Loudoun Now for May 25, 2023

Supervisors

Again Consider Development Rights Marketplace

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

County supervisors are again looking into a program that would let landowners in rural areas of the county sell the development rights on their land to developers in the east, aimed toward protecting rural land while giving developers more flexibility in their projects.

Transportation and Land Use Committee Chair Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) brought the idea of a Transfer of Development Rights program to the committee after attending the Loudoun Together summit April 11, where that was a central topic. A TDR program would aim for a marketplace solution to managing development in Loudoun, in which the Board of Supervisors would designate where those rights can be sold and where they can be bought. Virginia law also allows residential rights sold in the sending area to be purchased as commercial rights in the receiving area. That would permit landowners in the sending area to realize a profit from the development potential of their land without developing it, and give developers in the east an option for

DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS

continues on page 42

Historic Douglass High School Rededicated

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounow.com

The Historic Douglass High School Education & Development Campus officially opened Sunday with a rededication and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The school on East Market Street in Leesburg opened in 1941 following a campaign by the Black community to expand secondary education opportunities for their children. After the families raised $4,000 to buy the eight acres on the outskirts of town, the School Board still refused to build a school until the land was conveyed to the district for $1. It was the only high school for Black students until

Loudoun schools desegregated in 1968. Since then, the campus has been used as a middle school, a special education and alternative school and community center. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

Douglass High School Commemorative Committee Co-Chairs Erica Bush and Charles Avery welcomed school officials, county and town government officials and Douglass alumni in the new gymnasium.

Bush said the 17-member committee, formed in 2021, had worked diligently over the past two years to determine the best way to commemorate the school and its rich history. The renovation of the school was a partnership between the

committee, the School Board, the Board of Supervisors and the Town of Leesburg.

The May 21 ceremony began with remarks from Bush and Avery and the pledge of allegiance followed by a moment of silence lead by Jaxon Roberts, the grandson of James Roberts, a Douglass graduate from the class of 1956 and DHSCC member.

“Each of you are participating in a historical repeating of the history of Loudoun County and Douglass High School. We are a living legacy of those citizens of Loudoun County who thought something

DOUGLASS REDEDICATED continues on page 43

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Douglass High School alumnus Rosetta Bush, Sterling Cook, Ronald Hampton and Almeta Ferrell Johnson joined Acting Superintendent Daniel Smith, Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge), Vice Chair Harris Mahedavi (Ashburn), Chair of the Board of Supervisors Phyllis J. Randall (D-At-Large), Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burke, NAACP Loudoun Branch President Pastor Michelle Thomas and several of the DHCC members to cut the ribbon at the rededication May 21.

The Town of Leesburg’s Incredible Free Summer Concert Series

Saturdays • 7:00 pm Town Green • 25 West Market Street

June 3  Lenny Burridge Trio

10  Lost Locals Acoustic

17  Levi Stephens

24  Robbie Limon

July 8  Juliet Lloyd

1 5  Todd Wright 22  Hilary Veltri

29  Caribbean Vibe Steel Drum Band

August 5  Smallwood & Fath

19  Sela Campbell

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Official

Inaugural Women Hall of Fame Class Celebrated

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Loudoun Coalition of Women and Girls on Thursday held the first Loudoun’s Women Hall of Fame Inductee and Award Celebration.

Twenty-four women were nominated by members of the public in February and eight were chosen to be inducted during the ceremony held at the Lightfoot Restaurant. The Hall of Fame was established to preserve and amplify the legacies of Loudoun’s most extraordinary women and inspire future generations of women and girls to greater achievement, according to the coalition.

Morven Park CEO and President Stacey Metcalfe emceed the event attended by approximately 130 people.

“Our organization stands up today for all of you,” LCWAG Program Chair and Board Secretary Lorna Campbell Clarke said. “We are amazed and just grateful for all your accomplishments.”

Metcalfe shared the accomplishments and contributions made to the community by each of the eight honorees.

“The stories that we read about all of these nominees talked about courage,

leadership, intelligence, compassion, creativity in the arts, in community service, education, leadership, health, social justice, philanthropy and business,” Metcalfe said.

The Loudoun Coalition on Women

and Girls is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonpolitical organization that promotes leadership development and fosters an inclusive community for Loudoun’s women and girls through education, collaboration, and empowerment. n

County Offers Free Lifeguard Training to Fill Shortage

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

For anyone who has ever wanted to sit in the big chair at the local pool, tell kids to “stop running” and save lives, now is your chance to get certified to be a lifeguard at no cost.

Loudoun County is offering free lifeguard training for anyone who is 15 years and six months and older as it works to build its staffing back up across the county after COVID-19 prevented many lifeguards from recertifying and new ones from getting certified.

American Lifeguard Association Director of Health and Safety Bernard Fisher said the COVID-19 pandemic wiped the slate clean of available lifeguards across the country.

Once a person is certified as a lifeguard, that certification lasts two years. Then, usually a pool or municipality will pay to recertify lifeguards. Fisher said when COVID hit, lifeguards who needed to recertify couldn’t. On top of that, he said historically about 300,000 new lifeguards

are certified each year. That meant 300,000 new guards couldn’t get certified during the pandemic.

To get out of that deficit, he said

600,000 lifeguards will need to be trained every year over the next two years.

Loudoun County Division Manager for Recreation Centers Jay Allred has spent 30

The eight women inducted into Loudoun’s Women Hall of Fame were:

Kris Loya, a posthumous award for the artist and former manager of Leesburg’s Tryst Gallery

Kindra Dionne, of Purpose Worx LLC

Shreyaa and Esha Venkat, of Nest4Us

Katie Johnson, principal of Belmont Ridge Middle School

Sigrid Fry-Revere, a medical ethicist

Leesburg Interim Chief of Police Vanessa Grigsby

Karen Schaufeld, of All Ages Read Together

Pastor Michelle C. Thomas, president of the NAACP Loudoun Chapter

years in the aquatic industry, beginning as a lifeguard in 1986 and said lifeguard shortages have been around in the industry for years, but the recent shortage as a result of COVID might be the worst.

He said basically an entire generation of lifeguards are missing as a result of the pandemic.

When businesses started opening back up, owners had to get creative to bring people back. That included aquatic centers. They not only needed to get patrons back, but they needed to have enough lifeguards to watch over the pools.

Loudoun County Aquatics Manager Michael Skarke said it wasn’t that people weren’t interested in lifeguarding, but that it took a long time to develop training that took into consideration COVID safety protocols.

“In that time frame everyone’s certifications expired, and when people went back looking for work they found different avenues, so it left everybody kind of just down in the dumps on that side,” he said. “The country is trying to figure out how we bring them back.”

LIFEGUARD SHORTAGE continues on page 42

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now Lifeguard trainees perform CPR after performing a mock rescue during lifeguard certification at Claude Moore Recreation and Community Center.

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Members of 100 Women Strong gather to accept an award for Karen Schaufeld who was unable to attend the first Loudoun’s Women Hall of Fame Inductee and Award Celebration May 18.

Loudoun

Supervisors Hear Report on End of COVID-era Benefits

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

County human services department heads briefed supervisors Tuesday, May 16 on the end of expanded COVID-19-era safety net programs like public assistance for the hungry and Medicaid coverage.

During the national state of emergency declared due to the pandemic, health and human services programs were expanded to offer more benefits to more people, such as simplifying and expanding eligibility and increasing benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. Although many people are still feeling the effects of the pandemic’s disruptions in their own lives, those programs have been cut back down, and Loudoun Department of Family Services staff are now working to reevaluate ev-

Long-Planned Rivana Development Approved

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Supervisors have given the final OK to plans for a 2,719-home, mixed-use development near the Innovation Station Metrorail stop, envisioned as one of the largest such developments in Loudoun.

At the developer’s request they also scheduled a public hearing to establish a Community Development Authority for the project. It would be a public body authorized to issue debt to finance building public infrastructure and facilities at the development.

The project, Rivana at Innovation Station, was first announced in April 2021 with plans to break ground in early 2022. However, it faced repeated delays in getting county approvals, including extensive work at the Planning Commission, and got a Board of Supervisors public hearing two years later, on April 12. The project includes almost 3.4 million square feet of nonresidential development, including

ery recipient’s case in those programs as required by federal law. Department of Family Services Director Ina Fernández said they estimate about 30% of those recipients will no longer qualify for those

programs under returning pre-COVID rules.

A county staff report called the rollbacks to Medicaid “the single largest health coverage transition event since the first open enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act in 2010.” It is expected to impact not only the workload of those government staff, who have a year to redetermine eligibility for every one of a greatly expanded number of cases, but for the people who have been relying on that aid.

“We do think that there’ll be some financial impact to the Health Department of this, but I think the much greater impact is access to care with folks coming off of Medicaid, and where they can get services, whether it’s a free clinic, the community health center or

New Zoning Ordinance Draft Online

The latest draft of the proposed county zoning ordinance has been published online, the latest major step in the ongoing Zoning Ordinance Rewrite.

The updated draft incorporates the Planning Commission’s work on the ordinance to date, and with all chapters included is the first complete draft ordinance in more than a year.

The county is seeking to streamline the zoning ordinance to produce a simpler, modern ordinance that is easier to read and understand. The commission has received thousands of comments from the public and continues to work toward a final recommended ordinance to pass to the Board of Supervisors, expected to happen this summer. The county board will seek additional public input before final approval, which could happen by the end of the year, according to a county press release.

The Planning Commission’s next work session is scheduled for 6 p.m. June 5.

More information and the complete text of all chapters of the latest draft ordinance are posted on the county’s website at loudoun.gov/ ZoningOrdinanceRewrite.

County Sells Bonds at Favorable Interest Rates

2.4 million square feet of office and a hotel with up to 450 rooms.

The developer also committed to offering 10% of the residential units with price controls, up to 272 units. All the homes in the development are apartments or townhouses, and all are planned to be rentals, although the developer has reserved the option to include up to 100 units for sale in the same area—or same building—as the hotel.

While overall supporting the project by the time of supervisors’ vote May 16, county planners continued to express concerns about the developer’s proposal to get credit for $12 million worth of capital contributions linked to the three park areas in the development. The county has

no capital plans for those parks, no plans to accept those parks if the developer seeks to deed to them to the county, and disagrees with the developer’s assessment of their value—an assessment that only went up after the Board of Supervisors public hearing, a county staff report notes.

The Planning Commission’s recommendation to approve the project was based on a $7.8 million credit for only one of the parks.

The developer also sought and won another partial exemption, worth $8.1 million, to the usual contributions to offset the development’s traffic and transit impacts.

Loudoun County has sold $189.7 million of general obligation bonds at 3.2% interest. The sale generated $27.6 million of premium, which was used to reduce the par amount of the bonds. Six bidders submitted offers for the county’s bonds.

Proceeds from the bond sale will be used to finance the county and school capital projects such as the Ashburn Recreation and Community Center, the Lovettsville Fire Station Replacement, a Rt. 7/Rt. 690 interchange, a Rt. 9/Rt. 287 roundabout, a Braddock Road extension,

ON THE AGENDA continues on page 7

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now A SNAP recipient holds her electronic benefits transfer card, which she uses like a credit card to buy food using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding.

COVID BENEFITS continues on page 6

Loudoun County

Marketing materials depicting plans for Rivana at Innovation Station. RIVANA APPROVED continues on

"SHE SAVED MY LIFE"

Loudoun County resident Dawn R. had been experiencing the painful side effects of Peripheral Neuropathy, “my feet and legs were extremely painful and my doctor told me there was nothing they could do. That I would have to take Gabapentin for the rest of my life.”

Then she met Ashburn's very own Rachal Lohr, L.Ac.

Peripheral Neuropathy is the pain, discomfort, and numbness caused by nerve damage to the peripheral nervous system. Dawn explained that daily tasks like opening doors and using the bathroom were overwhelmingly painful.

“How can you live for the next 30 years when you don’t even want to get out of bed to do simple things?”

She was experiencing the burning, numbness, tingling, and sharp pains that those suffering from neuropathy often describe. “The way that I would describe it, it’s equivalent to walking on glass ” Dawn hadn’t worn socks in five years and was wearing shoes two sizes too big so that nothing would ‘touch’ her feet

Unfortunately, Dawn’s story is all too familiar for the over 3 million people in the U.S. suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy.

If you’re unfortunate enough to be facing the same disheartening prognosis you’re not sleeping at night because of the burning in your feet You have difficulty walking, shopping, or doing any activity for more than 30 minutes because of the pain You’re struggling with balance and living in fear that you might fall. Your doctor told you to ‘just live with the pain’ and you’re taking medications that aren’t working or have uncomfortable side effects.

PERIPHERAL

Fortunately, two months ago Dawn read an article about Rachal and the work she was doing to treat those suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy, without invasive surgeries or medications.

Rachal Lohr, founder of Firefly Acupuncture and Wellness, in Ashburn, is using the time tested science of Acupuncture and a technology originally developed by NASA that assists in increasing blood flow and expediting recovery and healing to treat this debilitating disease.

“Now when I go to bed at night I don’t have those shooting pains. I don’t have that burning sensation. I don’t have pain coming up my legs,” Dawn enthusiastically describes life after receiving Rachal Lohr's treatments. “I can wear socks and shoes!”

Dawn and her sister now operate a successful dog walking business, sometimes covering up to 5 miles a day

“It’s life altering. As far as I’m concerned Rachal saved my life!”

Rachal has been helping the senior community for over 15 years using the most cutting edge and innovative integrative medicine. Specializing in chronic pain cases, specifically those that have been deemed ‘hopeless’ or ‘untreatable’, she consistently generates unparalleled results.

What was once a missing link in senior healthcare is now easily accessible to the residents of Northern Virginia.

If you’ve missed too many tee times because of pain or you’ve passed on walking through the town centers with friends because you’re afraid of falling, it’s time to call Rachal and the staff at Firefly.

It’s time you let your golden years BE GOLDEN!

Rachal Lohr, L.Ac. is once again accepting new patients. And for a limited time will be offering $40 Consultations so call (703)263-2142 before June 1st to schedule a consultation

County May Study Using Landfill Gas for Energy

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Supervisors in July will discuss whether to launch a feasibility study of collecting and using methane gas emitted from the county landfill to generate energy, as opposed to simply burning it off.

As organic waste in the county landfill decomposes, it creates methane gas, a particularly strong greenhouse gas in addition to being dangerously flammable. Currently the county’s practice is to burn it off. County supervisors last week unanimously directed staff to scope out a study on the feasibility of instead collecting it to burn for energy, agreeing with Vice Chair Koran T. Saines’s (D-Sterling) push to have that discussion as soon as possible.

“We already are doing some great things on our energy plan. I think this is something else that we should look at doing,” Saines said. “I think we should continue on this process of being innovators and trendsetters in our energy strategy.”

Loudoun so far will not be pushing toward any bold new technologies, or even technologies new to the US—the county so far has shied away from some of the responses to a request for information about possible alternative energy projects. General Services Assistant Director Marc Aveni said of ten responses to that posting, one offered various technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the county,

Rivana approved

continued from page 4

Unusually, supervisors, who have final approval authority over development applications, have acted as cheerleaders for Rivana since before they saw the first application for it. County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) and Supervisors Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) and Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run) appeared in a video advertisement for the project when it was first announced in 2021. Randall said she has been in meetings about the project since 2018.

That sentiment continued into the unanimous vote to approve the project on May 16. Glass said it would be “better than Reston Town Center.”

“This is a fantastic application before us today. I am thrilled to make the motion for approval of this development as revised, slated to be a world class-community, and will set up Loudoun for a more diverse economy and business tax base,” Glass said. “A lot of previous approvals

and four dealt in various forms of hydrogen production.

“While these were all very interesting, they are complex technologies and not necessarily proven in the US, so we were a little hesitant to bring these forward to you,” he said.

The majority of responses, seven, dealt with using methane gas generated at the landfill for energy. Without specific information such as how much methane gas the Loudoun landfill generates, several responses estimated a cost of $20 million to $25 million to design and build that system.

The county could also realize some revenues from that project not only through the use of methane gas itself, but through selling greenhouse gas credits through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard Program. According to a county staff report to the board, those are traded “at what is currently a substantial monetary benefit,” and new EPA rules in the program expected later this year “may increase this benefit substantially.” However, the market is speculative and county staff advised caution.

They also advised supervisors against trying to pursue that kind of large project in this fiscal year, with the county budget and staff’s schedule already full. That would put the earliest funding available in July 2024.

County staff are expected to return to the July finance committee meeting with

have existed at this parcel and I hope the Rivana developers are able to pull this one off, because I know there’s a lot of interest in this site already.”

Letourneau said he wasn’t worried about the lingering issue of capital contributions.

“I think maybe in a different application that wasn’t of this significance, I would be more concerned about it, but I think when you look at the sum of everything that’s been offered to us, this is still a very good deal for the county,” he said.

“I don’t know when I’ve been so excited about voting for a project,” Randall said.

The land has been the site of several previous ambitious plans for development, including Dulles World Center and later The Hub. It was first rezoned to permit a high-density research and development park in the late 1980s. It was revived as the Dulles World Center in 2012, a project that included 1,265 homes and 1.75 million square feet of office. In 2018, plans were changed again when the county approved The Hub for the same number of homes with 250,000 square feet of office.

a discussion of the scope and cost of a feasibility study on using landfill methane for energy.

“Obviously one of the things we have to look at is how much… methane are we actually preventing, versus that amount of cost,” Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said. “The cost-benefit analysis on something like this is really important, because that’s money that could also be spent in other areas of our energy strategy that may net more benefit.”

“The more I look at this, the more I look at the rate at which we are solving the greenhouse gas problem globally, I am more and more convinced that it’s going to take some pretty radical solutions,” Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) said.

Loudoun County will have to do more to reach its own and the world’s climate goals. Using the landfill’s emissions is something contemplated broadly in the county’s energy strategy, but modeling based on that strategy so far shows Loudoun far short of its goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Meanwhile, Dominion Energy’s 2022 Climate Report estimated current government policy and the utility’s plans lead to an estimated 2.1 degrees Celsius increase in global average temperatures, well above the 1.5-degree target of the Paris climate agreement to avoid the most devastating effects of climate change. n

Rivana at Innovation Station increases the number of homes by 114% and reduces the non-residential development by 20%, county staff noted.

The same night, supervisors also voted to hold a June 14 public hearing on setting up a Community Development Authority at Rivana. Under state law those authorities are political subdivisions separate from the locality, which can issue bonds to finance public infrastructure. However, the locality—Loudoun County—is not required to back those bonds, so they wouldn’t affect the county’s credit rating.

