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MAY 27, 2021
Students Looking Ahead After COVID-19 Challenges BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
In the fall, Loudoun’s public school students will all be back in the classroom for the first time in more than a year—a year of protests and pandemic that, some educators worry, left them behind as they lost family members, social circles and class time. “We’ve had a lot that has happened over 2020 with the pandemic, with social unrest, and the youth of our county have taken that on the chin,” said Advisory Commission on Youth Chair Jeffrey Goldman when he gave the commission’s
annual report to county supervisors on May 18. “Really, their lives have changed for the most part, missing out on events, missing out on milestones, and, in April of 2020, I think the summary of our report in getting a pulse on the mental state was a quote along the lines of, ‘I feel like I’m in a black hole and I have no way out.’ Sobering stuff.” Freedom High School rising junior Anya Anand was one of those who chose to keep learning from home as some students returned to the classroom. At the time her family had to make that choice, she said, it seemed it could be until the summer before she was vaccinated, so the family chose safety. It was also less disrup-
tive, since she had already done an entire quarter online. And she said she has been able to learn remotely, although it has come with its own challenges. “I’ve had this conversation with a couple of my teachers. The first thing they’ll ask you is, ‘do you feel like you’ve learned anything this year?’” she said. “I do think I’ve learned a lot this year.” But she said it’s time for her to get back into the classroom, where she values the collaborative experience. “I think there might be some sort of adjustment, but I think the biggest thing I’m l looking forward to is just talking to my teachers and my classmates,” she said. “Honestly, there are people in my classes
I’ve probably had four classes with, and we’ve been with each other for an entire year—I couldn’t tell you what they look like.” There is one part of distance learning she would keep—the ability to record lessons to review again later, or if she misses class. And even for students eager to be back in the classroom, there will be a period of adjustment. “I think in general, just empathy would probably be the biggest thing,” Anand said. “It’s going to be a very different standard of learning going back into the classSCHOOL CHALLENGES continues on page 35
Metro Braces for Evolving Ridership BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
When the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority opens the new Silver Line stations in Loudoun early next year, Metrorail is expected to look very different than in the past. As Metro works to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic—while experiencing about an 80% drop in ridership, and operating with a budget that was only balanced with $723 million in relief funding—the agency’s leadership is wondering whether it has seen a permanent change in who is riding the rails. Before, Metro service was geared toward the rushhour commute to and from work. But toMETRORAIL continues on page 35
Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
The future Ashburn Station by the Loudoun Station development waits for construction to wrap up and Metrorail trains to start running into Loudoun, expected in early 2022.
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PAGE 3
Loudoun Launches Work to Rename Rt. 7, Rt. 50 BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
Loudoun County supervisors have launched a more than yearlong process to rename Rt. 7 and Rt. 50 where they are named for segregationist and racist figures—Harry Byrd, a lawmaker best known for leading “massive resistance” to integration in Virginia, and Confederate cavalry commander John Mosby. With supervisors largely agreeing that the names need to go, debate at their meeting May 18 fell largely on who should come up with new ones, how long that should take, and how much it should cost. The county board targeted the end of the year for selecting new names to send to the Commonwealth Transportation board, which has the final say-so on renaming the roads. The board will get options for new names from a task force made up of seven members sent by the county’s Heritage Commission and one appointee from each of the nine county supervisors, after a period of public input. Even that timeline is accelerated from the one originally estimated by county staff members, which wouldn’t have seen the Board of Supervisors picking new names until February or March of 2022. Replacing the signs is also expected to take some time, up to year. Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) had pushed for an even swifter time-
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
The signs for Harry Byrd Highway could be coming down as the result of a new county study.
line, which would have seen the Heritage Commission offering new options for names within 90 days. “With all due respect, I don’t think we need to take almost a year to go through this process to come up with these names and come back to us,” Saines said. But county staff members said that timeline wasn’t feasible, considering public notice requirements and other largely behind-the-scenes work. And Supervisor
Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), whose district includes the easternmost part of Rt. 50 in Loudoun, said his constituents would not be adequately represented by the Heritage Commission. He also worried about the costs to businesses when their street address changes. “For those businesses that have invested thousands of dollars in signage and legal documents and business cards, its painted on their trucks, it’s everywhere,”
Letourneau said. “This is a big deal, a very big deal. It’s expensive.” The cost of replacing the signs, according to preliminary estimates, is about $708,000. But the county is working with a character limit; if the new names are longer and require larger signs than the old ones, according to a county staff report, it could cost more than three times as much to replace them, about $3.3 million. “There is no question that this is going to create a lot of turmoil, there’s no question that it’s inconvenient, there is no question that it’s an expense, but frankly, there’s no question that when one of these is named after a member of the KKK [Byrd] and a notorious segregationist, and the other one is named after a guy who was engaged in treason, I’m sorry[…] I think this is absolutely necessary,” said Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn). Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said she was surprised how recently the roads got those names—in the case of Rt. 50, the General Assembly named the road John Mosby Highway in 1982. The county will now solicit applications for the nine board appointees to the sign task force, with nominations expected at the June 15 board meeting. Supervisors voted 8-0-1, with Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) absent. The work comes as part of a larger project to inventory segregationist and racist symbols across the county. n
Harriet Tubman Mural Proposed for Loudoun Museum Wall BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com
A proposal by Leesburg resident Carmen Felder to create a mural of American abolitionist Harriet Tubman on the façade of the Loudoun Museum has stirred some passions in the community, and looks to be the focus of continued debate. Felder, co-founder of the 89 Ways to Give Foundation, said a major goal of the foundation for 2021 was to pay homage to Black history, among other projects it hoped to bring to life. With Juneteenth being celebrated as a state holiday for the first time this year, and the town’s place in history as a route along the Underground Railroad, Felder thought a mural referencing this important piece of the county’s history would be timely. Felder was able
Contributed
A rendering of the proposed Harriet Tubman mural at the Loudoun Museum.
to secure financial support for a public art mural of Harriet Tubman from Tito’s Vodka, which this year committed $1 million to support causes nationwide related to social equity and the fight against racism. Artist Shawn Perkins, who has work featured in Washington, DC, and around the country, was selected by Felder for the mural project. Formerly known as Carolina Road, Leesburg’s King Street was an Underground Railroad route that led to the Potomac River crossing. The town was the site of several Underground Railroad sites, including the Loudoun County Courthouse, according to a town staff report. Although Tubman is unquestionably the most well recognized abolitionist associated with the Underground Railroad, she has no known ties to Leesburg, and it
has not been historically recorded that she ever passed through the county seat. Still, Felder said she felt Tubman was an ideal choice for a public art mural. “Rather than trying to decide among so many local heroes, we chose Harriet Tubman since she has such universal recognition and represents the fight for emancipation,” she said. Felder said the selection of the Loudoun Museum, a town-owned property that the museum leases, as the ideal spot for a mural of Tubman came after she and others, including Mayor Kelly Burk and Councilman Ara Bagdasarian, took a walking tour of the downtown area. “It seemed to be the best place and the history surrounding it made it seem to fit like a puzzle piece,” Felder said. TUBMAN MURAL continues on page 34
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LOUDOUNNOW.COM
MAY 27, 2021
Loudoun
Supervisors Defer Vote on Union Ordinance BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
Loudoun supervisors have delayed a vote establishing the parameters of a collective bargaining ordinance until their meeting June 1, in a move cheered by the Service Employees International Union Virginia 512. “The only reason that item was deferred was writing a meaningful ordinance is a heavy lift, and both the SEIU, the IAFF [International Association of Fire Fighters] and staff have been hard at work on this,” County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (DAt Large) said at the Board of Supervisors meeting May 18. “… It just wasn’t ready for prime time yet. We just moved it to the next meeting just to make sure when we do move it to the dais, although we will have some points to vote on, we want it to be as clean and clear as possible.” The item prepared for supervisors’ May 18 meeting outlined a number of decisions they will have to make—such as what is up for negotiation for employee unions. The draft ordinance would require goodfaith negotiations on a broad set of topics,
including wages, benefits, hours, working conditions, and resolving employee grievances including disciplinary actions at the level of a suspension or higher. Supervisors must decide a number of other things, such as whether to require a petition from employees before recognizing unions, whether to allow employees to opt in or opt out of sharing their contact information with unions, and whether to restrict union activity during business hours. The draft ordinance also provides for a labor relations administrator to serve as a neutral third party, appointed by the county administrator and confirmed by supervisors, for a four-year term. The delay was cheered by the SEIU Virginia 512, a union representing hundreds of Loudoun public employees. “I would like to thank Chair Randall for her support in bringing meaningful collective bargaining to Loudoun County,” said Julius Reynolds, chairwoman of the Loudoun County Chapter of SEIU Virginia 512 and a county employee for more than 20 years. “Your leadership will change the lives of essential workers in our community for the better. Meaning-
ful collective bargaining is good for our workforce, good for residents, and will ensure that Loudoun is a great place for everyone.” A press release from the SEIU urged supervisors “to settle for nothing but real and meaningful collective bargaining that provides employees the right to bargain over pay, benefits, and working conditions. The essential workforce deserves the same comprehensive rights that protect tens of millions of workers across the United States.” Loudoun’s anticipated collective bargaining ordinance stands to be one of the first in the commonwealth. The first was passed by the City of Alexandria on April 17. The Leesburg Town Council followed suit on April 27. The new state law enabling union negotiations went into effect May 1. Collective bargaining has enjoyed support from the Democratic majority on the Board of Supervisors, with supervisors voting 6-3 in April to move ahead with writing an ordinance in a step toward final approval. They have also worked to strengthen that ordinance in favor of unions from the example ordinance presented that night. n
Warner on Broadband: ‘Don’t Miss This Window’ BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
With an infusion of funding from the American Rescue Plan and the shortcomings today’s broadband networks thrown into high relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) said Friday that counties like Loudoun have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make major progress on internet access. “If we miss this window—God willing we’re never going to have another COVID—you’re never going to have this kind of one-time infusion of capital, and you’ve just got to decide what that priority is,” Warner said at a roundtable discussion in the Loudoun County Public Schools administration building Friday, May 21. Warner was joined by Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10), Federal Communications Commission Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, local leaders and members of the Loudoun Broadband Alliance. The discussion centered in large
Karen Xu/Loudoun Now
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) speaks at a roundtable on broadband internet access Friday, May 21 at the Loudoun County Public Schools administration building.
part around the massive infusion of federal funding for broadband access and affordability: $17 billion in the American Rescue Plan, $10 billion in the Coro-
navirus Capital Projects Fund created by the American Rescue Plan that can be used to expand high-speed internet acBROADBAND continues on page 34
Loudoun’s Dem Supervisors Support DC Statehood BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
The Loudoun Board of Supervisors has passed a resolution calling for Washington, DC, to become the country’s 51st state along a party line vote. The board’s six Democrats voted in favor, with Republican Supervisors Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) and Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) abstaining and Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) absent. Disagreement centered not on the merits of DC statehood, but whether Loudoun County should be officially opining on the topic. Letourneau said he would abstain “consistent with my longstanding practice of only voting on resolutions that are within the jurisdiction of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and government.” “My test, as it always has been, is: Is this a subject that we have jurisdiction over? And we do not in this,” Letourneau said. “This is a federal issue. Further, the federal representatives that we could potentially influence have already weighed in on it and have well-stated positions, so the involvement of our board is not something that will be germane for their discussion.” Buffington agreed with that argument. But the majority on the board pushed ahead with the resolution that their May 18 meeting. “This is very regrettable situation in our nation where we are treating more than 700,000 people as basically a colony without rights to representation in Congress,” said Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian). And they argued that it is an issue that impacts Loudoun, which is tied to the DC region through Dulles Airport and Metro’s Silver Line, and an issue which could also affect funding for the region. “We ask for them to support us in a lot of initiatives and items, so I DC STATEHOOD continues on page 5
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
MAY 27, 2021
PAGE 5
Warner Meets With Indian-American Leaders On COVID-19 Crisis BY KAREN XU
Last Friday, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) met with leaders of the Indian-American community at Celebrations by Rupa Vira in Ashburn to discuss how to best support COVID-19 relief efforts in India. They were also joined by state Del. Suhas Subramanyam (D-87) and former U.S. Ambassador to Belize Vinai K. Thummalapally, the country’s first Indian-American ambassador. Many attendees pointed to addressing the low supply of vaccines to India as essential to helping the country fight its current wave of COVID-19. Subramanyam referred to the low vaccination rates in India, where according to the University of Oxford’s “Our World in Data” project, only about 3% of the population is fully vaccinated so far. “My concern has been that the U.S. government has been a little bit slow. In the U.S., we’ve had this challenge about how to distribute vaccines,” Warner said. Last week, President Biden pledged 80 million vaccines overseas, but given India’s population of more than 1.3 billion, even that is barely a drop. Another problem of sending aid is the logistics of both shipping it to India and getting it distributed once it arrives. Currently, businesses have been coordinating individual efforts and relying on private
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Former U.S. Ambassador to Belize Vinai K. Thummalapally, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and state Del. Suhas Subramanyam (D-87) speak at a round table on the COVID-19 crisis in India and the U.S.’s role in helping out Friday, May 21 at Celebration by Rupa Vira Restaurant in Ashburn.
“It’s hard to ship from all over the world to India. A helpline on the USAID or State Department website could be very useful,” Challa said. “We can do a lot more to help India; tell us what you need and provide some guidance to do those things.” Warner promised to continue to work with other business and government leaders to provide logistical support and equipment to India. “It’s a really critical time for the U.S. to continue to sort of step up to the plate and
take sort of a leadership role on the global stage,” Thummalapally said. Warner is a co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, a bipartisan coalition that promotes a relationship between the US and India and addresses domestic and international issues affecting the two countries. n Karen Xu is a senior at Freedom High School completing her Senior Capstone Project at Loudoun Now.
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MAY 27, 2021
Leesburg
Main Street Discussion Looks to Have New Life BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com
Establishing a Main Street organization for Leesburg could once again be on the Town Council’s radar screen. Such an initiative was last discussed four years ago. Town Manager Kaj Dentler had proposed allocating $110,000 in the Fiscal Year 2018 budget to establish the nonprofit and hire an executive director in joining the nationwide program. Such a program would oversee things like downtown promotions and events, and provide a cohesive voice for the downtown business community. The National Main Street Center Inc., a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, works with a nationwide network of programs and communities to encourage preservation-based community revitalization. The cities or towns accepted into the Main Street program form a nonprofit with an executive director and board of directors that works in concert with the local government and citizen advisory groups.
