the same student.
“The citizens of Loudoun County deserve better than two high-profile individuals publicly squabbling and refusing to put aside any petty differences,” the grand jury wrote, also finding the Sheriff’s Office did not charge or arrest the assailant until after the case drew national attention and refused to provide the actual charges against the assailant to the school district.
But Chapman said his office has met frequently with Loudoun County Public Schools security leadership on topics like school safety, collaboration, and updating the two agencies’ Memorandum of Understanding.
“This collaboration has become even
continued from page 4
emergency information, news releases, traffic updates, weather alerts and similar information. Typical alerts might deal with road construction, flood watches, county facility closures, missing persons alerts, or the Sheriff’s office’s daily incident report.
But Chapman has been criticized for also using the system to push political messaging. In April 2022, following a study on the prospect of starting a county police department to take over law enforcement duties, Chapman issued a more than 1,600-word release on Alert Loudoun pointing to the study’s findings that it was unnecessary, praising the Sheriff’s Office, and urging Loudouners to write to the Board of Supervisors.
Then in November, after Circuit Court Judge James E. Plowman dismissed the charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder against Abdul Waheed, an alleged co-conspirator in the Dec. 30, 2021, fatal shooting of Najat Chemlali Goode in her Brambleton home, Chapman issued an unusual statement through Alert
better since the appointment of Dr. Smith. He and I have met personally to discuss the [Memorandum of Understanding] and are in direct contact on safety issues related to Loudoun County students and
the schools,” Chapman said, also pointing to his office’s collaboration with the school district on a number of forums at county schools in recent months on topics like fentanyl, other drugs, and vaping.
“We continue to move forward in a positive, collaborative direction,” he said.
He also praised his deputies’ swift response to the shooting at the mall food court, in which a person was shot while filming a prank on another person for YouTube. Chapman said dispatchers got the first call about the shooting at 11:57 a.m., and deputies arrived three minutes later, found the victim and began administering emergency medical care. They moved quickly upstairs and arrested the suspect just two minutes later, only five minutes after the first call came. They went on to cover all entrances to the mall and search all stores for anyone who may be taking shelter.
At 12:06 p.m., only four minutes later, the victim was en route to the hospital and receiving a whole blood transfusion from Loudoun fire-rescue.
“This was remarkable response by the emergency communications center staff,
Buta Biberaj.
But when a person was shot April 2 in the food court at the Dulles Town Center and deputies rushed to block every exit to the mall, County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) pointed out, no Alert Loudoun message went out. In those cases, the alerts are sent from the county’s Emergency Communications Center, where dispatchers take 911 calls. Meanwhile, Randall said, her office was getting questions about why the mall was closed and what was happening.
“I think your explanation of ‘there was no risk thus we didn’t put out an alert,’ I get that and that makes sense,” Randall said. “It just doesn’t jive with the fact that there have been times when it’s been used, in my opinion, politically, where there was certainly—no one’s in danger.”
Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office deputies, and our command staff and fire and rescue personnel,” Chapman said.
Similarly, Sheriff’s Office Lt. Col. Chris Sawyer praised the swift work by deputies in a Feb. 5 stabbing on Towncenter Plaza in Sterling, in which they responded to find a person in a parking lot suffering multiple stab wounds and gave emergency medical aid.
“That’s an ongoing thing, so I can’t get into a whole lot of details there, but the work that our deputies did on that case— we had two deputies providing lifesaving care, truly trauma care,” Sawyer said. “It’s called tactical emergency casualty care. Had they not been there with an extremely short response time and had the training and equipment, this likely would have been a homicide.”
Chapman and county supervisors also noted the numerous awards sheriff’s deputies were given at the Loudoun Chamber’s 38th Annual Loudoun County Valor Awards on April 27. n
force personnel, going through store to store, going through every single bathroom that was in the mall, making sure all the doors were locked, the fact that we were working with mall management to make sure that everything was secure, we had deputies surrounding the mall so there was no risk of anybody going into the mall,” Chapman said.
Other supervisors also wondered.
“I get alerts on crashes all the time, consistently. A lot of the community was questioning why there wasn’t an alert on that,” Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) said.
Loudoun defending his office’s work and writing that he was “extremely disappointed with the performance of the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney” and “our community deserves better.” Chapman, a Republican, has often sparred with Democrat Commonwealth’s Attorney
Chapman denied he has used the system for political messaging, and said “we put out information, whether it’s about risk or whether it’s not—it’s information that’s of value to the citizens we serve.”
“So, you didn’t think at that moment putting the alert out was of value to the citizens?” Randall asked.
“At that moment, we were in the middle of clearing the mall with rescue task
“Maybe we need to review how we’re using that system alert, because saying we didn’t put something out for a shooting— granted, yes, thankfully was not a mass shooting, it was an isolated incident— but the system alert goes out for car accidents, for missing persons, and various other things in the community every time something happens,” Vice Chair Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) said. “So, for a shooting to happen at a big, populated area like the mall, there should have been something sent out.” n
“It just doesn’t jive with the fact that there have been times when it’s been used, in my opinion, politically, where there was certainly—no one’s in danger.”
— County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large)
“This was remarkable response by the emergency communications center staff, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office deputies, and our command staff and fire and rescue personnel.”
— Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
Leesburg’s Department of Economic Development Commission and other town leaders gathered May 3 to honored outstanding businesses and business owners during its annual awards ceremony at Ion International Training Center.
Twenty businesses and individuals were nominated for awards in five categories.
Restaurateur Jason Miller was presented with this year’s George C. Marshall Award, which celebrates an individual who has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to the community above and beyond business contributions. He is the founder of The Wine Kitchen, the King Street restaurant that helped spur the revitalization of the downtown historic district after it opened in 2008. In addition to his culinary creativity, Miller also was recognized for his support for other town businesses, including service on the Economic Development Advisory Committee and the new Main Street steering committee. The award is presented by the George C. Marshall International Center and Executive Director Valerie Beaudoin noted that like
Marshall, Miller was a Virginia Military Institute graduate.
The Arts and Culture Award was presented to Art Together. The award celebrates a business, organization or individual that contributes to or actively supports the arts in town. Founder
Catherine Fetterman started 26 years ago teaching art and French and entering local shows to sell her artwork. In 2004, she began teaching art to senior adults
BUSINESS AWARDS
continues on page 11
During Leesburg’s annual business awards ceremony last week, Director of Economic Development Russell Seymour announced the launch of a new business and tourism-oriented website.
The new platform, at chooseleesburg.com, is intended to serve as the primary marketing tool for the town—providing businesses, residents, and visitors with central stop for all town-related business and event information. Information on the site will help new businesses find space and navigate the permitting process while also providing tourism information geared to day trippers and those looking for a nearby staycation, Russell said. Another important aspect of the site is that it will be managed internally by his staff, allowing for easier updates.
“In many cases, a website provides the first impression of your locality,” Seymour said. “The new website is designed to provide a significant amount of important information in a quick and easy manner, while highlighting the quality of life we enjoy in Leesburg.” n
The plan to build a 15,000-square-foot addition to the Police Department’s Plaza Street headquarters advanced this week with the Town Council’s award of a $17.9 million construction contract to Hoar Construction.
Work is expected to begin in the fall and take two years to complete.
Hoar submitted the lowest of five bids. The company just completed the construction of the new Vienna Police Department headquarters.
During its meeting Tuesday, the council also approved an eighth change order the project’s design contract, providing Dewberry with an additional $500,000 for construction administration services.
The total cost of the project now is estimated at $26.5 million.
The Commission on Public Art has extended until May 19 the deadline for submissions from private commercial property owners interested in hosting a mural on their building.
The Private Property Mural Pilot Project was approved by the Town Council last year for sites located outside of the H-1 Old and Historic District. The commission is planning a mural with the theme “Destination Leesburg.”
Submissions are due by Friday, May 19 and must include wall measurements and location details, a brief written description of the proposed location, how it would accommodate a mural, and the benefits of having a mural in such a location. Submissions will be reviewed by COPA in June.
Submission guidelines and details are available in the Public Arts Commission section at leesburgva.gov.
AROUND TOWN continues on page 12
continued
at Madison House and Loudoun County Adult Day Center and sharing art opportunities to those with dementia, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other significant cognitive, mental, mobility and sight impairments—work that became her passion. In 2013 she renamed her business Art Together to focus on bringing the joy of the arts to seniors and caregivers throughout the region. During COVID she worked to provide art supplies to students and seniors and offer art classes on her YouTube channel.
The Community Ambassador Award was presented to the Loudoun Valley Homegrown Markets Cooperative. Its Saturday market in Leesburg will mark its 30th anniversary next year. The award celebrates a business or organization that contributes its time, talent, and resources to promote a positive image of Leesburg.
The Innovations Award—celebrates a business or organization that executes an innovative business venture, unique
product or service development, or other cutting edge business practice—was presented to ECHO. Founded in 1975, the nonprofit supports adults with disabilities through skill building, job placement, day support, and transportation. During COVID the organization adjusted its programming space and employment program to keep participants engaged; launched the ECHO Barkery, a business that makes all-natural dog biscuits from scratch; established the Blue Elegance line of handcrafted jewelry; and started ECHO Business Services.
Dolce & Ciabatta Bakery was selected for the New/Expanding Business Award. Godfrey and Tatiana McKenzie opened the bakery four years ago in a 1,200-squarefoot space that was quickly packed with customers. During the pandemic, they opened a larger second location and expanded its menu to include pizza while also keeping the first store up and running.
Economic Development Director Russell Seymour said the purpose of the event wasn’t only to celebrate the award winners, but to recognize the work of all town businesses that, together, make Leesburg a top destination of choice. n
Leesburg leaders and residents gathered Thursday at Union Cemetery to dedicate a new memorial to the unknown residents whose remains were buried in the town’s cemetery for the indigent and then moved—or just paved over—as development occurred.
The Potter’s Field Memorial includes a historical marker telling the story of the cemetery, a memorial obelisk, and a small bench. It also includes the small, ground-level grave marker that earlier had been used to mark a nearby gravesite where the comingled remains of interred individuals were placed after they were dug up during the widening of East Market Street near Catoctin Circle and the development of the shopping center in the early 1980s.
The town established the half-acre cemetery for the poor, convicted criminals and
As part of the recognition of National Police Week May 14-20, the town will place blue ribbons on trees in front of town facilities and parks. Residents, schools, and businesses are encouraged to show their support for the Leesburg Police Department
those not affiliated with local churches in 1839. Over the following century, some 300 bodies were interred there.
The Town Council approved the new memorial to more properly honor those interred on the grounds. The project was championed by the Thomas Balch Library Commission, the town’s Commission on Public Art, and the Equity Commission, and completed by the town’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
Mary Pellicano, a former Balch Library commissioner, celebrated the project, saying, “fortunately, there’s no statute of limitations for doing the right thing.”
“The current Town Council stepped up to rectify an oversight from a long time ago, long time ago,” she said. “We want to thank everyone who worked to create a memorial to honor those deceased town citizens in a more suitable and respectful manner. The anonymous souls laid to rest here, slighted by history, deserve no less.” n
by tying blue ribbons around trees in their yards or on their mailboxes and wearing blue as an additional sign of support and appreciation.
Members of the public are also invited to write thank you notes or letters of encouragement and drop them off at the police department, 65 Plaza St. NE, in Leesburg. n
Leesburg Presbyterian Church has become one of only 305 Presbyterian churches across the country this year certified as an Earth Care Congregation.
The Earth Care Congregation certification is designed to recognize churches that make the commitment to take seriously God’s charge to “till and keep” the garden, according to the announcement. The certification lasts through February 2024.
The Earth Care Congregation program was launched in 2010 to inspire churches to care for the earth in a holistic way by integrating earth care into all aspects of church life. To become an Earth Care Congregation, the congregation affirmed the Presbyterian Church U.S.A’s Earth Care Pledge to integrate environmental practices and thinking into their worship, education, facilities, and outreach, and will track that progress.
“This congregation’s activities and commitment brings hope to their community and indeed to the world. We believe that LPC will inspire others to respond intentionally to God’s call to care for the earth,” Presbyterian Church U.S.A. Associate for Sustainable Living and Earth Care Jessica Maudlin stated. n
Patrons at the Leesburg Senior Center got a special treat Tuesday morning when the Rhythm Makers hand chime group performed a concert in the gym to mark Older Americans Month. The group is comprised of people with moderate-stage cognitive impairment and their care partners, under a program developed by the Area Agency on Aging through the county’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services. Under the direction of Lori Stahl, they performed classic favorites along with the anthems of the U.S. Armed Forces. See a bit of their performance at youtube.com/loudounnow. n
Have you ever been sitting on your couch doing nothing and think to yourself, “I should get up and exercise,” but find it hard to get the motivation?
If so, you aren’t alone. It’s a problem four students at the Academies of Loudoun struggled with but decided to work toward finding a solution.
Sophomores Sandy Yang, Deeksha Ramankole, Anish Devulapalli and Max Le created Phthalos, a business idea they came up with as part of the school’s Engineering Technology Entrepreneurship Program. It combines exercise with a game to motivate high school and college students to exercise more.