According to a county staff report, funding public infrastructure like roads, parking and trails through a Community Development Authority would mean the developer doesn’t have to finance that construction, instead focusing their funds on private development. The bonds may be repaid through revenues collected by the authority at those public facilities or by a special real estate tax levied by the county on that property, up to 25 cents per $100 of assessed value. n

COVID benefits

continued from page 4

coming for government services when they’re no longer able to be covered by insurance,” Health Department Director Dr. David Goodfriend said. “Additionally, the increased risk of food insecurity and economic insecurity resulting in this.”

Fernández said Loudoun has seen about a $1.3 million reduction in SNAP funding. She pointed out the impact of that funding cut is multiplied—U.S. Department of Agriculture research estimated every $5 of SNAP benefit spent generates as much as $9 in economic activity.

“There’s now not only a reduction of SNAP benefits going to families, but then we’re also seeing a reduction in economic drivers into our community,” she said. Now people who are no longer receiving those benefits are reaching out for help, she said, and county staff members are working to connect them to other services in the community such as nonprofits.

And the return of old requirements to get help, such as face-to-face interviews, could also chase some people out of the program who otherwise would qualify, Goodfriend said. He offered the example of families getting food assistance through the Women, Infants and Children program, which helps with feeding children up to five years old.

Those mothers may once again have to bring their children in for monthly check-ins—often difficult to arrange if they are working or have difficulty getting transportation.

“It is a significant barrier, so we do expect maybe a quarter or a third of our roles will come down just because folks will have to come back in person,” Goodfriend said. “…As money gets tighter in these households, people look for ways to feed their families, and so there’s always in a community people who are WIC-eligible but don’t take advantage of that service.” But he said that drop in enrollment could also be balanced out as people experience even more intense need.

To learn about getting help with child care, employment, food, medical care, housing and other needs, call the Loudoun County Information and Referral hotline at 703-777-0420 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or find more information online at loudoun.gov/5287/Information-Referral. Or to find help with food, visit loudounfeeds.org. n

ON THE Agenda

continued from page 4

a Dulles South elementary school ES-32, Watson Mountain Middle School, replacing the Valley Service Center, and school security improvements.

Through the Economic Development Authority the county has also sold $37.2 million of public facility revenue bonds with a true interest cost of 3.24%, receiving $4.7 million of premium used to downsize the par amount of the bonds. Eight bidders submitted offers for the bonds

Proceeds from that bond sale will finance county and capital projects like renovations to the Loudoun County Government Center, work at the courts complex, and school bus replacements.

The county retains triple-triple-A credit ratings on its general obligation bonds, and AA+/Aa1/AA+ ratings on its appropriation-backed bonds issued through the EDA. More information is at  loudoun.gov/bondratings.

Loudoun Programs Wins NACo Recognition

Four Loudoun County programs have been recognized with 2023 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties, or NACo.

One went to Hal & Berni Hanson Regional Park, which opened in September 2022 on 257 acres after a years-long effort. It includes a tournament-level disc golf course, Loudoun’s first-ever specifically designed and designated cricket pitch, and two stadiums designed to host regional and statewide tournaments. It also includes 17 lighted athletic fields and more than 75 acres of passive recreational space.

The Department of Economic Development created the Loudoun Farm Exchange to fill a supply chain gap among rural producers, seeking to keep money in the county by connecting local rural products and services. It offers in-person networking and a digital marketplace.

The Loudoun County Pre-K Skill Builders is a self-paced program offered by Loudoun County Public Library, designed to strengthen preschoolers’ school readiness skills, which research has shown to be underdeveloped as a result of pandemic challenges. Children and caregivers do activities focused on early literacy and math concepts, fine and gross motor skills, and social-emotional awareness.

Both children and adults develop also confidence and form relationships with others in the community.

And a fourth award went to the Department of Family Services’ annual financial assistance for children to attend local summer camps. The department moved from paper-based applications to cloud applications, fully digitizing the application process, streamlining it and offering more flexibility and control internally.

More information is online at

loudoun.gov/awards.

FAA Holding Airport Noise Hearings

The Federal Aviation Administration is holding webinars about aircraft noise as it conducts a nationwide review of its noise policy.

A press release from Loudoun County notes those webinars are happening as the county government is seeking to engage the FAA about noise concerns west of Dulles International Airport. According

to the county press release, the FAA has acknowledged Loudoun’s request and is preparing a response.

The FAA is reviewing policy around recreational and commercial fixed-wing airplanes, helicopters, commercial space transportation vehicles, unmanned aircraft systems, and emerging technology vehicles.

The last webinar is scheduled for Thursday, May 25 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit faa.gov/noisepolicyreview. n

McEnearney Associates: The Trusted Real Estate Resource for Hunt Country and Beyond

Leesburg

Dynamic Pricing, Parking Authority Eyed as Downtown Options

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@louduonnow.com

The Leesburg Town Council on Monday set in motion the potential for sweeping changes in the way the town regulates, charges for, and provides parking in the historic district.

During what Deputy Town Manager Keith Markel termed a “mega” briefing on the downtown parking strategies, the council reviewed nine potential projects designed to address one of the top priorities identified by members during its retreat earlier this year.

While no decisions were made during the work session, council members showed interest in casting a wide net in their efforts to address concerns—real or perceived— about a shortage of downtown parking. Markel noted that, according to staff surveys, the town’s main public parking lots— the Town Hall garage and the Liberty Street lot—are rarely full and the other large downtown facility—the county-owned Pennington lot and parking garage—remains little used.

While there might be plenty of parking available most of the time, concerns continue about providing on-street parking closer to town businesses and how much parking to require of downtown developers.

The town recently switched from parking meters to ParkMobile app payment system on downtown streets. Currently, the town charges $1.50 per hour and the online service collects 50 cents for itself. The council backed a study of increasing the per-hour charge, including an option of dynamic pricing that would charge higher fees during times of peak use. The strategy is intended to promote more rapid turnover of on-street spots. Demand pricing also may be considered for the Town Hall parking garage.

The council also backed a plan to allow short-term visitor parking, up to two hours, on some streets that are part of the residential permit parking program. That model has been tested on sections of Wirt and Cornwall streets without complaints, the staff reported. Under that concept, residents with parking permits would continue to have unlimited access to on-street parking in their neighborhood, but it would no

longer be exclusive access.

Members unanimously backed a proposal to consider having the town lease private parking lots to increase the number of public spaces. Director of Economic Development Russell Seymour said as many as 2,000 private spaces could be available in the downtown area. Under the concept, the town will likely enter an agreement to share Park Mobile revenue with the landowner. There also was a focus on improving the customer experience.

Council member Zach Cummings urged the town to provide visitors with a payment alternative to the smartphone-based ParkMobile app. Staff members said the installation of credit card pay stations likely was cost-prohibitive, but that efforts are made to guide visitors to the town garage, which accepts credit cards, and to the town’s free parking lots.

A council majority agreed to move forward with a technology upgrade to the Town Hall parking garage that would provide motorists information on the number and location of available parking spaces. Already, $150,000 has been budgeted for the project, which may cost $50,000 more to fully implement. The garage has 362 spaces.

One suggestion the council rejected was to restart a downtown trolley service. The concept was to make it easier for visitors

who park on the outskirts of the historic district, such as in the Pennington lot, to get to downtown businesses or other destinations like the Village at Leesburg or the Leesburg Premium Outlets. The town operated a trolley service from 2004 to 2013 supported by a federal grant, but it wasn’t viewed as a successful service.

“It just kinda drove around in circle empty,” Council member Kari Nacy said.

Other members noted that private vendors, such as previously approved CartWheels, could provide the service if there is a demand.

The council also agreed to take a new look at parking requirements for new developments downtown. That includes reexamining parking standards for residential and commercial uses as part of the comprehensive rewrite of the town’s Zoning Ordinance.

Members also agreed to consider expanding the zone in which new uses in existing buildings can use the town’s garage or public parking lots as an alternative to providing required on-site parking. Currently, buildings within 500 feet of a public parking facility are eligible.

A continuing point of contention is the town’s program to allow developers who can’t accommodate required parking on their property to pay into a town fund that would be used to provide more public parking in the future. The Payment in Lieu of Parking program is generally panned by both developers and council members as ineffective.

The program started in 1986, with developers required to pay $3,000 per space. That fee was increased starting in 2016 and today is $8,000 per space. However, Deputy Director Planning and Zoning Brian Boucher said it cost about $27,000, exclusive of land, to provide a new public parking space.

Since the program’s inception, 253 spaces have been purchased. The account currently holds $402,000, enough to provide about eight spaces, he noted.

Boucher said the program has played an important role, as intended, in attracting new investment downtown while also

DOWNTOWN PARKING

continues on page 9

Case to Retire as Finance Director

Clark Case, who has served as Leesburg’s director of Finance and Administrative Services since 2014, will retire this fall after 40 years of local government service.

Case came to Leesburg after serving for 31 years in the City of Winston-Salem, NC. In addition to serving as Leesburg’s chief financial officer, he supervised the Department of Finance and Administrative Services, which includes the Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology departments. Early during his tenure, the town achieved triple-A bond ratings from the three major rating agencies.

Case also is created with business process improvements that included the transition of billing and collection of town taxes to Loudoun County, implementation of updated cybersecurity measures, and the setup of the town’s independent Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust and investment program.

Prior to his municipal government service, he worked in financial management and budgeting positions for the Mutual Broadcasting System radio network, Pizza Hut, Inc.’s world headquarters, and Arthur Andersen & Company (now Accenture) as a systems consultant.

Case’s retirement is effective Sept. 30. The town is advertising for his replacement and expects to fill the post prior to Clark’s departure.

Land Grants Research Class Offered

Historian Wynne Saffer will teach a class on “Researching Using Northern Neck Grants” on Thursday, June 1, beginning at 10 a.m. The class will be held in-person at Thomas Balch Library and virtually.

A life-long Loudoun resident, Saffer will discuss the Northern

AROUND TOWN continues on page 9

Loudoun Now File Photo

The Town of Leesburg instituted an app-based parking payment system in March. Now the Town Council is weighing higher rates to encourage more turnover in the on-street spaces downtown.

Downtown parking

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discouraging the demolition of buildings to meet parking requirements.

Faced with the question of whether to terminate the program, council members agreed to wait to see how other policy changes would impact new development. However, there was agreement to sustainably increase the per space fee, with Vice Mayor Neil Steinburg suggesting the true cost could be in the $35,000 to $40,000 range.

The town also could overhaul its whole approach to parking management. The council agreed to examine the merits of creating a parking authority, which could take over the operation of the town’s parking facilities, collect parking revenues and issue bonds to develop new parking. The City of Winchester is among seven Virginia jurisdictions with parking authorities.

AROUND Town

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Neck Proprietary and how to locate the grants using resources available at the library. Saffer has completed numerous local research projects, mapped the county by land ownership in 1860, and written several books about Loudoun’s history, including “Loudoun Votes 1867-1966: A Civil War Legacy,” and “Mount Zion Cemetery, Aldie, Virginia.”

Pre-registration is required by calling 703-737-7195 or emailing  balchlib@leesburgva.gov. n

Aquatic Center

Opens Saturday

The A.V. Symington Aquatic Center

The council took only straw votes during the work session, with expectations that their approved strategy options will come back with more detailed staff reports in coming months. n

at Ida Lee Park will open for the summer season on Saturday, May 27.

On Memorial Day weekend, the pool will be open to the general public from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday through Monday. Town residents will be admitted at 11 a.m. each day.

Through June 8, while Loudoun County Public Schools remain in session, the pool will be open on Saturdays and Sundays only.

Beginning June 9, the aquatic center will be open daily from noon to 8 p.m., with town residents admitted at 11 a.m.

For more information regarding hours, rates, passes, and rentals, go to AVSAC.org or call the Aquatic Center at 703-779-5390. n

Cochran Family Dental

Visit

Loudoun Now File Photo

Months of renovations at the Town Hall parking garage are nearly complete, but more changes may be coming including electronic space sensors and higher prices.

Education Capstones Around the County: How High School Seniors are Spending Their Two Weeks

BY NANAKI PREET BAWA

Students around Loudoun County have been participating in the Senior Capstone program offered to high school seniors to explore a career path or occupation they find interesting or might want to pursue after high school. The program connects students with mentors and professionals to either shadow their daily jobs or work on specific projects—gaining anywhere from 15 to more than 50 hours of experience.

Briar Woods High School and Academies of Loudoun seniors Maddie Farias and Erin Wheeler are spending their capstone time with Inova Loudoun Hospital President Susan Carroll, shadowing her daily tasks and handling supply chain management as well as security and emergency management and patient support services.

Farias decided to intern with Inova Loudoun Hospital because she has always been interested in the field of business administration and had prior experience with healthcare after also completing “Job for a Day” with Carroll.

“I was sick as a kid, so I knew I always wanted to go into healthcare, but I get very wigged out,” Farias said. She is in a certified nursing assistant program at the Academies, where she has been exposed to the clinical side of medicine, but quickly realized that she loved the business side of the industry.

Wheeler, who is enrolled in the administration of justice program at the Academies, saw this opportunity to shadow Carroll as a way to combine her interests in government, forensics, and ethics, as well as provide insight into a different field that she had not previously considered. She plans on majoring in forensics but decided to complete her capstone experience at Inova Loudoun Hospital to explore her options.

“I really just wanted to take a look and see what else there is out there because I’m just a senior, and I don’t know what it is I want to do with my life just yet. So, I’m using this as an opportunity to look and see what else there is,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler said she has enjoyed learning how Carroll runs operations, uses her leadership skills to take control of situa-

tions, and empathizes with her staff. “[I have enjoyed] looking at how Ms. Carroll runs things—the huddle meetings in particular, where she really gets in there and directs people,” Wheeler said.

Farias agreed that shadowing Carroll has taught her how to always connect with everyone “because every single person plays a role no matter how small or big. So, whenever we are walking around, [she] always knows everyone.”

The students, who previously knew each other from high school, have also been able to forge a deeper friendship through working together, which was “purely coincidental,” according to Wheeler.

“Selfishly, we love capstone students coming in because we want to teach people how great it is to work in healthcare and how it’s wonderful to be in an industry where you do give back and really serve the community,” Carroll said.

Carroll, who also is a member of Loudoun’s CEO Cabinet, has encouraged other business leaders to welcome other seniors into their operations.

“It takes a whole village to run a hospital,” Carroll said. “And trying to make sure that people realize that there is almost any job that you can do inside the healthcare setting; there are still a lot of ways to give back and work in a hospital setting.”

‘You Can Use That to Excel in Whatever Career You Want’

Broad Run High School senior Kyle Trost is shadowing his neighbor and Inova Loudoun Hospital Supply Chain Manager Michael Simmons.

Trost decided to capstone with Simmons because he “always wanted to see how a manager functions and how he oversees the people below him.” He assists various workers with inventory and resupplying, assisting workers to help

restock supplies around the hospital and organize materials in the warehouse.

Simmons has never worked with a capstone student before but enjoyed having some students come in through the “Job For a Day” program in November. Trost, on the other hand, is shadowing Simmons and his employees for four hours a day for two weeks. Simmons said he plans to show Trost the “importance of what he’s been doing for the first five days.”

Thus far, Trost has enjoyed going to various hospital units and seeing how they function as a whole as well as the important role the supply chain department plays.

“If this department wasn’t here, most of the units wouldn’t have anything,” Trost said.

When the department receives a

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Capstone students Stella Calabrese, Alison Cohen, and Reda Jafrri pet one of Catty Corner’s friendliest cats at the start of their shift. The students are responsible for interacting with customers, tending to the cats, creating TikToks for the business, and assisting owner Heather Donahue with any other miscellaneous tasks.

CAPSTONE KIDS continues on page 12

Capstone kids

continued from page 10

package, the staff members scan it and print out a label that verifies that the item arrived and provides its storing location. The final step is taking pictures which ensures proof of delivery.

Though he intends to major in history after high school, Trost is considering supply chain management if history does not work out.

Nevertheless, Trost encourages high school seniors to consider working in departments other than those most visible to outsiders. It will “teach you a lot of things and you can use that to excel in whatever career you want,” he said.

‘We are Learning from Each Other’

Interested in a more cuddly experience, six capstone students opted to complete their project at the Catty Corner Café in Leesburg. Owner Heather Donahue gladly welcomed the girls, who had different hopes and intentions of joining the business.

Though the concept of cat cafés have been around since the late ‘90s in Asian countries, it is a relatively novel concept in America. Donahue partners with Last Chance Animal Rescue. The nonprofit, based in Waldorf, MD, is a no-kill shelter and brings Donahue cats whenever she needs them.

“They take from 50 different kill shelters in 13 states, so sometimes, they will get hundreds of cats in one day. They save 10,000 animals a year from being euthanized,” Donahue said. “They send me the best ones. They hand pick the best ones that are super social and friendly.”

Donahue finds that if the cats are shy when they arrive, by the end of the first week of interacting with customers at the café, they are “pretty friendly by being exposed to all the people and discover that people can be trusted.”

Stone Bridge High School senior Alison Cohen hopes to pursue marketing in college and working at the Catty Corner Café has allowed for her to learn better customer service skills.

Similarly, Stone Bridge High School senior Reda Jaffri is fond of cats and found this to be the perfect opportunity to cuddle with cats and learn more about small business operations as she hopes to enter the business field.

“Since we could either choose a career development [opportunity] or volunteering, I wanted to do something that kind of incorporated both,” fellow capstone stu-

dent Stella Calabrese said, who hopes to be a small business owner.

Calabrese, Cohen, and Jaffri are involved in DECA, an international high school and college organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs

for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. They have been able to channel these skills into their capstone projects, and also gained more along the way.

Cohen learned how to better interact

with customers and improve her communication skills. “[By] telling people about the cats, you get to have those good customer relations,” Cohen said.

Other than petting cats, the students cite the favorite part of their experience as making TikToks for the business @catty.corner.cafe. Using their knowledge of the platform, they have recorded multiple TikToks to connect with younger customers and attract a broader audience.

“I do social media, but I‘m not a TikTok person, and I now have teenagers who are really good at it, so they’ve come in and done a lot of content for me that I can post for the next month and taught me how to do it,” Donahue said. “So, we are learning from each other; they’ve made some really creative ones that are funny.”

Apart from tangible skills, the girls have also loved witnessing an example of a onewoman-run small business.