Ultimately, that budget allocation landed on the cutting room floor during the Town Council’s budget mark-up sessions. Previously, the subject of starting a Main Street organization was seriously considered in 1990 and again in 2001, but never pursued. In 2004, the town established a downtown coordinator position to oversee some of the same goals of a Main Street program, but less than a decade later the position was cut. Many downtown organizations have come and gone over the years, but perhaps the most significant change in the downtown historic district has been its overall vibrancy and now well-earned reputation as a destination. “The thing is 10 years ago, 15 years ago it was more about revitalization. Thankfully, our downtown really has become a thriving destination. Now it’s more about enhancing and optimizing the downtown,” Councilman Ara Bagdasarian said during the council’s Monday work session. Vice Mayor Marty Martinez revived the discussion of establishing a Main Street organization last month, when he requested a work session item on the matter.
Economic Development Director Russell Seymour said Monday that facets of the Virginia Main Street program have changed since the town last explored the subject a few years back. The program now offers a four-tiered system, and it’s not until the latter two tiers that localities would have to begin exploring the formation of a 501(c)3 and enter a competitive process. The first two tiers offer some of the same benefits of a full-blown Main Street program, including grant funding. Generally speaking, Seymour said, running a Main Street program can average between $150,000 to $225,000 annually. Typically, fundraising overseen by the established 501(c)3 covers up to 75% of the organization’s annual budget, but Seymour said most localities continually provide 25% to 30% of the organization’s annual funding. Initial start-up costs are usually borne by the locality, he said. Seymour said the town staff was interested in exploring whether a Main Street program with its tiered system would be a good fit for Leesburg. Of paramount importance, he said, is gauging interest and support from the business community.
Council members supported Seymour beginning his research, and added some ideas of their own. Bagdasarian said he would like to see such an organization have some sort of dedicated funding mechanism, like deriving its operating expenses from downtown parking fees, for example. Council members Kari Nacy and Suzanne Fox suggested that other areas of the town may be in more need of revitalization than the thriving downtown, and perhaps an organization’s focus not be limited to the historic district. Mayor Kelly Burk warned, however, that the downtown was experiencing some vacancies so perhaps the focus shouldn’t be elsewhere. Overall, though, the council seemed to be generally in favor of seriously considering a Main Street program yet again. “It made a lot of sense 10 years ago, it makes a lot of sense today,” Bagdasarian said. “There are opportunities right now to enhance what is already working, coordinate things, act on behalf of the business community, and take downtown to the next level.” n
Burk Lauds Businesses, Town Staff for Navigating Rocky Year BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com
Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk used her annual State of the Town address to credit local businesses and town government staff for pushing through the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In her May 20 speech, held outdoors this year on the Town Green to accommodate social distancing, Burk spoke to the struggles faced by both local governments and small businesses since the stateside onset of the pandemic last spring. She pointed to the programs put in place by the council to assist local businesses, including the start of the outdoor dining program on King Street and several rounds of grant funding to businesses and nonprofits. Burk also spoke about the overall belt tightening within Town Hall’s walls to compensate for declining government revenues when consumer taxes were down and some of the town’s facilities had to close to the public.
Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk addresses a crowd gathered for her State of the Town Address at Town Hall on May 20.
She said she was proud that Town Hall never closed to the public, even at the height the pandemic. She and fellow council members took time during her annual address to spotlight several local businesses that
stayed afloat and pivoted in creative ways during the pandemic, including Bow Tie Strategies, The Clay and Metal Loft, the U.S. Tae Kwon Do Academy, and Arm Consulting. “The pandemic had taken a brilliant local economy and struck it down. But our businesses would not stay down. They cut costs, they pivoted in providing their services in new ways, whether it be virtual, curbside pickup, or masked small groups in larger spaces socially distanced. Our businesses made the sacrifices to continue providing the goods and services that Leesburg residents all needed,” Burk said. The mayor also praised the staff within Town Hall’s walls and pointed out many of their accomplishments over the past year. That included the planning staff ’s continued work on the Town Plan rewrite; bond refunding undertaken by the Department of Finance and Administrative Services; and Clerk of the Council Eileen Boeing’s nimbleness in navigating both council members’ and the public’s
participation in meetings both virtually and in person. She also took time to note what the Town Council itself had accomplished during a challenging year, including maintaining a stable real estate tax rate; working with county staff and supervisors for the county’s successful purchase of the former Westpark Golf Club property; and holding 26 ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new businesses in just the last year. There is much to look forward to as the economy rebounds and recovery from COVID-19 continues, Burk said. One of those highlights includes the return of the popular goats to clear brush along town streams. “I leave you tonight with the message that Leesburg is in a strong financial and governance position. We have managed the pandemic impacts and we are looking to the future,” she said. To view a recording of Burk’s address, go to facebook.com/LeesburgVirginia. n
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MAY 27, 2021
PAGE 7
Dentler Proposes Land Acquisition Strategy for Leesburg BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com
Town Manager Kaj Dentler on Monday proposed that the Town Council consider formulating a strategy for land acquisition, prompted by a recent inquiry from the council. The town has had some key wins and losses in the land acquisition game over the years, he said. The 86-acre purchase of parkland along the Potomac River in 2001 and purchase of 40 acres adjacent to Leesburg Executive Airport in 2012 provided big benefits. Yet, Dentler said, the town has also missed out on some opportunities, citing the Rodgers Farm, where a residential subdivision is under construction, and the former Westpark Golf club, although that property was later purchased by Loudoun County and looks to remain a passive use. The town has also long considered pursuing purchase of the 40-acre O’Connor property near Ida Lee Park to expand passive park uses there, but the high price tag has stalled progress on that front. Dentler acknowledged that the town has never had a defined vision when it came to land acquisition, but said land
Lauren Fleming/Loudoun Now
The O’Connor property adjacent to Ida Lee Park has long been eyed by the Town of Leesburg for possible expansion of Ida Lee’s passive park amenities, but the high price tag of land acquisition has been a deterrent.
banking is never a bad idea, even if you don’t have any immediate plans for the property. “If you don’t acquire the land today you may not have it tomorrow or at a price you can afford. If you own the land, there is no rush to develop it. The land is only going
to become more and more valuable,” he said. In furthering the discussion, Dentler said the council should to identify the organizational needs of the town government, and what facilities may be in need of future expansion. Residents’ needs for
open space should also be considered, as well as the key criteria to select properties. Cost limits and whether certain environmental factors make a property more or less attractive should also be discussed. “If we don’t develop some type of plan and we don’t fund that, then we can have dreams. It might be pie in the sky, but when the opportunity comes is when you strike,” he said. Dentler emphasized that the council having a public discussion about a particular property will only increase that property’s value, and thus could strain potential negotiations. To that end, he said discussion of an overall strategy can happen in a public meeting, but suggested that specific property discussions be held in closed session. Council members endorsed Dentler exploring the formation of such a strategy, with Councilman Neil Steinberg calling it “a no brainer and obviously well overdue.” Vice Mayor Marty Martinez agreed. “I’m really excited about us taking this step,” Martinez said. “I know we’ve had these discussions before ... but we never had the political will on council or an opportunity in our markets to be able to do something like this.” n
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PAGE 8
Education
SCHOOL notebook
School Board Reviews Transgender Student Policy BY HAYLEY MILON BOUR hbour@loudounnow.com
The School Board’s Pupil Services Committee met virtually last week to discuss the proposed policy for the rights of transgender and gender-expansive students. The proposed policy was developed to comply with the Virginia Department of Education’s mandate that school divisions protect learners of all gender identities. Per the new state requirement, Loudoun County must implement a policy before the start of the 2021-2022 school year. The policy’s most notable and contentious aspect is that students will be permitted to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identities. “It’s about time Virginia gets a policy to protect these students,” said Harris Mahedavi (Ashburn). “We need to put a structure in place that protects the kids from being marginalized.” As recently as 2019, 68% of transgender students in Virginia were prohibited from using the bathroom aligned with their gender identity. Advocates said this policy will be life-altering for many members of the LGBTQ community in Loudoun County schools. However, several parents made public comments expressing concerns about
“We need to put a structure in place that protects the kids from being marginalized.” — Harris Mahedavi (Ashburn)
student privacy, particularly in common areas of restrooms. “The girls wear full coverings their whole lives and for them to have a mixed bathroom is very traumatizing,” said one parent, who identified himself as a member of the Islamic community. Another parent suggested creating a separate bathroom to meet the special needs of trans and non-binary students, although board members worry that might bring unwanted visibility to members of the trans community. The proposed policy for Loudoun County goes beyond the model developed by the Virginia Department of Education in some ways, such as addressing athlet-
ics. Ahead of the school year, transgender and gender-expansive students will have a planning meeting with administrators to discuss their needs. “Whenever a child has a need for additional accommodations, we will develop a supportive plan of action for that child,” said Asia Jones, assistant superintendent of Pupil Services. Jones and several committee members acknowledged that in some older school buildings, adjusting to the policy will be a challenge. One suggestion was adding additional privacy stalls to restrooms and locker rooms. The policy also allows students to go by their chosen names and pronouns. Students of all gender identities will be permitted to participate in corresponding inter scholastic, extracurricular and athletics programs. John Beatty (Catoctin) expressed reservations about the policy. “We have an athletics policy in our code and I’m concerned we are overstepping our bounds,” he said. Jones responded that the proposed athletics component is compliant with federal law, Title IX. The policy will be presented to the School Board on June 8. Administrators said this will allow enough time for the policy to be adopted before the start of the next school year. n
As Objections Continue, School Division Puts 2 Books Under Review LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
After a series of speakers during the May 11 School Board meeting read aloud racy passages in two books available in Loudoun high school classes, administrators have opened a formal review. Following the meeting, the division pointed critics to the policy that permits parents and community members to request a “reconsideration of instructional materials.” Last week, administrators announced
a division level review of the optional high school-level books, “Monday’s Not Coming” and “#MurderTrending,” had been initiated. The reviewing committee will make a recommendation to the superintendent when the process is complete.” Under the division’s policy, the superintendent appoints a division review committee, with at least three instructional staff members and two school-based employees at the level of the request, and two parents to review the material and make a recommen-
MAY 27, 2021
dation to the superintendent, who will report the panel’s recommendation and his decision to those who filed complaints within 30 days. The decision may be appealed to the entire School Board within 15 days. Critics of the material continued their protests during Tuesday’s night School Board meeting, adding to their argument that the review procedures offer little protections for their children until after they have been exposed to content they find offensive. n
Oak Grove Pitched as Name for Alternative High School A special committee of students, staff, parents, and the public has recommended that the new alternative high school program be named Oak Grove High School. The school, which will launch next fall as a separate school within the Park View High School building, is intended for students whose formal education has been interrupted by external and life challenging circumstances, such as young parents or those who must work to support their families. The committee’s alternate choices for consideration by the School Board are William Obediah Robey High School and Monarch High School. Oak Grove was recommended to honor the students who will attend the new school as well as the families who first founded the Oak Grove community on Loudoun’s eastern boundary. The committee wrote that the name would pay tribute to the formerly enslaved men, women and children who had to fight for their freedom to establish a community of their own in 1871. William Obediah Robey was a minister and a teacher working in the Freedmen’s Bureau’s schools in Loudoun County. His home, on the corner of Church and North streets, became the second Freedmen’s Bureau School in Leesburg in 1866 and he became its teacher. When Loudoun’s public school for African American children opened on west North Street, he became a teacher of the lower grades until 1888. Monarch was considered because of the parallels of metamorphosis to the process of growing up for high school students. The School Board was briefed on the recommendations Tuesday night and is expected to vote on a selection June 8.
Panigrahi Wins Willowcroft Science Scholarship Academies of Loudoun and Rock Ridge High School senior Akshita Panigrahi has been selected as the 2021 Willowcroft Science Scholarship recipient. SCHOOL NOTEBOOK continues on page 9
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MAY 27, 2021
SCHOOL notebook continued from page 8 The $5,000 Willowcroft Award, one of the scholarships supported by the Willowcroft Science Endowment, is given each year, typically at the LCPS Regional Science and Engineering Fair, to a student who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the sciences. The endowment is made possible by Lewis Parker, a longtime Regional Science and Engineering Fair supporter and the owner of Willowcroft Farm Vineyards. Panigrahi’s teacher and mentor, Michael Croly, also received $5,000 as part of the scholarship. The science fair judges were impressed by Panigrahi’s commitment to scientific research, passion for STEM, and skill in presenting. After she graduates next month, she will go on to study engineering and applied science at the University of Pennsylvania.
Thomas Family Awards $42K in Scholarships Nearly a year after Fitz Alexander Campbell Thomas’ death, his family is carrying on his legacy by helping high schoolers pay for their college educations.
PAGE 9
The family of Fitz Thomas, the 16-yearold who drowned in the confluence of Goose Creek and the Potomac River in River Creek Club on June 4, 2020, held a ceremony Monday afternoon at Riverside High School to announce the 28 recipients of $42,000 in 2021 Fitz Alexander Campbell Thomas Memorial Scholarships. Those scholarships were made possible through additional contributions from the Loudoun Freedom Center, the ADAMS Center, Santana Moss 89 Ways To Give Foundation and other donors. Civilian Heroes & Valor Scholarships of $1,000 were Angela Stefkovich, Anna Casey, Max Maynard, Dylan Kerr, Chrystian Gonzalez, Alex Richards, Matthew Watson, Sam Adams, Matthew McCann and Cole Borde. Justice 4 Advocacy & Social Justice Scholarships of $2,500 were Carleigh McCahren, Niya Nixon, Sabrina Lee, Max Maynard, Grant Sheets and Christian Yohannes. Community Impact Scholarships, of $1,000, were Daniel Carter, Quentin Avila, Jefferson Umana, Kyla Houston, Janell Odom, Nicholas Callis, Sabrina Rafiq, Ava Chiari, Will Butz, Korah Bass, Justin Iglesias and Ciara Bess. A $5,000 Next-Gen Leadership Scholarship was presented to Christian Yohannes.
Monday, May 31st 10:00am Loudoun County Courthouse Special Guest U.S. Army Colonel (ret) Phil Rusciolelli Accessible parking available for those who need assistance, all others please use Town Garage. For more information, call 703.777.1368 or visit www.idalee.org. Rain or Shine—severe weather may delay start time.