“Phthalos is a gamified exercise app in which users can build their own virtual garden by going out to exercise,” Le said.
He said every time a user logs their exercise, nutrition and water intake, that makes the garden in the app grow. The exercise represents the sun, a person’s nutrition represents the nutrients in the soil and water intake represents rain in the app.
Beyond the healthy living aspect, he
The School Board met for just over five hours Monday night in a closed meeting to discuss prospective candidates seeking to be the next superintendent in the division.
The board discussed the candidates, salary options, and got legal advice about the hiring of a superintendent.
“We got a really good pool of candidates and I’m excited about meeting the finalists and selecting a good superintendent,” Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) said.
Serotkin said he couldn’t speak more about the candidates or the process, but said the board will be interviewing the finalists over the next 15 days, all in closed meetings at undisclosed locations.
The Code of Virginia allows for public bodies, like School Boards, to conduct closed meetings at unannounced locations
“solely for the purpose of interviewing candidates for the position of chief administrative officer.”
The purpose is to protect the confidentiality of the candidates, according to Serotkin.
“Many candidates who apply for a high-profile position are sitting superintendents or executives somewhere else and just like if you or I were applying for a job we wouldn’t want to disclose that to our employer,” he said.
The board voted to hold the closeddoor meetings on May 9 to interview candidates during the School Board meeting.
The job posting officially closed April 26, according to division spokesperson Dan Adams.
The months-long process began in February when the School Board chose Arizona firm GR Recruiting to
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH
continues on page 16
Loudoun County Public Schools is ranked fifth best public school district in Virginia, according to Niche, a web-based ranking and review service.
The division ranked fifth behind top ranked Falls Church City Public Schools and second place Arlington Public Schools, and before sixth-ranked Fairfax County Public Schools. A total of 131 districts in Virginia were ranked.
The website ranks districts to determine which communities have the best public schools based on academic performance (SAT/ ACT scores and state proficiency tests), teacher salaries, diversity, parent/student surveys among others.
The division received an “A” for an “overall Niche Grade,” ranks second as the best school district for athletes in Virginia and ranks 22nd of 132 as the best place to teach in Virginia.
Niche ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and opinions from students and parents.
View Loudoun County’s Niche profile at niche.com.
Arth Shome from Sycolin Creek Elementary School and Navya Srivastava from Belmont Station Elementary School were recognized by the Virginia Parent Teacher Association with Awards of Excellence for their submissions in this year’s Reflections arts contest.
This year’s theme was “Show Your Voice.” Shome was recognized for an intermediate level film production, and Srivastava for intermediate level literature. Entries were submitted to school-level PTAs, where they were judged by local artists before
SCHOOL NOTEBOOK continues on page 15
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moving on to compete in the Loudoun County Council PTA contest, according to the announcement.
The National PTA Reflections program is an arts contest that has engaged more than 10 million students since 1969. Each year students are asked to reflect on the student selected theme and submit original works of art in the medium of their choice.
Winners from Loudoun County advanced to the state competition. See the complete list of the winners and a slideshow of their work at loudounnow.com/news/education.
Five student projects won a combined $1,100 in prizes at the fourth annual Student Environmental Showcase hosted by the Loudoun Environmental Education Alliance, Loudoun County Public Schools, and the Northwest Virginia Regional GREENetwork.
Judges looked at seventeen student-created environmentally-themed exhibitions and ongoing eco-activities by K-12 students from public and private schools, homeschools and youth groups on April 27 at Trailside Middle School.
The $500 grand prize went to “Sustainability at Loudoun Valley High School with the Green Team Club.” The award was presented to Youth Conservation Leadership Institute student Leah Johnson.
The $200 prizes went to homeschooler Emma Lloyd for “Stream Signage on the W&OD Trail,” and to the “Unicef Recycling Project at Independence High School.”
The $100 prizes went to “Investigation of Diatoms in a Freshwater Waterway of Loudoun County” presented by Abi Farr, Zoe Khouvongsavanh, Jacob Park, and Remy Wolander from the Loudoun School for Advanced Studies; and “Development of a Novel Method of Aquatic PFAS Detection Through the Use of Benthic Macroinvertebrates” by Anthony Santos from the Academies of Loudoun.
The purpose of Loudoun SEAS is to amplify youth voices in environmental problem solving by showcasing to a real-world audience how students have meaningfully contributed to environmental stewardship in Loudoun County.
Four Loudoun high school students have been awarded silver medals in the annual Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition.
Katherine Garvey from Loudoun County High School won a medal for a sculpture called “A Look into Parasociality,” Delaney Sullivan from Loudoun Valley High School for a photography submission called “Fern by River,” Potomac Falls High School Erin Ternovska for
a ceramics piece called “Herr Herring the Red Herring” and Potomac Falls student Linyue Tong for a painting called “Little Hope.”
“These student artists’ talent, voice and point of view are inspiring,” Supervisor of Fine Arts for Loudoun County Schools Michael Pierson stated. “The extraordinary dedication to their ideas and craft permeates each of their pieces; they communicate unique narratives with artistic expression. We are extremely proud of their accomplishments.”
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
is the nation’s longest running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for creative teens in grades 7-12. Artists and writers submit work in 28 categories of art and writing to a network of regional affiliates who then present award ceremonies and exhibits for selected works on a local level. More than 300,000 works of art were submitted from across the United States, with nearly 2,000 pieces of art earning national awards.
To view all national winners in art and writing, go to medals.artandwriting.org. n
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said the app also encourages users to have interactions with other users through fitness challenges and helping the environment.
The name Phthalos, pronounced “thalos,” refers to a range of blue and green pigments. The team chose the name because they liked the uniqueness of it —it isn’t a name that would be confused with anything else.
The team is looking for participants to track a two-mile walk or run and send them a screen shot of it. For every screen shot that shows exercise, Le said, the team will donate 50 cents to the Goose Creek Association to support conservation in Loudoun County.
“We want to see if people will actually go out to exercise to help the environment,” he said.
Yang said the idea for the garden came about because she likes flowers, and she was playing another game called Cats and Soup, which she said was a loop process they felt could be applied to their app.
“It’s a simple game. The cats make soup, and you sell the soup and make money to buy more cats,” she said.
The idea behind Phthalos is to start with a seed, grow it into a plant then sell it at a market within the app to buy more seeds. The cycle continues and the virtual garden grows. Ye said they will have benchmarks players have to reach to customize their garden as well as awards for competitions with other players, in app purchases and premium features that allow you to further customize it.
Any exercise can be used with the app,
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lead the nationwide search for a new superintendent.
The board unanimously fired former superintendent Scott Ziegler in December, a day after the unsealing of a report by a special grand jury empaneled to look into how the administration handled two sexual assaults by the same student.
Chief of Staff Daniel Smith was appointed acting superintendent two days later, on Dec. 8, to serve until a permanent one was hired.
GR Recruiting held stakeholder
according to Ramankole. The team also wants to include videos of demonstrations of exercises, like mountain biking within the premium features.
The team has been working on the business concept all year, doing market research, fine tuning their elevator pitch and their investment packet with the goal of being the one team selected to attend a Shark Tank-like national entrepreneur competition called the National Summit to be held July 10-11 in Chicago.
There are 12 teams of students in the entrepreneurship program. Judges will hear each team’s pitch and then choose six to move on to the final pitch on May 22. One team will then be chosen from the six to go on to the national competition, according to entrepreneurship program teacher Mary Doherty.
Doherty said at the national competition five teams will be chosen from around the country to do their pitch live. She said the teams they have sent to the national competition the past five years have been pretty successful because of all the work they’ve put into their projects.
“Every one of our teams so far has made it to the semifinals,” Doherty said.
Two of the five years an Academies team has participated in the national competition have yielded the top prize, according to Principal Tinell Priddy.
All four team members said they’ve enjoyed the class and project and believe they have a good shot at making it to Chicago.
“Join the [exercise] challenge to help us build our idea further and to help people exercise and help the environment,” Devulapalli said.
Go to phthalos.godaddysites.com for more information. n
meetings with staff members, community groups, students and parents to get feedback on the qualities they felt were important in a new superintendent. The recruiting firm also conducted a public survey that was available for two weeks in March.
A candidate profile was created based on survey results and information gathered at the stakeholder meeting. The candidate profile was finalized at the end of March.
Recruiting and applications were accepted until April 26. Interviews and the selection process will take place during May, with the division anticipating selecting and announcing a new superintendent in late May or early June. n
A Loudoun grand jury on Monday handed up three felony indictments against a Leesburg man who shot an internet video prankster who was harassing him at the Dulles Town Center mall. The action followed a May 3 preliminary hearing in District Court.
Alan W. Colie, 31, is charged with aggravated malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and discharging a firearm within a building following the April 2 altercation in the mall’s food court.
Last week’s hearing included testimony from the victim, Tanner Cook, who was part of a four-person team that went to the mall to film prank videos for his YouTube channel and social media platforms. On this day that involved using his iPhone to
play the statement “Hey, dips— stop looking at my sparkle” to random individuals while videoing the interactions.
According to testimony, Colie was standing at the counter of a food vendor holding a bag when he was approached by Cook and another man. Cook held the phone toward Colie’s face and played the statement multiple times as Colie tried to back away. At one point, Colie pushed the phone away from him and asked him to stop, but Cook brought it back up to his face and repeated the recording.
Next a gunshot was heard, and Cook ran from the food court and out of the mall, stopping on the sidewalk near the Cheesecake Factory. It was there he realized he had been shot in the chest. A responding deputy rendered first aid until an ambulance arrived. Cook underwent surgery to treat the wound.
Colie remained on the scene at the food court. While the handgun was on
The Purcellville Police Department on Monday welcomed a new officer, Jonathan Simmons, with a formal swearing-in ceremony performed by Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens.
Simmons joins the department as a pre-certified law enforcement lateral transfer due to his previous experience as a conservation police officer for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. His current certification by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services allows him to participate in a condensed
field training program of approximately six weeks before he will be released to solo patrol.
Simmons graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in wildlife and fisheries science. He began his law enforcement career with the Kansas City Department of Wildlife and Parks as a conservation officer then returned east to join the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Simmons served the DWR for 18 years and retired as a master conservation police officer last fall. n
The Loudoun Crime Commission is having its monthly buffet luncheon this Friday May 12th at the Belmont Country Club, 19661 Belmont Manor Lane, Ashburn. Doors open at 12 noon, the cost is $25. Our guest speaker is the Honorable Gary Clemens, Clerk of the Loudoun County Circuit Court. He has served in this capacity for the past 23 years, and will discuss his responsibilities and experience.
the ground nearby, Colie was on his cellphone, talking to his lawyer, he told one witness. He was taken into custody without incident.
Colie has been held without bond since his arrest.
Adam Pouilliard of the Public Defender’s Office argued that Cook’s actions were intended to cause fear and confusion among his prank targets. “He is making money by causing fear in individuals,” Pouilliard said.
He also argued Colie’s response lacked elements of malice required to support the felony charges.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Eden Holmes said Colie used incommensurate force in the altercation. “They were holding cell phones, not a weapon,” she said.
The case will be set for trial in Circuit Court. n
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.comA Hamilton-area man had consumed psilocybin mushrooms and whiskey in the hours before he allegedly killed his father with a hatchet on Jan. 2, according to testimony at a May 3 preliminary hearing.
Angus Brown, 24, on Monday was indicted by a grand jury on charges of second-degree murder, and shooting, stabbing, cutting or wounding in the commission of a felony.
According to testimony in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court probable cause hearing, after Brown returned home from his shift at a Leesburg restaurant, he ate the mushrooms and drank three or four glasses of Scotch before he started fearing that someone was trying to harm him. He picked up a camping hatchet and paced his room before going downstairs to the kitchen. There he encountered his father, David, and brother, Jed.
His father tried to take the hatchet and Brown struck his father at least once in the neck. Brown then ran out of the house.
After his arrest, he was taken to Inova Loudoun Hospital’s Cornwall campus in Leesburg where he was interviewed by Sheriff ’s Office detectives. He told them he felt disconnected from reality and that he didn’t intend to harm his father.
The case next will be set for trial in Circuit Court. n
guest speaker covering topics on public safety.
second Friday of each month, there is a luncheon at the Belmont Country Club at 12PM, featuring aThe September 9th luncheon speaker will be Special Agent Morgan Bailey from the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. Purcellville Police Department From left: Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens, Purcellville Deputy Police Chief Dave Dailey, Officer Jonathan Simmons and Purcellville Police Chief Cynthia McAlister.
BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
Loudoun Cares held its 2023 Outstanding Volunteer Awards on Friday, recognizing the work conducted by volunteers across myriad organizations.
Volunteers were chosen for awards in more than 15 categories, including individuals and teams for adults, youth and seniors; public safety; project leaders; veteran, corporate, and community organizations and nonprofit boards of directors. County supervisors were also given the opportunity to nominate a recipient from their district who they felt went above and beyond.