“I did it on my own, I’m the sole owner of it; if you work hard and learn from every job whether it be in fast food, you will take that to your end mission of being your own entrepreneur,” Donahue said.

Donahue advises students to embrace their job even if it is not their end goal, and know that it is a “stepping stone to help you create your own business.”

The goal of the café is to find new homes for the cats, with adoptions processed through Last Chance. Though Donahue and her staff have a hard time saying goodbye to their animals, there is a silver lining.

“[It’s] so bittersweet. I fall in love with them and when they go to their forever homes, I make sure they are going to be spoiled with love. It’s sad I won’t see them anymore, but I’m happy for the cat that has come on a long journey to get here that will now be loved for their entire life—and that means when they go, I get to bring in more cats,” Donahue said.

A visit to the lounge at Catty Corner Café is $22 per person, which includes a hot or cold drink and a cookie. The lounge is located on the second floor and does not have wheelchair accessibility. The café is open from 12-6 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 12-7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and closed on Wednesdays.

Cars for a Cause

Loudoun County High School senior Alexander Seymour decided to pilot “Cars for a Cause,” a charity event, for his Capstone experience. The event was founded by Seymour and his friend Bren-

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Capstone student Kyle Trost stands in front of the receiving side of the supply chain department at Inova Loudoun Hospital along with his capstone sponsor, Supply Chain Manager Michael Simmons. Trost’s favorite items to stock are medical supplies as he finds it ‘fascinating’ how every supply has a unique use, and without them, it would be difficult for healthcare professionals to serve patients.

CAPSTONE KIDS continues on page 14

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Capstone students Erin Wheeler and Maddie Farias smile for a picture posing on either side of Inova Loudoun Hospital President Susan Carroll.

SCHOOL notebook

Robotics Team Wins Design Award at World Championship

Team 88880X-Ex Machina, an allgirls robotics team from Rock Ridge High School, recently won the Design Award in their division at the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, TX.

Sophomores Niesha Karthik, Aneesha Koninty, Rayna Budigelli and Amulya Gottipati represented the school at the World Championship after qualifying in March by winning the Design Award at the state VEX Robotics Championship.

The Design Award is given to the team that demonstrates exemplary skills in design, documentation and the ability to develop a high-quality robot, according to the announcement.

The judges were impressed with the team’s unique approach to solving complex challenges and their dedication to continually improve, according to the announcement.

The VEX Robotics World Championship was held April 25 through May 4 in Dallas. The annual event brings together the top robotics teams in the world. This year more than 800 high school teams from 50 countries participated. For more information, go to roboticseducation.org.

Loudoun Grad Earns Spot in UK’s Fulbright Institute

Freedom High School and Academies of Loudoun graduate Vishnupriya Alavala received a spot in the Fulbright Summer Institute to study at Scotland’s University of Strathclyde and Glasgow School of Art for three weeks.

Fulbright is one of the most

prestigious and selective summer scholarship programs worldwide and helps U.S. undergrads with little to no travel experience outside North America explore the culture, heritage and history of the United Kingdom while experiencing higher education at a UK university, according to its website. The Summer Institutes form part of the US-UK Fulbright Commission’s work to promote leadership, learning and empathy between nations through educational exchange, according to the announcement. The Commission selects participants through a rigorous application and interview process.

Participants visit the Scottish Parliament, museums, galleries, and other historical sites as they explore Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Alavala, a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, said she hoped the experience would improve her current education.

School Board Recognizes June as Pride Month, National Gun Violence Awareness Day

The School Board on Tuesday adopted proclamations to recognize June as LGBTQ Pride month and June 2 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Both proclamations were brought to the board by Erika Ogedegbe (Leesburg).

Added to this year’s LGBTQ and Pride month proclamation is information that states a vast majority of LGBTQ students attending public schools in 2021-2022 experienced in-person harassment or assault. It also states LGBTQ youth living in an accepting community had lower incidents of suicide. The proclamation aims to celebrate the diverse community and build a culture of inclusivity and equity both in June and the rest of the year.

National Gun Violence Awareness Day seeks to honor those who were killed and those who survived gun violence and to bring awareness to the need to do more.

Every day more than 120 Americans are killed by gun violence and more than 200 are shot and wounded, according to the proclamation. n

Contributed/ Karthik Sethuraman Team ExMachina, an all-girls robotics team from Rock Ridge High School won the Design Award in their division at the VEX Robotics World Championship.

Second Audit of Charter School Shows Improvement

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Weeks after a divided School Board voted to put the Middleburg Community Charter School on probation, the findings of a second unannounced, onsite audit were released Tuesday.

The audit, conducted April 17, showed improvement, but still highlights a few areas of concern, according to the presentation to the School Board’s Specialized Programs and Centers Committee.

Division Chief Financial Officer Sharon Willoughby said of the seven items flagged in the Feb. 8 audit, only two remain.

“While we still see concerns, the level

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nan O’Donnell, with the goal of bringing Loudoun car enthusiasts together to help raise money to help low-income kids and their families through the Backpack Buddies Foundation of Loudoun.

Seymour said his main goal for the event has been making a difference/helping people. With his meticulous planning and the help of NOVA JDM member Dakota Smith, his vision is beginning to come to life. Smith has used his platform at NOVA JDM—an organization for Japanese Domestic Market vehicle enthusiasts—to spread the word about “Cars for

of risk has been mitigated to a degree,” she said.

The two areas fall under cash disbursements and incomplete cash receipt documentation. Under cash disbursements, Willoughby noted nine times the school was charged for sales tax on purchases made by the school and late fees and over limit fees charged to the school credit card. Under incomplete cash receipt documentation, she noted two times money collected by the school wasn’t deposited in a timely manner.

She said the school needs to follow its own policy of making weekly deposits and to make sure it isn’t charged sales tax.

“We’ve already heard back from MCCS and they have already addressed

and gave assurance that they will monitor the credit cards, for example, more closely to make sure that they are paid timely to avoid any interest charges or unnecessary fees, as well as the sales tax and same with timely deposits,” she said.

Willoughby said she looked forward to the annual audit that will look at the school’s entire year of records and have a much broader scope than the two internal audits, which looked at deficiencies that took place during a specific timeframe. That audit will take place in late June and its findings will be discussed later this fall, according to Willoughby.

“I think it does show significant improvement and still some grounds for them to work on,” Jeff Morse (Dulles) said. He said he was confident the

school would take care of the final two issues.

The school was placed on probation April 25 after multiple discussions in both committee meetings and with the full School Board over the schools’ financial books.

Morse, John Beatty (Catoctin), Tiffany Polifko (Broad Run) and Denise Corbo (At-large) opposed the action.

This meeting is the first time the results of the second audit were revealed after the board put the school on probation.

The school’s charter could be revoked, and the school could be closed if its leadership doesn’t fix the issues, according to Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge). n

a Cause” and encourage members to join the event.

“[Smith] has been a big helper. I couldn’t have done any of this without him,” Seymour said.

Always a car enthusiast, Seymour found “Cars for a Cause” to be the perfect amalgamation of his love for cars and philanthropy. “Since I was little, I always wanted to do something that had a positive impact on the community, and when the opportunity arose and [my] school gave me time to do it, I had to jump on it,” he said.

Seymour hopes to eventually expand the event to include other car groups and host a “Cruises For a Cause” event, with a local route set up for participants to follow. “Right now, we are just starting with

the most simple concept—a car show,” Seymour said. Events like car meets and “Cars and Coffee” events are also ideas Seymour would like to pursue down the road, even turning “Cars for a Cause” into a monthly event.

The event will take place May 27 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Ion International Training Center in Leesburg. The event is free to attend, but attendees may also register their cars for $25 for a chance to not only display their vehicles, but to also know that they’ll be “making a difference in the lives of those in need,” according to their GoFundMe page, where donations are being collected. Raffle tickets will also be available at the event for $1. All proceeds will go to the Backpack

Buddies Foundation of Loudoun, a local nonprofit that provides bagged lunches for students on weekends and extended breaks, ensuring that “no school-aged child goes hungry.’’ Established in 2014, the organization supports 85 elementary, middle and high schools and over 3,000 students.

For more information, follow the event’s Instagram page at @CarsForaCauseLoudoun. n

Nanaki Preet Bawa is a senior at Rock Ridge High School completing her Senior Capstone project at Loudoun Now. She is also managing editor of her school newspaper, The Blaze.

Business

Commanders Opens Training Facility for Flag Football Clinic

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

For the first time since the onset of the pandemic, the Washington Commanders on Saturday opened its Ashburn training center to the public to celebrate its partnership with OrthoVirginia and host a flag football clinic.

The event brought flag football players, age five to 14, together with members of the Commanders’ rookie class who have been participating in their first team workouts and joined in putting the young players through drills inside the team’s practice bubble.

Commanders President Jason Wright and Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy said it would be a memorable experience for the young athletes.

“I think all of us at some point as football players had an experience like this, where you got into contact with, whether at a distance or up close, in the big leagues, the NFL, a college football athlete, a high school football athlete that could inspire you, and teach you a little something.” Wright said.

“This will be one of those days that

they’ll have an opportunity to remember for the rest of their lives,” Bieniemy said. “What a great opportunity. You get to work with these young men who’ve been working their tails off here for the past few weeks. This is a great experience.”

Construction Begins at Arcola Center

St. John Properties celebrated the beginning of construction at its 34-acre Arcola Center business park with a May 17 ground-breaking ceremony.

Phase 1 of the project will include four buildings, comprising 100,000 square feet of flex/R&D space. Overall, the project is planned to include 10 buildings with 340,000 to 450,000 square feet of R&D/ office/flex space.

“St. John Properties regularly develops more than one million square feet of speculative space annually across the country and we expect to exceed that total this year,” stated Matt Holbrook, St. John Properties’ regional partner for Virginia and Central Maryland. “We have been active in Loudoun County for more than two decades and, in that time, have delivered more than 20 buildings which serve the commercial real estate needs of more than 150 companies. This area does not have enough of the flex/R&D product, which

we are developing now, to support the local companies that need this type of business to operate and grow their business. We are doing our part to help grow the regional economy.”

The four buildings will range from 22,240 to 45,120 square feet for professional services, tech firms, light manufacturing, retail-type and community uses, logistics companies, and a variety of other end-users. The single-story buildings will have been designed to earn LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

“St. John Properties could choose to develop real estate product that is more lucrative but, instead, they are committed to doing what is best for Loudoun County and they should be commended for that,” stated Buddy Rizer, Executive Director of the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development. “Developing this type of product builds balance in our county and provides more jobs than you

OrthoVirginia inked the deal to become the team’s sports medicine partner and secure the naming rights for the facility—the OrthoVirginia Training Center at Commanders Park—in 2022. OrthoVirginia has more than 145 physicians in over

35 offices throughout the commonwealth.

Some of those specialists joined in Saturday’s football clinic.

“You’re gonna get some teaching from some of the experts in pro football here, but they are also experts from sports medicine,” OrthoVirginia President Dr. Ben Kittredge said. “We have a great relationship. And our goal here is to keep you safe. But it’s also to take care of you if you get hurt. … If you get hurt our job to get you back in the game series safely as soon as possible.”

“This is part of what we envisioned in our partnership with OrthoVirginia, when they stepped up to be the title sponsor of this place and become a marquee partner for us. And it’s always been about shaping the future of health and safety in football, in partnership with a world-class organization like ortho Virginia,” Wright said. “That was part of their strategy in linking arms with us was that together, we could make the future of the game safer, more viable, and longer lasting, so that you guys feel comfortable bringing your kids into the game that we all love that we think shapes communities and shapes character for the rest of our lives.” n

can ever imagine.”

Holbrook said the flex space is important as the retail industry moves from brickand-mortar stores to ecommerce.

“This business park will be a long-term job generator and a home to businesses both small and large. It will add to and diversify the tax base of Loudoun, while

Contributed

contributing significantly to the economic health of the region. And more locally, this project will bring amenities, services and new vitality to the area,” he said.

Arcola Center is located at the intersection of Loudoun County Parkway and Dulles West Boulevard, adjacent to the Dulles Landing commercial center. n

From left, Supervisor Michael Turner (D-Ashburn), St. John’s Properties Regional Partner Matt Holbrook and Loudoun Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer celebrate the groundbreaking at the 34-acre Arcola Center business park on May 17.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

KJ Henry and other members of the Commanders’ rookie class join in drills during Saturday morning flag football camp at the team’s training center in Ashburn.

Man Charged with Filming in Restaurant Bathroom

A Texas man has been charged in connection with multiple unlawful filming incidents, including one that involved a juvenile, according to the Sheriff ’s Office.

Deputies were called to the Sense of Thai restaurant on Exchange Street in Ashburn shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday, May 14 for a report of a man who took a video or photo of a juvenile in the bathroom. Deputies located the suspect and found multiple videos appearing to be of different individuals unknowingly being recorded in bathroom stalls, according to the report.

William M. O’Brien, 32, of Dallas, TX, was arrested and charged with seven counts of unlawful filming and one felony count of attempted unlawful filming of a person under the age of 18. He was released on a $15,000 bond.

The agency is asking anyone who may have been a victim in the case to

Public Safety

contact Detective J. Whitehead at 703771-1021 or by email at Joseph.Whitehead@loudoun.gov.

Florida Woman Charged with $1M Embezzlement

A school counselor in Martin County, FL, was arrested last week on a fugitive warrant alleging she rerouted $1 million in payments from an Ashburn nonprofit to her own account.

According to the Martin County Sheriff ’s Office, Tiffany Jones was arrested at her school and held in custody, pending extradition to Loudoun County.

According to the arrest warrant, the CFO at the Institute for Building Technology and Safety discovered in April that someone accessed his email and intercepted a payment to a vendor, changing the deposit information. The investigator found that she transferred money from her accounts serval times and once withdrew nearly $70,000 at a teller window.

Sterling Stabbing Under Investigation

The Sheriff ’s Office is investigating a stabbing that occurred last week in Sterling.

Deputies were called to the parking lot of Tipicos Los Amigos restaurant in the Community Plaza shopping center shortly after 2 a.m. May 17 for a report of a fight.

They found a male suffering from a stab wound to his abdomen. He was transported to a hospital for injuries described as serious.

The circumstances surrounding the fight and stabbing remain under investigation. Anyone who was in the area and may have seen something is asked to contact Det. M. Grimsley at 703-777-1021. Tips may be submitted anonymously by calling 703-777-1919 or through the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office app. n

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

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

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

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

Nonprofit With Volunteer Help, JK Community Farm Plans for Record Harvest

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Volunteers gathered at JK Community Farm over the weekend to help plant 50,000 seedlings, kicking off the growing season for the program that is expected this year to surpass 1 million pounds of fresh produce donated to area food pantries.

Teams from companies and civic groups, along with individuals of all ages, signed up to help with the massive planning effort.

Since its founding in 2018, the community farm has provided chemical free, healthy produce and protein to those struggling with food insecurity in the region. The farm donates the food it grows to nonprofit partners, including Loudoun Hunger Relief, Food for Others, Arlington

FARM HARVEST continues on page 19

100WomenStrong Awards $567,000 to Charities

100WomenStrong has awarded $567,000 in grants to 46 nonprofits headquartered or providing services in Loudoun County. Since 2009, the philanthropic group distributed more than $4 million to area charities.

“Although Loudoun is among the wealthiest counties in America, we still have families who are suffering from hunger, homelessness, lack of basic healthcare, and substance use disorder. We’ve also seen a tremendous uptick in grant requests for mental health services. In the aftermath of the pandemic and the continued stress of inflation, we hope we can grow our membership to make an even bigger impact in 2024,” Grants Chair Stephanie Place, noted in announcing this year’s awards.

The giving circle was established in 2008 by Karen Schaufeld and 11 other founding members. 100WomenStrong

100WOMENSTRONG continues on page 19

BENEFIT Awards Nonprofit Grants

Eight nonprofit organizations have been selected as recipients of grant funding from BENEFIT.

Established in 2017, BENEFIT is a coalition of musicians and community leaders uniting people with music to raise funds and awareness for nonprofit organizations serving children in need in Loudoun County.

A total of $25,000 was awarded among the eight nonprofit organizations. The grant funding was raised from proceeds of BENEFIT’s 2022 Crossroads Music Festival.

Recipients of BENEFIT grant funding week include A Hand Up - NOVA, Inc., which operates the Northern Virginia Diaper Bank, $3,600; Food For Neighbors, $3,500; Ryan Bartel Foundation, $3,400; LAWS Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services, $3,300; Legacy Farms, $2,900; Loudoun Literacy Council, $2,800; The Salvation Army of Loudoun, $2,800; and Just Neighbors Ministry, $2,700.

The

2023 100WomenStrong

grantees are:

• A Farm Less Ordinary - $8,500

• A Place To Be - $20,000

• All Ages Read Together - $25,000

• BetterALife - $6,000

• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington - $9,000

• Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties$10,000

• Crossroads Jobs - $10,000

• Dulles South Food Pantry - $18,200

• Every Citizen Has Opportunities (ECHO) - $16,602.00

• Friends of Loudoun Mental Health$12,000

• Good Shepherd of Northern Virginia$9,000

• HealthWorks for Northern Virginia$8,500

• Heeling House - $14,000

• INMED Partnerships for Children$12,000

• Insight Memory Care - $10,000

• Just Neighbors - $12,000

• LAWS Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services - $25,000

• Legacy Farms - $10,000

• Leonard W. Kidd Memorial American Legion Post 2001 - $15,000

• Loudoun Cares - $12,000

• Loudoun Club 12 - $15,000

• Loudoun Coalition on Women and Girls - $5,000

• Loudoun Education Foundation$10,000

• Loudoun Free Clinic - $14,000

• Loudoun Hunger Relief - $10,000

• Loudoun Literacy Council - $14,000

• Loudoun Therapeutic Riding Foundation - $12,000

• Loudoun Youth - $3,000

• Love, KK - $5,400

• Mobile Hope - $14,000

• Morven Park, Inc - $3,700

• Northern Virginia Community College Educational Foundation, Inc - $26,250

• Northern Virginia Family Service$15,000

• Ryan Bartel Foundation - $10,500

• SCAN of Northern Virginia - $16,000

• Seven Loaves Services – $10,500

• Shelter House Inc. - $20,000

• The Arc of Loudoun - $20,000

• The Fenwick Foundation $7,000

• The New AG School - $7,000

• The Salvation Army of Loudoun$10,000

• Tree of Life Ministries - $14,000

• Veterans Moving Forward - $7,000

• Virginia Hunters Who Care, Inc.$5,000

• Volunteers of America, Chesapeake & Carolinas - $15,000

• Women Giving Back - $15,000

“We have such admiration and respect for the nonprofit organizations that serve our community,” Amy Bobchek, co-founder of BENEFIT, said. “We are thankful for all they do to help children in Loudoun County, and we are very happy that we are able to provide this grant funding to help support their missions and work.”