The Loudoun Laurels Foundation seeks nominations for its 2021Laureate. Recipients will be honored at The Loudoun Laurels Gala at Lansdowne Resort Friday, September 24, 2021. Visit our web site at www.loudounlaurels.org for more information about Laureate candidate qualifications, how to make a nomination, Gala sponsorships and event tickets.
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info@loudounlaurels.org
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MAY 27, 2021
Public Safety
Judge Accepts Sentencing Cap in Leesburg Murder Case BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com
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Circuit Court Judge James P. Fisher last week accepted a sentencing cap in the case of the man charged with murder for beating his Leesburg housemate to death in April 2020. Lucio Joseph E. Lucio is scheduled to be sentenced July 26. Lucio was initially charged with first-degree murder, which carries a punishment of 20 years to life in prison, but county prosecutors in October agreed to reduce that charge to second-degree murder, which carries a punishment of five to 40 years in prison. Under the plea deal, Lucio would serve no more than 18 years in prison. Fisher said that cap is acceptable because it falls within the midpoint of the sentencing guidelines; the high point is 21 years and four months in prison, the low point is 12 years and nine months in prison and the midpoint is 17 years and one month in
prison. The guidelines take into consideration the nature of the crime and previous criminal history, among other factors. “It appears to be an appropriate agreement,” Fisher said. The incident happened April 7, 2020. At about 4 a.m. that day, Leesburg Police officers were called to a home in the Fox Chapel neighborhood off Fort Evans Road SE for a report of a man in cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, the officers found Joel Rodriguez-Quezada, 48, with apparent trauma to his face and head. He died at the scene. Detectives determined Lucio, 21, and Rodriguez-Quezada were involved in a physical altercation that night. According to the April 2020 complaint, Lucio admitted to punching Rodriguez-Quezada in the face “several times” and biting his ear before leaving him lying on the living room floor and going to bed. Lucio was set to be sentenced May 20, but the Office of the Public Defender requested an extension to allow for his family to fly in from New Mexico. Lucio has been held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center since April last year. n
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Antonio Fernandez, the 19-year-old man charged with felony malicious wounding in connection with a February shooting in Sterling, is scheduled to make a plea in Circuit Court on Fernandez July 8. According to the Sheriff ’s Office and court documents, Fernandez got into
an argument with a man in the area of Commerce Street near East Holly Avenue around 4:45 p.m. Feb. 20, pulled out a gun and shot the man once in the groin, causing him to suffer a “permanent and significant” physical injury. Fernandez was originally charged with aggravated malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. But prosecutors in April agreed to not prosecute the charge of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, along with another charge of misdemeanor assault or battery by a mob that Fernandez obtained after an SHOOTING continues on page 11
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PAGE 11
SAFETY briefs HVAC Malfunction Causes Ashburn House Fire A mechanical malfunction in an attic air handler system has been identified by Fire Marshal’s Office as the cause of an Ashburn housefire last week. Fire and rescue crews from Broadlands, Ashburn, Kincora, Sterling Park, Dulles South, Brambleton, Leesburg, and Fairfax County were called to the Millay Court home just after 8 p.m. May 19. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find a large, single-family home with heavy fire and smoke coming from the second floor and roof area. Two residents were located safely outside. Firefighters used the tower-ladder master streams from the exterior enabling crews to move inside and quickly control the fire. Damage was estimated at just over $759,000. The two displaced residents are staying in temporary housing. No injuries were reported. In light of the fire, officials issued a reminder for residents to have HVAC equipment checked by a licensed contractor and to inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in central air conditioners, furnaces, and/or heat pumps according to manufacturer’s instructions. Window air conditioning units should be tested by a recognized, independent testing laboratory and installed following the manufacture’s recommendations. Do not plug air conditioners into an extension cord or power strip. For additional fire prevention and life
According to the Sheriff ’s Office, a deputy was called to the Sterling school shortly after 2:30 p.m. May 19 for a report of a disorderly woman who reportedly assaulted two other parents. The woman had left the area prior to the arrival of law enforcement, but was identified and then taken to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation. The incident gained attention on social media after the Washington, DC-based Council on American-Islamic Rela-
safety information or details about the Fire-Rescue system’s free smoke alarm resources go to loudoun.gov/smokealarms or call 703-737-8600.
Woman Detained After Altercation at School Following a reported assault outside Rolling Ridge Elementary School last week, a woman was placed under an emergency custody order.
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tions issued a statement alleging it was a “bias-motivated assault on Muslim women” and asking that it be investigated as a hate crime. In a statement sent to the school community, Rolling Ridge Principal Abby Sacco said that there would be increased security on campus this week and that counseling was available to students who may have been troubled by the altercation. The case is under investigation by the Sheriff ’s Office.
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Shooting continued from page 10 August 2020 assault in which he allegedly punched a man in the face at the Sterling Coin Laundry. According to an April 30 court filing, prosecutors agreed to not prosecute those two charges because the victim was amenable to the resolution. Under Virginia law, Fernandez faces conviction on a Class 3 felony—punishable by five to 20 years in prison—if a judge determines he committed the shooting with malice. If a judge determines Fernandez committed the shooting unlawfully but without malice, he faces conviction on a Class 6 felony—punishable by one to five years in prison or up to 12 months in jail. Fernandez has been held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center without bond since February. n
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Nonprofit
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Volunteers Power JK Community Farm Plant-a-thon BY KAREN XU
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Over the weekend, hundreds of volunteers arrived at the JK Community Farm near Purcellville to plant thousands of seedlings at the beginning of the growing season in support of the farm’s mission to donate fresh food to area food pantries. This year, the annual Plant-a-thon volunteers gathered over the course of two days to plant 16,000 seedlings, which will yield 53,000 pounds of food. “The need of the food pantries that we serve has increased greatly because of the pandemic,” said Samantha Kuhn, executive director of the farm. “A lot of our food pantry partners are serving four times the amount of people that they were serving prior, so that has changed the way that we grow because we grow a lot more to make sure that we can keep up with their needs.” In previous years, volunteers were primarily from corporate groups, but amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the farm has been supported mainly by families. During this year’s Plant-a-thon, groups were limited to 30 people and volunteers signed up in shifts. “We … just like being a part of the community, you know, all ages and levels,
it doesn’t matter. You know how fit you are, and just anybody can contribute at this level to come out and help the program,” said Suzanne Serway, a volunteer at this year’s event. The nonprofit was founded in 2018 to combat food insecurity. In 2020, the farm expanded its produce growth and received 30 donated cattle, resulting in over 147,000 pounds of food for their food pantry partners. In the 2021 growing season, JK Community Farm plans to double their produce production and donate 230,000 pounds to area food pantries as well as increase their herd to 45 cattle, bring 25 chickens to the farm, and expand distribution into Washington, DC. Kuhn is optimistic about the future of the farm. “I’m most excited to see the farm grow and the community of supporters that we have to help us expand and help our local food pantries have healthy foods.” To support the farm, go to jkcommunityfarm.org/get-involved for various ways to get involved. n Karen Xu is a senior at Freedom High School completing her senior capstone project at Loudoun Now.
GIVING back Harris Teeter Shoppers Contribute Over $110K for Loudoun Hunger
We Grow Community Giving CommunityFoundationLF.org | (703) 779-3505
Eight local Harris Teeter stores joined forces to raise more than $110,000 for Loudoun Hunger Relief through register campaigns from their customers. The Harvest Feast register campaign ran from Nov. 18 through Dec. 29 and generated about $74,000. The more recent childhood hunger register campaign raised an additional $38,000. “Harris Teeter strives to support the communities we serve, and does so as part of our commitment to eliminate hunger— especially childhood hunger,” stated Harris Teeter Communication Manager Danna Robinson. “We are so pleased that the Harvest Feast campaign this year raised $1.8 million across all our stores, and
$74,000 in Loudoun. We are so proud to have raised an additional $38,000 to donate to Loudoun Hunger Relief through the childhood hunger Round UP campaign. We hope this will help during these times of hardship for so many.” “We are so grateful to have Harris Teeter helping in our community. They are a true partner in the fight against hunger in Loudoun, and their commitment to our working families is so important,” stated Loudoun Hunger Relief President and CEO Jennifer Montgomery. “We are very grateful to have this help during such a difficult time for the families we serve.” Loudoun Hunger Relief distributed 2.6 million pounds of food last year. Nearly 70% of those served in 2020 had never needed assistance before. For more information, go to loudounhunger.org.
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MAY 27, 2021
PAGE 13
The Town of Leesburg’s Award Winning Free Summer Concert Series “One of the Summer’s
2021 Saturdays • 7:00 - 8:30 pm Loudoun County Courthouse 18 East Market Street
best concert lineups.” -The Washington Post Washingtonian Magazine’s Best Bet for Summer Concerts.
June 5 - Chris Bowen Official Radio & Social Media Partner
June 12 - Robert Mabe June 19 - Justin Trawick and the Common Good June 26 - Lisa Fiorilli July 10 - Cal Everett
Official Media Partner
July 17 - Liz Springer Duo July 24 - Roam Like Ghosts July 31 - Torrey B August 7 - Gary Smallwood August 21 - Julia Kasdorf August 28 - Todd Wright
Lawn chairs and blankets are advised. No smoking, alcoholic beverages, or pets allowed. In case of inclement weather, the show will be cancelled. For more information, visit www.idalee.org
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MAY 27, 2021
LDS Youth Turn Service into Art
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Youth members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Tall Cedars Ward in Aldie have completed an 18-month service project that involved completing more than 10,000 acts of kindness and documenting their work in an art project. A group of roughly 50 youth members undertook a quilling-type project, where small strips of tightly rolled paper were inserted into a frame backed with small wire mesh. Each piece of paper represents an act of service performed by an individual member, and, taken together, created a colorful depiction of the tree of life, which they titled “In the Service of Our God.” As a ward, they participated in blood drives, yard work, clothing drives, collecting donations for the local food pantry, serving at a local community farm, chopping firewood for a family whose dad was deployed overseas, a coat drive for local schools, and indexing and family history research. “This was youth driven from beginning to end,” said Bishop David Tenny. “This is where a bishop was not sure but decided to listen to and follow the inspiration of the youth.” n
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Department
Salary Range
Closing Date
Accounting Associate III
Finance
$52,446-$89,790 DOQ
Open until filled
Police Officer
Police
$53,233-$89,590 DOQ
Open until filled
Senior Buyer/Contracts Administrator
Finance
$67,175-$115,044 DOQ
Open until filled
Senior Systems Analyst
Information Technology
$70,374-$120,339 DOQ
Open until filled
Systems Analyst/Infrastructure & Asset Management
Public Works & Capital Projects
$70,374-$120,339 DOQ
Open until filled
Training and Development Coordinator
Utilities
$52,446-$89,790 DOQ
Open until filled
Utilities IT Systems Administrator
Utilities
$70,374-$120,339 DOQ
Open until filled
Utilities Project Manager
Utilities
$76,941-$131,689 DOQ
Open until filled
Utility Inspector II
Utilities
$56,956-$97,512 DOQ
Open until filled
To review Ida Lee (Parks & Recreation) flexible part-time positions, please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs. Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications. All Town vacancies may be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 67 and Verizon FiOS Channel 35.
DRIVERS NEEDED Regular & CDL Call 703-737-3011
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MAY 27, 2021
Announcements
Business
Hanley Energy to Establish U.S. HQ in Ashburn Four years after establishing its first U.S. office in Ashburn, Irish data center power company Hanley Energy is expanding that investment in Loudoun County. The company, which provides power management services to data centers around the world, is leasing a 36,600-square-foot light industrial building on Russell Branch Parkway from Merritt Properties. Construction is scheduled to begin this month for occupancy early in 2022. The building will serve as its U.S. headquarters as well as a manufacturing and assembly plant. “Deciding to base our North American Headquarters in Loudoun, Virginia was a global strategy choice,” stated CEO and co-founder Clive Gilmore. “Loudoun’s strong governance, conducive business environment, and proximity to international travel has allowed Hanley Energy to fill international and regional roles with world-class talent and firmly underscores a unique platform for Direct Foreign Investment.” According to the announcement, the company plans to hire 50 new employees here by the end of 2021 and 120 more by the end of 2022.
Western Loudoun BNI Group Forms Courtesy of bkd bagels
The Davies family celebrated the lease-signing for their new bdk bagel shop on South King Street with this photo on social media.
From Bites to Bagels:
South King Street Space to Transform BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com
One popular food establishment has made way for another in downtown Leesburg. The currently vacant building at 105 S. King St. will soon be the home of bkd bagels, following the May departure of BITES Wine and Grilled Cheese Bar. BITES arrived onto the downtown scene in the fall of 2017, a new restaurant concept following the success of Damian
Dajcz’s Senor Ramon Taqueria, just a catty corner away. BITES offered an assortment of grilled cheese creations with unique ingredients and an expansive wine list and sangria selection. The restaurant’s departure took many of its faithful followers by surprise, but Dajcz attributed that to landlord Don Devine’s choice not to renew their lease. He said he was already looking at new spaces in Leesburg to bring back the concept. Dajcz acknowledged that it will be too late to bring BITES back in time for restaurants’ summer season, but
hopes to begin work on a new space later this year in time for a spring 2022 reopening. In addition to Senor Ramon’s Leesburg location, Dajcz has other Senor Ramon’s locations in Sterling, Chantilly, Reston and Great Falls. For those looking to get their BITES fix sooner, Dajcz said he is planning to create a shared space for both restaurant concepts in the Great Falls location. BITES TO BAGLES continues on page 19
A Business Networking International group has formed in western Loudoun County, planning a June 15 launch. With more than 20 members, across multiple business disciplines, BNI Defenders expects to have roughly 30 members prior to its official launch. The group is comprised of former first responders, ex/retired military and frontline healthcare workers and allies or those that have family members that have served in that capacity. Alex Bracke, a former law enforcement officer and owner of the Valor Group of Pearson Smith Realty, is the organization’s president. Many businesses in the newly formed group are based in Purcellville, Round Hill and west of Leesburg; but that is not a requirement to join. Once in person meetings resume, the group plans to select a western Loudoun business or restaurant to host its weekly Tuesday morning meetings. For more information on the BNI Defenders, go to bnidefenders.com.