“You all are very much a force multiplier for us,” County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said. “You all are there at times when we might not be able to be there. You extend a hand when somebody is at their—I don’t want to say at their lowest, that’s not the right word—but maybe their most vulnerable, and maybe their most in need. You all make us stronger as a county and a county government because of what you do.”
Loudoun Cares Executive Director Valerie Pisierra was unable to attend because of a last-minute emergency, but appeared on a pre-recorded message.
“I am so sorry that I’m not able to be
there will you guys tonight,” Pisierra said. “I am so thrilled for all of our volunteers and all of the hard work they’ve done to support our nonprofits in Loudoun County. I send you my thanks and I send you my heartfelt wishes for a wonderful celebration.”
Pisierra presented Loudoun Cares volunteer Una Giachinta her Executive Choice Award.
“You are amazing. You have helped us during COVID at a time when our phones were ringing off the hook,” Pisierra said. “We had cases, at sometimes 80 people waiting to be called, you jumped in there and you spent hours and hours and hours working with us to get all the help that these people needed.”
JUDY HINES SERVICE OF A LIFETIME AWARD: Brenda MacEoin, LAWS Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services
GABRIELLA MILLER YOUTH VOLUNTEER AWARD: Mahsa Riar, Loudoun Coalition on Women & Girls
OUTSTANDING ADULT VOLUNTEER AWARD: Amy Ulland, Loudoun Wildlife Conservatory
VOLUNTEER AWARDS continues on page 19
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OUTSTANDING ADULT VOLUNTEER TEAM AWARD: The Resourceful Woman, LAWS Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services
OUTSTANDING ADULT PUBLIC SAFETY AWARD: Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office Auxiliary
OUTSTANDING SENIOR VOLUNTEER AWARD: Cynthia Colbert, Loudoun Hunger Relief
OUTSTANDING SENIOR VOLUNTEER TEAM AWARD: John and Robin Peterson, Loudoun Habitat for Humanity
OUTSTANDING VETERAN VOLUNTEER AWARD: Gloria Martin, Loudoun Literacy Council
OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER TEAM AWARD: Travelers Aid - Dulles Airport
OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER PROJECT AWARD: Park View Redo Crew, Park View High School
OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER PROJECT LEADER AWARD: Rich Ruckman, Loudoun Habitat for Humanity
OUTSTANDING YOUTH VOLUNTEER TEAM AWARD: Claude Moore Community Builders
OUTSTANDING YOUTH VOLUNTEER TEAM AWARD: Ashburn Youth Men’s Service League, All Ages Read Together
OUTSTANDING CORPORATE VOLUNTEER TEAM AWARD: You’ve Got Maids NOVA
OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY/CIVIC VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION AWARD: The Social Collectives – Loudoun
Board of Supervisors Awards: CHAIRPERSON VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION: Doode Summers, Young Kings Movement
ASHBURN DISTRICT: Didem Maurice and Patti Painton, LAWS Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services
BROAD RUN DISTRICT: Ashburn Senior Center Volunteers
DULLES DISTRICT: Chuck Glass, Dulles South Food Pantry
LEESBURG DISTRICT: Ann Doss, Leesburg American Legion Post 34 n
The Four Leaf Clover Project held its inaugural event, a 5K and Fun Run, on Sunday at Bluemont Station.
The organization was funded this year by Heather Robbins months after her husband, Tripp, died after dealing with cancer for nearly the entirety of their 10year marriage. Born out of her husband’s experience, the new charity seeks to financially support those seeking alternative healthcare practitioners, treatments and modalities not covered by insurance with the belief that there are no limits to one’s healing journey.
While the Robbins family was able to afford the out-of-pocket treatments with
alternative practitioners that provided mental, emotional and spiritual healing, they saw many patients who could not.
The race drew more than 100 runners and was sponsored by Bishop’s Events and in partnership with Nurturing Touch and Wellness, Teri Cochrane, Wayshower Wellness, Inner Stillness Healing, Burke Concrete Services, and Ballentine Farm. Next, Four Leaf plans a gala, to be held Nov. 17 at The Birkby House in Leesburg.
For more information, email thefourleafcloverproject@gmail.com or follow the group on Instagram, @thefourleafcloverproject. n
JULIA KASDORF
Friday, May 12, 5-8 p.m.
Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont
Details: dirtfarmbrewing.com
Julia Kasdorf plays a driving acoustic guitar and sings deep covers by the Band, Little Feat, Steely Dan and the Grateful Dead along with original tunes.
WAYNE SNOW
Friday, May 12, 5 p.m.
Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights
Details: facebook.com/ harpersferrybrewing
Wayne Snow is a singer/songwriter based out of Shepherdstown, WV, with a fun repertoire of indie, folk, pop and rock songs.
KOHANNA
Friday, May 12, 5 p.m.
Fire y Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton
Details: re ycellars.com
With ve singles and two studio albums under her belt, Northern Virginia’s Kohanna embraces an indie pop/folk vibe.
POOL BOYS
Friday, May 12, 6 p.m.
MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg
Details: macsbeach.com
Mac’s Beach is back for the season and celebrates with the Pool Boys’ blend of alternative rock from the ’90s and early 2000s.
Friday, May 12, 6-8 p.m. Middleburg Community Center, 300 W. Washington St., Middleburg
Details: middleburgcommunitycenter. com. The Short Hill Mountain Boys take the stage with old-time picking and singing from a local favorite. This free concert features food, wine and beer for sale.
GET
continues on page 22
BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com
A year ago, Ethan Rojas was a selftaught but passionate teen pianist. Hungry for opportunities to practice, he begged his mom to take him to the mall to visit a music store—just to sit down at a “real” piano.
Now a 15-year-old freshman at Tuscarora High School, Rojas has a piano
of his own, a professional instructor and dreams of heading to Juilliard. His journey involved a fortuitous chain of events that started when a youth mentor at a local nonprofit caught a glimpse of his talent and took action.
Rojas began teaching himself piano using online programs during Loudoun’s year of pandemic-related virtual classes. During the past school year, Rojas was attending an afterschool program at
INMED Partnerships for Children, a nonprofit serving at-risk children and low-income families. INMED’s director of outreach, Andres Uribe, noticed that Rojas gravitated toward the center’s small piano and had a clear passion and talent.
“I’m no musician, but I felt the passion that he had when he was playing the piano. He was 100 percent himself,” Uribe
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said. “He was always the one who would disappear to the piano.”
Uribe said part of his role as a youth mentor and outreach director is getting to know the teens and families he’s working with, help them find confidence and tap into talents and interests. “To help them discover things they can do—seeing that there’s always opportunity,” Uribe said.
Uribe learned that Rojas had been spending time at the Piano Company’s location at Leesburg Premium Outlets. With the blessing of owners Robert and Antoinette Purdon, Rojas spent hours at the store, soaking in the chance to play a real piano and falling in love with a white Yamaha in the showroom where he was allowed to explore.
“The sound is perfect. Everything’s just perfect about it,” Rojas said.
Ethan’s mom, Tania Frias, who works as a family support specialist at INMED, said she was initially confused by his repeated requests to go to the mall, until she learned what the real draw was.
Uribe happens to be married to another well-known figure on the Loudoun nonprofit scene—Tom Sweitzer, co-founder of A Place to Be Music Therapy. The couple were determined to make sure Rojas had opportunities to take his talent to the next level. Uribe brought Sweitzer to an INMED event at an area winery where Rojas had been invited to play. Sweitzer, who has a musical theater background, was blown away.
“I thought, ‘This kid is like a prodigy pianist. He should be doing piano all the time,’” Sweitzer said.
The first step was getting Rojas a piano of his own. Sweitzer used his connections in the regional music scene to get a donated like-new Kawai piano last summer. Ethan said there’s a world of difference between his new instrument and his tiny starter keyboard.
“All the keys are different and the sound is different. It gives me a whole different aspect and different vision,” Rojas said.
The next step was getting Rojas evaluated and making a plan for formal instruction. Sweitzer’s immediate thought was his alma mater, Shenandoah University in Winchester, well known for its Shenandoah Conservatory music program. Sweitzer set up an evaluation with Alexander Bernstein, a noted touring pianist and assistant professor of piano at the university.
Rojas played for Bernstein while Uribe, Sweitzer and Frias waited anxiously in the
hallway for the professor’s assessment.
“It was like what you see in a movie when the three of us were out there. … Mom was really nervous,” Sweitzer said. “We started crying in the hallway.”
Bernstein agreed to take Rojas on as a student, and Rojas and Frias now make the trip to Winchester once a week for lessons.
“His progress over the year has been really great, really fast. There are a lot of things he’s able to tackle and do now that he wasn’t at the beginning,” Bernstein said. “His technique is getting better. He’s noticing more in the music. He’s clearly gifted, but also seems like he’s willing to put in the work. That duo of qualities can make a real star.”
Bernstein has been taking Rojas’s “natural ability to get around the instrument” and working on technique and foundations. “He gets really, really excited and he just wants to play everything,” Bernstein said. “I don’t ever want the excitement to go away. We just need to make sure we build in that process.”
Rojas adds that as a self-taught pianist, he had moved ahead on his own while skipping over some aspects of technique and music theory. He says Bernstein has helped take him back to the basics to build strong foundations.
“When I got a strong base, he gave me a more challenging piece, and it’s been my project.”
He’s currently working on an etude by ROJAS
continues on page 23
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CHRIS BOWEN
Friday, May 12, 6 p.m.
Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville
Details: yingacefarm.com
TGIF with great tunes from Western Loudoun singer/songwriter and one-man band Chris Bowen.
LOST LOCALS
Friday, May 12, 6 p.m.
Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg
Details: spankyspub.com
From rock to funk to pop, they cover it all: from The Beatles to Blondie, from Billy Idol to the Black Crowes and beyond.
STRANGELOVE DEPECHE MODE EXPERIENCE
Friday, May 12, 8 p.m.
Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg
Details: tallyhotheater.com
It’s a full production, arena-scaled recreation of a classic era Depeche Mode
JULIA KASDORF
Friday, May 12, 5-8 p.m. Dirt Farm Brewing dirtfarmbrewing.com
show. Tickets are $20.
HARD SWIMMIN’ FISH
Friday, May 12, 8 p.m.
Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville
Details: monksq.com
Hard Swimmin’ Fish returns to Monk’s
BIG, BAD BRASS PARTY
Saturday, May 13, 5-9 p.m. Creek’s Edge Winery creeksedgewinery.com
with a versatile blues sound covering everything from Mississippi country blues to the urban Chicago sound and beyond.
WEEKEND AT BERNIE’S
Saturday, May 13, 1 p.m. Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black
Hillsboro’s 2023
THE
Saturday, May 13, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com
Hops Lane, Lucketts
Details: vanishbeer.com
Weekend at Bernie’s brings beach vibes and rocking family-friendly fun to Vanish.
GET OUT THIS WEEK continues on page 24
Friday, May 19, 7 p.m. EAT, DRINK, & BE LITERARY!
Catherine Zimmerman
NATIVE PLANTS & MEADOWS FOR ALL PLACES
Horticulturist, author and filmmaker Catherine Zimmerman’s book Urban and Suburban Meadows and film
Hometown Habitat: Stories of Bringing Nature Home, have inspired the movement for “meadowscaping” and more native plants in landscaping across the country.
TICKETS: $15 in Advance, $20 at the Door includes light hors d'oeuvres, beer & wine on sale
Doors & Gap Bar open at 6 p.m. Books & Video on sale
Saturday, May 20
Self-guided Garden Tours in Historic Hillsboro Free Garden Market at The Old Stone School
Two seatings: 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m.
Adults: $50, 14-years-old and under: $25
Enjoy freshly brewed tea, savory and sweet sandwiches and pastries in the beautiful historic Hill Rose Cottage Garden, in the center of Hillsboro
Frederic Chopin, his favorite composer, whose soulful and poetic works tap into Rojas’s passion.
“It can go from really calm to really fast. … It sounds magical,” Rojas said.
From a self-taught musician to a promising student, Rojas is starting to get small local gigs and said his goal is now to attend the Juilliard School, the famed performing arts college in New York. And it started with being seen and heard at INMED.
“When I met Tom and Andres, something clicked and propelled me forward,” Rojas said.
For Jennifer Lassiter Smith, director of US Programs for INMED, that’s what the nonprofit’s mission is all about.
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Tania Frias, a family support specialist at INMED Partnerships for Children, said she was at first confused at why her son kept asking to go to the Leesburg outlet mall—until she learned he was spending hours at a piano store playing with the owners’ blessing.
whole family. … That’s the foundation of the community center–to be a place where families come and Ethans can find a love of things. And now we’re talking Juilliard. One hundred percent, that’s now our goal for Ethan.” n
Ages
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LOST CORNER VAGABONDS
Saturday, May 13, 2 p.m.
Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro
Details: doukeniewinery.com
Whether it’s rock, country, R&B or a heartfelt ballad, The Lost Corner Vagabonds dig deep to reach the places that feel like home.
LENNY BURRIDGE
Saturday, May 13, 3 p.m.
Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950
Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville
Details: yingacefarm.com
Wind down with acoustic blues and Americana, classic rock and new rock from Lenny Burridge.