“Our BENEFIT grant funding would not have been possible without all the support we received for our 2022 Crossroads Music Festival and the support of our community,” Ara Bagdasarian, co-founder of BENEFIT, said. “We want to thank the musicians, venues, volunteers, and sponsors that participated in and helped with our event, as well as everyone who attended. Your support not only makes a difference for us, but it also makes a difference for the nonprofit organizations who were able to receive this funding.”

BENEFIT’s 2023 Crossroads Music Festival is planned for Saturday, Sept. 16. More information about the format of the event will be available closer to the event date. Businesses seeking to sponsor the event can find sponsorship information on BENEFIT’s website.

For more information about BENEFIT, go to BENEFIT.live. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Volunteers at JK Community Farm plant tomatoes on Saturday, during the 2023 plant-a-thon.

100WomenStrong

continued from page 18

gave its first two grants in 2009 for a total of $28,600. Today the group has 66 members.

“I had an epiphany one morning in the shower regarding the potential power of combined giving,” Schaufeld said. “I knew I could find others who felt passionately about making a difference right here at home and the camaraderie of being change-makers in our county would be powerful and rewarding. The more we

Farm harvest

continued from page 18

Food Assistance Center, and DC Central Kitchen.

“Last year we donated 235,000 pounds. This year we’ll do 245,000. We try to expand a little bit each year,” Executive Director Samantha Kuhn said during Saturday’s activities as volunteers were planting hundreds of tomato and pepper seedlings.

From Friday to Sunday, teams from Coresite, Lindsey Business Solutions,

grow the greater work we can do.”

Eligibility for membership includes the ability to make a minimum annual contribution of $10,000. Both individual— women and men—and corporate memberships are welcomed. Donations are tax deductible and may be paid annually, semi-annually, quarterly or monthly.

For more information about membership, go to onehundredwomenstrong.org/ join-us.

100WomenStrong is a component fund of the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties and was the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit of the Year in 2022. n

GRID Networks, JK Moving, CapRelo, TD Bank, Infinitive, AFAC, Metaphase Consulting, King of Kings, Loudoun County Public Schools, PineRidge Landscaping, and Greenfare Health and Wellness planted eggplant, cabbage, watermelon, sweet corn, tomatoes—and lots and lots of peppers.

The 150-acre farm south of Round Hill was established with the support of JK Moving Services and the Kuhn family. Nearly 772,000 pounds of food have been donated from the effort, which has been supported by more than 17,000 volunteer over the years. n

Loudoun Ideal Chiropractic

Miok Hyoun, D.C., is a holistic chiropractor and health care practitioner serving patients at Loudoun Ideal Chiropractic in Lansdowne, Virginia.

Her specialties include treating poor posture, scoliosis, whiplash, herniated discs, chronic back pain, sports injuries, and prenatal chiropractic care.

Dr. Miok has made caring for people through comprehensive chiropractic care a life-long study.

She graduated Magma Cum Laude from the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, and has attended numerous trainings and seminars to build her practice and create a holistic wellness clinic for her patients.

Dr. Miok also specializes in advanced chiropractic techniques such as Gonstead and Chiropractic Biophysics. She focuses on nding and treating the root cause of the problem rather than covering the pain and symptoms.

Her ability to connect and analyze the patient’s body and provide the relief from pain extends to other so tissue treatments modalities such as Dry Needling, Graston and Functional Movement Pattern analysis which she uses in tandem with chiropractic

Theresa Kaylor Whitcomb

care to o er the best possible individualized treatment plan for her patients.

Dr. Miok is also a certi ed Yoga instructor and frequently incorporates Yoga Asana, breathing methods (Pranayama), and Meditative Mindset to help patients to understand their body and mind connection through their spinal posture rehabilitation protocols to create the long-lasting spinal health and wellbeing in their lives.

No matter the technique, Dr. Miok’s goal is always the same for her patients: To express the best version of themselves ful lling goals and purposes in life with freedom and con dence in their health to create Transformations through the spark of lifeforce in their spine.

www.LoudounIdealChiropractic.com

19301 Winmeade Dr. Suite 214, Lansdowne, VA. 20176 571-707-8639

Clinic Hour: Mon, Wed, and Thurs, 8:30am to 12:00pm, and 3:00pm to 5:00pm.

CONSULTATION”

Theresa Kaylor Whitcomb passed away peacefully at her home on May 12, 2023. Theresa was born December 4, 1952 in Leesburg, Virginia to the late Robert Kaylor Sr. and Barbara Cannon Kaylor. She graduated from Loudoun County High School Class of 1971. She married Charles W. Whitcomb on June 7, 1975, and later moved to California where she raised her children and attended Citrus College. Later she moved back to Leesburg where she started a 27- year career with United Airlines. Trixie, as she was known by her coworkers, loved her United family and had recently retired from the airlines. She and Carl Menagh married on August 21, 1998 in Arizona. Theresa could be found by friends and family looking for the next best antique, hitting all the yard sales for that special find or meeting them for a cup of coffee at a local restaurant. She loved to travel and learn as much history as possible. Most importantly she was a friend to ALL. Theresa is survived by her son, Sean Whitcomb and wife Shannon, daughter, Erin Whitcomb and stepson John Skyler Menagh. Also her brothers, Michael Kaylor, Robert Kaylor Jr., Joseph Kaylor, nephews, Patrick Kaylor, Douglas Kaylor, Zach Kaylor, nieces, Katie Wilson and Morgan Kaylor. As well as a host of other family and friends. She was predeceased by her husband, parents and Sister Mary Kaylor Hurst. A memorial visitation will be held on Sunday, June 4, 2023 from 1-4PM at Loudoun Funeral Chapel 158 Catoctin Cir. SE Leesburg, Virginia 20175. Online Condolences may be made to the family at www.loudounfuneralchapel.com

Loren Grey Gentry

Loren Grey Gentry, 53 of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia died on Thursday, 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 after 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, fishing, gaming, building computers, researching, cooking, and spending time with family. He was a software 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 Thursday 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. The family would appreciate friends sharing any memories they have of Loren so we can celebrate his life together. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Loren Grey Gentry please visit our Sympathy Store.

No End in Sight for Age 50+ Tech Market Growth

BY BRITTNE KAKULLA AARP Research

Smart phones, smart TVs, tablets, you name it: Americans age 50-plus are embracing technology. A new AARP survey finds older adults are not only increasing their spending on technology, they would buy even more of it if devices were geared to their needs.

This year, the average adult age 50-plus expects to spend $912 on tech purchases, up 11% from 2021 ($821) and a 130% rise from 2019 ($394), according to a national online poll of about 3,000 Americans conducted last fall.

Nearly eight in 10 respondents say technology has become an integral part of their life, and they use it frequently to connect with loved ones. The need to replace or upgrade items for the home prompted more than seven in 10 to make a tech purchase in 2022.

Room to Grow the Market

Older adults have an appetite for more tech, but many find it difficult to learn and navigate. Indeed, 68% of those 50-plus do not believe today’s technology is designed

with them in mind.

While cost and data privacy are concerns, respondents most often say it’s the complexity of devices, software and hardware, as well as the lack of clear benefit, that makes them hesitant to buy, the AARP survey shows.

Still, tech ownership and use are high among older Americans. The survey finds 86% own a smart phone, 70% have a smart TV, 59% use a tablet, 31% have a home assistant, 28% own a wearable device, and 24% have a smart home-tech device.

To stay in touch with others, 94% text, 88% email, 74% are on social media, and 67% video chat.

The most popular social media platforms among adults 50 and over are Facebook and YouTube. Use of Instagram increased from 24% in 2021 to 28% in 2022 among this age group; TikTok use also rose, from 10% to 15%.

More than 80% engage in at least some form of streaming for entertainment, and 65% do so on a smart TV. Regular use of daily streaming is significantly up among older Americans: about 35% of those age 50 and over stream daily, compared to 29% last year.

While Americans love their technology as a way to stay connected, consume entertainment and shop, the AARP research indicates that those over age 50 are also increasingly open to using it to support their well-being. About one in five say they are interested in using health apps for meditation, eliminating bad habits, or improving sleep.

Caregivers also see promise in the benefits of tech, according to the survey. Among those age 50-plus caring for loved ones, more than half (52%) are interested in tech to help them with their caregiving needs.

The most popular home-tech safety devices encourage independence and safety, such as doorbell cameras. Other items that garner interest include home alarms and small electronic devices to turn off items.

The Information Gap

Lack of information about what tech to use often keeps consumers from leveraging technology-based solutions for health and wellness, AARP discovered. While

24% of those 50-plus see doctors as a good resource, only 9% are getting information from them about using tech to improve their health.

The AARP results reflect a need to educate older consumers on the available tech, how it will benefit them, where to get it, and how to use it. Considering the potential barriers to tech adoption facing older consumers, the research suggests they need to be convinced that the product is easy to use and to clearly understand the benefits.

When deciding what to buy, respondents say they rely on personal research (25%), recommendations from friends and family (17%), and in-store or online promotions (15%); for others, seamless integration or interoperability with other tech devices influences them (13%).

The AARP tech survey was conducted online between Sept. 23 and Oct. 6, 2022, in English and Spanish. The survey sampled 2,979 adults, weighted to reflect the range of demographics about U.S. adults age 18-plus and age 50-plus.

Learn more at aarp.org/research. n

Older Adults’ Satisfaction with U.S. Healthcare Varies

CHERYL LAMPKIN AARP Research

A recent AARP national survey of adults ages 50+ shows uneven satisfaction with healthcare in the U.S. and an interest in exploring how other countries approach aging issues.

While most older Americans believe the quality of healthcare in the U.S. is good, many are concerned about both equal access and high costs.

About half of respondents rated healthcare quality in the U.S. as good (36%) or very good (14%). Just 39% give accessibility positive marks, and only 16% say it is affordable.

Americans’ views on the U.S. system overall are segmented, according to AARP. When considering quality, access, and cost together, 24% consider it to be poor, 30% view it as good, and 47% rate it as fair.

Older adults are curious about what works in other countries at an individual and a policy level. The survey reveals 82% think the U.S. could learn from other countries about healthcare best practices and solutions, and 45% are personally interested in learning from an interna-

tional perspective about ways to approach healthy aging.

Men approve of the U.S. health care system more than women do. Meanwhile, Americans earning incomes under $30,000 a year are less satisfied than are those with higher incomes. People who had traveled abroad were more open to learning from other cultures about their health care.

In considering specific kinds of health services, Americans 50 and over give higher approval ratings (51%) to general treatment in the U.S. for chronic conditions than they do for dementia or Alzheimer’s patient care, with only 38% feeling the U.S. outperforms other countries in that area.

While 39% say the U.S. is at least somewhat better than other countries in providing comprehensive care for older adults, just 35% believe the U.S. is better than other countries in providing longterm care options that are effective or affordable (32%).

The findings come from an AARP Omni online survey of 1,014 adults ages 50-plus in November 2022. The national sample was weighted by age, gender, and race/ethnicity.

Learn more at aarp.org/research.

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Round Hill Council to Take 24% Utility Rate Increase to Public Hearing

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The Round Hill Town Council last week voted to advertise a 24% increase in its water and sewer rates for fiscal year 2024. The action followed a three-month review of its utility system needs, including more than $12 million in capital project planned over the next five years.

The town generally has operated with lower rates than Loudoun’s other municipalities, as the revenue from new development covered many of the utility system’s expansion costs. With approved developments reaching build-out, the town expects far less revenue from new connection fees. At the same time, it is planning a number of big-ticket construction projects—including a maintenance upgrade at the wastewater treatment plant, the addition of a new high-yield well, building a new water treatment plant and construction of a second water storage tank.

The town’s fiscal policies require utility fund reserves to cover at least 12 months of operating and debt service costs, as well

Round Hill Gears

Up for Festival

Round Hill’s annual Hometown Festival returns Saturday with a full day of family activities.

In addition to the event’s traditional staples—including a 5K race, parade, pie-eating contest, downhill derby, and live music—this year’s program includes a special tribute during the Memorial Day ceremony.

The town will formally dedicate the first memorials included in its Veterans Memorial Paver program. Installed at the park’s flagpole, the pavers honor individuals from the Round Hill community who served or are serving in the United States Armed Services. Each year newly engraved pavers will be installed prior to the wreath being laid at the hometown festival.

The Memorial Day program begins at 10:45 a.m.

as to pay at least 25% cash for capital projects. In recent years, fueled by a strong stream of new connection fees, reserves have grown to more than two years of coverage even as cash was used for most utility upgrades.

The town is in the process of securing its first debt financing in several years, a $2.5 million bank placement bond. That’s expected to be followed by $7 million in additional borrowing through 2027.

After reviewing a number of rate increase options compiled by Mayor Scott Ramsey in coordination with the town’s financial advisors, Davenport and Company, the Town Council had narrowed its consideration to two.

The first, what has become known as the pull-the-Band Aid-off option, calls for a 24% increase starting July 1, followed by 5% annual rate increase over the subsequent four years.

The second option was for a 15% increase this year and another 15% increase in 2024, followed by three years of 5% increases.

In a straw poll at the May 17 meeting,

three council members favored the 24% plan and two preferred the 15% option. They agreed to advertise the 24% option for a public hearing scheduled for June 7. The council is scheduled to take a final vote on its fiscal year 2024 budget and the utility rates on June 14.

According to the town’s calculations, a 24% increase on average would add $38 to the bi-monthly bills of in-town customers and $57 for out-of-town customers. In subsequent years, the bi-monthly bills would be expected to increase about $10 for in-town users and $16 for out-of-town users.

If the 24% increases enacted, starting July 1 the bi-monthly bill for an in-town customer using 150 gallons per day would be $210—slightly more than Leesburg residents, about the same as Hamilton residents, and lower than Lovettsville, Purcellville, and Middleburg.

For out-of-town residents, a $315 bill for the average user would be higher than the other towns expect for Middleburg. Middleburg is the highest, with a $358 bill at a rate of $150 gallons per day. n

HAMILTON County Seeks Public Input on Path Project

Loudoun County will hold an online public meeting on the Harmony Middle School Shared-Use Path project.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 7, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. via WebEx. Members of the public are invited to join the virtual meeting to learn, ask questions and provide input about the project.

Meeting details, including login information, are available at loudoun.gov/HarmonyPath.

The project includes the design and construction of a shared-use path, sidewalk and drainage improvements along the north side of West Colonial Highway. The path is proposed to extend from the existing path near Green Top Drive, just east of Rt. 287 in Purcellville, to North Reid Street. The shared-use path will then transition to a sidewalk at North Reid Street and continue to the existing sidewalk east of South Hughes Street in Hamilton.

Comments will be accepted through June 21, 2023, on the online comment form at loudoun. gov/HarmonyPath; by mail to Carmine Parascandola, Loudoun County Department of Transportation & Capital Infrastructure, 101 Blue Seal Drive, Leesburg, VA, 20177; or by email.  Reference “Harmony Middle School Shared Use Path” in the subject line.

LOVETTSVILLE

Summer on the Green is Back

The town is kicking off its first Summer on the Green movie of the year at the close of Mayfest on Saturday, May 27.

“The Sandlot” will be starting around 8 p.m. at the Walker Pavilion on the Town Green and families are welcome to bring chairs,

AROUND TOWNS continues on page 25

The latest addition to Round Hill’s Town Park is a block of memorial paavers to honor the community’s military veterans. The first markers will be dedicated during the town’s Memorial Day ceremony Saturday morning.

Brzezynski Tapped for Round Hill Council Vacancy

Following a round of closed-session interviews with three applicants, the Round Hill Town Council on May 17 voted to appoint Dan Brzezynski to fill its vacant seat.

Brzezynski is a civil engineer who moved to town seven years ago from Arlington. During his remarks to the council during the public portion of the meeting, he highlighted his experience in construction as well as working with town codes and regulations.

That experience could be particularly important as Council member Michael Hummel, a mechanical engineer who works in the real estate and development industries, announced he will not seek a new term. Hummel has served on the council since 2006.

Brzezynski will serve until November when a special election will be held to fill the remaining two years of the term of former Council member Jesse Howe, who moved out of town.

The appointment was unusual in that three residents applied for consideration. The town typically faces difficulty recruiting members for its six-member council even during elections, when write-in votes often are needed to fill the seats.

Also offering to serve were Brianne Austin and Jim Maulfair.

Mayor Scott Ramsey encouraged all three to stay involved with the town government and to file to be candidates in the November elections. On that ballot, voters will be filling five seats. Howe’s term will be filled in a special election and three council seats as well as the mayor’s seat will be on the regular ballot.

In addition to Hummel, the terms of Vice Mayor Mary Anne Graham and council member Isaac Pacheco expire Dec. 31.

Pacheco has committed to running in the election. He was appointed to a vacant seat last June.

Vice Mayor Mary Anne Graham, Loudoun County’s longest serving elected official, said Wednesday that she had not yet decided to seek another four-year term. She was first elected to the council in 1983. n

Bunnies, Bees and Peonies: The Spring Farm Tour

Thirty-six farms and nine agricultural businesses took part in the Loudoun Spring Farm Tour May 20-21. Visitors traveled across the county from Bluemont to Sterling to learn about agriculture through demonstrations, educational programs and cute animals. Many were introduced to new farms and their offerings including CSA, U-pick and farm-to-table events.

— Photos by Alexis Gustin.

Six-year-old Reagan Malcheff holds a bunny May 21 at Fort Bacon Farm in Purcellville.

Guests were able to pick their own peonies over the Farm Tour weekend at Midsommar Farms in Lovettsville.

Ciara welcomed guests at Potomac Vegetable Farm on May 20. The farm has been growing food in Loudoun for 50 years and offers Community Supported Agriculture or CSA’s.

Joe Guirreri, owner of Apple Valley Farms in Round Hill, pulls a frame filled with honeycomb from one of his beehives.

Julie Kogut, Carolyn Kadesch and June Thompson of the Purcellville Garden Club sold flowers to raise money to beautify the community May 20 at Blooming Hills Lavender Farm. Kogut, the president of the club, said it has been around for 90 years.

AROUND towns

continued from page 23

food and drinks.