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MAY 27, 2021
PAGE 17
Floor and Decor Planned for Former Leesburg Walmart Space BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com
The former site of Leesburg’s Walmart may not be vacant for much longer. A Floor & Decor store has been proposed for the 97,000-square-foot storefront off Edwards Ferry Road and Rt. 15. The applicant, Floor and Decor Outlets America, Inc., has filed a rezoning/concept plan and proffer amendment to amend the existing proffers on the property. The 11.5acre parcel is zoned B-3, but administered as old B-2, based on proffers, according to information provided on the town website. Although allowable under the existing B-3 zoning, currently the proffers associated with the site expressly prohibit lumber and building materials sales, which is how the new use for the site has been classified. According to the statement of justification submitted by the applicant, Floor & Decor intends to use the existing building to house a sales area, warehouse space, and offices. There will be no outside storage associated with the proposed store. Floor and Decor has committed to improving landscaping on the property, as well as con-
structing a new board-on-board fence to the east of the building to provide screening of the site. Floor & Decor is a national retailer of hard surface flooring and related accessories, offering an assortment of tile, wood, laminate, and natural stone flooring along with decorative and installations accessories. The company has more than 120 stores across the U.S., but the Leesburg store would be the first in Loudoun. Each store typically stocks more than 1 million square feet of flooring products, and professional installers make up 50% to 60% of its customer base, according to a staff report. The Walmart store has been vacant since the retail giant moved to new digs in the Compass Creek development in the spring of 2019. Loudoun County government at one point toyed with buying the property to house its growing workforce, but ultimately decided against it. The property was sold last year to Mitco Shenandoah II LLC for a reported $7.5 million. The application will go before the Planning Commission for a public hearing June 3. Following a recommendation from the commission, it heads to the Town Council, which has final approval authority. n
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MAY 27, 2021
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Inside Leesburg Junction in Virginia Village.
Leesburg Junction Celebrates Relaunch at Virginia Village BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ
krodriguez@loudounnow.com
Schedule A Visit Call our Sales and Marketing Director, Bianca Butoi-Patru, to set up an in-person tour. T: 703-936-7300 E: BButoi-Patru@LansdowneHeights.com 19520 Sandridge Way, Leesburg, VA 20176 tel: 703-936-7300 | LansdowneHeights.com
For Headway Church Pastor Drew Clyde, the opening of Leesburg Junction’s new location in the Virginia Village shopping center can best be described as a relaunch. “We’re relaunching with a renewed vision and a new location to let people know who we are and what we are,” he said. Leesburg Junction, a coworking and events space, first opened to the public at 215 Depot Court four years ago. It moved to its new digs at 26 Fairfax St. in the Virginia Village shopping center last fall for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was COVID-19. The lower rent and the
short-term lease, which expires at the end of 2022, meant that both Leesburg Junction and Headway Church, which has its Sunday meet-up in the space, could focus on their core missions, rather than keeping the space filled with income-generating events. “We’re able to refocus and I think we have more freedom now to be who we want to be,” Clyde said. “We’re able to be more of what we envisioned ourselves being, focusing on the priorities of what we are.” Core to its mission, Clyde said, Leesburg Junction is “coworking for a cause.” The membership-based coworking space LEESBURG JUNCTION continues on page 19
MAY 27, 2021
Bites to bagels continued from page 16 With BITES departing, bkd bagels’ owners Tony and Brittany Davis are excitedly preparing for their first brick and mortar location, for a restaurant concept that started out merely as a hobby. After moving to the area from Florida, the Davises started fixating on making the perfect bagel during their time off on weekends. Tony Davis said they probably changed the bagel recipe at least a dozen
Leesburg Junction continued from page 18 offers residents a cost-effective and quiet workspace, at only $85 monthly, and those profits are directed to nonprofit organizations. Those nonprofit partners include Loudoun Hunger Relief, Crossroads Jobs, Friends of Loudoun Mental Health, LAWS, OAR, Reset 180, Tree of Life, This is My Brave, and Loudoun Habitat for Humanity. The 4,500-square-foot space offers an open coworking concept, without private offices, and a meeting room that can be reserved. Members receive access to the
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 19 spot. “As we take a step back and look at the location and building, I don’t think we could’ve hand-picked a better one.” The restaurant will feature bkd’s popular assortment of bagels and bagel balls, along with specialty bagel charcuterie boards, bagel sandwiches, coffee, tea, mimosas, and beer and wine. Tony Davis said they are hoping for a late July or early August opening. Bkd bagels can be found on Facebook and Instagram, with a website coming soon. n
times, experimenting with everything from cooking temperatures to different kinds of flour. Along with using high-quality ingredients, the cooking process is just as important, Davis said. After making the dough, they do a slow, cold rise, so all the dough is refrigerated for at least 12 hours. “All the stuff I’ve studied when making bagels, cold ferment affects the taste. It just takes a little more time. Then all the bagels are hand rolled,” he said. The Davises received a cottage license late in 2020 to begin selling their bagels.
After their first online giveaway only attracted a handful of followers, the business grew by leaps and bounds thereafter. They would open up a limited number of slots per week for bagel deliveries or local pick-ups, with Sidebar Coffee an early partner, to fit around their work schedules. It wasn’t long before the slots would be filled 100% of the time, and Sidebar owners Nils and Olivia Schnibbe encouraged them to look for a location to call their own. “It was more just dumb luck,” Tony Davis said of finding the South King Street
coworking spaces and meeting room, along with free Wi-Fi, parking, printing services, and snacks. For an additional fee, members may have a dedicated mailbox. Opportunities to rent the space for evening and weekend events are also available. “It’s the basics but we find that’s what most people need. And if you’re not using it every day you don’t feel bad because you’re not spending all this money,” Clyde said. “You’re also helping people in need as you’re getting what you need.” Even in 2020, certainly not a record-setting profi t year for most click busiCOLOR: Right nesses, Leesburg Junction was able to give away more than $14,000 to its nonprofit
partners, Clyde pointed out. in line with Headway’s laid-back vibe. The other core tenet of Leesburg Junc“Part of Headway Church’s mission is tion’s mission is developing local lead- to create a space that serves the communiers, Clyde said. This training is done by ty in creative and strategic ways, and that’s partnering with local organizations, like not necessarily a church building,” he said. Loudoun County Public Schools or the Leesburg Junction celebrated its reLoudoun Chamber of Commerce. launch last week, and Clyde hopes it’s only “We both provide some of our own the beginning of more Junctions sproutcontent and resources as well as partner ing up throughout the area. He said they with others to provide and connect to othare already eyeing future locations in Purers,” he said. The mission of Leesburg Junction cellville and Sterling, and will eventually aligns with the vision of Clyde’s Headway look for a more permanent space in LeesChurch. He said the new Virginia Village burg, too. Future locations will also have a coffee shop space. space perfectly serves the need forreplace its Sun- dedicated swatch, and find and with correct color “We want to be in and where people day meet-up, a more casual term for a traditional church Sunday service, but right are,” Clyde said. 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.
fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov • www. fairhousing.vipnet.org
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MAY 27, 2021
TOWN notes
Our Towns
Lovettsville Looks to Slow Traffic BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com
Lovettsville leaders say traffic entering town needs to slow down. To make that happen, they’re eyeing lower speed limits and vibrant speed displays. The town’s Transportation Master Plan, which the EPR traffic engineering firm completed earlier this year, indicated that many residents were concerned about speeders entering town, specifically those entering the Town Square along Berlin Turnpike. In response, Mayor Nate Fontaine requested VDOT implement a town-wide 25 mph speed limit. VDOT declined to do so. Now, town leaders are considering pushing VDOT to extend 25 mph zones and requesting the county install electronic speed displays. According to VDOT Loudoun Assistant Transportation and Land Use Director Sunil Taori, VDOT engineers determined a town-wide 25 mph speed limit wasn’t supported by the data they gathered. “They have to base it off of data and studies … so that it is defendable,” he said. “There’s a lot of things that go into changing speed limits.” The next option is to extend 25 mph zones along Berlin Turnpike. Fontaine said the 35 mph speed limit zones along the highway entering the town are too close to the 25 mph zones and give drivers little to no time to reduce their speeds before entering the Town Square, where foot traffic is fairly heavy. Fontaine emphasized that if there was no stop sign where Broad Way merges with Town Square in front of the 7-Eleven, drivers might not ever slow down. “We kind of feel we’ve got a dangerous situation happening,” he said. “… The speeding has been a concern.” During the May 13 Town Council meeting, Vice Mayor Christopher Hornbaker also cited concern about traffic entering the Town Square from Broad Way. “People are coming in with speed, coming right up to 7-Eleven on the southeastern side and people are literally pulling out in front of them and hitting cars as they come into the Squirkle,” he said But like a town-wide speed limit, Taori said VDOT engineers have found a lack of evidence in studies to support extending the 25 mph zones farther south out of town.
Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
Lovettsville town leaders are looking to work with the county and VDOT to slow traffic entering town along Berlin Turnpike.
The next option is to ask Supervisor Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin) to request the county staff to conduct a speed study in the town to determine if it’s feasible to install pole-mounted speed display signs along Berlin Turnpike to show drivers their speeds. Aside from needing to comb through engineering data to approve or deny a permit for the county to install the signs, VDOT also requires the roadway to be pedestrian-oriented, have no more than two lanes, and have a posted speed limit of 40 mph or less. At least 85% of the observed traffic also must exceed the posted speed limit by at least 10 mph. “I would be surprised if we don’t hit that mark of 85% on [Rt.] 287,” Fontaine said. Kershner said his office was working with town leaders and the county Department of Transportation and Capital to install the speed displays along Berlin Turnpike. “Pole mounted speed signs are very effective in slowing traffic in the Town of Hamilton and Potomac Station,” Kershner stated in a May 24 email response. “I have no doubt they will also help in Lovettsville.” Since the county installed the first speed display sign along East Colonial Highway in Hamilton more than 15 years ago, it has installed a total of 52 around the county. Of those, 21 can collect speed
data, according to department Communications Manager Shawn Taylor Zelman. As to the question of whether the signs are effective at slowing traffic, Zelman said a review conducted between June 2020 and February 2021 of 12 signs showed that the 85th percentile speeds at nine were below the 10 mph threshold. Taori said the signs are “a tool in the toolbox” and work to remind drivers of their speeds because they light up when speeders pass by. Councilwoman Joy Pritz during the May 13 council meeting asked about the possibility of yet another option to slow traffic as it enters the town, by installing additional stop signs around the Town Square—one on the north end and one on the south. But Town Planner John Merrithew said EPR studied those possibilities and recommended against installing stop signs in those locations. He said on the north side, EPR indicated a stop sign would que up traffic too much. As for the south end, the Transportation Master Plan calls for the eventual redesign of that area, perhaps with the construction of a traffic circle. Overall, Fontaine said the town is in the beginning stages of finding a solution to the issue. “We have to do something about the speed on [Rt.] 287” he said. n
LOVETTSVILLE Town Seeks Council Applicants, Help with Comp Plan Review The Town of Lovettsville is seeking applications from in-town residents interested in filling a vacancy on the Town Council, and volunteer to assist with a review of the 2011 Comprehensive Plan. In-town residents interested in applying for a council seat , which was vacated by David Steadman and expires June 30, 2022, may go to lovettsvilleva.gov/our-town/ our-present/volunteering. The town is also searching for volunteers interested in housing, economic development, the environment, transportation, and other topics affecting the future of the town to assist the Planning Commission in its review of the Comprehensive Plan, which guides Town Council decisions on land use and growth management. That review is being conducted to determine if new development, population growth, community opinions or economic changes in the past few years warrant an update. The Town Council last updated the plan in 2018. Those interested in helping with the review should contact Town Planner John Merrithew at 540-7553004 or jmerrithew@lovettsvilleva. gov. Read the Comprehensive Plan at lovettsvilleva.gov/services/ planning-zoning/comprehensive-plan-planning.
Cell Carriers Moving Antennas Back Atop Water Tower AT&T and Verizon have already moved their antennas back atop the Town of Lovettsville’s water tower. Sprint/T-Mobile was scheduled to begin doing so on May 17. Once the antennas are fully relocated, the temporary cell tower will be disassembled and removed and the area will be restored. That should happen by the end of the month, weather permitting, according to Mayor Nate Fontaine. The maintenance road off TOWN NOTES continues on page 21
MAY 27, 2021
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Round Hill Trail/Street Project to Advance in Coming Weeks Work on the Town of Round Hill’s and county’s Main Street Trail and Main Street Enhancement Project should pick up in the coming weeks. Round Hill Project Specialist Rob Lohr last week gave the Town Council an update on the $7 million project, which is connecting the town with Franklin Park and improving pedestrian safety along Main Street. He said the next step contractor Highway Safety Services has planned includes the removal of a Loudoun Street
water line, the installation of a temporary above-ground water line and a road closure. Crews are planning to remove the water line that serves properties on the south side of Loudoun Street and have proposed to install a temporary, above-ground line to continue to serve those properties until work on the stormwater system is completed. Lohr said a week-long road closure could come along with that work. Other-
wise, he said, the work could take four to six weeks. Lohr also said the firm agreed to a deal with the Mt. Zion Baptist congregation that will allow crews to use its parking lot and storage as work ticks up along Main Street. He said the weather looks good for the next three weeks so residents should see quite a bit of progress. “We expect to get a lot of work in during that period,” he said. Mayor Scott Ramsey expressed concern
that town leaders aren’t being updated on the project as much as they should. He said town leaders need to be kept up to speed on the overall project schedule—with updates on the long-term planning of the project beyond the next few weeks. “I feel like I have no idea when this project is going to end right now,” he said. “… I feel like I’ve sort of lost track of the monthto-month schedule.” Lohr said he would provide the council with those updates. n
TOWN notes continued from page 20
Potterfield will also be relocated onto Lange to minimize truck traffic through the New Town Meadows neighborhood. According to Fontaine, the town has applied for a permit from VDOT to have the road constructed.
MIDDLEBURG New Police Officer Hinegardner Sworn in Middleburg Police Chief A.J. Panebianco welcomed newly hired Officer Daniel Hinegardner to the department with a swearing-in ceremony at the May 13 Town Council meeting. Hinegardner, Panebianco said during the ceremony, worked with the Page County Sheriff ’s Office for 10 years before serving with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. He is also Crisis Intervention Training-certified. “It was a long and arduous process, but it was well worth the wait,” Panebianco said about the hiring process. “I believe we’ve got a great fit for our community.” The Police Department has six full time staffers, including the chief, a pair of part-time officers and one administrative assistant.
Byrne Gallery Presents Worldwide Art Exhibit The Byrne Gallery will host an exhibit featuring work depicting places across the world throughout the month of June, with an opening reception scheduled for 4-7 p.m. June 12. The exhibit, called “Places We Would Love to Go Again,” will feature a selection of paintings in a wide range of mediums TOWN NOTES continues on page 22
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Obituaries In Loving Memory of my Brother Sammy who passed away due to Covid.