ERIC ZATZ
Saturday, May 13, 5 p.m.
Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights
Details: facebook.com/ harpersferrybrewing
Enjoy 80s, 90s and classic rock tunes from DMV musician Eric Zatz.
DEREK KRETZER AND FRIENDS
Saturday, May 13, 5 p.m.
Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg
Details: lostbarrel.com
Derek Kretzer of the Plate Scrapers
brings an ever-changing cast of exceptional musicians from Loudoun and beyond. The vibe is usually bluegrass and Americana, but you never know what’s going to happen.
BIG, BAD BRASS PARTY
Saturday, May 13, 5-9 p.m.
Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville
Details: creeksedgewinery.com
It’s an evening of Motown, funk, blues and Americana from two local favorites: Jumptown and Jules and The Agreeables, including new songs from Juliana MacDowell’s album “Big Old Yellow Moon.”
JUST SOUTH OF 7
Saturday, May 13, 5 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg
Details: macsbeach.com
Just South of 7 brings ve decades of rock to Mac’s Beach.
NEW DOMINION BAND
Saturday, May 13, 8 p.m.
Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg
Details: spankyspub.com
The New Dominion Band brings classic rock, new rock, country, blues and Motown to Spanky’s.
CHRIS TIMBERS BAND
Saturday, May 13, 8 p.m. Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville
Details: monksq.com
Relax with alternative soul tunes from a local favorite.
FOUR HORSEMEN METALLICA TRIBUTE
Saturday, May 13, 8 p.m.
Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg
Details: tallyhotheater.com
The Four Horsemen return to the Tally Ho with their album-quality Metallica tribute. Tickets are $15.
JESSICA PAULIN
Sunday, May 14, 2 p.m.
Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950
Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville
Details: yingacefarm.com
Enjoy covers from the 60s through today as Paulin covers favorites from Joplin to Gaga.
SHANE HINES
Sunday, May 14, 2 p.m.
Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux
Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro
Details: breauxvineyards.com
Hines returns to Breaux with his unique brand of indie pop.
GARY SMALLWOOD
Sunday, May 14, 2 p.m.
Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro
Details: doukeniewinery.com
Gary Smallwood returns to Doukenie with his locally famous classic rock, country rock and blues.
LOCO FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL
Saturday, May 13, 11 a.m.
Segra Field, 42095 Loudoun United Drive, Leesburg
Details: facebook.com/loudounprcs
This free event features more than 20 favorite food trucks, live music and a cornhole tournament.
Saturday, May 13, 7 p.m.
StageCoach Theatre Company, 20937 Ashburn Road, Suites 115 and 120, Ashburn
Details: stagecoachtc.com
Loudoun playwright Terry Smith’s new work explores his wife’s death by suicide and his own reaction to the loss. Tickets are $25 for in-person or livestream tickets. The production is recommended for adult audiences. Performances continue May 20 and 21.
“SHREK JR. THE MUSICAL”
Thursday, May 18-Saturday, May 20 Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville Details: franklinparkartscenter.org
Lopez Studios presents a student production of the classical musical featuring the beloved ogre Shrek and a cast of fairytale mis ts as they seek adventure, rescue a princess and nd true acceptance. Tickets are $28-$38.
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
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.
The Town of Lovettsville seeks a dedicated, responsive, and experienced individual who will thrive in this small-town environment for the position of Community Engagement and Economic Development Coordinator.
The Community Engagement and Economic Development Coordinator is responsible for developing and maintaining effective relationships with Town business owners, local non-profit organizations, community organizations, governmental entities, residents, Homeowner Associations, and regional and local professional organizations. The Community Engagement and Economic Development Coordinator will serve as the focal point of contact for the Town for coordinating and ensuring the highest level of customer service and assistance is provided.
For more details regarding the position and to find the employment application, please visit the Town’s webpage at: www.lovettsvilleva.gov/careers
The Purcellville Town Council is entering the final stages of planning for the town’s fiscal year 2024 budget, after about a dozen budget meetings hearing from town department heads.
The discussion at the council’s first budget markup session May 3 focused mainly on compensation increases for town staff in the budget proposed by former Interim Town Manager John Anzivino.
The topic of cost-of-living adjustments and pay for performance raises for town staff has caused tension between council members and residents. Council member Mary F. “Boo” Bennett’s motion at an April 11 meeting to reduce the proposed COLA increase from 5% to 2% resulted in Anzivino’s abrupt resignation, and residents attending meetings with signs showing support for the 5% increase.
Mayor Stanley J. Milan took a string of straw polls at the May 3 meeting to determine which direction the council would take.
He said the average percentage when each council member’s preferred rate was added and divided by the number of council members equaled a 4% COLA increase. However, a straw poll for the 4%
The town’s annual Hamilton Day is scheduled to take place on Memorial Day this year.
A 1.5-mile fun run will kick off the event at 8 a.m., with a parade following at 11 a.m. and a celebration at the Hamilton Community Park at noon. The registration fee for the race is $10.
The park party will offer pony rides, a giant slide, glitter tattoos, and a petting zoo.
Those interested in having a sports team, tractor, farm animals, decorated bike, antique car, civic group or business in the parade can contact Cheryl Campbell at cbikowski@burkinc.com. The parade will begin at the Hamilton Safety Center and move west toward Lowry’s Crab Shack.
failed 3-3-1, with members Mary Jane Williams, Erin Rayner and Ronald Rise Jr. opposed and Bennett abstaining.
He also took a straw poll to determine if the council wanted to keep the pay for performance raises as proposed or change them to one-time bonuses. A vote to keep them as-is failed 3-4 with Milan, Bennett,
Carol Luke, and Vice Mayor Christopher Bertaut supporting a change.
Milan also took a straw poll to determine if stipends would be raised for the council, Planning Commission, and
PURCELLVILLE BUDGET continues on page 37
After several weeks of study, it’s looking like Round Hill’s utility customers will see a significant hike in their rates starting July 1—as much as 24%.
The Town Council is still debating its options based on the latest financial modeling compiled by Mayor Scott Ramsey. But with $12 million in utility construction projects expected over the next five years, inflation-driven increases in operations, and little revenue expected from new development, the rate payers will be expected to pick up more of the tab in coming years.
During its May 3 meeting, the council debated the best strategy to keep the sys-
tem sustainable. While prior rate studies envisioned 3% annual rate increases, Ramsey’s projections found the system would have depleted its reserves—and essentially be bankrupt—within five years under that scenario.
The alternatives presented to the council envision two paths: one to plan for double-digit rate increase over several years or a “rip off the Band Aid” rebalancing of the finances with a sharp increase in one or two years, followed by more moderate annual increases.
During its discussion, most council members favored the one-time rebalancing approach that would entail a 24% increase this year, followed by annual increases of 5%. Another option gaining
interest was to have 12% increases for the next two years, followed by 5% annual hikes.
Ramsey noted that the council pursued a similar rebalancing strategy, a 20% hike, in 2007 when the town was using general tax dollars to keep the utility system afloat. While the action drew a large crowd of upset residents to Town Hall, the council succeeded in having more “rational” increase in subsequent years, he noted. Today, the town’s utility rates are among the lowest among Loudoun’s towns.
A 24% rate hike would equate to an increase of about $28 per month for the average user.
The council is scheduled to take final action at its May 17 meeting. n
One of the region’s most popular seafood restaurants, Ford’s Fish Shack, kicks off its first season of operations in western Loudoun this weekend at the Old Stone School. Ford’s joins the Moo-Thru Ice Cream as a regular vendor during the summer season and during the town’s full slate of concerts, festivals and special events.
“When we were looking for a location for our newest trailer, Hillsboro was the first location we thought of,” Tony Stafford, owner of Ford’s Fish Shack said. “We have
AROUND TOWNS continues on page 27
continued from page 26
always had a wonderful following when we come out for the summer events and by being here on a regular basis we’re bringing our famous lobster rolls, crab cakes, and fish tacos, and more to western Loudoun.”
Ford’s is scheduled to be open Fridays through Sundays during May and Thursdays through Sundays starting in June. Stafford said there will be an online ordering system for those who want to plan their pickup.
Ford’s and Moo-Thru also will be on site Sundays during the town’s new farmers market, which runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The town’s Mayfest Festival is back following a break during COVID and will feature a Backyard Olympic theme, May 27 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Teams of four will compete in a variety of events including tug-o-war, sponge relays, hula hooping, a wheelbarrow race, sack race, three-legged race, balloon toss, plunger head ring toss and bucket pong. The top four teams will compete in a final relay race competition to be crowned Mayfest Champions.
The festival will also offer kids games from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., pony rides, face painting and a variety of vendors. There will be an adults-only cornhole tournament with cash prizes for first, second and third place. The tournament will begin at 2 p.m. at the town squirkle. Registration is $20.
Volunteers or Vendors interested in being part of the festival can find more information at lovettsvillemayfest.com.
A proposal to convert the former real estate office at 204 E. Washington St. to an inn with up to 20 rooms is under review by the town Planning Commission and Town Council.
Marc Chretien, the owner of Mount Defiance Cidery & Distillery, envisions additions to the rear of the building, while leaving the front façade undisturbed. To operate an inn in the downtown district,
the town would have to amend the Zoning Ordinance to allow the use and then approve a rezoning and, under current plans, a special use permit.
Last month the Planning Commission recommended approval of the Zoning Ordinance change to permit inns as a special permit use in the C-1 District. That proposal moved to the Town Council for a public hearing and a vote. The commission tabled action on Chretien’s application to rezone a portion of the property from R-1 to C-1 and for a special use permit for the inn.
The Middleburg Arts Council and the Town of Middleburg will host the spring installment of its biannual arts celebration, Art in the Burg, on Saturday.
The event will feature artwork from local and regional artists, a fashion show, activities for kids, a special Mother’s Day-themed wine garden, and cooking demonstrations on South Madison Street and Federal Street, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 13.
Visitors will have the opportunity to connect with more than 35 artists and discuss their creative processes. Also, chefs from Salamander Resort will be on hand to provide two cooking demonstrations. A fashion show, featuring local businesses and schools who have created ensembles that reflect their organizations, will be held on the Art in the Burg stage.
Attendees are encouraged to bring unopened cans of food to help construct the Art CAN Help sculpture on the lawn of the Middleburg United Methodist Church at 15 W. Washington St.
For full details, go to artintheburgva.com.
The Purcellville Library Advisory Board will hold its Spring Used Book Sale on Saturday, May 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the library staff parking lot.
Only cash or checks will be accepted. Donations of good quality books will be accepted through May 12 in the lobby of the library. VHS tapes, textbooks, magazines and encyclopedias will not be accepted.
This event serves as a fundraiser for the Purcellville Library programs, especially the Summer Reading Program. n
Lovettsville’s Cooperative Market is fast approaching its opening currently planned for mid-June.
The 7,495-square-foot structure is in the center of town, directly across from the clock tower. Co-op Board of Directors Vice Chair Julie Harner said the co-op already has approximately 1,000 members and more than 100 local producers ready to line the shelves with products.
The interior of the store will feature five aisles of dry goods as well as local products ranging from beer and wine to dairy, meat, produce and coffee. It will also have an inhouse café, named The Working Dog Café after a member who trained working huskies died before the building’s completion.
Construction has been underway since 2021 and General Manager Garland McQueen said the building’s roof was installed last week, with the team beginning installation of the wall insulation to follow.
The building’s exterior features rooftop solar panels that will power all lighting in the common areas and outdoor tables and chairs. McQueen said they will also be planting 14- to 16-foot trees behind the building to help create a buffer between the store and the neighbors. There will be
outdoor seating and an original member wall with names of each original member listed at the entrance.
While the store will be open to all, members receive additional benefits, including a member day once a month to shop products at a 10% discount, discounts from participating local businesses including the Blue Ridge Tree and Berry Farm and Walsh Family Wine, the ability to vote for the co-op’s Board of Directors, and an end of year dividend based off the store’s annual profit and the amount spent by the member. Membership cost is a onetime fee of $200.
The co-op has held two job fairs at Lovettsville’s Back Street Brews, and McQueen said the store will ultimately employ between 28 and 30 people. n
After a three-year renovation, a former bed and breakfast got its debut this week as Hillsboro’s newest business training and conference center.
The husband-and-wife team of Rick Carroll and Tiffany Hundley purchased the property in October 2020, and worked through the pandemic to transform the home—inside and out. The Stony Point Business Center will double as a corporate retreat and the home of Hundley’s consulting business, Evolving Enterprises.
The couple fell in love with Hillsboro as they frequently passed through town when they were dating; she lived in West Virginia, and he lived in Falls Church. Later, they lived in Broadlands, but their love of western Loudoun was a factor as they searched for property for their dream venture.
“We were like let’s look for a place
The Middleburg Town Council will hold a public hearing beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2023 to hear public comments on the following:
Zoning Text Amendment 23-01 - AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ARTICLE XI, PART I OF THE MIDDLEBURG ZONING ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO AN INN AS A SPECIAL EXCEPTION USE IN THE C-1 RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.