Summer on the Green is a collection of family-friendly outdoor concerts and movies that begin at dusk.

Town Office Seeks Intern

The town is accepting applications for a summer intern beginning in early June and lasting until August.

The position will be assigned various tasks ranging from outdoor maintenance, administrative and clerical duties and specific projects. The intern will be scheduled to work up to 30 hours per week and paid $12 per hour.

Qualifications for the position include completion of the 10th grade, with a high school diploma or its equivalent preferred. Six months of related work experience is preferred, and the applicant must possess reliable transportation to the work site and occasional meetings, trainings or other work-related activities.

More details can be found at lovettsvilleva.gov/careers.

Fire and Rescue Station Construction Begins

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Lovettsville Fire and Rescue Station is planned Tuesday, May 30, starting at 11 a.m.

Parking for the event will be provided in the gravel parking lot located between the existing station and the event site. Shuttle service from this gravel lot will transport attendees safely to and from the fenced-in event site.

This project will replace the current Lovettsville Fire and Rescue Station with an approximately 19,200-square-foot fire station.

Once constructed, the new station will be used by Lovettsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company and career personnel.

MIDDLEBURG Saturday Farmers Market Begins

The Middleburg Community Farmers Market launched Saturday at the Middleburg Community Charter School, kicking off an inaugural season that runs through Oct. 28.

From 9 a.m. to noon each Saturday, the market will feature vendors including

Purcellville Holds Bike and Safety Day

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Residents gathered at Purcellville’s Public Safety Center on Sunday for an afternoon of learning about the towns and the county’s public safety departments.

The event included helmet fittings for kids, a bike safety rodeo, booths from groups including Loudoun County Animal Services, the Sheriff’s Department, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue and the Fire Marshall’s Office.

Children had the opportunity to paint a police vehicle, climb inside an ambulance and a fire truck, try out tools used by Loudoun County Animal Services and get snow cones.

The day also included a bike decorating contest and bike parade. n

The Pork Stork, C. Hess Orchards, Hidden Creek Farm, Cobbler View Farm and Country Cottage Bakes—providing homemade pickles, jams, jellies, honey, pork, grass-fed beef, fresh-cut flowers, various baked goods, and a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables.

There also will be a Children’s Entrepreneur Market sponsored by the Middleburg Community Charter School. The kid-only section of the farmers market will allow Loudoun County students ages 5-18 to exhibit their small businesses and craft products on the third Saturday of the month. Parents may sign-up at Children’s Entrepreneur Market.

Middleburg Community Farmers Market is still accepting vendors for the season. Go to  middleburgva.gov/297/Farmers-Market for operating guidelines, terms of agreement and an application.

PURCELLVILLE Chick-fil-A to Close for Renovations

The town’s Chick-fil-A will be closing on June 3 at 3 p.m. to remodel and update the restaurant’s drive-through lanes.

The company estimates the closure will last for a minimum of two weeks, although there is no set date for the reopening yet.

Residents can find updates from the store on its Facebook and Instagram pages.

Police Warn of Phone Scam

The Purcellville Police Department was recently notified that a Loudoun County resident received a phone call in which the caller impersonated a Purcellville Police officer, stating they were working with the Federal Trade Commission.

The suspect was able to “spoof” the main administrative Purcellville Police Department phone number, so it appeared on the caller ID that it was coming from the Purcellville Police Department.

The caller identified herself as “Serena Wood” a “duty officer” with the department and asked the resident to provide personal information and transfer money into another account to avoid a charge of money laundering.

The resident hung up on the caller and contacted the Purcellville Police Department directly.

Members of law enforcement will never ask for money, prepaid gift cards or ask to verify financial information over the

phone.

For questions about the validity of a telephone call from any law enforcement agency contact the Purcellville Police Department and Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency dispatch line at 703777-1021.

ROUND HILL

New Well Moves to Construction

After an eight-year effort to identify new water sources, the Town Council on May 17 approved a construction contract for its Well D project.

With a permit level of 176 gallons per minute, the well is expected to generate twice as much water as any of the other town wells.

The award of the $537,380 contract to Lantz Construction Winchester followed a long effort to acquire the property and easements from the Round Hill Owners Association. The well site is located near Kedleston Court, north of town.

The work is expected to be completed this summer. n

Purcellville Police Officer Burkett helped guide children through the bike rodeo at Purcellville’s Bike and Safety Day on Sunday.

Children paint a Purcellville Police Department vehicle at the town’s Bike and Safety Day on May 21.

Photos by Hanna Pampaloni Loudoun Now

GET OUT

LIVE MUSIC

SHANE & JACKSON’S VA SUMMERFEST

Thursday, May 25, 6 to 9 p.m.

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

JUSTIN SUEDE

Thursday, May 25, 7 to 10 p.m.

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

FLYING FADERS

Friday, May 26, 5-8 p.m.

Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery, 38506 John Wolford Road, Waterford wheatlandspring.com

ELEMENTS OF KINDRED

Friday, May 26, 5 to 8 p.m.

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

LENNY GROOVE

Friday, May 26, 5 to 8 p.m. Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton fireflycellars.com

CONNER HITCHCOCK

Friday, May 26, 5 to 8 p.m. Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights harpersferrybrewing.com

THE BLUEMONT RAMBLE

Friday, May 26, 5 to 8 p.m. Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont dirtfarmbrewing.com

LENNY BURRIDGE TRIO

Friday, May 26, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg lostbarrel.com

WHITE WILLIE

Friday, May 26, 6 to 9 p.m., Loudoun Brewing Company, 310 E. Market St., Leesburg loudounbrewing.com

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 28

Local U-pick Farm Hottest Ticket in Town

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

What does a U-pick strawberry farm in western Loudoun have in common with a pop superstar?

If you are like the thousands of people trying to get weekend reservations to Wegmeyer Farms to pick your own strawberries, you’ll understand that getting those reservations have been as hard to get as tickets to the pop star Taylor Swift‘s Eras tour—even causing a website crash.

Many on social media have said getting a reservation to Wegmeyer Farms is the hottest ticket item since Taylor Swift.

“Every day is a different day in the berry field. Every day has different supply based on the weather,” owner Tyler Wegmeyer said. “Berries ripen every day so we may be completely picked out one day but if we have 75-degree temps at night and we have good sunshine, the next day it is full of red berries. It’s that quick.”

Tyler and Harriet Wegmeyer began doing a reservation system for their U-pick farm in Hamilton during the COVID-19 pandemic to help customers feel safe. They limited the number of pickers and kept them spaced out in the fields. But he said they had been toying with the idea long before COVID made it necessary.

“We thought about it for years and didn’t have the guts to do it,” he said. “To be frank with you, it was just little

bit out there, no one had done reservations like that anywhere.”

On a weekday afternoon, the farm is peaceful and serene, but on the weekends, Tyler said it gets crazy. He said before the reservation system they would have a train of cars lined down the road. He said he would have to drive his four-wheeler down the line of cars and tell people they couldn’t accept any more pickers. He said it was stressful not only to have to turn customers away that were coming to get an experience in his fields but also because the road was blocked and if there was an accident no emergency vehicle could get through.

“It’s a great problem to have, right? That people want to pick our strawberries. But we also have a responsibility to make sure people are safe and there isn’t a mosh pit,” he said.

He said they knew they needed to do something.

“The reservation system has been a game changer. It’s taken our farm to the next level,” he said.

This year marks the farm’s 15th strawberry year.

The reservation system works by Tyler walking the field every night and making estimates as to how many people they can bring in the next day based on available berries. He said over the years he’s gotten pretty good at estimating the daily supply. Then they release that number of tickets or reservation slots around 6 p.m. for the next day. If you try to get weekday

reservations and are on the website right at 6 p.m., to reserve a time for the next day, it‘s highly competitive, but he said if you wait just a little bit you will still get a spot and it won’t be as busy on the site. Getting a reservation to pick on the weekend is a different story and is usually highly competitive, selling out within minutes.

A reservation costs $30 and includes your first bucket of strawberries. He said most people will pick more so he estimates the slots conservatively to not release too many tickets.

He said they want people to come and have the best experience possible and have access to hundreds of ripe, juicy berries right at their fingertips rather than searching row after row.

He said the management of the field is important to him and he and his patch bosses make sure each picker gets the most out of their time there. Pickers are assigned their own row by the patch boss. It’s usually a spot that hasn’t been picked on yet that day. They are given a flag and when they pick all they want they put the flag in the spot they stop. The flag helps them know where that picker stopped and where the next picker can start.

“I love the strawberry. I’m very passionate about it. In the world there is a lot of negative out there and the strawberry field is a sanctuary, it’s about having a great time, it’s about positivity, the love of the berry and being outside in nature,” he said.

He said the four to six weeks of strawberry season is a magical time of year.

“Seventy-two degrees, sunny with a 10-mph breeze is the perfect weather for a strawberry plant. That is their optimal, they love it and we’ve had it the last few days,” he said.

Which means now is the peak time to pick.

The beautiful start to strawberry season weatherwise has kept the farm, which opened May 1, busy. It’s been so busy that they were compared to getting Taylor Swift concert tickets on social media.

“Our IT people were not prepared for the onslaught of demand so our IT person was like, ‘I can’t believe this is true but literally you have thousands of people sitting on your website waiting for you to release those tickets and it’s causing it to crash,’” he said.

He said it lasted for a few days, but the website is fine now. However, the demand is still high on weekends.

“We have a lot of people who are appreciative of the reservation system. The vast majority of people love it and want it because everyone

U-PICK FARM continues on page 27

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now Four friends show off their strawberries after a successful afternoon of picking at Wegmeyer Farms in Hamilton.

U-Pick farm

continued from page 26

is accustomed to it, they go to the movies and get a reservation and it’s no big deal,” he said. There is, of course, a sliver of the population that don’t feel comfortable with it and we know there is unintended consequences for the senior citizen group that don’t do stuff on their phone and we feel bad about that. They just need to call us and we can help them.”

Strawberry season usually ends in mid-June and based on the flowers on the plants he said they have about 28 days left.

New this year at the farm is the bakery run by Harriet. She said in the past they have always had strawberry glazed and cinnamon sugar donuts but this year they decided to expand their offerings by bringing in a strawberry cookie, a strawberry chocolate chunk muffin, strawberry pound cake, pie and croissants. They even stock Gruto’s soft serve, which uses Wegmeyer strawberries to make its strawberry ice cream.

“Everything we are baking celebrates the strawberry,” she said.

She said the bakery has been a

huge success so far.

Tyler said so much so that he didn’t figure so much of his time would be spent baking until midnight. But he said they love being there and don’t want to disappoint the strawberry lovers.

“Strawberry season only happens for a short time, if you miss it you have to wait a whole other year to pick berries and get a strawberry cookie,” she said.

The farm operates three strawberry fields, two U-pick ones including at the home base in Hamilton, and Oatlands Farm and a third at Gilbert’s corner. Gilbert’s corner is usually for pre-picked berries for people who don’t want the experience of picking their own, Tyler said.

Next year, the Wegmeyers plan to open a fourth field in Lincoln, about a half mile down the road from their Hamilton farm.

Harriet said as part of that they are planning a huge festival to celebrate the strawberry and the village of Lincoln by bringing the community together.

Learn more at wegmeyerfarms.com. If you can't get a slot at Wegmeyer Farms there are other u-pick places in Loudoun.

GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 26

JOHN LAWTON

Friday, May 26, 6 to 9 p.m.

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

MOON MUSIC

Friday, May 26, 6 to 9 p.m.

Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville flyingacefarm.com

CHRIS TIMBERS MUSIC

Friday, May 26, 7 to 11 p.m.

Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza #145, Ashburn socialhouseashburn.com

ERIC SHARP

Friday, May 26, 8 to 11 p.m.

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

KAMERON MARLOWE

Friday, May 26, 8 to 9 p.m.

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

OUT OF LINE BAND

Friday, May 26, 8 p.m. to May 27, 12 a.m. Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg spankyspub.com

HUGH & THE VAGABONDS

Saturday, May 27, 1 to 5 p.m.

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

JUST SOUTH OF 7

Saturday, May 27, 1 to 4 p.m. Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts vanishbeer.com

PEBBLE TO PEARL

Saturday, May 27,1 to 5 p.m. Bear Chase Brewing, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont bearchasebrew.com

Best Bets

NOVA MUSICFEST

Sunday, May 28, 12:30-8 p.m. 868 Estate Vineyards 868estatevineyards.com

Sunday, May 28, 7 p.m. (doors) Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

Following the release of a new album, Rad Wings of Destiny, last fall, America’s least wanted includes Leesburg on their first U.S. tour in 27 years.

DAVID MININBERG

Saturday, May 27, 2 to 5 p.m.

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

BAD INFLUENCE TRIO

Saturday, May 27, 2 to 5 p.m.

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

THE MELISSA QUINN FOX BAND

Saturday, May 27, 2 to 5 p.m. Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro breauxvineyards.com

JULIET LLOYD

Saturday, May 27, 2 to 5 p.m. Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro doukeniewinery.com

THE BRUNO SOUND

Saturday, May 27, 2 to 5 p.m. Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike,

Reflex Opens Tarara Concert Series

The party gets going Saturday evening at Tarara Winery as The Reflex celebrates the hits of the 1980s.

The May 27 show kicks off the 24th annual Tarara Summer Concert Series, which features 19 weekly performances through Sept. 30 on the winery’s outdoor stage.

Attendees are encouraged to bring picnics, blankets and chairs, or they may partake of one of the food trucks on site. No outside alcohol is permitted per ABC regulations, but there is plenty of wine to purchase, and beer from Loudoun Brewing Company is available. In addition, families and businesses may

rent the private tents for birthday parties, reunions, girls/guys nights out, and/ or company picnics or celebrations.

The series offers a wide range of musical performances. This year’s lineup also includes Def Leggend, Kelly Bell Band, The Classic Rock Experience, Doc Martin and the Flannels, The Legwarmers, HighNoon, White Ford Bronco, The British Invasion, Boat House Row, Groovalicious, So Fetch!, Gonzo’s Nose, Amish Outlaws, Delta Spur, Slippery When Wet, Bruce In The USA, and 7 Bridges, and The New Romance.

For tickets and more details, go to tararaconcerts.com.

Hamilton fireflycellars.com

ACOUSTIC MOOSE

Saturday, May 27, 2 to 6 p.m. Forever Farm and Vineyard, 15779 Woodgrove Road, Purcellville foreverfarmandvineyard.com

JOEY HAFNER

Saturday, May 27, 3 to 6 p.m.

Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville flyingacefarm.com

NEW LEGACY BLUES

Saturday, May 27, 5 to 8 p.m. Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts vanishbeer.com

SHADE TREE COLLECTIVE

Saturday, May 27, 5 to 8 p.m. Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg lostbarrel.com

Monday, May 29, noon-4 p.m. Bear Chase Brewing Company bearchasebrew.com

Enjoy Memorial Day with great views and original music from this educator turned singer/songwriter.

THE REFLEX—ULTIMATE 80S MUSIC

Saturday, May 27, 6 to 9:30 p.m.

Tarara Winery, 13648 Tarara Lane, Leesburg tararaconcerts.com

LAURA CASHMAN

Saturday, May 27, 6 to 9 p.m. Bear Chase Brewing, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont bearchasebrew.com

THE JUNIOR BRYCE BAND

Saturday, May 27, 8 to 11 p.m. Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville monksq.com

UNCLE KRACKER

Saturday, May 27, 8 to 9 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg tallyhotheater.com

THE NIGHTWORK BAND

Saturday, May 27, 8 p.m. to midnight Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg spankyspub.com

BRYAN WILLIAMS

Sunday, May 28, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton fireflycellars.com

THE SHORT HILL MOUNTAIN BOYS

Sunday, May 28, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont dirtfarmbrewing.com

THE BREAKAWAYS

Sunday, May 28, noon to 4 p.m. Cana Vineyards and Winery, 38600 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg canavineyards.com

POOL BOYS

Sunday, May 28, noon to 4 p.m. Bear Chase Brewing, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont bearchasebrew.com

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 30

Some of the region’s top performers gather at the Hillsboro winery for a daylong festival supporting the nonprofit Cancer Can Rock.

UGLY KID JOE

DAVE MINIBURG

Loudoun Now File Photo

Eighties cover band The Reflex again opens the Tarara Summer Concert Series on May 27, kicking off the 2023 edition of one of the region’s most well-loved summertime series.

Town of Leesburg

Employment Opportunities

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

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

Regular Full-Time Positions

Summer 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 Lovettsville Cooperative Market is hiring part-time and full-time deli prep clerks.

This position is responsible to prep ingredients for use by kitchen production staff as needed and to assist in various kitchen responsibilities as directed by Deli/Kitchen manager.

Competitive wages, benefits including paid time off, 401k and store discounts. Send your resume to employment@ lovettsville-grocery.com

GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 28

NOVA MUSICFEST

Sunday, May 28, 12:30 to 8 p.m.

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

SAM WALKER

Sunday, May 28, 1 to 5 p.m.

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

BRISK

Sunday, May 28, 1 to 4 p.m.

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

CHRIS & KERRY

Sunday, May 28, 1 to 4 p.m.

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg lostbarrel.com

JASON MASI

Sunday, May 28, 1 to 5 p.m.

Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 James Monroe Highway, Aldie quattrogoombas.com

MICHELLE HANNAN & ONE BLUE NIGHT

Sunday, May 28, 2 to 5 p.m.

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

JASON TEACH

Sunday, May 28, 2 to 5 p.m.

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

DEANE KERN & ERIC SELBY

Sunday, May 28, 2 to 5 p.m.

Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro doukeniewinery.com

MARK CULLINANE

Sunday, May 28, 2 to 5 p.m.

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

CHASING AUTUMN

Sunday, May 28, 2 to 5 p.m.

Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville flyingacefarm.com

ALTERED WAVES

Sunday, May 28, 2 to 5 p.m.

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

BRYAN ELIJAH SMITH

Sunday, May 28, 2 to 6 p.m.

Bozzo Family Vineyards, 35226 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro

THE HUME-FRYE DUO

Sunday, May 28, 3 to 7 p.m. Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg spankyspub.com

KIMBERLY BURKE

Sunday, May 28, 5 to 8 p.m.