Sammy Beck Born April 11, 1966. Died April 26, 2021. Sammy who was the Cargo Manager at Chennai International Airport ensured the the VIP’s in their private jets were well taken care by making sure all custom and immigration laws were followed before they entered the country of India for international and domestic
travelers. He came into contact with patients coming for treatment and developed COVID. He was admitted to the hospital and placed on a ventilator where he passed away two days later. He was a devote Christian and attended Sunday services regularly. Sammy is survived by his wife Carolyn, Kendrick (8) and Liam (college student) and his sister Anita Henry (ROUGE Boutique and Spa). A go fund me page has been started for 8 year old Kendrick Becks education at the Rouge website, www.rougespa.com
Shirley June Browder Wetherell LEESBURG, VA. Shirley June Browder Wetherell, 84, of Ashburn, Virginia passed away peacefully on May 13, 2021. She was born on August 18, 1936 in Joplin, MO to the late Edward Browder Sr. and Augusta Mae Faust Browder. It was in Joplin that she met and married her husband Dan on September 16, 1955.
Chester, Pennsylvania for Dan’s final year with General Electric. They then moved to Oakton, VA in 1986 when Dan took a job with the CIA. She drove a school bus for Fairfax County Schools for the next 15 years before retiring in 1992. Shirley loved her family and friends, was an amazing cook, and was always entertaining.
Following their marriage, she moved with him to Westover AFB in Massachusetts while he finished his tour of service in the Air Force. In 1958, Shirley moved with Dan to Stillwater, OK and worked at the student union coffee shop at Oklahoma State University to help support Dan and their young daughter, Donna, while Dan earned his bachelors degree in electrical engineering. After Dan’s graduation in 1961, the young family moved four times in the next year as part of a training program with General Electric- from Stillwater, OK to Lynchburg, VA, Utica, NY and Burlington, VT before finally returning to Lynchburg. The day she arrived back in Lynchburg, February 22, 1962, Shirley gave birth to her second child, Mark Eugene Wetherell. Their third child, Edward Lee, was born in 1966.
She and Dan moved to the Ashby Ponds retirement community in June 2016. Following her diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, Shirley was cared for in the memory unit at Tribute at One Loudoun.
Shirley was very active in the Lynchburg Church of the Nazarene, serving as Sunday School Secretary and helping to run the Vacation Bible School. She was a full-time school bus driver for Lynchburg Public Schools for nearly 20 years, while also working at several part-time jobs. In 1985, Shirley moved with Dan to West
The Memory Care Director there said of Shirley; “they miss her in the hallways, her gentle smile, her reaching and holding their hands, her presence and personality”. When called to inquire about Shirley’s wellbeing, the staff would often begin their reply with; “The Adventures of Shirley.” Shirley was preceded in death by her son Mark (Joanna) Wetherell and her 7 brothers and sisters. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Daniel Wetherell, her daughter Donna (Rickey) Creel, son Edward (Sheila) Wetherell, 7 grandchildren- Travis, Mary Catherine, Thomas, Elizabeth, Berkeley, Braxton and Shyloh, and 3 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends on Wednesday May 26, 2021 from 12:30 to 1 p.m. at Hall Funeral Home of Purcellville. A service will begin at 1 p.m. with interment in Union Cemetery of Leesburg, VA.
To place an obituary, contact Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or email: sstyer@loudounnow.com
TOWN notes continued from page 21
from artists Gail Guirreri, Gerald Hennesy, Robert Thoren and Antonia Walker. “Travel has been extremely difficult over the past year and we all have those places that we cannot wait to revisit,” a statement from the gallery reads. “But in the meantime, come soak in the sun-dappled fields of France, the luscious Italian countryside, stunning scenes of Mexico, and more with us while anxiously anticipating your next overseas adventure.” The Byrne Gallery is located at 7 W. Washington St. It’s open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 12-5 p.m. Sunday and by appointment on Monday and Tuesday. For more information, call the gallery at 540-687-6986 or go to byrnegallery.com.
PURCELLVILLE Tree Committee Offers Virtual Native Tree Workshop The Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee will host a virtual workshop on native trees and invasive plants at 7 p.m. June 3 via the GoToMeeting online platform. Virginia Department of Forestry Senior Area Forester Jordan Herring will share information on trees native to Virginia and why planting those types of trees is best. He will also provide details about some of the invasive species that threaten native trees, like English ivy, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose, tree of heaven and autumn olive. The workshop is part of a project the town is funding via a grant from the Virginia Department of Forestry’s Virginia Trees for Clean Water program. The project includes three educational workshops and tree plantings at the Suzanne R. Kane Nature Preserve. Register online at signupgenius.com/ go/5080e4baeac28a4fa7-native.
ROUND HILL Town Council Ends Mandatory Water Restrictions The Round Hill Town Council has lifted its month-long mandatory water restrictions following repairs to the Goose Creek Water Treatment Plant. The restrictions were enacted April 14 after the plants filter system failed. When that plant was offline, the town’s nine other wells were boosted to run 20-24 hours per
MAY 27, 2021
day, rather than the typical 10-hour schedule. The usage restrictions were aimed at not overtaxing those wells and causing additional problems. As of May 20, Round Hill utility customers returned to normal water usage but still are encouraged to conserve water whenever possible heading into the summer months. If groundwater levels fall, the town could move to voluntary conservation status.
Allen Resigns from Council Donald Allen resigned from his spot on the Round Hill Town Council on May 19. Allen said during last week’s council meeting that he wasn’t expecting to resign before his term expired Allen in June 2022, but he and his wife decided to purchase their retirement home and move there earlier than planned. Allen said of all the places he has lived, Round Hill was the best. He thanked Town Administrator Melissa Hynes for stepping up to take over the administration of town operations when the previous town administrator left in October 2018, and told Project Specialist Rob Lohr he was a “jack of all trades.” “You guys are amazing,” he told council members. “… I’ll miss you.” Mayor Scott Ramsey said Allen was a “no nonsense person” who likes to ask questions, understand things and help out. “I’ll be sad when you’re gone because you represent what we’re looking for,” he said. “Thank you for your service.” Allen was elected to the Town Council in May 2018 with 27 write-in votes.
Boundary Line Adjustment Talks to Resume in June Town Administrator Melissa Hynes said during last week’s Town Council meeting that she would ask the council at its June 2 meeting to authorize the town staff to discuss with the county staff the possibility of performing a boundary line adjustment. The town last discussed a boundary line adjustment just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The process would bring more properties into the town limits and would increase the town’s population and candidate pool for town elections. Hynes said the town sent residents surveys asking whether they were in favor of a boundary line adjustment. To date, only five residents said they were in favor of the process. Residents have until May 28 to respond.
MAY 27, 2021
Leesburg-Raised R&B Artist Takes the Atlanta Rap Scene by Storm
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Loco Living
BY JAN MERCKER
jmercker@loudounnow.com
Even as a troubled teen in Leesburg, René Bonet had a powerful voice and a way with words. Now she’s a rising star on Atlanta’s R&B and rap scene—and she’s just getting started. Bonet was born Rikita René Lincoln and spent her childhood and early adulthood in Leesburg. She grew up in the subsidized housing complex then known as Loudoun House (and since revamped and renamed Mayfair Commons), born into a family with deep roots in Loudoun. “That’s the heart of where we’re from,” Bonet said of the northeast Leesburg neighborhood. But after losing a brother to violence a dozen years ago, she decided she had to get out. Bonet graduated from Loudoun County High School in 2004, but says a troubled home life made her school years challenging. “I was not the best student. I gave County hell. I got in a lot of trouble in school,” she said. Bonet knew she could write and sing. She said longtime LCHS Choral Director Pamela Potts saw her promise and tried to lift her up, but Bonet lacked the confidence to take advantage of opportunities at the time. “There were times when [Potts] tried to give me a better opportunity, but I was too shy then,” Bonet said. “The person that I am now, nobody knows this person. ... It took me a while to really develop the confidence that I have now, and I felt like moving away was what did that for me.” But in high school and beyond, Bonet found an outlet for her pain and anger in poetry. She started writing poetry in high school and then putting her words to music for family and friends. Bonet moved on to doing open mics and a few recordings in the DC area, but felt limited by the constraints of life in a small town. When Bonet’s 21-yearold brother Jajuan “Murphy” Johnson was shot and killed near Middleburg in 2008, she knew it was time to get out of Loudoun. “I was like, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ My friends were dying from overdoses. I just decided that I was not going to be a statistic,” she said. “I decided I was not going to
Contributed/René Bonet
René Bonet, who grew up in Leesburg, has gone on to shake up Atlanta’s R&B and rap scene.
“I was like, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ My friends were dying from overdoses. I just decided that I was not going to be a statistic.” — René Bonet fall into what we call the ‘black hole.’” Inspired in part by the 2006 coming of age movie “ATL,” loosely based on the experiences of the Atlanta-based R&B group TLC, Bonet decided to give Atlanta—and a musical career—a shot. She worked in retail and built a career with a staffing agency while working to build connections in the city’s booming music industry. “The first three or four years here were very hard. ... It was a culture shock, but I needed it,” she said. “It was spreading my wings and having somewhere to go.” Bonet made connections at Outkast’s Atlanta-based Stankonia Studios and met the Grammy-winning engineer Alvin Speights, who died earlier this year.
Speights, well known for his work with top artists including TLC, Madonna and Michael Jackson, became Bonet’s musical mentor and recorded her first single “Nothing Like You.” He also helped Bonet get engineering experience in the studio, allowing her to do much of her own production. Bonet changed her name—taking her middle name, which is French for “reborn” and adopting a last name that’s a play on the French word for “good.” “I was reborn good,” she said with a laugh, a nod to her efforts to leave behind her bad girl history in Loudoun. But while Bonet crafts playful R&B tunes, she’s also created an outlet for her anger in the form of her musical alter-ego Bully Barbé, who serves up edgy, aggressive rock-influenced hip-hop that’s getting acclaim in the rap world. “She’s so angry. It’s like she’s talking to everyone who said bad things about her and picked on her and kicked her and hit on her,” Bonet said. “I was bullied in high school, but I was also someone else’s bully. And that played a part in a lot of my life and everything that I’m going through.” Bonet is working with a publisher on a children’s book about bullying in an effort to explore dynamics, root causes and solutions based on her own struggles. “I felt like instead of suspending me, instead of putting me in detention, instead of putting me out of school and hurting
my education, let’s try to figure out some counseling situations so we can help these students who are being affected at home and bringing that environment to school,” she said. The Bully Barbé persona is also a tribute to her late brother, who was also working to launch a career as a rapper when his life was cut short. “She is him—allowing him to live, allowing him to say what he has to say and get everything off his chest,” Bonet said. “I feel like he can live through me.” Now in her early 30s, Bonet, on a certain level, has it all: a husband, kids, a professional career and a strong foothold on the Atlanta music scene. She recently released a new single “Shawdy” as René Bonet. Bully Barbé’s latest single “Trendsetter” was featured on Sean Combs’ cable music network Revolt TV, where it was described as a “genre-bending, defiant cut.” She was also named an artist to watch for 2021 by rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s hip-hop blog “This Is 50.” And for Bonet, this is just the beginning. She’s in talks with labels and working on setting up a tour that will bring her back to the DMV. “I have so much work to do,” she said. “I want something more.” To check out René Bonet’s latest singles, including videos for “Shawdy” and “Trendsetter,” go to renebonet.com. n
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MAY 27, 2021
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Courtesy of Old Glory DC
Old Glory DC is the Loudoun-based Major League Rugby team, playing its home matches at Segra Field near Leesburg.
Summer Scenes—On the Field & On the Stage BY VISIT LOUDOUN
Great Falls resident Chris Dunlavey, owner of Major League Rugby team Old Glory DC, grew up playing rugby. When he founded Old Glory in 2018, the plan was to play the team’s home games in the nation’s capital. COVID put all kinds of limitations on that. Then he got a call from MLS soccer team DC United who told him about a modern, 5,000-capacity pro sports stadium in Leesburg where their feeder team, Loudoun United, play. “We came to see it and fell in love,” said Dunlavey. “It’s the perfect capacity for a new team, it has all the right dimensions for rugby, the players love it and the fans are close to the field with great sight lines.” Lo and behold when the 2021 MLR home season began in March (a 30-23 victory over Rugby Atlanta), Loudoun County had its own pro rugby team. “Loudoun is such a wonderful community,” said Dunlavey. “Our D.C. fans love coming out here and we’re picking up
new fans from out west all the time.” The regular MLR season runs through July 17 with at least three home games to come. Go Glory! If rugby is not your game, Loudoun United soccer stars will play through mid-July at Segra Field while the DC area’s female soccer stars, Washington Spirit, have two games at Segra Field in July. Of course, it’s not only pro sports that will keep you entertained in Loudoun this summer. Beer fans will love Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery’s Land Beer Fest on June 12, a celebration of the farm to fermentation methods of the innovative brewery, while on June 13, 868 Estate Vineyards hosts musical acts such as Jason Masi and Juliana MacDowell to benefit Cancer Can Rock. For more summer sounds, the Tarara Summer Concert Series starts in July. On Saturday, June 19, participate in the inaugural Juneteenth Celebration at Ida Lee Park, a day-long event commemorating the end of slavery and featuring
music from the legendary Chuck Brown Band. Staying in Leesburg, the Artmobile, a mobile interactive gallery aboard a nearly 100-foot-long bus, brings landscape paintings from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) to Virginia Village over July 4 weekend. July 10, meanwhile, sees the start of the fourth season of Polo in the Park at Morven Park International Equestrian Center—horsey fun for all the family on summer Saturdays. We have whiskey lovers covered, too. The annual Virginia Craft Spirits Roadshow takes place at Oatlands Historic House & Gardens on Aug. 14. Sample artisan craft spirits and signature cocktails from up to 10 Virginia distilleries including our very own Catoctin Creek Distilling Company. Venture to Middleburg Aug. 19-22 for “The Family Reunion” at Salamander Resort & Spa: a multiday celebration of diversity in the hospitality industry, featuring chefs such as Kwame Onwuachi and Nina Compton. Happy summer! n
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
MAY 27, 2021
BEST BETS
DELFEST LITE Fri., May 28, Sat., May 29, Sun., May 30, 2-9:30 p.m. B Chord Brewing Co. facebook.com/ bchordbrewing
JULIET LLOYD Saturday, May 29, 2-5 p.m. Doukénie Winery doukeniewinery.com
CARBON LEAF Thursday, June 3, 8 p.m. Friday, June 4, 8 p.m. (sold out) Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com
THINGS to do LOCO LIVE Live Music: Levi Stephens
Friday, May 28, 4 p.m. Bluemont Vineyard, 18755 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont Details: bluemontvineyard.com DC-based Stephens blends genres, from soul to rock to gospel to folk while always remaining honest, clever and conversational.