The hearing will take place at the Town Office, 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia. The proposed amendment may be reviewed online at www.middleburgva.gov/313/Public-Hearings or in the Town Office 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.
5/11 & 5/18/23
This notice is to inform the owner and any person having a security interest in their right to reclaim the motor vehicle herein described within 15 days after the date of storage charges resulting from placing the vehicle in custody, and the failure of the owner or persons having security interests to exercise their right to reclaim the vehicle within the time provided shall be deemed a waiver by the owner, and all persons having security interests of all right, title and interest in the vehicle, and consent to the sale of the abandoned motor vehicle at a public auction. This notice shall also advise the owner of record of his or her right to contest the determination by the Sheriff that the motor vehicle was “abandoned,” as provided in Chapter 630.08 of the Loudoun County Ordinance, by requesting a hearing before the County Administrator in writing. Such written request for a hearing must be made within 15 days of the notice.
where it can be our home, but we can also do more intimate workshops. And when we found this. We looked at it and we knew this is the spot,” Hundley said.
Carroll, who has backgrounds in the military and in project management, set to work on the renovations. The core building is an 1890s log cabin, which had undergone a series of renovations and expansions—all adding to the challenge of converting the space into an intimate, but functional, conference and training center.
The Greater Hillsboro Business Alliance got a sneak peek at the facility Tuesday night, when it held its regular meeting there.
On June 9, the center opens for tours to the general public, with a grand opening celebration that will feature catering, team-building exercises and local wines.
Learn more and register for the grand opening at stonypointbc.com. n
NOTICE is hereby given that the Loudoun County Board of Equalization of Real Estate Assessments (BOE) will hear appeals for 2023 Real Estate Assessments at Loudoun County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, between 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. beginning on July 27 2023, and continuing through December 29, 2023, with the exception of September 4th, October 9th, November 7th, November 10th, November 22nd, November 23rd, November 24th, December 22nd, and December 25th, 2023. The BOE scheduled hearings will be posted on the County calendar at www.loudoun.gov. Hearing dates are subject to change. Please also refer to the County calendar for cancellations.
The BOE will sit and hear all appeals timely presented for consideration. Following the hearing, the BOE shall equalize the taxpayer’s assessment by increasing, decreasing, or affirming such assessment.
The BOE will continue to hear appeals until the last day needed to complete all necessary action regarding such appeals, or December 28, 2022, whichever comes first.
If you require a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate in a public meeting, please contact the Board of Equalization at 703-777-0289. At least one business day advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice.
Kevin Kuester, Chairman Board of Equalization 5/4 & 5/11/23The 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 Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:
ZCPA-2022-0011
LOUDOUN WEST
(Zoning Concept Plan Amendment)
Nova 1 Owner LLC c/o TA Realty of Boston, Massachusetts, has submitted an application to amend the existing proffers approved with ZCPA-2018-0003, Loudoun West, to remove ZCPA-2018-0003 Proffer XIII.33 limiting building height in relation to a former property line and to amend ZCPA-2018-0003 Proffer XIII.34.8 to allow proposed generator location to be ground level or elevated/stacked. The subject property is located partially within the AIOD (Airport Impact Overlay District) between the Ldn 60-65 and outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 145.02 acres in size and is located on the east side of Sycolin Road (Route 625), northwest of the Dulles Greenway (Route 267) at 42049 Nova Park Dr, Leesburg, Virginia, in the Leesburg Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 193-27-9018. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Transition Policy Area (Transition Light Industrial Place Type)), which designates this area for predominantly data center, contractor service establishments, and small-scale assembly production uses.
ZMAP-2022-0014,
(Zoning Map Amendment)
JLB Realty LLC of Bethesda, Maryland has submitted an application to rezone approximately 20.77 acres from the PD-H4 (Planned Development – Housing 4) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the R-24 ADU (Multifamily Residential, inclusive of Affordable Dwelling Units) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop up to 262 multifamily attached units at a density of up to 25.3 units per acre. The subject property is located within the AIOD (Airport Impact Overlay District), between the Ldn 60-65 aircraft noise contours, the QN (Quarry Notification) Overlay District, Chantilly Crush Stone Note Area, and partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District), Minor Floodplain. The Applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s):
§3-707(B), R-24, Multifamily Residential, Building Requirements; Building Height.
§7-1003(E), R-24 Multi-family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Active Recreation Space.
§5-1408(B)(2)(d), Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, General Landscape Provisions, Plant Unit Requirements
Increase the maximum building height from 60 feet to 70 feet, with an additional 1-foot setback for each 1-foot over 45 feet in height.
Reduce the required active recreation space requirement from 50,000 square feet to 38,155 square feet.
Modify the Type 2 Road Corridor Buffer requirements along Defender Drive to permit up to 75 percent of the required landscaping to consist of shrubs.
The subject property is approximately 20.77 acres in size and is located on the south side of Defender Drive (Route 1279), east side of Elk Lick (Road Route 621), and the west side of South Riding Boulevard (Route 2201) in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as:
Corridor Business Optional Overlay District, the AIOD (Airport Impact Overlay District) within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 noise contour, and partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District) minor floodplain. The subject property is approximately 32.52 acres in size and is located north of Dresden Street (Route 1119), and east of Broderick (Route 1070) in the Sterling Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as follows:
Chantilly, Virginia
The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type), which designates this area for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural and Recreational uses at recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.0.
ZRTD-2022-0006
BROAD RUN BUSINESS CENTER (Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District)
BCal PCP PROPERTY II LLC, of Boston, Massachusetts, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 32.52 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development - Industrial Park) zoning district under the 1993 Zoning Ordinance, to the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, in order to permit the development of all principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance at a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.6 (up to 1.0 by Special Exception). The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, the Route 28
The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment Place Type)) that support a broad array of employment uses at a recommended FAR of up to 1.0.
ZMAP-2022-0008, SPEX-2022-0024, SPMI-2022-0024, ZMOD-2022-0028, & ZMOD-2022-0083
ALIGNED ENERGY DATA CENTER
(Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception & Zoning Modifications)
Aligned Data Centers (Relo) PropCo., LLC, of Plano, Texas, has submitted applications for the following: to rezone 10.14 acres from the R-1 (Single Family Residential-1) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-OP (Planned Development – Office Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to develop a data center. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed uses are listed as Special Exceptions under Section 4-306(C) and 5-1403(B). The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modifications:
ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION
§4-306(B) PD-OP Planned Development – Office Park, Building Requirements, Building Height.
§5-664(D)(1) Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities, and (E)(2) and (E)(3) Landscaping/Buffering/ Screening
PROPOSED MODIFICATION
To allow a 99.5-foot building within the 75-foot setback.
To remove the required sidewalk along South Sterling Boulevard, replacing the Buffer Type 3 and six-foot berm for Data Centers with the road corridor buffer types required under Section 5-1403(B) for South Sterling Boulevard (Type 2 Buffer) and Relocation Drive (Type 1 Buffer) and by providing plant types and percentages of plant units required under Section 5-1408(B)(2) in lieu of the required plant types and percentages of plant units specified for Data Centers.
The subject property is approximately 10.14 acres in size and is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, within the Route 28 Elected Overlay District, within the Route 28 Optional Overlay District Corridor Industrial (CI) and within the AIOD (Airport Impact Overlay District within the Ldn 60-65 aircraft noise contour. The property is located on the west side of Relocation Drive (Route 869) and north of Executive Drive (Route 885) in the Sterling Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN 045-27-9612. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Industrial/Mineral Extraction Place Type)) - which designates the area for 100% non-residential and a maximum floor area ratio (FAR) 0.6.
THE
(Zoning Modification)
J & P Coffee LLC., of Fairfax, Virginia, has submitted an application for a zoning modification to allow an increase in the number of signs along with an increase in the aggregate sign area for an existing drivethrough restaurant (The Human Bean) in the C-1 (Commercial-1) zoning district under the 1972 Zoning Ordinance. The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, within the Route 28 Optional Overlay District Corridor Office (CO) and partially within the AIOD (Airport Impact Overlay District) between the Ldn 60-65 and within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 0.85 acres in size and is located on the north side of West Church Road (Route 625) and west of Atlantic Boulevard (Route 1902) in the Sterling Election District. The subject property
is more particularly described as PIN: 044-40-8989. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)), which designate this area for a mix of residential, commercial, entertainment, cultural, and recreational uses at a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0.
ZMAP-2021-0024, SPEX-2021-0060, ZMOD-2021-0093, ZMOD-2022-0073
ZMOD-2022-0074, ZMOD-2023-0002 & ZMOD-2023-0003
LANSDOWNE BOULEVARD REZONING
(Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception & Zoning Modifications)
ESC Lansdowne LLC, of McLean, Virginia, has submitted applications for the following: 1) to rezone approximately 9.22 acres from the PD-OP (Planned Development – Office Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the R-16 ADU (Townhouse/Multifamily Residential-16, ADU Development Regulations) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop 120 Residential units, consisting of a maximum 48 multifamily units and a maximum of 72 single family attached units, at a density of approximately 13.02 dwelling units per acre; and 2) a Special Exception to permit the modification of the minimum yard requirements to decrease front yards for rear loaded single family attached units from 15 feet to 4 feet, rear yards for rear loaded single family attached units from 15 feet to 5 feet, and side yards for corner lots for multi-family units from 25 feet to 10 feet in the R-16 ADU zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the proposed modification of the minimum yard requirements for ADU developments in the R-16 ADU zoning district is listed as a Special Exception under Section 7-903(C)(3). The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s):
ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION
§7-903(D)(2) R-16 Townhouse/Multi-family District, Lot and Building Requirements, Lot Coverage.
§5-1101(A) Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements, Compliance Required, General Requirement.
§5-200(A)(6) Permitted Structures in Required Yards and Setbacks, In all yards or setbacks, including a front yard.
§5-1408(C)(1) Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, General Landscape Provisions, Use of Buffer Yards and Road Corridor Buffers.
§5-1404(B) Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Buffer Yards, Use Buffer Yard Matrix, Table 5-1404(B).
PROPOSED MODIFICATION
Increase lot coverage from 75 percent to 85 percent for rear-loaded single family attached dwelling units.
Permit two on-street parking spaces to meet zoning requirements instead of one on-street space.
Increase the permitted projection of enclosed or unenclosed porches from 3 feet to 4 feet provided that they do not extend closer than 1 foot from a lot line.
Permit active recreation areas within buffer yards, provided that plant unit requirements are met.
Permit development of residential uses adjacent to active recreation without a buffer yard on the residential side.
The subject property is approximately 9.22 acres in size and is located on the west side of Lansdowne Boulevard (Route 2400) and north of Riverside Parkway (Route 2401) in the Ashburn Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 082-28-1875. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area) in the Suburban Mixed Use Place Type which designate this area for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural and Recreational uses at recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.0.
CMPT-2022-0001 & SPMI-2023-0001
DTC SUBSTATION (Commission Permit & Minor Special Exception)
Dominion Energy of Richmond, Virginia has submitted an application for Commission approval to permit development of one Utility Substations (Distribution) in the PD-OP (Planned Development - Office Park) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and requires a Commission Permit in accordance with Section 6-1101. The subject property is located within the AIOD (Airport Impact Overlay District) within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contour, and located within the Route 28 Taxing District. The subject property also contains minor floodplain and moderately steep slopes. The modification of the Additional Regulations applicable to the proposed Utility Substations is authorized by Minor Special Exception under Section 5-600, Additional Regulations for Specific Uses (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(s):
ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION
§5-616(D), Additional Regulations and Standards, Utility Substations
PROPOSED MODIFICATION
Substitute the required Type 4 buffer yard with a 12’ tall 95% opacity architectural screen wall.
The subject property is approximately 8.17 acres in size and is located east of Sully Road (Route 28) and south of Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7) in the Sterling Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN 029-45-5622. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County
2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type), which designates this area
for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural and Recreational uses at recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.0.
CMPT-2022-0009
(Commission Permit)
Dominion Energy, of Richmond, Virginia, has submitted an application for Commission approval to permit the installation of a Utility Substation (Distribution) in the PD-OP (Planned Development – Office Park) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the proposed uses require a Commission Permit in accordance with Section 6-1101. The subject property is located within the AIOD (Airport Impact Overlay District) within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60-65 aircraft noise contour and in the AIOD Ldn 65 or higher noise contour. The subject property also contains major floodplain and very and moderately steep slopes. The subject property is approximately 75.70 acres in size and is located on the south side of Shellhorn Road (Route 643) and west of Lockridge Road (Route 789) in the Sterling Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN 063-47-7734. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Urban Policy Area (Urban Employment)) where a range of employment uses included office, research and development, and data center uses are envisioned at an FAR of 1.0.
Unless otherwise noted above, full and complete copies of the above-referenced amendments, applications, ordinances and/or plans, and related documents may be examined in the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday or call 703-777-0220, or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. The opportunity for public input via this link will be temporarily unavailable during the upgrade of the County’s online land management system. However, other opportunities for public comments remain available as described below. Additionally, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically the week before the hearing at www.loudoun.gov/pc. For further information, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246.
Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. If you wish to sign up in advance of the hearing, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-7770246 prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing. Speakers may also sign up at the hearing. Written comments are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 3rd Floor, MSC #62, Leesburg, Virginia 20175, or by e-mail to loudounpc@loudoun.gov. If written comments are presented at the hearing, please provide ten (10) copies for distribution to the Commission and the Clerk’s records. All members of the public will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Any individual representing and/or proposing to be the sole speaker on behalf of a citizen’s organization or civic association is encouraged to contact the Department of Planning and Zoning prior to the date of the public hearing if special arrangements for additional speaking time and/or audio-visual equipment will be requested. Such an organization representative will be allotted 6 minutes to speak, and the Chairman may grant additional time if the request is made prior to the date of the hearing and the need for additional time is reasonably justified.
Citizens are encouraged to call the Department of Planning and Zoning on the day of the public hearing to confirm that an item is on the agenda, or, the most current agenda may be viewed on the Planning Commission’s website at www.loudoun.gov/pc. Regularly-scheduled Planning Commission public hearings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. In the event the public hearing cannot be conducted on that date due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the hearing, the public hearing will be continued to the next day (Wednesday). In the event the public hearing may not be held on that Wednesday due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the hearing, the public hearing may be continued to the first Thursday of the next month.
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: MICHELLE FRANK, CHAIR
LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
5/4, 5/11 & 5/18/23
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316
Case No.: JJ046179-04-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Starh Rahimi
Loudoun County Department of Family Services
/v.
Mohamad Wali, putative father
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 Starh Rahimi.
It is ORDERED that the defendant Mohamad Wali, putative father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before June 13, 2023 at 2:00 pm
5/4, 5/11, 5/18 & 5/25/23
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
VA CODE §§ 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104
Case No. CL23-2473
LOUDOUN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
18 East Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176
Commonwealth of Virginia, in re
J. GREGORY HOLMES VS SPENCER C. BRAND, ET AL.
The object of the suit is to: clarify ownership and interests in 20934 Trinity Square, Sterling, Virginia 20165
It is ORDERED that John Doe appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before June 23, 2023 at 9AM
4/27, 5/4, 5/11, 5/18/23
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316
Case No.: JJ046978-01-00
Black Walnut Brewery LLC trading as Black Walnut Brewery, 212 S King St, Leesburg, Virginia 20175.
The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Retail Wine and Beer On and Off Premises and Mixed Beverage license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.
Patrick Wilt, Owner
Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.
5/4 & 5/11/23
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Jimmy Mendez Jr. Loudoun County Department of Family Services
/v.
Taya Selner, mother and Jimmy Mendez, father
The object of this suit is to hold an adjudicatory hearing in Child in Need of Services matter pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-228 and 16.1-241 for Jimmy Mendez Jr.
It is ORDERED that the defendant Taya Selner, mother and Jimmy Mendez, father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before June 7, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
5/4, 5/11, 5/18 & 5/25/23
ABC LICENSE
Casa Mia Restaurant, INC. trading as Casa Mia Mexican Restaurant, 21430 Cedar Dr., Sterling VA, 20164.
The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a BEER, WINE AND MIXED BEVERAGE ON PREMISES license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.
Julia N. Fernandez De Cordova, President
Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200. 5/11 & 5/18/23
Western Loudoun Community Information Meeting on Future School Facility Projects
Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Department of Support Services has scheduled a community meeting for Thursday, May 18, 2023, to share information on funded, planned and proposed school capital projects in western Loudoun County. Additional community meetings for other areas of the county will be scheduled and announced.
Thursday, May 18, 2023 6:00 p.m. Emerick Elementary School, Cafeteria/Multipurpose Room
(440 S Nursery Avenue, Purcellville)
Western Loudoun Area (General Description: North of Fauquier County, East of Clarke County/West Virginia, South of Potomac River, West of Catoctin Mountain Ridgeline)
Following the meeting, the presentation will be posted on the LCPS website, at https://www.lcps.org/Page/81470.
Those who need translation/interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate meaningfully in the community meeting should contact the Support Services office at least three (3) days prior to the meeting.
Kevin L. Lewis, Chief Operations Officer
Loudoun County Public Schools
Department of Support Services
21000 Education Court
Ashburn, Virginia 20148
Telephone: 571-252-1385
Email: LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG
5/4 & 5/11/23
LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE BIDS/PREQUALIFICATIONS FOR:
CONSTRUCTION OF THE WAXPOOL AND LOUDOUN COUNTY PARKWAY DUCT BANK, IFB No. 593788 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, June 12, 2023.
PREQUALIFICATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRE AND RESCUE TRAINING FACILITY, LEESBURG SOUTH STATION & ROUND HILL STATION, RFQ No. 612791 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, June 15, 2023.
Solicitation forms may be obtained 24 hours a day by visiting our web site at www.loudoun.gov/procurement. If you do not have access to the Internet, call (703) 777-0403, M - F, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
WHEN CALLING, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCUREMENT. 5/11/23
Notice is hereby given that the bicycles described below were found and delivered to the Office of the Sheriff of Loudoun County; if the owners of the listed bicycles are not identified within sixty (60) days following the final publication of this notice, the individuals who found said bicycles shall be entitled to them if he/she desires. All unclaimed bicycles will be handled according to Chapter 228.04 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.
Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Rezoning application TLZM-2022-0006, Village Market Boulevard (Village at Leesburg).
The subject property consists of approximately 1.16 acres of land within, and adjacent to, the existing “Retail Unit 1” land bay within the Village at Leesburg. The property is zoned PRC, Planned Residential Community, and is further identified as Loudoun County Property Identification Number (PIN), 14928-0225.
Rezoning Application TLZM-2022-0006 is a request by CRP/TRC Leesburg Retail Owner, LLC (applicant) to amend the approved Village at Leesburg Concept Plan to allow a new right-in only vehicular access point from Village Market Boulevard into the Retail Unit 1 land bay. This land bay is at the northeast corner of Russell Branch Parkway and Village Market Boulevard.
The Eastern Gateway District Small Area Plan designates this property as “Regional Retail” on the Planned Land Use Map with a recommended density of between 1.0 and 3.0 FAR (Floor Area Ratio). The proposed amendment for vehicular access redesign does not affect the existing residential and commercial densities on the property.
Additional information and copies of the application are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Scott E. Parker, AICP, at 703-771-2771 or sparker@leesburgva.gov.
At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of the Commission at (703) 771-2434 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.
5/5 & 5/12/23
The PURCELLVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing in the Council Chambers of Town Hall located at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia on TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023 at 6:00 PM for the purpose of receiving comments on, considering, and possibly voting on the following item:
FIRST AMENDMENT TO WATER TOWER COMMUNICATIONS SITE
LEASE AGREEMENT
The prior Tower Site Lease Agreement between the Town of Purcellville (“Lessor”) and New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Lessee”) has an effective date of June 1, 2019. The Lessee desires to enter into a new Water Tower Communications Site Lease Agreement with the Lessor to make certain changes, additions, and modifications to the Existing Facilities which occupy a portion of the Town’s water tower (“Water Tower”) and the grounds below, for an expiration date of May 31, 2024. The Water Tower is located on a 1.7 acre parcel, owned by the Town and addressed as 311 North Maple Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia (“Property”), further identified in the Loudoun County land records as Tax Map Number /35A2/8/////1A and Parcel Identification Number 488-40-5578-000. Under the proposed lease, the Lessee will occupy a portion of the Property, to include space on the Water Tower, to which the Lessee shall install a back-up power supply, and electrical cables connecting the generator for backup power supply to their existing facilities for their antennas and ancillary equipment. In addition the Lessee will deliver electrical power to the radio communications equipment operated by the Lessor.
Information related to this Lease, including a copy of the Lease, is available for review on the Town’s website at www.purcellvilleva.gov, and also at the Purcellville Town Hall, 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia by appointment, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.
At this public hearing, all persons desiring to present their views concerning this matter will be heard. All persons have the option of sending an email to the Town Clerk, townclerk@purcellvilleva.gov, with written comments or questions concerning the public hearing item. Emails may be sent by 4:00 PM the day of the Public Hearing.
5/4/2023 & 5/11/2023
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 17 through May 31st, 2023. This preventative maintenance program is essential for maintaining the Town’s high standards of water quality.
Water mains are flushed by opening fire hydrants and allowing them to flow freely for a short period of time. The flushing cleans out sediment, removes air which may accumulate in the water mains and restores chlorine levels in areas of limited water use.
Water is safe to drink and safe to use during flushing. However, flushing may result in temporary discoloration and sediment in the water. If discoloration or sediment is evident, the Town recommends residents avoid doing laundry until the discoloration subsides. Flushing may also introduce air into the water, which may temporarily cause erratic flow. If this occurs, open your cold water tap until a clear steady flow of water is observed.
Some residents and businesses may experience lower than normal pressure during the flushing in their neighborhood. The Town regrets any inconvenience the flushing operation may cause.
Please call the Utilities Department at 703-737-7075 for further information. For after-hour emergencies, call the Leesburg Police Department at 703-771-4500.
4/13 – 5/25
continued from page 1
Loudoun Campus Provost Julie Leidig said NVCC also coordinates with the commonwealth to be part of a short-term program called FastForward that helps students get certified in high-demand jobs as well as providing financial assistance.
The credential programs are on average six to 12 weeks long and are available both online and in-person. Some certification categories available at NVCC include human resources, clinical medical assistant, veterinary technology, commercial driving, heating, ventilation and air conditioning and information technology.
Leidig said that the school also partners with companies to help students who earn their certifications find their place in the workforce.
“The thing that I’m really excited about that we’ve developed recently is the guaranteed interview program,” she said. “So, an employer can say … ‘I really want to be first out of the chute to interview any graduates from your program,’ and they can sign up for that. So, the students know if they take the program and finish it, they’re guaranteed an interview with certain employers. And that gives them a leg up to get the job.”
The school also provides a job board with paid internship opportunities.
Leidig said the school is working to break what she calls “the paper ceiling,” an expectation by many employers that their employees have four-year college degrees even if the skills can be obtained without them.
“We have an increasing number of employers in the technology industries that are beginning to understand that they need to reexamine what baseline are they putting out there for the minimum qualifications for a job,” she said. “… Here we have students that are graduating with these amazing skill sets in programming and cybersecurity, and cloud computing and AI, and yet some employers, they can’t get through the door because they don’t have that four-year degree. So, we are really working nationally to change that.”
Another career path available for those not interested in spending four years at college is provided by Loudoun Fire and Rescue.
The requirements to become a county firefighter and EMT include being 18 years or older, having a high school diploma or passing a General Educational Development test, having a valid driver’s license and being drug and tobacco-free by the
time of hire.
If hired, the department provides training to recruits with a six-to-seven-month academy that encompasses emergency medical treatment, fire suppression and physical fitness. Training is a four-day, 40hour work week. Recruits achieve a variety of certifications throughout the training such as the Virginia Department of Fire Programs Firefighter I and II, National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and Mayday/Rapid Intervention Team Training.
Deputy Chief of Human Resources Paul Musser Jr. said that the department is in the process of transitioning to continuous hiring.
In the past, the department opened to receive applications only when there was a need to hire. Now, Musser said they are working to keep the application process open continuously.
“What we’ll have is an established eligibility list so that if, next month, 20 people walk out the door, I have 20 people that I can call and say, ‘Congratulations, you’re hired,’” he said.
Applicants on the eligibility list would have already cleared the department’s application process which includes an online test, a physical ability test, a physical examination, a polygraph, interviews and a background check.
Musser said there is a need for firefighters and that the department has seen a sharp decline in applicants in recent years.
“We used to get hundreds and hundreds of applications; I’m talking 600 to a thousand … This current process for the class in July, we had 234 applications,” he said.
Out of those 234 initial applications,
only 40 will be starting at the fire academy in July.
First-year benefits include a base pay of approximately $55,000, six weeks of paid family medical leave, tuition assistance, health and medical insurance and retirement benefits.
The department also partners with Academies of Loudoun to provide training to students in their junior and senior years of high school.
Loudoun County Public Schools also offers a variety of support for students looking to enter the workforce right after graduation. One of these options is a high school whose majority of students are already in the workforce, some with fulltime jobs.
In its second year of operation, William O. Robey High School is Loudoun County’s first non-traditional high school and serves students who are working, parenting or need to earn credits more quickly than other high schools allow. Scheduling options include 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Any student enrolled in LCPS can apply to transfer to William O. Robey.
Director of School Counseling Amy Carroll said last year 30 students graduated, and they are expecting a similar number this year.
Carroll said that another option she recommends for students at all Loudoun County high schools is to take Career and Technical Education Courses.
“In that way, they can be exposed to the careers and even gain the certifications that they need to work in those industries,” she said.
U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) drew attention to the need for Career and Tech-
nical Education programs with a recent visit to the Academies of Loudoun.
“For some, traditional college is great. For some, other education paths are better. That is why as mayor, then governor and now in the Senate, I’ve really tended to focus on career and technical education,” he said during the visit. “There is a renaissance in the country around CTE and it’s really exciting to see.”