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

LUKE JOHNSON

Sunday, May 28, 5:30 -8:30 p.m. Bear Chase Brewing, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont bearchasebrew.com

UGLY KID JOE

Sunday, May 28, 8 to 11 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg tallyhotheater.com

CHRIS TIMBERS MUSIC:

Sunday, May 28, 9 p.m. to midnight Red Horse Tavern, 118 W. Washington St., Middleburg redhorsetavern.ne

DAVE MINIBERG

Monday, May 29, noon to 4 p.m. Bear Chase Brewing, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont bearchasebrew.com

BANANA HAMMER

Monday, May 29, 1 to 4 p.m. Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts vanishbeer.com

ELEMENTS OF KINDRED

Monday, May 29, 1 to 4 p.m. Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg lostbarrel.com

RAYS OF VIOLET

Monday, May 29, 2 to 5 p.m. Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights harpersferrybrewing.com

JASON MASI

Wednesday, May 31, 6 to 10 p.m. The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn lostfoxhideaway.com

MELISSA QUINN FOX DUO

Wednesday, May 31, 7 to 10 p.m. Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg spankyspub.com

FILTER

Thursday, June 1, 8 to 11 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg tallyhotheater.com

ON STAGE

THE WINERY COMEDY TOUR

Friday, May 26, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville creeksedgewinery.com

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2023, in order to consider:

ORDINANCE CREATING THE RIVANA AT INNOVATION STATION COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Pursuant to Virginia Code § 15.2-5152, et. seq., and Chapter 1098 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors intends to consider a petition and proposed ordinance to create the “Rivana at Innovation Station Community Development Authority” (the “CDA”). DWC Holdings LLC and Origami RE Growth GP LLC have submitted a petition to establish the CDA for the purpose of financing various public infrastructure, facilities and services (“Improvements”) in connection with the development of a high-density, transient oriented, mixed-use project featuring hotel, retail, office, residential, parking, recreational and entertainment components. The proposed CDA district would encompass approximately 79.33 acres to include properties more particularly described as PIN: 035-25-8897, 035-26-4587, 035-25-7745, 035-26-2113, 035-17-3774, 035-26-7139 and 035-16-7202. The subject area is located south of Innovation Avenue (Route 209), east of Sully Road (Route 28), north of the Dulles Toll Road (Route 267), and west of the Fairfax County line. The proposed ordinance will (a) create the CDA; (b) establish the initial boundaries of the CDA district; and (c) approve in general terms a plan of financing for the Improvements, subject to further approval by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. Potential nominees to serve as initial board members of the CDA will be considered during the public hearing.

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

Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings. All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Public input may be provided by electronic means at Board public hearings. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, will be accommodated without advanced sign-up during the hearing, however, members of the public are strongly encouraged to sign-up in advance. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on June 2, 2023, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on June 14, 2023. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 7770200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up during the public hearing. Citizens may also submit written comments by email sent to bos@loudoun.gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members and made part of the minutes for the public hearing.

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200. At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings.

BY ORDER OF: PHYLLIS RANDALL, CHAIR

LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

TOWN OF LEESBURG DEPARTMENT OF UTILITIES NOTICE OF WATER MAIN FLUSHING

5/18, 5/25 & 6/1/23

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

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SELL REAL PROPERTY FOR DELINQUENT TAXES

On or after thirty days from the publication of this Notice, proceedings will be commenced pursuant to Va. Code § 58.1-3965 et seq. to sell the following real estate located in Loudoun County, Virginia for payment of delinquent taxes:

OWNER DESCRIPTION

John B. Brent and Maggie Nelson Brent Single family dwelling, 11.15 acres, more or less

38454 Lime Kiln Road

Middleburg, Virginia 20117

PIN 427-27-6705-000

Tax Map No. /74////////4t0/

John B. Brent Vacant land

4.57 acres, more or less

No situs address

PIN 427-27-9514-000

Tax Map No. /74////////41/

Estate of Abraham Nelson Single family dwelling, 1.08 acres, more or less

38353 Lime Kiln Road

Middleburg, Virginia 20117

PIN 427-15-9628-000

Tax Map No. /74////////37/

DEED/INSTRUMENT NO.

Deed Book 11Y Page 104

OWNER DESCRIPTION DEED/INSTRUMENT NO.

James V. and Nga Thi Barrett Resd. Condo, 0 acres, more or less, 79 Hancock Pl. NE Leesburg, Virginia 20176

PIN 188-28-2869-024

Tax Map No. /48///215/338/

HERITAGE SQ CN PH.15 #338 (BLOCK 2) 1356-531,1373--417 Q/C

Deed Book 12H Page 305

Deed Book 9C Page 76

Susan Stedman TR Stedman Residence TR Resd. Condo, 0 acres, more or less, 19385 Cypress Ridge Ter., #107 Leesburg, Virginia 20176

PIN 082-30-7215-117

Tax Map No. /62//151A/107/

Constance Brown Single family dwelling, 0.25 acres, more or less, 14 S. Loudoun St. Lovettsville, Virginia 20180

PIN 370-40-7837-000

Tax Map No. //9A4/1////34/

Calvin E. Williams

Single family dwelling, 0.19 acres, more or less, 20878 Chippoaks Forest Cir.

Sterling, Virginia 20165

PIN 007-47-4308-000

Tax Map No. /82/F/6////75/

Samina Parveen Bokhari Single family dwelling, 0.14 acres, more or less, 20857 Channel Ct.

Sterling, Virginia 20165

PIN 007-49-5051-000

Tax Map No. /82/E/1////86/

Melissa and Thomas Phillips Resd. Condo, 0 acres, more or less, 20804 Noble Terrace, #424

Sterling, Virginia 20165

PIN 007-47-9996-024

Tax Map No. /82/J/1PE5424/

Amy Cross Monroe Single family dwelling, 0.23 acres, more or less, 103 Maryanne Ave. SW

Leesburg, Virginia 20175

PIN 272-20-2107-000

Tax Map. No. /48/N/2////39/

Travis M. Haddock Resd. Condo, 0 acres, more or less, 19375 Cypress Ridge Ter., #617

Lansdowne, Virginia 20176

PIN 082-30-0742-054

Tax Map No. /62//152B/617/

Instrument No. 201311150089670

Michael and Cheryl O’Connor Resd. Condo Garage Unit, 0 acres, more or less, 42470 Pennyroyal Sq. #302 Brambleton, Virginia 20148

PIN 158-15-6582-013

Tax Map No. /92/D2117//43G

Instrument No. 201405010022467

Rick Rahim Commercial/Industrial, 0 acres, more or less, 2031 Hangar Row Ln. Leesburg, Virginia 20175

PIN 234-30-5526-029

Instrument No. 201907110038213

Instrument No. 201603090013322

Instrument No. 201911250073515

Instrument No. 201702060007785

Tax Map No. /60//CM////44/

G&M Homes, LLC Number 5 Vacant land 0.2 acres, more or less, No Situs Address

PIN 496-26-8610-000

Tax Map No. /56//53/////A/

Instrument No. 201501290005138

Faye C. and George D. Heffner, Sr. Vacant land 11.26 acres, more or less, Suburban Single Fam

PIN 472-35-0371-000

Tax Map No. //1////////21B

Instrument No. 200606270056096

WELLINGTON OUTLOT A 2357--1879 PC G-69-10

Instrument No. 201306270053762

BETWEEN THE HILLS 930--95; PC B-129-9

Instrument No. 201507020044580

The owner of any property listed may redeem it at any time before the date of the sale by paying all accumulated taxes, penalties, reasonable attorney’s fees, interest and costs thereon, including the pro rata cost of publication hereunder. Partial payment of delinquent taxes, penalties, reasonable attorney’s fees, interest or costs shall not be sufficient to redeem the property, and shall not operate to suspend, invalidate or make moot any action for judicial sale.

H. Roger Zurn, Jr., Treasurer, County of Loudoun, Virginia

1 Harrison Street, S.E., First Floor

P.O. Box 347

Leesburg, Virginia 20178

(703) 771-5656

Legal Notices

Round Hill Town Council Notice of Public Hearing

Proposed FY2024 Budget, Tax Rates, Fees and Charges (July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024)

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-2506, -2111, -2119, -2143, -2122, -2241, -2286, Section 46.2-752 and Sections 58.1-3007, -3703 and -3840 of the Code of Virginia: the Round Hill, Virginia Town Council hereby publishes its proposed budget, tax rates, fees and charges for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023 ending June 30, 2024. A public hearing on the proposed budget, tax rates, fees and charges will be held on June 7, 2023 at 7:30PM in person at the Round Hill Town Office, 23 Main Street, Round Hill, Virginia. Participation via Zoom can be accessed at the link posted on the Town’s website, www.roundhillva.org. Any person interested in the FY2024 Budget may attend the public hearing electronically (or in person) and present his or her views. The Town Council intends to adopt a budget, tax rates, motor vehicle license fee, utility/land use fees/charges and funds appropriation by ordinance at its June 14, 2023 special meeting. Written comments regarding these matters can be submitted to townclerk@roundhillva.org by 3:00PM on the day of the meeting and will be presented during the public hearing. Copies of the detailed budget and related documents are available for inspection and copying on the Town’s website (www.roundhillva.org) or at the Town Office, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9:00AM – 4:00PM. If this public hearing is postponed, it will be rescheduled for Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at 7:30PM, with Town Council action on the ordinance scheduled for June 21, 2023.

PROPOSED FY2024 TAX RATES AND FEES (July

- June 30, 2024)

Legal Notices

PROPOSED FY2024 UTILITY RATES AND FEES (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024)

TOWN OF ROUND HILL, VIRGINIA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Round Hill Town Council will hold a public hearing on June 7, 2023, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Round Hill Town Office, 23 Main Street, Round Hill, Virginia, to consider the adoption of an ordinance for the issuance of bonds in the estimated maximum principal amount of $2,600,000. Such bond proceeds are proposed to be used for financing capital improvements to the Town’s water and sewer systems and paying related issuance costs. The bonds will be issued as general obligation bonds secured by the full faith and credit and full taxing power of the Town. The net revenues of the Town’s water and sewer utility systems may also be pledged to the repayment of such bonds. The public hearing is being held pursuant to the Code of Virginia, Section 15.2-2606 A. Interested persons may appear at such time and place and present their views. Written comments may also be dropped off at the Town Office, 23 Main Street; submitted by mail to PO Box 36, Round Hill, VA, 20142; or emailed to hwest@roundhillva.org. Comments received by Noon on the day of the hearing will be distributed to the Mayor and Councilmembers and made part of the public record.

All documents may be viewed in the Town Office between the hours of 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, or on the Town website at www.roundhillva.org. Anyone needing assistance or accommodations under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act should call the Town Administrator’s Office at (540) 338-7878. If the June 7, 2023 meeting is rescheduled, the Public Hearing will be held at the next regularly scheduled meeting on June 14, 2023.

Scott Ramsey, Mayor Town of Round Hill

5/25 & 6/1/2023

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE MIDDLEBURG BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

The Middleburg Board of Zoning Appeals will hold public hearings beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 to hear comments on the following:

BZA 23-01 – Request of Doug Barbour for a variance of Section 120 D. of the Middleburg Zoning Ordinance pertaining to maximum building lot coverage at 403 Lincoln Rd zoned R-2 Single Family Residential District.

BZA 23-02 – Request of Stephen C. Price on behalf of Thomas and Marianne Dodson for a variance of Section 120 E. of the Middleburg Zoning Ordinance pertaining to maximum impervious lot coverage at 4 Locust St zoned R-2 Single Family Residential District.

The hearings will take place at the Town Office, 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia. The application materials 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 hearings.

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

LVZA 2023-0002 AMEND SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE Article V, Blocks and Lots; AMEND UTILITIES ORDINANCE Article II-3, Meter Sizing; AMEND ZONING ORDINANCE Article I, In General, Article VI, Residential Districts, Article VI-2, Standards for Specific Uses, and Article VI-3. Specific Districts.

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1117, 15.2-2253, 15.2-2204 and 15.2-2286 of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended, the LOVETTSVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing at its meeting on Wednesday June 7, 2023 at 7:00pm, or as soon thereafter as it may be heard, in the Town Council Chambers, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia at which time the Planning Commission is to consider amendments to Chapter 42, Zoning, to define affordable housing, add language to residential zoning districts allowing building and lot standards to be modified, add accessory apartments as permitted uses, and modify the standards applicable to accessory apartments; amendments to Chapter 30, Subdivisions, to allow a single lot in a subdivision to be designed with less than the required street frontage; and amendments to Chapter 38, Utilities, to remove mandatory water meter upgrades when an accessory apartment is added to a residence or commercial building.

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

Written comments regarding this item can be submitted to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00PM on the day of the meeting. Members of the public may access and participate in this meeting electronically. The proposed zoning amendment and meeting links are available for review on the Town website at: www. lovettsvilleva.gov/government/planning-commission/

You may also request a copy be sent to you via email by contacting John Merrithew, Planning Director at (540) 822-5788 between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays, holidays excepted. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened at the next regularly scheduled meeting at the same time and place.

5/25, 6/1/23

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES

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

YR. MAKE MODEL VIN

5/18 & 5/25/23

Legal Notices

TOWN OF HAMILTON PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED WATER/SEWER RATES & LAND DEVELOPMENT FEE'S (no changes)

TOWN OF HAMILTON PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED WATER/SEWER RATES & LAND DEVELOPMENT FEE'S (no changes)

The Town ofHamilton will hold a public hearing on Tuesday May 30, 2023, at 7:00pm at the Hamilton Town Office, 53 E Colonial Hwy, Hamilton, VA, for the purpose of receiving comment on the proposed water/sewer rates and the proposed planning/zoning fees for the FY24 budget year. Virtual meeting available for public attendance at: https://www.hamiltonva.gov. The Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, § § 15.2-2111, 15.2-2119, 15.2-2143 and 15.2-2122, authorize the adoption of water/sewer rates and fees. The Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, §§ 15.2-2241 and 15.2-2286, authorize the adoption of planning & zoning fees.

The Town of Hamilton will hold a public hearing on Monday May 23, 2022, at 7:00pm at the Hamilton Town Office, 53 E Colonial Hwy, Hamilton, VA, for the purpose of receiving comment on the proposed water/sewer rates and the proposed planning/zoning fees for the FY22 budget year. Virtual meeting available for public attendance at: https://www.hamiltonva.gov. The Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, §§ 15.2-2111, 15.2-2119, 15.2-2143 and 15.2-2122, authorize the adoption of water/sewer rates and fees. The Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, §§ 15.2-2241 and 15.2-2286, authorize the adoption of planning & zoning fees.

PROPOSED WATER RATES - ALL PROPERTIES

*IN TOWN PROPOSED RATES (no changes) ^ OUT OF TOWN PROPOSED RATES (no changes)

* $5.71

*$12.75per 1,000 gallons between 8,001 and 12,000 gallons

*$13.25

*$19.00

*IN

*$10.88

RATES (no changes)

*$26.25per 1,000 gallons between 8,001 and 12,000 gallons

*$28.88

*$13.00

*$76.50

*$13.00

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Fiberlight of Virginia, LLC (VMRC #2022-2835) is requesting a permit from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to install two (2) 2-inch HDPE conduits under a 154-foot section of Broad Run Creek, a minimum of 10-feet beneath the substrate, using the horizontal directional drill method adjacent to Russel Branch Parkway in Loudoun County.

You may provide comments on this application (VMRC #2022-2835) at https:// webapps.mrc.virginia.gov/public/habitat/comments/. We will accept comments by the USPS provided they are received within 15 days of this notice to: Marine Resources Commission, Habitat Management Division, 380 Fenwick Road, Bldg 96, Hampton, VA 23651.

5/25/23

^ $7.71per 1,000 gallons up to 8,000 gallons

^ $17.21per 1,000 gallons between 8,001 and 12,000 gallons

^ $17.89per 1,000 gallons over 12,000 gallons

^ $19.00surcharge every 2 months

^ $14.68per 1,000 gallons up to 8,000 gallons

^ $35.44per 1,000 gallons between 8,001 and 12,000 gallons

^ $38.98per 1,000 gallons over 12,000 gallons

^ $13.00surcharge every 2 months

^ $103.28every 2 months

^ $13.00surcharge every 2 months

for 05/12/2022 and 05/19/2022 5/18 & 5/25/23

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TO CONSIDER A PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING ZONE ON CORNWALL STREET NW BETWEEN WIRT STREET AND NORTH KING STREET

The LEESBURG TOWN MANAGER will hold a public hearing in Lower-Level Conference Room 1 at Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. on a proposed Residential Permit Parking Zone designation on Cornwall Street NW between Wirt Street and North King Street. This Public Hearing is in accordance with Section 32-240(b) of the Town Code. Additional information concerning this proposed Residential Permit Parking Zone is available by contacting Niraja R. Chandrapu, Transportation Engineer at 703-771-2791 or email at nchandrapu@ leesburgva.gov

At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views regarding these matters will be heard. Person requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at 703-771-2733 or eboeing@ leesburgva.gov, three days in advance (TTD 703-771-4560).

5/18 and 5/25

Legal Notices

COUNTY OF LOUDOUN FIRST HALF REAL PROPERTY TAX DEADLINE

H. Roger Zurn, Jr., Treasurer

JUNE 5, 2023

The deadline for payment of the first half real property tax is June 5, 2023.

Payments received or postmarked after June 5, 2023, will incur a 10 percent penalty and interest. Any such penalty, when assessed, shall become part of the tax with interest accruing on both the tax and penalty at a rate of 10% annually. The due date will not be extended for bills where assessment questions have been filed with the Board of Equalization. Taxpayers who are having financial difficulties should contact our Collections Team at 703-771-5656 who stand ready to assist.

For your safety and convenience, please consider making payments online, by phone or mail.

CONVENIENT PAYMENT OPTIONS AND LOCATIONS

Online: www.loudounportal.com/taxes

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

By Telephone: 24-hour line 1-800-269-5971

703-777-0280 during regular business hours.

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

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

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

TREASURER’S OFFICE HOURS AND LOCATIONS

PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW STERLING OFFICE LOCATION

1 Harrison Street, S.E. 46000 Center Oak Plaza 1st Floor 1st Floor Leesburg, Virginia 20175 Sterling, Virginia 20166 24-hour depository boxes are located outside each office.