Live Music: Gary Jay Hoffman
Friday, May 28, 4:30 p.m. Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont Details: dirtfarmbrewing.com TGIF with awesome Americana from singer/songwriter Gary Jay Hoffmann.
Live Music: Ginada Pinata
Friday, May 28, 5 p.m. Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights Details: facebook.com/harpersferrybrewing Shepherdstown-based Ginada Pinata taps the influences of jazz, funk, rock, fusion, trance and drum and bass and blends them to create an organic vibe.
Live Music: Will Baskin
performer who’s released five acclaimed albums. Her live shows offer a mix of her award-winning originals, modern alt-country tunes and classic country standards.
Live Music: Wim Tapley
Friday, May 28, 6 p.m. Social House South Riding, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, Chantilly Details: socialhousesouthriding.com 18-year-old Tapley is one of the region’s most ambitious young artists. He’ll serve up an acoustic set with a mix of covers and originals.
Live Music: Joker Duo
Friday, May 28, 6-9 p.m. Loudoun Brewing Company, 310 E. Market St., Leesburg Details: loudounbrewing.com Start the weekend right with classic rock and country favorites from Joker Band’s duo.
VAL Plaza Party: Mike Richards
Friday, May 28, 6-9 p.m. Village at Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg Details: villageatleesburg.com Acoustic favorites on vocals and guitar from a NOVA favorite.
Friday, May 28, 5 p.m. Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Details: breauxvineyards.com Baskin was raised on Elvis, Johnny Cash and the Beatles and mixes jazz, Motown and contemporary music into his sets.
Live Music: Enya Agerholm
Live Music: Mystery Machine
Live Music: Trial By Fire Journey Tribute
Friday, May 28, 5:30-9:30 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com Mystery Machine band kicks off the holiday weekend on MacDowell’s beach stage, putting the fun in funk rock.
Live Music: Karen Jonas
Friday, May 28, 5:30 p.m. Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville Details: flyingacefarm.com Jonas is a country and Americana songwriter and
Friday, May 28, 7 p.m. Social House Kitchen and Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn Details: socialhouseashburn.com This rising star from Fredericksburg covers a range of genres with her voice and a Martin guitar. Friday, May 28 and Saturday, May 29, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com Trial By Fire returns to the Tally Ho for two nights of favorites like “Wheel in the Sky” and “Don’t Stop Believin.” Tickets are $20.
Live Music: Chris Bowen
Saturday, May 29, 1-4 p.m. The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton
THINGS TO DO continues on page 26
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THINGS to do continued from page 25
Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com Celebrate Saturday with great tunes from Western Loudoun singer/songwriter and one-man band Chris Bowen.
Live Music: Greg Ward
Saturday, May 29, 2-5 p.m. Lost Rhino Brewing Company 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn Details: lostrhino.com Solo reggae artist Greg Ward returns to Lost Rhino for an afternoon of great tunes.
Live Music: Shane Gamble
Saturday, May 29, 1 p.m. Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights Details: facebook.com/harpersferrybrewing O’Day brings soulful tunes with influences from R&B to country to Harpers Ferry Brewing.
Saturday, May 29, 2 p.m. Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Details: breauxvineyards.com Rising country music star Shane Gamble has several hit singles under his belt and a new EP on the horizon.
Live Music: Rowdy Ace
Live Music: Kenny Ray Horton
Live Music: Andrew O’Day
Saturday, May 29, 1-5 p.m. Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts Details: vanishbeer.com Rowdy Ace returns to Vanish with a fun mix of country and rock for the holiday weekend.
Saturday, May 29, 2-5 p.m. Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro Details: harvestgap.com Catch Nashville singer/songwriter Kenny Ray Horton at one of Loudoun’s newest venues.
Live Music: The Brahman Noodles
Live Music: Just South of 7
Saturday, May 29, 2-5 p.m. Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro Details: twotwistedposts.com Enjoy an afternoon of jug funk and “jamcoustic” sounds from the Brahman Noodles with new songs along with old favorites from Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and more.
Saturday, May 29, 5-9 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com Just South of 7 gets fans jamming on the sand covering five decades of rock.
Live Music: Point of Rock
Saturday, May 29, 6 p.m. Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane,
MAY 27, 2021
Lucketts Details: vanishbeer.com Keep the party going with rock classics from the ’70s, ‘80s and ’90s from Point of Rock.
Live Music: Britton James
Saturday, May 29, 6 p.m. Social House South Riding, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, Chantilly Details: socialhousesouthriding.com James returns to Social House with a fun repertoire of high-energy covers and originals.
VAL Plaza Party: The Thistle Brothers
Saturday, May 29, 6-9 p.m. Village at Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg Details: villageatleesburg.com This brotherly duo blends folk, R&B and classic rock influences for an eclectic Saturday night sound.
Live Music: Juliana MacDowell
Saturday, May 29, 7 p.m. Black Walnut Brewery, 212 S. King St., Leesburg Details: facebook.com/blackwalnutbrewery Catch Juliana MacDowell’s signature pop style with hints of country and folk in downtown Leesburg.
Live Music: Gabe Matthews
Saturday, May 29, 7 p.m. Social House Kitchen and Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn Details: socialhouseashburn.com Acoustic fun from the vocalist for the DMV’s top Dave Matthews tribute band, Crowded Streets.
Live Music: Ken Wenzel
Sunday, May 30, 1-4 p.m. The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com Wenzel returns to The Barns with his roots-rock, country-jazz take on love, learning and life in America.
Live Music: David Davol
Sunday, May 30, 2 p.m. Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Details: breauxvineyards.com Spend Sunday afternoon with folk rock and country favorites from the Eagles to James Taylor.
Live Music: Chris Timbers Band
Sunday, May 3, 4:30-8 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com Spend your holiday weekend Sunday on MacDowell’s beach with the chillaxed music vibes of the Chris Timbers Band.
Live Music: Chris Hanks
Monday, May 31, 1-4 p.m. The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com Celebrate Memorial Day with country favorites from Chris Hanks.
Legal Notices TOWN OF LEESBURG
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE MIDDLEBURG TOWN COUNCIL The Middleburg Town Council will hold a public hearing beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 10, 2021 to hear public comments on the following: Zoning Map Amendment 21-03 - AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE PROFFERS ASSOCIATED WITH CONDITIONALLY ZONED R-1 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, R-3 RESIDENTIAL AND MUV MIXED USE VILLAGE DISTRICT PROPERTIES AT PINS 538-25-6474 AND 53827-7860 AND A PORTION OF 500 NORTH PENDLETON STREET (PIN 570-40-5809). This is a proposed amendment to the original, 2007 Salamander Hospitality proffers, as subsequently amended. Substantive elements within this application include proposals to: eliminate the extension of Reed St. to the north of Stonewall Ave. and replace with a pedestrian connection; revise the sidewalk layout within the proposed residential development; and, allow construction traffic to use either N. Pendleton St. or Foxcroft Rd. THIS IS A SEPARATE REQUEST FROM PROFFER AMENDMENT ZMA 2102 OF SIMILAR ORDINANCE TITLE. The Council meeting and public hearing will be conducted remotely in accordance with the Resolution Confirming the Declaration of a Local Emergency and the Ordinance to Implement Emergency Procedures & Effectuate Temporary Changes to Address Continuity of Governmental Operations during COVID-19. Public participation will be available 1) by calling (301) 715-8592, Webinar ID: 958 7672 1615, OR 2) online via zoom.us/w/95876721615. Those who plan to participate in the hearing are encouraged, but not required, to contact the Town Office at (540) 687-5152 no later than 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting to register to speak. For those who only wish to observe the proceedings, the meeting can be viewed on the Town’s website at www.middleburgva.gov/town-meetings The file for this application may be reviewed at the Town Office, 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. Questions may be directed to Deputy Town Manager Will Moore at (540) 687-5152 or by email at wmoore@ middleburgva.gov The Town of Middleburg strives to make its hearings accessible to all. Please advise of accommodations the Town can make to help you participate in the hearing. 05/27 & 06/03/21
NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION TLZM-2020-0002, FLOOR AND DECOR 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 3 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider rezoning application TLZM-2020-0002, Floor and Decor. The applicant, Floor and Decor, is requesting a Concept Plan and Proffer Amendment (rezoning) to amend the previously approved proffers and concept plan for TLZM-1981-0032 to allow for approval of a Lumber and Building Materials Sales use at the former Walmart site on Edwards Ferry Road. The rezoning/concept plan and proffer amendment application seeks to amend the existing proffers of the 97,000 square foot former Walmart site at Edwards Ferry Road and Heritage Way. This 11.5-acre parcel is zoned on the Official Zoning Map as B-3, Community Retail/Commercial District, but administered as old Town B-2 District, based on the proffers approved as part of TLZM-1981-0032 on August 26, 1981. Those proffers prohibit the Lumber and Building Materials sales use, although the current B-3 District allows the use by right. Applicant is seeking to remove this proffered restriction. The subject property includes the former Walmart building at 950 Edwards Ferry Road and is zoned B-3, Community Retail/Commercial District and is further identified by Loudoun County Property Identification Number (PIN) 188-49-2132. The site is located in the Central Planning Area, and the Town Plan Planned Land Use Policy Map further designates the subject property as “Downtown.” No new development is planned, and The Town Plan has no specified maximum density or FAR for this location. The proposal equates to a .19 FAR. Additional information and copies of this rezoning application are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Scott E. Parker, Senior Planning Project Manager at 703-771-2771 or sparker@leesburgva.gov. At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of the Commission at (703) 771-2434 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 05/20 & 05/27/21
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Legal Notices NHLEmployerCard2.pdf
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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.
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DOUBLE D TOWING
703-777-7300
05/27 & 06/03/21
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE §§ 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104 LOUDOUN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 18 East Market St, Leesburg, VA 20176 Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Jerson Manuel Reyes-Flores, Plaintiff VS. Franklin Jonathan Velasquez-Estrada, Defendant
The object of this suit is to: Grant Jerson Manuel Reyes-Flores adoption of step-daughter Genesis Starlin Reyes-Valderama. It is ORDERED that Franklin Jonathan Velasquez-Estrada appear at the above-named court and protect his interests on or before July 16, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. 05/11/21, Honorable Jeanette A. Irby
05/20, 05/27, 06/03 & 06/10/21
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Case No. CA-19-69
SUMMONS FOR PUBLICATION Case No.: 214901555 Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
County of Loudoun FIRST HALF REAL PROPERTY Tax Deadline
BEATRIZ MARTINEZ RODRIGUEZ Plaintiff/Petitioner /v. HUGO ERNESTO NARANJO Defendant/Respondant
H. Roger Zurn, Jr., Treasurer JUNE 7, 2021
The State of Utah To: HUGO ERNESTO NARANJO A lawsuit has been started against you. You must respond in writing for the court to consider your side. You can find an Answer form on the court’s website: utcourts.gov/ans. You must file your Answer with this court: 3rd Judicial District Salt Lake County. 8080 Redwood Road, Suite 1701, West Jordan, UT 84088 You must also email, mail or hand deliver a copy of your Answer to the other party or their attorney: Beatriz Martinez Rodriguez 7123 W Iron Spring Lane, West Jordan UT 84081 Your response must be filed with the court and served on the other party within 30 days of the last day of this publication, which is 05/13/21. If you do not file and serve an Answer by the deadline, the other party can ask the court for a default judgment. A default judgment means the other party wins, and you do not get the chance to tell your side of the story. Read the complaint or petition carefully. It explains what the other party is asking for in their lawsuit. You are being sued for: Petition for Divorce. 05/13, 05/20, 05/27, & 06/03/21
The deadline for payment of the first half real property tax is June 7, 2021.
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:
JJ045042-01-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Anthony Rodriguez Castro Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v. Carlos Barnica, putative father hold an adjudicatory hearing pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-252 for Anthony Rodriguez Castro on June 16, 2021 at 3:00 pm and, hold a dispositional hearing for review of initial Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-278.2 and 16.1-281 for Anthony Rodriguez Castro on July 20, 2021 at 11:00 am.. It is ORDERED that the defendant Carlos Barnica, putative father appear at the abovenamed Court to protect his interests on or before June 16, 2021 at 3:00 pm (Adjudication) and July 20, 2021 at 11:00 am (Disposition). 05/27, 06/03 & 06/10/21
Payments received or postmarked after June 7, 2021 will incur a 10% late payment penalty. Additional interest at the rate of 10% per annum will be assessed. The due date will not be extended for bills where assessment questions have been filed with the Board of Equalization. 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 Pay your taxes through your mobile device: Link2Loudoun app is available for free from the iPhone App Store and the Google Play Store. The app allows access to www.loudounportal.com/taxes to pay your taxes. 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 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 1st Floor Leesburg, Virginia 20175
21641 Ridgetop Circle, Suite 104 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 Exemptions and Deferrals, please contact the Exemptions Division of the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office at tcor@loudoun.gov by phone 703-737-8557 or visit www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief.
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05/27 & 06/03/21
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MAY 27, 2021
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 9, 2021 in order to consider:
PROPOSED CONVEYANCE OF COUNTY PROPERTY Conveyance of Real Property to Guy Gerachis, Gerachis Group Construction LLC, Tanya Finch, or other interested party 39469, 39483, & 39491 John Mosby Highway, Aldie, Virginia 20105 Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1800 et seq., the Board of Supervisors shall consider conveying three parcels of County property, consisting together of approximately 6.31 acres and all improvements thereon, to Guy Gerachis, Gerachis Group Construction, LLC, Tanya Finch, or other interested party, subject to a negotiated real estate purchase and sale agreement with terms acceptable to the County Administrator and subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors. The subject property is located on the south side of John Mosby Highway (Route 50), east of Meetinghouse Lane (Route 732) and west of New Mountain Road (Route 631) at 39469, 39483, and 39491 John Mosby Highway, Aldie, Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PINs: 361-45-5744, 361-45-8246, and 361-45-9838, respectively. Copies of exhibits showing the location(s) of the above-listed conveyance(s) and associated documents, if any, are available for review and may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).