High school CTE options include accounting, cyber security, cosmetology, welding, project management, technical drawing and design, masonry and building construction.
There is also a variety of internships and apprenticeship programs available for students looking to gain work experience instead of attending a four-year college.
Organizations that work together with LCPS to offer these programs include Ace Handyman Services, IBEW Local 26, Allan Myers, Baker Concrete Construction, Beckstrom Electric, D&V Autobody, Defense Intelligence Agency, Ennis Electric, Environmental Enhancements, Loudoun County Animal Services, Special Olympics Area 14 and Vulcan Materials.
LCPS hosts an Apprenticeship Fair each year attended by these companies and others for students grades eight to 12.
Carroll said that almost every Loudoun County High School has a career specialist to help students find a path that is right for them.
To learn more about NVCC’s FastForward certification program go to fastforwardva.org. Learn more about Loudoun Fire-Rescue at loudoun.gov/fire, and learn about attending William O. Robey High School at lcps.org/robey. n
Helen Katherine Anne
Helen Katherine (Schenk, Weaver)
Anne e meandering but determined journey of artist H. K. Anne began in Indianapolis, Indiana and was ful lled on October 20, 2019. Helen is a ectionately remembered this May 16, 2023 on the occasion of her 80th birthday. Her family, friends, patrons, and colleagues recall her easy laugh, insatiable curiosity, creative spirit, self-reliant determination, unpretentious generosity, and unconditional love for her children. Born at home in Indianapolis, Indiana, the fourth of ve children to Helen Katherine (Murphy) and Edward Arthur Schenk, Helen spent more than twenty years in that home on the rst block of West Michigan Street, her artery to the outside. She attended St. Anthony Grade School, had enough cavities to get into the Dental College and the Crest toothpaste experiment in the 1950s, and rode the bus downtown to St. John Academy until it was closed and nished high school at St. Agnes Academy. Her siblings include Michael, Mary, Edward, and Rita. Helen worked as a secretary at the Indiana Department of Revenue, on Governor Roger D. Branigin’s successful campaign and o ce, and at the Klineman, Rose, and Wolf law rm. She earned her associate degree from IUPUI while married and raising her three children Suzanne Katherine, Douglas Alan, and Jennifer Anne. Helen was an involved, ever-present volunteer in her children’s schools, activities, charitable organizations, parish community, and art education programs. roughout her life, she carried an appreciation and talent for art from her classes at Herron Art School and Indianapolis Art League to being a docent at the India-
napolis Museum of Art for een years facilitating children’s school tours. A er a life changing event, Helen began anew in Ridge eld, Connecticut where she resided for eighteen years and immersed herself in art exploration and education. She earned a BA from Sarah Lawrence College in 19th century European art history and studio arts, and an MFA from Western Connecticut State University. With guidance from her respected professors, she discovered and re ned her abstract expressionist approach to landscape oil painting. ey suggested her works were in the lineage of the Hudson River Artists of the 19th century whose panoramic landscapes were metaphors for the expansive possibilities of this country. She felt the up-close and complicated quality of her works more reected our time in history. She translated her large-scale landscapes to canvas from her photographs captured with her mini 35mm Leica. Her notable residencies and exhibitions include Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, MA, Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, VT, Smithsonian a liate Annmarie Gardens in Solomons, MD, Art in Embassies Program, U. S. State Department, and e Art League at Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA. When asked why landscapes, she re ected “I invite viewers to journey through my landscapes nding their own paths. My paintings have a lot of energy and sometimes one has to step back and take it all in. Just as in life, sometimes you have to take yourself out of the picture. Take the long view before you engage again.” A er moving closer to family in Northern Virginia, she continued her artistic pursuits as a studio artist at the historic Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia. Her brushes loaded with generous amounts of paint swi ly took to her canvas while listening to the music of Bob Dylan and Norah Jones. She posted a self-a rmation sign in her studio declaring, “Be Brave. Just Paint.” And she did. A natural conversationalist, she cultivated relationships with patrons and readily shared her knowledge of art with visitors and colleagues. It remained her true thrill to know her works were included in many residential and commercial collections. While this space could never recognize all those who had an impact on her life, she would want it known that she valued those supporting her journey. She is dearly missed, and her presence is felt every day.
Loren Grey Gentry, 53 of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia died on ursday, May 26, 2022, in Leesburg, Virginia. Born Tuesday, May 6, 1969, in Bristol, Tennessee, he was the son of Danny Gentry and Patricia Gentry. Loren is survived by his parents, daughter, Jenna Nicole Bruce, brother, Vincent Reeves Gentry. Loren will always be loved, in remembrance a year a er his passing. Loren was an amazing father, son, and brother. He had an exceptionally kind and patient heart that touched everyone he met. His happiest moments were when he was panning for gold, shing, gaming, building computers, researching, cooking, and spending time with family. He was a so ware engineer working for Fornetix since 2015. Always passionate about his work, he was continually learning and improving in the tech industry. He was mostly self taught and moved his way up the ladder. We are so proud of his hard work and determination. He worked from home all the way through his battle with cancer. His other career accomplishments include being the owner and chef of Nestors in Harrisonburg, VA. Although his time was cut short his impact was not. We will remember him in everything we do. We’ll carry his wit, humor, and intelligence in our hearts to remind ourselves what Loren would tell us. In that way he will forever be with us. A memorial visitation was held at 5:00-8:00 PM on ursday June 2, 2022 at Loudoun Funeral Chapel, 158 Catoctin Circle, SE Leesburg, Virginia 20175. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.loudounfuneralchapel. com. e family would appreciate friends sharing any memories they have of Loren so we can celebrate his life together. To send owers or a memorial gi to the family of Loren Grey Gentry please visit our Sympathy Store.
Brady Matthew Grim, age 53, of Leesburg, Virginia, passed away at home on ursday, April 20, 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Mattison Grim, Jr. and Betty Davis Grim. He is survived by his sister, Kristin Shultz (Matthew Shultz), of Waterford, VA, his niece Kamrin, nephew Ty, and perhaps Brady’s greatest love, KK, his 30-pound black cat.
Visitation will be held, on ursday, May 11th, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM, at the Loudoun Funeral Chapel, 158 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, VA 20175.
A re ghter’s funeral service will be held on Friday, May 12th, at 10 AM, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 605 W. Market St, Leesburg, VA.
Karen Velez, age 75, of Charlotte, NC passed away on March 12, 2023.
Visitation will be held, on Saturday, May 13th, from 9:30 am to 10:30am, at the Loudoun Funeral Chapel, 158 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, VA 20175. A memorial service will be held a er the visitation on Saturday the 13th at 10:30am . Internment will be held in Leesburg Union Cemetery. 323 N King St, Leesburg, VA 20176.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.loudounfuneralchapel.com
Jones, Harrison “Randy”, 95 of Round Hill, VA passed away on Wednesday, April 26.
Randy is survived by his wife Alberta “Bertie” Jones. Daughter Candy Lewis of Manakin Sabot, VA. Son James Jones of Odessa, FL (Jonnelia). 6 Granddaughters Gloria “Dee” Dorrough (Mark) of Lake Hills, TX, Kelly Ventura (Luis) of Culpepper, VA, Megan Rickard (Steve) of Shepherds Town, WV, Jessica Jones of Arlington, VA., Rhonda Long (Richard) of Fairfax, VA and Kerry Huston (Mike) of Bowling Green, VA. 12 Great Grandchildren and 9 Great Great Grandchildren. Several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his son Harrison “Rudy” Jones, Mother Emma Mae Huber, brother Beverly “Bay” Jones, son-in-law Darrel “Chopper” Lewis and Grandson Edwin Lewis
Funeral services were held at Hall Funeral Home Friday, May 05, 2023. Graveside service was at Mount Comfort Cemetery 6600 S. Kings Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306, Saturday May 06, 2023.
In lieu of owers, donations may be made to the Round Hill Baptist Church, 7 W Loudoun St., Round Hill, VA 20141 in memory of Randy Jones.
continued from page 1
the 2023-2024 school year and what that means for the division.
“There is a shared responsibility that parents, guardians and students have with the school teams,” Jones said.
“Our country is facing an attendance crisis. Prior to the pandemic, 8 million students were chronically absent, missing 10% or more of the school year. That number has more than doubled,” Evans said.
Chronically absent is defined as missing 10% or more of the academic year for any reason including excused or unexcused absences and out-of-school suspensions, according to Evans.
That equates to missing about 18 days of school, or two to three days a month based on a 180-day school year.
They stressed that unexcused absences are not the only concern.
“But there is an impact academically, socially and emotionally and we are working to educate parents on how this is linked to accreditations,” she said.
Little River Elementary School Principal Kevin Murphy said it’s not just about having perfect attendance and there is more beyond just the grades.
“They are missing the social interaction. They aren’t getting that collaboration and they are missing those core experiences and some of those really allow kids to center their learning,” he said.
He said often elementary school kids have a “cool experience” with a subject like math and they see that math isn’t scary and they get passionate about it. Then when they get to higher levels of math and it gets harder they have something positive to pull from to remind them of that passion.
Missing too many days of school can prevent that connection from happening.
Jones pointed out that families who travel out of the country for long periods of time cause the student to be unenrolled, they then re-enroll the student when they get back. She said they think doing makeup work is enough but said, “each absence excused or unexcused goes against the school’s accreditation.”
Other reasons for chronic absences include chronic illness, lack of food or housing, and lack of access to health and mental health care, aversion to school because of issues like academic difficulties, mental health or bullying, and disengagement attributed to a lack of meaningful relationships at school or lack of engaging or relevant instruction.
Murphy said they try to build meaningful relationships with every student and said some kids struggle to get to school.
the new model.
Murphy said some parents are more cautious after COVID.
“One year parents were told if you have a headache, a sniffle and cough don’t come to school. Now you can come to school with a cough or sniffle,” Murphy said. “Some are still following the guidelines and they are caught between not wanting to get others sick and still have their kids go to school.”
He said his team consisting of the school social worker and the United Mental Health Counselors meet quarterly to look at reports of tardiness and excused and unexcused absences, and reach out to families to make sure there is an awareness.
He said the follow up after that is most important.
“We reach out to families in a non-confrontational way and talk to students to find out how we can motivate them,” he said.
school days. She said they are doing ok academically but are missing a significant amount of time at school.
She said one of her concerns was the chronic absenteeism on the elementary school level because it “sets the foundation for middle school and high school and we are seeing more at the elementary level than middle and high school.”
He said his staff tries to help students who struggle by praising them for making it to school and create a positive pattern, so the student feels that connection and wants to be there.
He said sometimes he walks to school with students and will do porch visits to meet with students and families to find ways to help get them to school.
“It’s been said, ‘it takes a village.’ We are that village, that community,” he said.
“Regular attendance is a significant factor in a student’s success,” Evans said. She said that chronic absenteeism correlates to low academic achievement and is a powerful predictor of dropout rates.
There are three levels a school can fall under with chronic absenteeism and accreditation: level one means less than 15% of students miss 10% or more of the school year, level two is 16-24% miss 10% or more and level three is 25% of students miss 10% or more of the school year. Level two schools require a division-level action plan and level three schools require an action plan that is overseen by the Virginia Department of Education according to Evans.
Prior to the accreditation model change, the division had five schools identified as a level two and one as a level three. Evans said if they apply the change to this year, as of Feb. 28, the division has 67 schools identified as level two and nine as level three.
Evans said during the 2022-23 school year absences were exacerbated by COVID, RSV and the flu, and said student mental health may also be playing a factor in attendance.
She said the division goal was to reduce chronic absenteeism from 13% but said it is no longer on track to do that based on
In 2021-22, in the division 34.9% of white students, 30.5% of Hispanic students and 22.6% of Asian students were considered chronically absent. Additionally, Evans said 28.8% of English Learner students and 15.7% of students with IEPs were considered chronically absent. When compared to other divisions that year Loudoun had 13.2% of its student population considered chronically absent while Prince William County Public Schools had 21% and Fairfax schools had 15.3%.
She said when they looked at the data of chronically absent students, 70% were excused divisionwide.
She said they assumed they would see a high percentage of chronically absent students who were unenrolled then re-enrolled after traveling for extended periods of time, a higher level of high school students, more students with disciplinary referrals, more students with medical or mental health conditions and students with Ds and Fs.
That was not the case.
Instead, she said they found higher chronically absent students at the elementary level—79%. She said division wide the average for chronically absent students who were unenrolled then re-enrolled was only 4.9%, but 6.7% at the elementary school level. She said 91% of chronically absent students’ division wide did not have disciplinary referrals, 92% of students did not have mental health conditions, 71% did not have chronic medical conditions, and half of high school students considered chronically absent had zero grades of D or F.
She said the numbers showed that there is a subset of students across all school levels who are experiencing a low level of academic, social, emotional and behavioral challenges and are missing 10-15% of their
Hovatter Elementary School Principal Lori Mercer said this year they’ve had to address the issue of frequently absent students. She said in January her team reached out to students who had 10% or more excused and unexcused absences to let families know where they stood at the halfway mark of the school year. At that point in the year there had been about 80 days of school, meaning a student would have missed eight days to fall into the category. She said a letter went out to just under 200 families. She said she then followed up and spoke to many asking what their needs were and how they can work together as a partnership.