Regular Hours 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

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

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

For information regarding Real Property Tax Relief for the Elderly or for Disabled Persons, please contact the Tax Exemption and Deferrals division of the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office at taxrelief@loudoun.gov by phone 703-737-8557 or visit www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief

5/25 & 6/1/23

Public Notice

The Town of Leesburg Board and Commission Vacancies

The Town of Leesburg is soliciting applications for multiple Board and Commission vacancies. Current vacancies include: Diversity Commission, Tree Commission and Board of Architectural Review. Citizens interested in serving on a board or commission can find additional information, membership requirements, or may apply via the Town’s web site at www.leesburgva.gov/government/boards-and-commissions. Applications will be kept on file for one year. Any questions can be sent to the Clerk of Council via email at eboeing@leesburgva.gov

5/18 & 5/25

Loudoun County Parkway to Old Ox Road

Westwind Drive Extension from

Location & Design Public Hearing

Monday I June 5, 2023 I 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Stone Hill Middle School 23415 Evergreen Ridge Dr, Ashburn, VA 20148

www.loudoun.gov/westwind

Learn about the planned roadway improvements to extend Westwind Drive from Loudoun County Parkway (Route 607) to Old Ox Road (Route 606), which will serve to directly link the roadways between two Metrorail Silver Line stations, Loudoun Gateway Station and Ashburn Station. The project includes a new roadway connection between State Street and Ladbrook Drive; a new bridge over Broad Run; expanded pedestrian access between Loudoun County Parkway and Old Ox Road; and a new traffic signal at State Street.

The Location & Design Public Hearing for the Westwind Drive Extension project will be held in person at Stone Hill Middle School, located at 23415 Evergreen Ridge Dr, Ashburn, VA 20148. The project team will make a short presentation outlining the project overview, details, and proposed schedules beginning at 6:30 p.m. and answer questions following the presentation. Right-of-Way relocation assistance information and A Guide for the Property Owner and Tenants will be available.

Review project information and Location & Design Public Hearing details on the webpage above or during business hours at the Loudoun County Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure’s Office, 101 Blue Seal Drive SE, Suite 102, Leesburg, VA 20177. Please call ahead at 703-737-8624 or TTY/TDD 711 to make an appointment with appropriate personnel.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 23 CFR 771, an environmental document in the form of a Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared as per an agreement between the Federal Highway Administration and the Virginia Department of Transportation. In compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 and 36 CFR Part 800, information concerning the potential effects of the proposed improvements on properties listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places will be available with the EA.

Give your comments during the hearing, or by June 19, 2023, via the comment form on the project website, by mail to Yuliya Esmond, P.E., Loudoun County, 101 Blue Seal Drive, SE, Suite 102, Leesburg, VA 20177 or by email to dtci@loudoun.gov. Please reference “Westwind Drive Extension” in the subject line.

Loudoun County ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you require an accommodation for any type of disability or need language assistance in order to participate in the Location & Design Public Hearing on June 5, 2023, please call 703-7378035 (TTY/TDD 711). Three business days advance notice is requested.

Loudoun County CRCP: 2021-0009  State Project: 2988-053-175, PE101, RW201, C501

UPC: 111670

Federal: STP-5B01

To learn more about the Westwind Drive Extension project and stay informed about opportunities to provide feedback and get involved in the public process, visit our website at: www.loudoun.gov/westwind

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2023, in order to consider:

ORDINANCE CREATING RIVANA AT INNOVATION STATION COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Pursuant to Virginia Code § 15.2-5152, et. seq., the Board of Supervisors will consider a petition and proposed ordinance to create the “Rivana at Innovation Station Community Development Authority (CDA).” A separate notice describing the purpose and location of the proposed CDA, and the location where relevant documents may be examined, has been published on May 18, May 25, and June 1, 2023.

PROPOSED LEASE OF COUNTY PROPERTY

Resident Curator Lease Agreement - Loudoun Freedom Center Inc.

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1800 et seq., the Board of Supervisors shall consider a lease agreement with the Loudoun Freedom Center Inc., for the purpose of Curatorship of the historic Union Street property under the terms of the County’s Resident Curator Program. The property is located at 20 Union Street N.W. Leesburg, Virginia within the Leesburg Election District and is more particularly described as PIN: 230185465000.

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

LOUDOUN COUNTY REGIONAL FAIR HOUSING PLAN

The Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development has participated in a regional effort to create a Regional Fair Housing Plan pursuant to the Department’s obligation to affirmatively further fair housing pursuant to Section 808(e)(5) of the Federal Fair Housing Act. The purpose of the hearing is to share the Regional Fair Housing Plan, obtain the public’s feedback, and to respond to questions. Members of the public are invited to present their views and comments.

A complete copy of the full text of the proposed Regional Fair Housing Plan is available and may be examined at the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development, 106 Catoctin Circle S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Plan is also available online at www.loudoun.gov/cdbg. Written comments on the Plan may be submitted to the attention of the CDBG Program Manager at the Department of Housing and Community Development, Post Office Box 7000, Leesburg, Virginia 20177.

REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL OF LAND BELONGING TO GUINEA BRIDGE, LLC, FROM THE NEW MOUNT GILEAD AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-4314 and the New Mount Gilead Agricultural and Forestal District Ordinance, Guinea Bridge, LLC, of 44112 Mercure Circle, Sterling, Virginia, has submitted an application to withdraw a 119.47-acre parcel from the New Mount Gilead Agricultural and Forestal District. The subject property is located west of Lancer Circle (Route 1148) and south of Hughesville Road (Route 725), in the Catoctin Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 457-261326. The New Mount Gilead Agricultural and Forestal District currently has a four-year period that will expire on December 6, 2025, and is subject to a subdivision minimum lot size of 20 acres.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the applications may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-777-0246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (2-27-2023 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

SPMI-2022-0007 & SPMI-2022-0008

SHADOW CREEK BANQUET FACILITY

River Bottom Land Trust of Purcellville, Virginia, has submitted an application for the following Minor Special Exceptions: 1) to modify the Additional Regulations of Section 5-642(A)(5) of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance regarding Banquet/Event Facility Uses, in order to increase the maximum number of attendees allowed on site in the AR-1 (Agricultural Rural – 1) zoning district; and 2) to permit the expansion of a previously approved banquet facility. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the proposed use is listed as a permitted Minor Special Exception use in Table 2-102. The

modification of the Additional Regulations applicable to the proposed use is authorized by Minor Special Exception under Section 5-600, Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following modification(s):

Zoning Ordinance Section

§5-642(A)(5), Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, Banquet/Event Facility, Intensity/Character, Number of Attendees.

Proposed Modification

Increase the maximum number of attendees for a 25.2 acre portion of a 234.5 acre site from 210 to 350 attendees.

The subject site is located partially within minor and major floodplain in the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District) and has areas of Moderately Steep and Very Steep Slopes. The subject property is approximately 25.2 acres in size and is located southeast of Silcott Springs Road (Route 690), at 18090 Silcott Springs Road, Purcellville, Virginia, in the Catoctin (formerly Blue Ridge) Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 526-40-9376. The area is governed by Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Rural Policy Area (Rural North Place Type)) which designate this area for agricultural, agricultural supportive, and limited residential uses at a recommended density of up to one dwelling unit per 20 acres or one dwelling unit per five acres equivalent for optional residential clustering in large-lot subdivisions.

ZRTD-2022-0004

INTERRA SKY TRANSDULLES

(Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District)

Davis Drive PropCo. LLC, of Excelsior, Minnesota, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 8.83 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district under the 1972 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to permit certain 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 and the AIOD (Airport Impact Overlay District), within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contour. The subject property is approximately 8.83 acres in size and is located on the north side of Davis Drive (Route 868) and east of South Sterling Boulevard (Route 846) at 22630 Davis Dr #225, Sterling, Virginia, in the Sterling Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PINs: 033-39-2929. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment Place Type)), which designate this area for Office, Production, Research and Development, Flex Space, and Contractor without outdoor storage uses at a FAR of up to 1.0.

SPEX-2022-0031

DULLES TRADE CENTER WEST (Special Exception)

10 Trade West Drive, LLC and 11 Trade West Drive, LLC, of Sterling, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Special Exception to permit an increase in the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) from 0.4 to 0.6 on two parcels located within the PD-GI (Planned Development – General Industrial) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the proposed modification of the FAR is listed as a Special Exception under Section 4-606(C). The subject property is located within the AIOD (Airport Impact Overlay District), Ldn 65 or higher, aircraft noise contour and in the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District). The subject property is approximately 14.8 acres in size and is located within the Dulles Trade Center West industrial park north of Arcola Mills Drive (Route 621) and west of Arcola Road (Route 842) in the Little River Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PINs: 161-17-2615 and 161-17-0879. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Industrial/Mineral Extraction Place Type)), which designate this area for large manufacturing, contractor with outdoor storage, and other productive uses at a FAR of up to 0.6.

ZRTD-2022-0005

OPPIDAN INVESTMENT COMPANY

(Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District)

Oppidan Investment Company, of Fairfax, Virginia, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 6.99 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district under the 1972 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and PD-IP under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to PD-IP under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to permit 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 properties are located within the Route 28 Taxing District, within the Route 28 Optional Overlay district and the AIOD (Airport Impact Overlay District), within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contour. The subject properties are approximately 7.09 acres in size and are located east

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Legal Notices

of Route 28, on the south side of South Sterling Boulevard (Route 846) and north side of Davis Drive (Route 868) with site access off of Davis Drive in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PINs: 033-38-7850 and 033-38-5671. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment Place Type)), which designate this area for Office, Production, Research and Development, Flex Space, and Contractor without outdoor storage uses at a FAR of up to 1.0.

CMPT-2022-0004 & SPEX-2022-0040

INFRA TOWERS – EVERGREEN MILL

(Commission Permit & Special Exception)

Infra Towers LLC, of Alexandria, Virginia has submitted applications for the following: 1) Commission approval to permit a 130-foot-tall Telecommunications Monopole with a six-foot-tall lightning rod at the top of pole inside a 50 by 50 square-foot related equipment compound in the AR-1 (Agricultural Rural) zoning district; and 2) a Special Exception to permit a 130-foot-tall Telecommunications Monopole with a six-foot-tall lightning rod at the top of pole inside a related equipment compound in the AR-1 zoning district. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The proposed use requires a Commission Permit in accordance with Section 6-1101 and is listed as a Special Exception use in Table 2-102 of Section 2-102 and under Section 5-618(B)(2). The subject property is approximately 3.14 acres in size and is located west of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621) and south of Battlefield Parkway (Route 627), in the Catoctin Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 27420-4037. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Rural Policy Area (Rural North Place Type)), which designate this area for rural economy uses and limited residential development at a recommended density of up to one dwelling unit per 20 acres or one dwelling unit per five acres equivalent for optional Residential clustering in large-lot subdivisions.

Unless otherwise noted in the above notices, copies of the above-referenced amendments, applications, ordinances, and/or plans and related documents may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-777-0246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies, or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. The opportunity for public input via this link

PUBLIC NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

The Town of Leesburg will accept proposals electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia. gov), until 2:00 p.m. on June 22, 2023, for the following:

RFP NO. 100313-FY24-01

SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL SERVICES

The Town of Leesburg (the “Town”) is soliciting sealed proposals to establish multiple term contracts to provide snow and ice removal services. A virtual nonmandatory pre-proposal meeting will be held on Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 3:00 P.M. The pre-proposal meeting will be live streamed via Microsoft TEAMS and made available to the public.

For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard

5/25/23

PUBLIC NOTICE INVITATION FOR BID (IFB)

The Town of Leesburg will accept bids electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia. gov), until 3:00 p.m. on June 29, 2023 for the following:

IFB NO. 23001-FY23-48

LEESBURG EXECUTIVE

AIRPORT - APRON PAVING

The Town is soliciting bids from qualified Bidders to provide construction services for the Airport Apron Paving project. Work includes the rehabilitation of the south terminal apron pavement along with tie-ins to all adjoining taxiways and two corporate hangars. The main portion of the apron is approximately 880’ x 440’, with the total work area measuring approximately 43,000 square yards.

For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard

5/25/23

will be temporarily unavailable during the upgrade of the County’s online land management system. However, other opportunities for public comment remain available as described below. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun. gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). In addition, for detailed instructions on how to access documents using LOLA, to request that documents be emailed to you, to receive physical copies of documents, or to arrange a time to view the file at the Loudoun County Government Center, please email DPZ@loudoun.gov or call 703-777-0246 (option 5).

Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings. All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Public input may be provided by electronic means at Board public hearings. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, will be accommodated without advanced sign-up during the hearing, however, members of the public are strongly encouraged to sign-up in advance. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on June 2, 2023, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on June 14, 2023. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up during the public hearing. Citizens may also submit written comments by email sent to bos@loudoun.gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members and made part of the minutes for the public hearing.

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200. At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings.

BY ORDER OF: PHYLLIS RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 5/25 & 6/1/23

PUBLIC NOTICE

INVITATION FOR BID (IFB)

SANITARY SEWER LINING AND REHABILITATION (VARIOUS TOWN STREETS)

The Town of Leesburg will accept sealed bids electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia. gov), until 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, for the following:

IFB NO. 20506-FY24-03

SANITARY SEWER LINING AND REHABILITATION (VARIOUS TOWN STREETS)

Work includes installation of Cured in Place Pipe (CIPP), sewer lateral reinstatement with lined connection, flow bypass, maintenance of traffic, and all incidentals related thereto.

For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard

5/25/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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

Case No.: CJ22-126 through CJ22-128; CJ22-130 & CJ22-131; CJ22-133 & CJ22-134; CJ22-136 & CJ22-137; CJ22-139 & CJ22-140; CJ22-142 & CJ22-143;

Loudoun County Circuit Court 18 East Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

/v.

Allison Fluke-Ekren

The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of foster care plan with a goal of adoption, pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Zubayer, Sumeyyah, Asiyeh, Khadija, Fatima and Osama Ekren; and Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Unknown Mother and Unknown Father of Zubayer Ekren, and Allison Fluke-Ekren, mother of Sumeyyah, Asiyeh, Khadija, Fatima and Osama Ekren, pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-283. Unknown Mother and Unknown Father of Zubayer Ekren, and Allison FlukeEkren, mother of Sumeyyah, Asiyeh, Khadija, Fatima and Osama Ekren, are hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and time may result in the entry of an Order approving a permanency goal of adoption as well as the termination of residual parental rights with respect to Zubayer, Sumeyyah, Asiyeh, Khadija, Fatima and Osama Ekren. Unknown Mother and Unknown Father of Zubayer Ekren, and Allison Fluke-Ekren, mother of Sumeyyah, Asiyeh, Khadija, Fatima and Osama Ekren, are hereby further notified that if their residual parental rights are terminated, they will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor children, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Zubayer, Sumeyyah, Asiyeh, Khadija, Fatima and Osama Ekren, any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Zubayer, Sumeyyah, Asiyeh, Khadija, Fatima and Osama Ekren, or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Zubayer, Sumeyyah, Asiyeh, Khadija, Fatima and Osama Ekren. Further, Unknown Mother and Unknown Father of Zubayer Ekren, and Allison FlukeEkren, mother of Sumeyyah, Asiyeh, Khadija, Fatima and Osama Ekren will have no legal and/or financial obligations with respect to Zubayer, Sumeyyah, Asiyeh, Khadija, Fatima and Osama Ekren, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Zubayer, Sumeyyah, Asiyeh, Khadija, Fatima and Osama Ekren for adoption and consent to the adoption of Zubayer, Sumeyyah, Asiyeh, Khadija, Fatima and Osama Ekren.

It is ORDERED that Unknown Mother, Unknown Father and Allison Fluke-Ekren appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before July 10-11, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

ABC LICENSE

Sungwon Sterling LLC trading as Lotte Plaza Market, 30 Pidgeon Hill Drive, Sterling, Virginia 20165.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a RETAIL OFF PREMISES WINE AND BEER license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Sang Min Lee/Member & Christine Eunsook Lee/Member

Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

5/25 & 6/1/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046978-01-00

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

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

&

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISISON PUBLIC HEARING

TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLES 6 AND 10 FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVISING THE MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT IN THE I-1 DISTRICT

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, JUNE 1, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 to consider Zoning Ordinance Amendment TLOA-2023-0002 to revise the following provision of the Zoning Ordinance:

Article 6, Section 7 I-1, Industrial/Research Park District – Amending this section to increase the maximum building height from 50 to 65 feet in the district, subject to standards to minimize the impact of the height increase on adjoining properties.

Article 10, Section 2 Nonresidential Zoning Districts - Amending the Density/Intensity Tables to reflect the increase in height in the I-1 District.

Copies and additional information regarding these proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by calling 703-737-7920 and asking for Brian Boucher, Deputy Director. Mr. Boucher can also be reached by email at bboucher@leesburgva.gov. This Zoning Ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLOA-2023-0002.

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

5/18 & 5/25/2023

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

LVZA 2023-0003: AMEND ZONING ORDINANCE

SECTION 42-297 Bed And Breakfast Homestays, Bed And Breakfast Inns, Country Inns And Limited Residential Lodging

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-2204 and 15.2-2286 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LOVETTSVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on Wednesday June 7, 2023 at 7:00pm, or as soon thereafter as it may be heard, in the Town Council Chambers, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia at which time the Planning Commission is to consider an amendment to Chapter 42, Article I, Section 42-2 to revise the definition of Limited Residential Lodging, and Article VIII, Section 42-297, Bed And Breakfast Homestays, Bed And Breakfast Inns, Country Inns, And Limited Residential Lodging, to remove a requirement that the property owner occupy the limited residential lodging residence in certain circumstances, and in such cases, require the owner or a manager be able to respond to guests and be onsite within specified times.

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

Written comments regarding this item can be submitted to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00pm on the day of the meeting. Members of the public may access and participate in this meeting electronically. The proposed zoning amendment and meeting links are available for review on the Town website at: www. lovettsvilleva.gov/government/planning-commission/

You may also request a copy be sent to you via email by contacting John Merrithew, Planning Director at (540) 822-5788 between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays, holidays excepted. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened at the next regularly scheduled meeting at the same time and place.

5/25, 6/1/23

15

Published

Sunday’s celebration of the Douglass School and its legacy stood in clear contrast to its history.

207

NORMAN K. STYER Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com

EDITORIAL

RENSS GREENE Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com

ALEXIS GUSTIN Reporter agustin@loudounnow.com

HANNA PAMPALONI Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The school was built despite the resistance of the county leadership only through the unyielding determination of parents who understood the life-changing value that education could offer.

While notable that the great-great-grandson of the school’s inspirational namesake helped lead the school’s rededication, more significant was the participation of the school’s alumni. They are the ones who experienced the oppression of segregation and who endured the early days of integration long opposed by

county officials.

Their leadership in the school’s renovation ensures that their stories won’t be forgotten easily. Although not a museum, plans for the historic building to feature a rotating exhibit of photographs and other memorabilia from the students and teachers will continue to provide valuable history lessons and inspired reflections on the American story.