PROPOSED SALE OF COUNTY-OWNED AFFORDABLE DWELLING UNIT Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1800, the Board of Supervisors shall consider the conveyance of the following County-owned Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) to an ADU qualified certificate holder: ADDRESS 42255 Canary Grass Square, Aldie, Virginia 20105
PIN #
204-29-1122-010
ELECTION DISTRICT
DESCRIPTION
PURCHASE PRICE
Dulles District
Approximately 1,830 square feet, 3 bedroom, Multifamily Dwelling Unit (Condominium)
$152,385
Copies of the plat(s) illustrating the property proposed to be conveyed may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). REQUEST TO UTILIZE VILLAGES OF WAXPOOL PROFFER FUNDS FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF BELMONT RIDGE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS BETWEEN TRURO PARISH DRIVE AND CROSON LANE Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-2303.2.C., the Board of Supervisors shall consider utilization of cash payments proffered and received from the developer of ZMAP-2008-0014, Villages of Waxpool, Proffer 3, to fund the design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction of improvements to Belmont Ridge Road between Truro Parish Drive and Croson Lane (the “Project”). The original purpose of the cash payment pursuant to Proffer 3 was for the construction of a traffic signal at the intersection of Waxpool Road and Truro Parish Drive or at Waxpool Road and Belmont Ridge Road. However, the County has no active plans to install traffic signals at either of the intersections in the proffer agreement. Therefore, the functional purpose for which the proffer contribution was made cannot be fulfilled in a timely manner. The amount of the cash payment pursuant to Proffer 3 was $612.50, which remains the current amount in the account. The cost of the Project is $43,063,000 and the Project is included in the Amended FY 2019 – FY 2024 Capital Improvement Program. A map indicating the location of the Project 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 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”).
adopted by the Board of Supervisors on March 16, 2021, the Board of Supervisors hereby gives notice of proposed amendments to the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (Zoning Ordinance) in order to establish new, clarify, revise, and/or delete existing regulations in regard to references to fee waivers, and in regard to exemptions for Special Exception land development application fees for new Monopole and Transmission Tower uses, as defined in the Zoning Ordinance, in specified zoning districts. The amendment proposes revisions to Section 6-402, and such other Articles, Sections, Subsections, and provisions of the Zoning Ordinance as necessary to implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments or as otherwise necessary to correct typographical errors, section and subsection numbering, and formatting within, update cross-references to, and further clarify the requirements of, the above-mentioned section(s) of the Zoning Ordinance. The proposed text amendments under consideration include, without limitation, the following: Amendments to Section 6-402: •
Clarify, revise, and/or delete existing regulations which have references to fee waivers and use the term fee exemptions to describe how Section 6-402 functions more accurately.
•
Establish new regulations to exempt the Special Exception land development application fee for new Monopole and Transmission Tower uses requiring Special Exception approval in the A-3 (Agricultural Residential), A-10 (Agriculture), AR-1 (Agricultural Rural-1), AR-2 (Agricultural Rural-2), CR-1 (Countryside Residential-1), CR-2 (Countryside Residential-2), CR-3 (Countryside Residential-3), and RC (Rural Commercial) zoning districts.
The public purposes of these amendments are to achieve the purposes of zoning as set forth in Virginia Code §§15.2-2200 and 15.2-2283, including, without limitation, furtherance of the public necessity, convenience, general welfare and good zoning practice, and facilitating the creation of a convenient, attractive and harmonious community.
ZRTD-2021-0001 LOUDOUN GATEWAY LOT 2
(Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District) Foulger-Pratt Development, LLC of Potomac, Maryland has submitted an application to rezone approximately 6.09 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development-Industrial Park) zoning district under the 1972 Zoning Ordinance, to the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance, in order to permit the development of all principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County 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, Route 28 CO (Corridor Office) Overlay District, the QN (Quarry Notification Overlay District – Loudoun Note Area and located partially within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, between the Ldn 60-65, and outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 6.09 acres in size and is located on the south side of Indian Creek Drive (Route 1038), north of Old Ox Road (Route 606), and west of Sully Road (Route 28) in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 046-30-5546. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment)), which support a broad array of Employment uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0.
SIDP-2015-0008 DULLES LANDING SIGN PLAN AMENDMENT (Sign Development Plan)
Beatty Limited Partnership of McLean, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Sign Development Plan to request alternative sign regulations for permitted signs in order to 1) allow two additional commercial development entrance signs in the PD, CLI, GB, and MR-HI Districts; 2) modify the maximum area of any one sign, minimum setback from right-of-way, maximum height, and additional requirements for commercial development entrance signs in the PD, CLI, GB, and MR-HI Districts; and 3) permit the usage of electronic message signs. The subject property is being developed pursuant to ZMAP-2004-0016, Dulles Landing, and SIDP-2014-0002, Dulles Landing Sign Development Plan, located in the PD-CCRC (Planned Development Commercial Center-Regional Center) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Ordinance, and pursuant to Section 5-1202(E) alternative sign regulations for permitted signs may be requested with the submission of a Sign Development Plan. The subject property is located partially within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, within the Ldn 65 or higher, between the Ldn 60-65, and outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contours. The Subject property is also located partially within the QN (Quarry Notification) Overlay District - Chantilly Crush Stone Note Area. The subject property is approximately 78.33 acres in size and comprises six separate parcels that are located north of John Mosby Highway (Route 50) and west of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 606), in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as follows:
ZOAM-2021-0001 AMEND THE REVISED 1993 LOUDOUN COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE TO ELIMINATE THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION FEE FOR NEW TELECOMMUNICATIONS USES IN UNDERSERVED AREAS (Zoning Ordinance Amendment)
Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-2204, 15.2-2285, and 15.2-2286, and a Resolution of Intent to Amend
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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LOUDOUNNOW.COM
MAY 27, 2021
PAGE 29
Legal Notices PIN
ADDRESS
PIN
ADDRESS
163291069
N/A
163287836
24635 Dulles Landing Drive, Chantilly, VA
163294142
24555, 24560, 24565, 24570, 24630, 24670 & 24700 Dulles Landing Drive, Chantilly, VA
163190227
163387890
24575 Dulles Landing Drive, Chantilly, VA
163183632
24680 & 24710 Dulles Landing Drive, Chantilly, VA 42760, 42765, 42780, 42781, 42790, 42800 & 42801 Gateway Fountain Plaza, Chantilly, VA 24705, 24725, 24745 & 24765 Dulles Landing Drive, Chantilly, VA
The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)), which designates this area for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural, and Recreational uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0, and additional density (up to 1.5 FAR) may be achieved with project elements that go above and beyond required development standards to further the County’s comprehensive planning goals.
SPEX-2019-0035, SPEX-2019-0048 & SPEX-2019-0049 POTOMACK LAKES SPORTSPLEX (Special Exceptions)
The Board of Supervisors of Loudoun County, Virginia, through the Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure of Leesburg, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Special Exception to install and grade two synthetic turf fields, add 0.29 Acres of new impervious surface paths, and incidental structures totaling 5,725 SF within the major floodplain in the PD-H4 (Planned Development-Housing 4) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed uses are listed as Special Exception uses under 4-1506(E) and (F). The subject property is partially located in the Floodplain Overlay District (FOD). The subject property is approximately 46.84 acres in size and is located north of Algonkian Parkway (Route 1582) and on the east side of Cascades Parkway (Route 1794) at 20286 Cascades Parkways, Sterling, Virginia, 20165 in the Algonkian Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 010-27-3927 and PIN: 010-17-4363. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Neighborhood Place Type)), which designate this area for existing parks and recreation facilities uses.
Unless otherwise noted in the above notices, copies of the above-referenced amendments, applications, ordinances, and/or plans and related documents may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies, or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. This link also provides an additional opportunity for public input on active applications. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). In addition, for detailed instructions on how to access documents using LOLA, to request that documents be emailed to you, to receive physical copies of documents, or to arrange a time to view the file at the Loudoun County Government Center, please email DPZ@loudoun.gov or call 703-777-0246 (option 5). Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic this public hearing may be conducted as an electronic meeting. Members of the public are encouraged to view the public hearing electronically; however, the Board Room will be open for any members of the public who wish to attend in person with appropriate physical distancing. Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are 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. Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. Instructions for remote participation will be forwarded to all individuals who sign-up in advance and who would like to provide their comments remotely. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on May 28, 2021, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on June 9, 2021. 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
Town of Leesburg Continues Water Valve Exercise and Maintenance Program Public Notification ABC LICENSE
DILBS LLC, trading as BKD Bagels, 105 S King Street, Leesburg, Loudoun, VA 20175 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine & Beer On & Off Premise license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Nils Schnibbe, Owner Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200. 05/27 & 06/03/21
The Town of Leesburg is continuing a preventative maintenance program to protect the longevity and operation of the water system infrastructure and valves. This valve exercise program requires closing, then opening each main line valve and service line valves in specific distribution areas.
05/27 & 06/03/21
ORDER OF PUBLICATION VIRGINIA:
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LOUDOUN COUNTY
IN RE: ESTATE OF SARAH E. DEBRUYCKER
The purpose of the program is to exercise main line valves throughout the distribution system to assure reliable operation and maintain water quality. During this program, crews will exercise the valves by operating each valve through a full cycle and returning it to its normal position. Where valves are exercised, a fire hydrant will be flowed to ensure that the water in the main remains clear.
Probate File No. 18156
During the valve turning exercise, customers may experience some sediment or discolored water for a short period of time. Water is safe to drink and safe to use during this period. If this condition is noticed, we recommend running several cold water taps at full force for a period of 1-2 minutes. It may be necessary to repeat this process after 30 minutes. In addition, the closing and opening of valves may introduce air into water lines which can cause temporary erratic water flow. If this occurs, open your cold water tap until a clear steady flow of water is observed.
It appearing that a report of the account of Kevin DeBruycker and Mary S. DeBruycker, Co-Administrators for the Estate of Sarah E. DeBruycker, deceased, and a report of the debts and demands against the Estate have been filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, and that more than 6 months have elapsed since the qualification of the Administrators before this Court, on the petition of the Administrators indicating that the Estate is insolvent,
The valve exercising will occur June through November during the hours of 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Town regrets any inconvenience the maintenance program may cause. If you have any questions regarding our valve exercising program, or have any concerns about water quality, please call the Utilities Department at 703-737-7075. For after-hour emergencies, please call the Leesburg Police Department at 703-771-4500. 05/27/21
NOTICE OF ABANDONED BICYCLES Notice is hereby given that the bicycles described below were found and delivered to the Office of the Sheriff of Loudoun County; if the owners of the listed bicycles are not identified within sixty (60) days following the final publication of this notice, the individuals who found said bicycles shall be entitled to them if he/she desires. All unclaimed bicycles will be handled according to Chapter 228.04 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.
Description
Case Number
Recovery Date
Recovery Location
Phone Number
Black Hyper Havoc mountain bike
SO210007329
5/9/2021
Ashburn Village Blvd/Bruceton Mills Circle, Ashburn, VA
703-777-0610 05/27 & 06/03/21
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AGAINST DISTRIBUTION
It is ORDERED that the creditors of, and all others interested in, the Estate of Sarah E. DeBruycker, deceased, do show cause, if any they can, on the 4th day of June, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., before this Court at its courtroom in Leesburg, Virginia, against payment and delivery of said Estate to the creditors, including the Administrator, in accordance with Va. Code§ 64.2-528, with no payment to distributees; and It is further ORDERED that the foregoing portion of this Order be published once a week for 2 successive weeks in Loudoun Now, a newspaper of general circulation in Loudoun County, Virginia. 05/20 & 05/27/21
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MAY 27, 2021
Legal Notices LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE BIDS FOR:
Notice of Public Hearing Town of Lovettsville Planning Commission
750 MILLER DRIVE RENOVATION, IFB No. 358783 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, July 7, 2021.
The Lovettsville Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the following item at their meeting at 7:30 pm on June 16, 2021. Pursuant to Va. Code sections 15.2-1800 and 15.2-1813, this meeting will be held at 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, VA 20180.
A Pre‑Bid Conference will be held virtually using GoTo Meeting software on June 3, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. for clarification of any questions on the drawings, specifications and site conditions. Page 2 of the IFB provides instructions on how to register for this meeting. The plans and specifications for this project are contained in a Microsoft One Drive folder.
Written comments regarding this item can be submitted to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00PM on the day of the meeting.
Solicitation forms may be obtained 24 hours a day by visiting our web site at www.loudoun.gov/ procurement. If you do not have access to the Internet, call (703) 777‑0403, M ‑ F, 8:30 a.m. ‑ 5:00 p.m.
Members of the public may access and participate in public comment electronically or at the Town Hall. LVZA 2021-0001 Amendments to Article 42, Zoning, Division 42-VIII-2, Additional Standards, to add Section 42-304, Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems.
WHEN CALLING, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCUREMENT. 05/27/2021
Consideration of an amendment to Division 42-VIII-2, to add Section 42-304, Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems. The purpose of the amendment is to establish standards for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) equipment on buildings and lots. The Code of Virginia Section 15.2-2288.7 permits residential, com-mercial, and agricultural landowners to install PV equipment and allows localities to regulate height and setback requirements. The proposed amendment would add definitions, apply height limits and design standards, and require PV facilities comply with setbacks applicable to accessory structures in the zon-ing district in which the property is located.
PUBLIC NOTICE TOWN OF HAMILTON The Loudoun Museum will hold its TOWN OF NOTICE HAMILTON Annual Meeting for members virtually PUBLIC PUBLIC NOTICE Code of Virginia §58.1-3911 on June 8, 2021 at 7pm. Members will Code of Virginia §58.1‐3911 receive an email from the Museum Town of Hamilton real estate taxes for the first half of 2021 are due on June 5, 2021. director with a link to the zoom meeting. Town of Hamilton real estate taxes for the first half of Contact the Museum at 703-777-0099 Tina M. Staples 2021 are due on June 5, 2021. Treasurer or info@loudounmuseum.org for more Town of Hamilton information. Tina M. Staples
05/21/2021 & 05/28/2021
LOUDOUN COUNTY OFFICE OF ELECTIONS SUPERVISED BALLOT DROP BOX LOCATIONS
Ballots can be hand delivered to the following EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS during early voting hours ONLY through Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 5 p.m. Visit www.loudoun.gov/voteearly for more information. Office of Elections, 750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite C, Leesburg, 20175 Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
May 24
May 25
May 26
May 27
May 28
May 29
8:30am -5pm
8:30am – 5pm
8:30am – 5pm
8:30am – 5pm
8:30am – 5pm
9am – 5pm
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
May 31
June 1
June 2
June 3
June 4
June 5
CLOSED
8:30am – 7pm
8:30am – 5pm
8:30am – 7pm
8:30am – 5pm
9am – 5pm
These sites will open on Saturday, May 29 at 9 a.m. Loudoun County Government Office at Ridgetop, 21641 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling, 20164 Dulles South Senior Center, 24950 Riding Center Drive, Chantilly, 20152 Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
05/27 & 06/03/21
05/21/2021 & 05/28/2021
Treasurer Town of Hamilton
Monday
The proposed zoning amendment is available for review on the Town website www.lovettsvilleva.gov. You may also request a copy be sent to you via email by calling the Town Office at (540) 822-5788 or contacting John Merrithew, Planning Director at jmerrithew@lovettsvilleva.gov. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened on the next regularly scheduled meeting at the same time and place.