“We are not encouraging anyone to send a child to school sick, but if your child is wavering because of tiredness then err on the side of, it’s important to go to school,” she said.
She noted that people, especially children, tend to thrive on structure and routine and when it’s not consistent it makes it more difficult to follow that routine without feeling like you are missing something.
“It’s about supporting the kids and families and making sure they have the information, whether we are talking about taking trips outside of regular school days, its being mindful,” she said. “We don’t realize how quickly the absences can accrue. It’s not about penalizing, it’s about awareness and the importance of school attendance.”
She said they try to find ways to make kids “want to jump out of the car in the morning.”
Evans said the division was planning to provide more support to schools that would fall into level two and three under the new model and said the division would also continue to look at best practices, look at the roll of the attendance officer, look into legislation recommendations related to a new student withdrawal code and look at the division’s attendance policy.
She also talked about programs launched by the VDOE this year to help students stay caught up if they have chronic absences, like ENGAGE VA which is a free academic, coaching and tutoring program.
Acting superintendent Daniel Smith said the VBOE and VDOE will have more talks in the coming weeks about accreditation and accountability and if the two should be coupled. n
“We are not encouraging anyone to send a child to school sick, but if your child is wavering because of tiredness then err on the side of, it’s important to go to school.”— Hovatter Elementary School Principal Lori Mercer
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Board of Zoning Appeal members. That passed by a 4-3 vote with Williams, Rayner and Rise opposed.
Rayner said she thought it was unfair for the council to vote to raise its stipends while reducing the funds for the staff’s proposed COLA increase.
“It is tone-deaf and incredibly insensitive to ask for a pay raise for us,” she said. “I’ve said this before: We need to lead by example.”
Milan said that Rayner was welcome to donate her stipend to a charitable organization.
“For the last 12 to 14 years the CCBs [committees, commissions and boards] and the Town Council has not gotten any consideration for compensation increase of any kind and they’re volunteering
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Consulting founder and CEO Angela Mitchell, Birch Tree Bookstore founder Leah Fallon, Mocatina’s founder Monica Pindell, and Miranda Solutions Group CEO and co-founder Pia Miranda.
Pindell shared her biggest fear when she decided to walk away from the corporate world to open the dessert shop in Leesburg was the absence of a steady paycheck.
She said at first she was scared and felt inadequate. She said she even wanted to go back to her former job. But she said she kept going and pushed through the fear and learned to let go of it.
“I’m sure everybody experiences this same thing. Somedays you are like ‘I can’t do this, I’m going to walk away’ and then the next day you are like ‘I can do this, I got this,’” she said.
She told attendees to lose their fear.
“When you lose your fear, nothing stops you. When you live every day, ‘what if, what if, what if,’ you are never going to take those steps ahead,” she said. “So, you might take 10 steps ahead and take five back, but you are always growing … lose your fear. What is the worst thing that could happen?”
Miranda agreed and said when they started the company in 2019 they were also closing a restaurant they had owned for 11 years. She said she left her corporate job to start the business and shared
services for the community,” Milan said. “And by reducing the cost of living by one percent that would afford those CCBs and Town Council members to receive a small portion of [compensation].”
Currently, the mayor receives a $7,025 annual stipend, council members receive $5,750, the Planning Commission Chair receives $2,100, Planning Commission members get $1,800, Board of Architectural Review members receive $600, and Board of Zoning Appeals members receive $50 a meeting, with budget for two meetings a year.
The council member appointed liaison to the Planning Commission receives an additional $1,800 a year. The last increase to council compensation was made in FY 2015.
The council also discussed utility rates in light of the dramatic water and wastewater rate increases the town is facing beginning in fiscal year 2025 when its debt
services payments increase sharply. The wastewater debt service alone increases by more than $1.3 million in FY 2025.
At a May 1 meeting, David Hyder, a principal with the town’s utility advisor Stantec Consulting, presented the council with their recommended rates over the next nine years. Hyder’s recommendation, with a modified Capital Improvement Program that would reduce the number of capital projects, suggested a 6.5% rate increase in FY 2024 and a 13% increase each year increase through FY 2023. For wastewater, with a modified CIP, he suggested a 9% increase in FY 2024 and a 14% percent annual increase until FY 2029.
Milan proposed a 5% increase in the water rate, while Williams, Rayner and Rise supported keeping the 6.5%.
“We’re expecting Stantec to rerun their study with different numbers for the chargebacks and et cetera, so I’d like to see those numbers before I settle on accepting
a figure for either water or wastewater,” Bertaut said.
Milan also proposed a wastewater increase of 7% instead of the 9% recommended by Stantec.
The council reviewed the updated models from Stantec on Tuesday night’s meeting. They took the council’s proposed changes into account and presented that the utility funds could be maintained at a water rate increase of 5% for FY 2024, a 14.5% increase in FY 2025, a wastewater rate increase of 7.5% in FY 2024 and a 15.75% increase in FY 2025. The consecutive years remained unchanged.
This is a 1.5% reduction from the originally proposed water rate increases in both years, a 1.5% wastewater reduction in FY 2024 and a 0.25% wastewater reduction in FY 2025.
The council is expected to approve a final budget at its May 23 meeting. n
and lean on and get direction,” she said.
Mitchell said she was overconfident when she started her business in 2006, working for someone when she launched and then bringing on her employer as her first client. But she struggled in 2008 when the recession hit and her specific skill was brought in-house instead of contracted out to her.
“That was when I realized, ‘uh-oh, I’m either going to have to go back to work or figure out how to pivot,’” she said.
She pivoted into government contracting and expanded her company.
“As women, it’s not just a fear that you have to overcome, but it’s the fear of your family,” she said. “As you are trying to build and build your confidence, even if your family is saying we support you, you know them well enough that they are terrified as well. So now you are trying to manage their feelings and your feelings at the same time you are trying to build your business, and it can be overwhelming.”
She told attendees to bet on themselves.
the fear of not having that steady income.
“How to overcome it is you believe in what you are going to provide, you believe in your business, and you just keep going,” she said. “The fastest way to try to figure out if it’s going to work and to overcome it is by doing it, and then trying to figure out from there when do you stop and then decide to go back to corporate or decide to pivot your business and do something completely different, or pack it up, and
what is your backup plan.”
Fallon said her biggest fear in starting her own business was figuring out what working full-time as a mother was going to look like, and how that dynamic would change in her home. She also said she faced imposter syndrome and feeling like a fraud.
“I have no idea what I am doing, so I just found the helpers. I found people who could help me and answer my question
They also shared what opening a business taught them about themselves and advice they were given, and cautioned attendees to listen to advice but to be selective about what they actually do with it.
“Everyone is not going to like what you are doing,” Mitchell said. “Be mindful of the naysayers. Be mindful of the people who try to minimize your ability. That tends to happen to us as women in any position. Align yourself with like-minded people and have a diverse group of people you can rely on.” n
NORMAN K. STYER Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com
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The myriad events during the recently completed Small Business Week put a spotlight on the core of Loudoun County’s economy. News flash: It’s not about the data centers. Actually, it’s really not even about the hundreds of small, often family-owned, companies that form the foundation of our business community.
It’s about the people and their willingness to contribute to—and celebrate— the success of their fellow entrepreneurs. That camaraderie was on display in a variety of forums—from traditional venues including the Small Business Summit and Leesburg’s Business Awards ceremony to the new gathering of mentors sponsored by Loudoun’s Coalition on Women and Girls.
Editor:
The first two letters to the editor in the print version of Loudoun Now on May 4 contained both misinformation and disinformation. Both attacked Democratic Party-endorsed School Board member Harris Mahedavi for supporting the board approved program of adding gender neutral, single use, bathrooms for students who need privacy and safety for various reasons.
Their tirade accused Mahedavi and the board of squandering the $11 million cost, implying that the money should have gone to Special Education programs and our SPED students who were being robbed of service by the allocation of funds for the additional bathrooms. This was not true. Acting LCPS superintendent Smith made clear that the allotment came from the fiveyear Capital Improvement Plan; it was
Recognizing the need for mutual success was fundamental in the community’s efforts during the COVID pandemic, and likely will be again as the national economy teeters on the brink of recession.
While the data centers keep your Netflix movies streaming and credit card transactions processing, they don’t likely provide a job for your neighbor. That’s more likely to be provided by another neighbor—a business owner whose investment makes a difference in our community.
It’s a commitment that gets special attention this time of year, but one that shouldn’t be taken for granted no matter the economic cycle. n
never earmarked for support of special education because CIP funds never support teaching and services. That didn’t seem to matter to both authors.
Also, in a not-so-subtle way, both called for Loudoun’s electorate to replace Mahedevi for sins committed. Mahedevi is running to retain his seat on the board in the Ashburn District this coming Fall.
The first letter was written by Erin Roselle Poe, who failed to identify herself. She is the former president of the Loudoun County Republican Women’s Club, which promoted the MAGA Stop the Steal rally in Purcellville where Oath Keepers founder and convicted insurrectionist Stewart Rhodes was hosted. She is also a co-founder and vice president of Army of Parents, a Republican activist organization featured prominently on Fox News and other right-wing media which accused the same Democratic Party backed school board members of imposing non-
existent CRT programs in our schools. Members of these two groups attempted to removed Democratic Party backed school board members previously through recall petitions. Those efforts failed.
The second letter was written by Deanna Griffiths, an activist who also failed to identify herself. Griffiths is the Ashburn Republican endorsed School Board candidate running against Mahedevi.
Peter Wehner, a senior fellow at the Trinity Forum, whose mission is “contributing to the renewal of society by cultivating and promoting the best of Christian thought...” and who served three Republican presidents, wrote a thoughtful column in the New York Times on Nov. 16, 2022. Commenting after the expected Republican midterm
What’s your position on the nation’s debit ceiling crunch?
• 42.5% Default is unacceptable
• 42.5% Don’t raise it without a path to sustainability
• 13.8% Let it go to default
• 1.2% Raise it one more time
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
Are your kids missing more school days than in previous years?
continued from page 3
do, but specifically to public safety and to community engagement. And now is the chance that you have to further those as chief of police.”
Fredericksburg Police Department Captain Rashawn Cowles was among Jones’ friends and former colleagues who attended the ceremony.
Cowles met Jones at the police academy and continues to stay in daily contact with him.
“There are very many, many characteristics I can use to describe Shaun: dedicated, visionary, hardworking, committed, dependable, knowledgeable, humble, empathetic, determined, strong, but also sensitive and lovable,” Cowles said. “Sean absolutely loves life and all that it has to offer. He loves law enforcement
continued from page 38
electoral tsunami fizzled, he said that the challenge for Republicans is will they move away from “... MAGA world’s anti-democratic sensibilities, its assault on the truth, … and the brutality and indecency of its politics?”
Loudoun has had its own share of MAGA politics. I would hope that
Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls
humbled to be the chief of police for the town of Middleburg,” he said.
He reflected on the difficult decision to leave the Sheriff’s Office and move his family to a new community.
“I was scared to change and I was scared of the unknown. I knew everybody in Spotsylvania County. I could pick up the phone and get stuff done,” he said.
After taking the Middleburg job, he was hit with other life-changing events— the death of his father from pancreatic cancer and then his own lymphoma diagnosis. Each time the town rallied around him.
and serving his community. He loves his family and providing for them. Most importantly, he loves being a father and
there are Republicans in our county who believe as Wehner does. Maybe their ascendancy or participation would lead to real dialogue which would help us find meaningful solutions to the problems facing all of us.
— Steven Meyer, Leesburg
The writer is a former LCPS special education teacher; member of the Loudoun Education Association and the Loudoun County Democratic Party.
being a leader in his home.”
Panebianco said Jones’s tenure with the town almost didn’t happen, as his application was received late in the recruitment process. Also, he noted, the town had never hired someone from outside the department for a rank position. However, with his retirement nearing, Panebianco said it was important to allow the officers to play a role in the transition.
“Shawn’s major mission was ingratiating himself into this community and he did that. He did that very, very well,” Panebianco said. “We’re very proud of you, Shaun. You’ve done an amazing job of becoming what we needed here in the community.”
Jones described Middleburg as “a hidden gem.”
“This is a very historic town and a beautiful location. I’m honored and
“The town embraced me, and they fully supported me and my family,” he said. “As I started to learn the town and started learning people, everyone became family. As you walk through the town people started yelling and waving—’Hey Lieutenant Shaun, Hey Big Shaun.’”
He thanked Panebianco for the opportunity and his mentorship.
“Since December 2020, I had the opportunity to learn from one of the greatest small-town police chiefs in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Chief AJ saw something in me. He believed in me. Over the next few years, I learned the true meaning of what small town policing was all about,” Jones said.
“I have some big shoes to fill and I’m thankful to my officers and very thankful for their support. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to be your chief. I’m excited for the opportunity to keep moving the Middleburg Police Department ahead. We might be a small department, but we operate like we are big department,” Jones said. n