Through its three decades of operation, the school improved the lives of generations of Black families. Understanding its legacy will ensure that future generations continue to build on that foundation. n

ADVERTISING

SUSAN STYER Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.com

TONYA HARDING Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.com

An Inflection Point

Editor:

LETTERS to the Editor Online always at LoudounNow.com

Last week’s paper referenced large new mixed-use projects that could come online in Loudoun over the next several years. This writer is intimately aware of Loudoun’s growth over the past 50 years and would like to make an argument for appreciating the unusually well-balanced development that citizens of Loudoun enjoy now and could lose if the forces which tend to promote growth are allowed to follow their natural inclination.

First, what we enjoy now—a quality mix of attractive housing, shopping, recreational facilities, schools, governmental services, job opportunities (in county and nearby), and open space, coupled with a low rate of crime and relatively little pollution. Is this mix perfect? No. But compared to our neighboring jurisdictions in the Greater Washington Area, and taking the major factors that comprise lifestyle into account, we are in a very enviable position.

So, what do we risk by expanding substantially from the population base we have currently? I would suggest, first, stressing our main east-west (Rt. 7, Rt. 9 and Rt. 50) and north-south (Rt 15) transportation networks, which are near capacity now and which have limited practical ability to expand; second, overburdening the capacity of our school system, which now requires close to 70% of our public tax funds and which requires the redrawing of school district lines most years; third, increasing our crime rate to levels approaching those seen to our east  and putting a corresponding additional work load on our law enforcement resources; fourth, stretching our ability to continue to provide satisfactory governmental and recreational services; and fifth, putting increased pressure on our existing open space to accommodate growth.

The foregoing list is not all inclusive, but hopefully it is enough to make the point. And it needs to be recognized that the pressures for continued growth

are inherent in a development industry that naturally and properly looks to the next opportunity to lobby for and to execute what it is trained to do. If left to its devices, that course of conduct will result in growing the county first horizontally, as has been the case so far in Loudoun, and thereafter, vertically.

The question for Loudoun at this point is: What are the lifestyle benefits to be achieved by this natural expansion and on balance do they improve upon the present situation. If they do not, then the tools in the county’s power to deal with the matter are its comprehensive plan and its zoning laws.

The point in the discussion above is that the citizens of Loudoun are at this time at an inflection point. They should be aware that they are and they should voice their opinion if it matters to them. Otherwise, natural forces will act as they naturally do, and Loudoun as we know it now will have succumbed noncritically to a theoretical concept labeled “progress.”

— Steve Robin, Leesburg

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION:

Should Veterans Day be a school holiday in Loudoun?

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:

What is the best part of the Memorial Day weekend?

A Solemn Gift

BY DAVID W. WALKER President & CEO, Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes

Former Nebraska Governor Kay A. Orr, a Republican, was accused of playing hardball politics. Orr was not impressed. “Politics ain’t beanbag,” she said.

Orr hit upon a basic and wonderful truth of our country. On this Memorial Day we celebrate our political system which, at its core, provides for the peaceful transfer of political power on a regular schedule. We need not look far around the globe to see places where such peaceful transfers do not occur. Here, there and everywhere, vicious dictators assume power and refuse to give it up. People attempting to exercise political freedom in these countries are dealt with harshly. There is a great hunger for freedom and where it is denied, violence ensues.

Our political system determines the way we live and how our national wealth is distributed. It is not just a ritual we observe on election day. It is absolutely essential to our way of life. We have a variety of mechanisms in our political fabric designed to mitigate friction and facilitate peaceful resolution of disputes. But these days those basic mechanisms are under stress like we haven’t seen in many years.

This is a good time to pause and reconsider what we are doing. On Memorial Day we honor the countless American heroes who sacrificed their lives to sustain our political rights—the foremost being the right

to peacefully change our political leadership. That is not an abstract concept in this country. It is core to our existence.

But it does not come automatically or easily. There are many vital issues that divide us and challenge the delicate fabric of our political system—issues that people feel strongly about and work hard to change. When they are unsuccessful, they are often embittered, sometimes to the point of violence. It is a constant challenge to our political leadership to allay that natural extremism that erupts among people who feel strongly about moral and political issues—which is almost all of us—when they feel they are being treated unfairly.

We all need to take stock of currents in our society that challenge our basic beliefs. For democracy to work, we have to do our part. That means, among other things, accepting and respecting the clearly expressed will of the voters even when it is not to our liking. Actually, especially when it is not to our liking. There would be no need of voting if it were merely a matter of confirming our preferences.

If you or someone you know has actual knowledge of malfeasance in the political process, you have every right—an obligation really—to step forward with your evidence and present it for public scrutiny. However, people who are motivated by nothing more that displeasure at some electoral results, have a responsibility as citizens to accept those results and exercise their basic right to work for change within

Memorial Day Observances

The Town of LEESBURG will hold its annual Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 29, beginning at 10 a.m., at the Loudoun County Courthouse.

The annual observance commemorates those who have lost their lives in battle, serving the United States, as well as honors the service of military men and women.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Robert C. Holcomb will be the keynote speaker. The West Point graduate retired from military service in 1993 after a 21-year career. His upcoming book, “Stone Tapestry: A Tour Through the West Point Cemetery and American History,” highlights the lives and accomplishments of the 165 people buried there.

The ceremony also will include the placing of wreaths at the war memorials.

There will be closures on King and Market streets in the area from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

In the event of rain, the event will take place at the Leesburg Senior Center.

A number of other Memorial Day programs are planned around Loudoun, including:

LOVETTSVILLE: The town will hold a

the system.

This is the system these heroes lying beneath those headstones died to bequeath

ceremony at the town’s Veteran’s Memorial in Zoldos Square at 11 a.m. Monday, May 29. The event will include songs by the Lovettsville Elementary School Chorus, a poem reading by Lovettsville American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1836 and a keynote speech by retired U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Ronny Porta.

PURCELLVILLE: The town invites residents gather at Town Hall at 11:45 a.m. Monday, May 29 for a ceremony featuring remarks by Mayor Stanley J. Milan and guest speaker U.S. Navy Commander (ret.) Mark Broshkevitch. There will be a procession to the teardrop intersection at Main Street for a wreath-laying ceremony.

ROUND HILL: The town will hold its Memorial Day program during Saturday’s Hometown Festival, starting at 10:45 a.m. at the Town Park. The ceremony will include the dedication of its new memorial pavers honoring veterans.

RINGING IN HOPE: Runners will gather early on Memorial Day at Christian Fellowship Church in Ashburn for the annual Salute to Our Troops 10K, 5K and 1-mile fun run. The event raises money for the Boulder Crest Foundation. n

to us. To reject it is to dishonor them and reject our heritage. It is a solemn gift to be honored. n

Lifeguard shortage

continued from page 3

Skarke’s main job is to make sure pools across the county are staffed.

He said the management team at the county Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services did a good job coming up with a plan to open pools, but said they were basically working with skeleton crews, meaning he had to get creative with staffing at times.

He said the management team began looking at what they could do to get more lifeguards trained to fill the gap. The county decided to offer the training for free, saving potential lifeguard candidates anywhere from $250 to $350 depending on where they are trained.

“If we can offer this top-notch training for free, we will eat it, yes, but it will completely pay off in time because we will have a pool of lifeguards to choose from,” he said.

The county began offering free training in November and is open to anyone meeting the age requirement regardless of whether they live in Loudoun.

“Loudoun County has been very fortunate that through the pandemic and the first little bit after. We haven’t been affected by the [lifeguard] shortages—well, the public hasn’t seen us be affected because behind the scenes Skarke has done a good job filling the gaps,” Allred said. “But we are at the point now where we are starting to feel that gap in staffing levels.”

Allred said they are trying to eliminate as many barriers as they can to get kids trained. He said that includes teaching

Development rights

continued from page 1

building more densely than base zoning without going through a rezoning process.

However, the idea has also faced opposition from some who see it as putting the burden of development on residents in the county’s east to benefit those in the west. The previous Board of Supervisors discussed the program and decided not to go forward with it.

The sale of those development rights distinguishes Transfer of Development Rights from Purchase of Development Rights, in which the county government buys those development rights with public funds and simply extinguishes them.

Middleburg Mayor Bridge Littleton,

them how to swim and working with anyone who struggles with the pre-test.

To achieve certification, lifeguard candidates have to pass a pre-test that consists of a 300-yard swim (12 laps), a two-minute timed water tread, and a timed brick dive in which the person dives to the bottom of a 10-foot pool and retrieves a 10-pound brick.

Skarke said they will even train someone so they can pass the pre-test. He spoke of one girl who took three hours to pass the pre-test.

“She just wouldn’t stop; she was tenacious. She still guards for us and she’s amazing,” he said.

In addition to offering free training, PRCS streamlined the hiring process, allowing applicants to be hired before they

who helped organized the Loudoun Together summit, presented to the county committee, pointing to the development threat to Loudoun’s best farmland and its $500 million agritourism industry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most recent 2017 Census of Agriculture found Loudoun had lost 10% of its farmland and its farms over the previous five years, shedding 137 farms and 12,860 acres of farmland. That is also an accelerating rate of loss compared to previous censuses.

“If we’re losing 10%, at that current rate, pretty soon, you can add the math, we’re going to lose this golden treasure that we have,” Littleton said.

He pitched the concept, if done right, as a win-win for both west and east. Littleton said the program could for example allow data center developers to buy those rights to increase their floor-area ratio,

Clarice Hartman, 17, a junior at Loudoun Valley High School, certified to be a lifeguard over spring break. She said she wanted a summer job and decided to become a lifeguard because it seemed like a cool job that would keep her active and help out in her community.

She said anyone interested should give it a try.

“There is a lot of stuff to remember, but the skills aren’t that hard to do. You just have to learn how to do it right and make sure you do the right things at the right time,” she said.

Ella Bober, 15, a freshman at Woodgrove High School, also certified over spring break. She said as a swimmer she thought lifeguarding would be a great opportunity to learn some skills that she could apply in other situations.

She said the training was rigorous, but it got easier as the class continued.

certify, according to Communications Manager Kraig Troxell.

“We developed a lifeguard pathway program where we will hire a non-certified person to go through the training process, but they are hired as a Loudoun County employee. They can’t be in the stand to lifeguard, but we set them up with training to get them going,” Skarke said.

Skarke said the program has been an immediate success, saying that since they started offering free training in late November the classes have been full.

He said as of May 23, 100 people have certified as lifeguards, and the county plans to offer free training for the foreseeable future to not only fully staff Loudoun pools but to help with surrounding jurisdictions as well.

which could mean buildings with more stories and, he argued, a more efficient use of eastern Loudoun land.

“You could limit the need to extend water and power because you’re not having to use as many acres to achieve it [data center development], and you’ll save acreage in the east for those other more important needs, like affordable housing, school zones, mixed-use industrial, CNA [Capital Needs Assessment] needs, parks, things like that,” Littleton said. “So the question is, how do we allow the more efficient use of data center property in the east to relieve some of the pressure that’s being caused by how they’re currently built?”

Turner said the program could be used to steer data center development into preferred areas by designating where those development rights can be bought—for

Lifeguards in Loudoun County start at about $15.61 an hour and most county facilities are hiring for summer and yearround positions.

“Looking from the outside in, it’s a cake job from a patron’s point of view, but the purpose is you train for the readiness of it. You have the skills to never have to use them,” Skarke said.

“It’s a really fun job. There is a serious aspect to it, but I personally got a tremendous amount of satisfaction and fulfillment learning the skills I learned and being proficient at it,” Allred said, speaking of his days working as a lifeguard. “I enjoyed the camaraderie and collaboration with other like-minded kids and it’s a really, really fun job.” n

example, in Ashburn’s Data Center Alley but not along Rt. 7, where zoning allows data centers but supervisors hope to avoid that development.

“Where a TDR program really gets interesting is when we can really begin to shape the data center growth in eastern Loudoun County to the benefit of eastern Loudoun County and western Loudoun County,” Turner said.

The idea of TDR program, which has been on the shelf since the last board’s term, will be worked back into the Department of Planning and Zoning staff’s work plan. The next logical step, they advised, would be hiring a contractor to conduct a market study. It may be some time until that happens—the department has previously reported it is already at capacity in its work plan. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

A lifeguard trainee jumps into the pool to perform a mock rescue during lifeguard certification at Claude Moore Recreation and Community Center.

Douglass dedication

continued from page 1

should change from what the county had to offer in terms of educational resources for Black children,” Avery said. “Over 52 years ago, they left a mark on the history of Loudoun County and each of you, each citizen, each dignitary, each community member, each of you is supporting that legacy by participating in the restoration and rededication of the historic Douglass High School. So let me welcome you historians, each and every one of you.”

Speakers included former Loudoun Douglass High School Alumni Association president Arnold Ambers from the class of 1960, Acting Superintendent Daniel Smith, School Board Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge), Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk, County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) and Kevin Douglass Greene, the great-great-grandson of Frederick Douglass.

Ambers shared his memories of the school and talked about the respect the students had for the school and the teachers. He said the teachers were determined to give their students everything they could to prepare them for their future.

“Whether they were going to college, into the armed services, or having an everyday job, you were going to be prepared, because they came up through the ranks just like us and they knew what we should expect, and it wasn’t going to be an easy road. You had to be twice as good as the other guy,” he said.

He shared stories of other segregated schools hating to play basketball at Douglass because the gym was too small, and how much he loved to come to school every day from his farm in Lucketts.

Serotkin spoke of working with the DHSCC and of how critical it was “to get this right by giving everyone a seat at the table.”

“As community leaders, it is our responsibility to stand beside them, to learn from the school’s storied past, to safeguard its presence within our community and to ensure its continued success for generations to come,” he said. “This place is more than just a building, more than just a school. Douglass High School embodies cherished ideals and an unwavering commitment to public education. The unity of family, friends and mentors all of it represents the struggle for what is right, what is just and what can be achieved when a community unites.”

Randall spoke of the school being more than just the building but being made up of the people who attended it and who had to be “twice as good to get half as much.”

She said she is often asked what it means to be the first person of color in Virginia history to be an elected county chair and said you don’t get there by yourself and credited it to the path set down by the Douglass alumni.

“I am here because of you. … In my head, I have this idea where a magic baton is passed from generation to generation to generation and at some point along the way I believe the people from Douglass have passed me the baton and if I am to do anything correct the only one thing that I have to do is this, take the baton that has been given to me by you all and pass it on to the next generation,” she said.

Sean Johnson, son of Erica Bush and descendent of Douglass alumnus Barbara Sheppard Bush, introduced Greene. He said he was “very thrilled” when he learned Greene would be the guest speaker and that he would be introducing him.

“After all, who better to speak to us today than Mr. Greene? Who just so happens to be the great-great-grandson of abolitionist Frederick Douglass,” he said.

Greene, a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Army with a passion to end enslavement, human trafficking and racism, spoke about the evolution of Frederick Douglass’s freedom.

Greene said Douglass experienced freedom several times in his life, comparing the stages to the birth and rebirth many people experience once they are born then when they give their life to God.

“Frederick Douglass was freed more than once. He gained his freedom in different stages, and we often think about that eventual escape to freedom but [he] was free before that,” he said.

He noted the first time Douglass was

of her friend and Leesburg resident Janet Wiggins, who graduated from Douglass in 1965.

“She kept calling and saying, ‘are you coming, are you coming, are you coming?’” Counts said of Wiggins.

“When I saw the stones and they said ‘welcome’ then it said, ‘our journey, our story our life,’ tears just rolled down. It was very emotional,” Wiggins said of the engraved stones leading to the entrance of the school.

Walter Bryant, a 1959 alumnus, said he became a biology teacher because of his own biology teacher at Douglass, George Barrett.

“He was what any young man would look at an older male and say that is what I want to be like, he was a good example.” Bryant said.

“freed” was as a child when he made the decision to educate himself.

Another was when he was sent to a man named Edward Covey, who was considered a “slave breaker,” after Douglass tried to start a Sunday school for other enslaved people. Covey often whipped and beat Douglass. Douglass eventually fought back and won a physical confrontation that resulted in never being beaten by Covey again. Greene said Douglass was “freed” in this instance because the fight renewed Douglass’ resolve to be free, and he became free in his mind and soul.

The final time Douglass was freed according to Greene was when British supporters bought his freedom, years after he had physically escaped by boarding a northbound train. Greene said he had been free long before that, but this was “just the matter of paperwork.”

After Greene spoke, attendees watched a video presentation of the renovation of the historic school with interviews of alumni and the sealing of a time capsule that will be opened in 50 years.

A ribbon cutting was held outside at the entrance to the original Douglass High School.

Inside is the original basketball court surrounded by six rooms named after Douglass teachers, several display cases holding memorabilia from the graduating classes of the school from 1941-1968 and a timeline of the history of the school.

Several alumni were in attendance Sunday, many traveling from other parts of the country to be there.

Janet Bryant Counts graduated from Loudoun County High School but attended Douglass until her junior year. She traveled from Maryland at the insistence

The Murray sisters, Helen Murray Cook of the class of 1963, Peggy Murray Washington the class of 1966 and Virginia Murray McCorn the class of 1954—just three of nine siblings who attended Douglass—talked about being in the National Honor Society and a favorite teacher, Mrs. Briscoe.

Josie Stewart was a substitute teacher at the Douglass School in 1977. She later served as the assistant principal in the 1980s when it was an alternative high school and special education center. She went on to become the first black female principal for secondary schools in Loudoun County.

“I would say to children of today, we as seniors now stand on other shoulders who came before us. And I encourage them to go forward with education. Get as much as you can and the only person that can stop you from getting an education is you yourself. So, push forward, don’t give up, and never stop,” she said to the children of today. “All failures open the door for new opportunities.”

The reopened campus will include the school division’s Welcome Center, the Head Start and Starting Towards Excellence in Preschool programs, the Preschool Child Find office, and Loudoun County Parks and Recreation Community Center programs. It also will house offices of the Loudoun Douglass High School Alumni Association, the Edwin Washington Society, and the NAACP Loudoun Branch and feature a rotating collection of historic photographs, memorabilia and other exhibits honoring the rich legacy of those who helped ensure African American children in Loudoun County could receive an accredited secondary education.

The campus will be open for public tours this weekend from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Kevin Douglass Greene, the great-great-grandson of Frederick Douglass spoke to a large crowd in the gymnasium of the newly renovated Douglass High School. The historic school was Loudoun County’s first and only Black high school from 1941-1968.