Friday
Saturday May 29 9am – 5pm
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
May 31
June 1
June 2
June 3
June 4
June 5
CLOSED
12 noon – 7pm
10am – 5pm
12 noon – 7pm
CLOSED
9am – 5pm
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MAY 27, 2021
Opinion A Business Investment Once again, the concept of building an independent business support program has arrived on the dais of the Leesburg Town Council. Welcome to round 11—or 12? or 15?—on this topic, not over years, but decades. We were last here in 2017 when the town manager dropped some seed money for a Main Street program into his proposed budget. A council majority let that fall, once again touting the fallacy that business and property owners could join together and build an effective program on their own. That’s been tried, even accomplished, many times with varying degrees of success. While several of those efforts have left important legacies and benefits that continue to have positive impacts today, rarely have they had staying power. Typically, they fizzled once the ringleaders achieved their too narrow, short-term priority; or when success brought complacency; or when egos collided. There is great energy and innovation among the leaders of Leesburg’s business community. Harnessed correctly, they have the power to build on the economic boom the town has experienced in recent years. Other jurisdictions have demonstrated success when empowering a designated advocate to herd the cats and manage the priorities. There’s little reason to believe such an approach couldn’t have a positive impact here. What can the Town Council do? Only two things are required: Provide the modest resources needed to get the ball rolling, and then get out of the way. One sure way to undermine such a program is to the let the politicians get in there and muck it up. n
Norman K. Styer, Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com
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LETTERS to the Editor No Surprise Editor: It’s no surprise the Board of Supervisors continue to push for less transparency when it comes to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Your recent article highlighting the board’s hostility to the public’s right to know was concise and alarming. The reporting mentioned there are 147 exemptions to Virginia’s FOIA, leading a reasonable person to question, how is that possible? If anything, it’s likely a conservative count. I reviewed the FOIA law, and was appalled. There are exemptions to exemptions, along with counter exemptions to the exemption. It’s mind-boggling. It’s clear that’s exactly the way Richmond and Harrison Street like it. To be fair, there are common sense exemptions such as information regarding juveniles, legal proceedings, security data, health, financial and tax information, all of which a normal person understands. Yet the amount of pure, “we don’t have to tell you nutin’ and we don’t care” is so astonishing, it leads one to believe why even have such a law if government is doing all it can to show contempt for it. This should be a concern for every citizen regardless of ideology. It demonstrates the ever-growing canyon between our public servants and the people at large. Our property tax records are listed online. Therefore, why would democrat
Del. Wendy Gooditis put up a bill hiding public official newsletter recipients from the public? Why would the board support this? Like many, I’m on multiple elected officials’ newsletters. They’re publicly financed newsletters providing public information to the public. Something’s not quite right. Could it be to protect these elected servants from disclosing extremist hate list groups they reside on, or participation in other unethical activities? For now, we’ll never know. Lack of transparency begets suspicion. Suspicion breeds hostility. There’s that nagging feeling that these elected servants don’t much care for us—more likely, loathe the people at large for their own selfish power-seeking agendas. These individuals are not our friends. We should return the favor and kick secretive control freaks to the curb come Election Day. — Chris Manthos, Leesburg
School Reform Editor: Chris Croll’s column, “Parents May be Ready for Year-Round School,” brings out many good points in support of changes to the structure of the present school year. Originally created to accommodate LETTERS TO THE EDITOR continues on page 33
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
MAY 27, 2021
Readers’ Poll
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
LAST WEEK'S QUESTION:
Should the county government push to rename the Rt. 7 and Rt. 50 highways?
Did your kids experience learning loss this year?
LETTERS to the editor
continued from page 32
agricultural life, it no longer serves the needs of today’s society. A year-round school structure would make better use of the expensive-to-maintain palaces that are in vogue. The changes should be carefully considered, including the many systemic problems that have developed over the past 150 years. For instance, what is being taught and who decides? Has true education been lost? The need to create an opt-out option because of content suggests fundamentally improper decision making. How much money is being spent and who decides? Schools have been heavily consolidated since the 1970s and school boards, originally intended to guide in the place of parents, have increasingly become overlords serving against the wishes of parents. Witness the Loudoun recall petitions. A second article now declares, “Needed: Parents to supervise school boards. Should ‘investigate what their tax dollars are funding’” Another recent article has parents reading embarrassing passages to Loudoun school board members from books they approved … and somehow defend. Since 1980, we have spent more money on our school systems than was spent in all of our previous history. But to what end? Salaries and pensions appear have been the primary beneficiaries, while actual learning has been the obvious casualty. Why? Whatever happened to Dunbar High School from the 1940s in Washington, DC? And now, Loudoun County is at-
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tempting to place a different voice on the school board, a teacher’s union representative. But to what end? Salaries and pensions? This cannot be a voice intended to serve the balance. The teacher’s union is, in fact, one of the systemic problems that has magnified over time and needs to be considered for change. It would truly be “For the children,” in my view. Without the willingness to revise the entire structure of the school system, a year-round option is little more than tinkering with appearances, that is, redecorating the cafeteria to improve the food. The absence of a total reform leads parents to one alternative … home schooling. Private schools are also an option, but for many, only if the student’s funding accompanies the decision. This would be the true (and needed) reform. It may be the solution, as well. — Stephen Miller, Purcellville
Wrong Forum Editor: It is not what is said, but where it is said from. Last week the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution supporting DC Statehood on a “party line” vote. There have been similar resolutions passed previously. It is certainly the right of any supervisor or citizen to speak out on any issue national, state or local, as the Letters to the Editor of Loudoun Now attest. The issue, as it was raised at the board meeting, is a resolution on essentially a political issue, not directly related to Loudoun County, appropriate when authored from the dais at a regular board meeting? In my view members of the Board of
Supervisors have every right and perhaps, as politicians, the obligation to go on record on major issues of the day, but not when speaking from the dais in the Board Room at a meeting. Why? Because there they are officially doing county business representing all the citizens of their districts and the county. Each was elected with a mix of votes from Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to use their best judgement to solve local problems and provide local services, and pure partisanship should have no place in the deliberations. — Alfred P. Van Huyck, Round Hill
No Need Editor: I have listened to the arguments on both sides of the issue and find no good reason to move from our sheriff-based method of law enforcement to a county police department. Our Sheriff ’s Office provides excellent response times by highly trained deputies who have the latest in training and equipment. All deputies have had Crisis Intervention training. I have seen what has occurred in Minneapolis, Ferguson, Portland and elsewhere—even murder by a police officer. If there had been any cases of minorities hassled, or injured or killed by sheriff ’s deputies, I would be the first to say, time for a police department. But this has not happened in Loudoun County. County Chair Phyliss Randall seemed to get upset when Sheriff Chapman showed up personally to present the required Quarterly Significant Incidents Report. From the reaction, you would think that he was not allowed to do so.
As for the sheriff, that is his decision. So, with no riots, no complaints about the Sheriff ’s Office, no hassling of minorities, we are spending $500,000 to study a problem that does not exist? If you listen closely to the comments made by proponents of a police department, you will pick up clues. Chair Randall states that “hundreds of Black people, especially Black men, have died unjustifiably at the hands of law enforcement,” and “there have been riots, and that is not OK, and there have been lootings, and that is not OK, but we are not talking about something that the Black community has been dealing with for a couple of months.” She is correct that this has happened but, what she did not acknowledge is that none of these things have happened in Loudoun County. We can certainly thank Sheriff Mike Chapman and his deputies for that not happening in Loudoun County. As to the myth of accountability, the sheriff has to convince the voters of this county that he is worthy of his position every four years. He is directly accountable to the good people of Loudoun County. Why does the board want to take away our control of this important office? I believe that it concerns gaining more power, and having the ability to control things, to take the power out of the hands of the citizens of this county. In short, we must change our government because of things that happen in other places. Are we going to allow this? I strongly support our Sheriff ’s Office and it makes no sense to change what is working so well for our county. — Roy Liggett, Leesburg
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Tubman mural continued from page 3 The museum building itself has its own place in Black history. Although not on the Underground Railroad route, the building was once the site of the Do Drop Inn, a popular social spot for the Black community. Its most well-known owners were Sherman and Mary Berry, who assumed management in 1933, according to a staff report. In pursuing the project, Felder reached out to several community groups, including the NAACP, the Black History Committee of the Thomas Balch Library, Visit Loudoun, and the Commission on Public Art. All were generally supportive of the project, although some suggested the mural instead depict local Black figures associated with the freedom movement. The Black History Committee in particular suggested featuring Rev. Leonard Grimes, a recognized Freedom Seeker and conductor on the Underground Railroad who was a Leesburg native. A letter from the committee pointed out that Grimes’ contributions played a role in the Loudoun County Courthouse being designated a site by the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, yet there has never been a physical recognition of that honor. “A mural of Grimes would coincide with the County’s efforts to create memorials that better reflect the history and events related to the Courthouse,” a letter provided in a Board of Architectural Review staff report read.
LOUDOUNNOW.COM After receiving COPA support, commission Co-chair Elizabeth Ransom presented the project before the BAR last week. Although the BAR does not issue Certificates of Appropriateness for public art murals in the Old & Historic District, the town’s public art guidelines stipulate that the BAR provide a recommendation before the project is considered by the Town Council. BAR review on such projects is supposed to be limited to project location; height, scale, and massing; and physical impact on historic materials. However, the content of the mural was also discussed during the board’s May 17 meeting, and brought forward in Preservation Planner Lauren Murphy’s staff report. In her report, she expressed concerns that placing a mural of Tubman on the museum building would be misleading. “Given the recognizable role of Harriet Tubman in American history, the Preservation Planner is concerned that her image on this building will create a false sense of history not just for the structure but for Leesburg in general and that this mural may lead passersby to assume that the building was affiliated with Harriet Tubman and her noble work, or indeed associated with the Underground Railroad at all,” the report stated. “The building dates to sometime between 1850 and 1878. While Harriet Tubman was engaged during this time in facilitating the escape of enslaved Americans, she is believed to have conducted her last sojourn south around 1860, the approximate date of construction of this structure.” Ransom, in defending the project, said the large-scale size of Tubman, with her hand extended and glow-in-the-dark paint
Broadband continued from page 4 cess, and $7 billion towards broadband in the Bipartisan-Bicameral Omnibus COVID Relief Deal passed in December. “We’ve still got so much to do, and I’m really hopeful that when we talk about infrastructure, we’re not just talking about roads and bridges, we’re talking about broadband,” Wexton said. “I think this pandemic has proven to all of us that broadband is no longer niceto-have, it’s need-to-have for everyone, everywhere,” Rosenworcel said. She likened expanding broadband to every home to the rural electrification project begun in the 1930s to bring electricity to every home. “We figured out a way to do it. It’s not so audacious to believe that we can do that again here. We just have to,” Rosen-
“We’ve still got so much to do, and I’m really hopeful that when we talk about infrastructure, we’re not just talking about roads and bridges, we’re talking about broadband.” — Rep. Jennifer Wexton
(D-VA-10)
MAY 27, 2021
proposed to be used for the lantern light, was intended to draw visitors’ attention to the building and encourage them to stop for a photo of the mural, or to learn more about the town’s history. “It’s like she is reaching out her hand to invite you into the museum and maybe Leesburg’s past,” she said. The Loudoun Museum’s Board of Trustees also expressed its misgivings about the project. Board Chairwoman Sharon Virts said told the BAR that the museum board was unanimous in its decision to not support the project. She cited concerns about the impact of the paint materials on the historic building, a concern also cited by both Murphy and other BAR members, and the inclusion of Tubman herself in the project. “It gives a false sense of what’s inside the building. [Visitors] are going to be looking for an exhibit on Harriet Tubman and there is no exhibit on Harriet Tubman. They’re going to be looking for an exhibit on the Underground Railroad and there is none. If we’re going to do a mural at all it should be relevant to Loudoun. It’s a false, in my mind, presentation of what Leesburg’s history really is,” Virts said. She also noted that the museum’s director, who has a background in antebellum history, was not consulted about the project. “We’ve had no voice in this,” Virts said. BAR member Paul Reimers cited the museum board’s disapproval of the project in his comments, comparing it to “having an ad for cigarettes on the side of a hospital,” although he clarified that he was not commenting on the subject of the mural itself.
BAR Chairwoman Teresa Minchew said she thought the proposed mural was beautiful, but said she was concerned that the scale of the mural would overtake a historic building. “Many of us, our major concern was, is this building appropriate to decorate with art. It is already … a historic artifact,” she said. “It is a precious part of our history. It is not a big building. It is, in my opinion, not the right place for a mural to take up half the wall. It has nothing to do with the content, it has nothing to do with the subject. It is a very small, historic building that would be forever changed by having any kind of art on that wall.” In commenting on the scale of the mural, Minchew said it would not be the welcoming feature for those sitting in the garden that perhaps was intended. “It would be frightening to sit there in that garden and have that scale. The scale is for passersby who are a good distance away,” she said. While the BAR was not supportive of the project, Burk said in a subsequent interview that she hoped a compromise could be found that would move the mural project forward. She is planning a meeting next week with representatives from the Black History Committee, the museum, COPA, Felder, and others. “The goal for the meeting is to get everybody together to talk about the project and see what we can agree on,” she said, “and perhaps a compromise can come out of that agreement that can make it agreeable to most of us.” n
worcel said. “We have this extraordinary moment, where there’s more activity on this subject than ever before in my professional life, there’s more money than ever before in my professional life.” The comparison is particularly relevant here—Loudoun has already begun a project to expand broadband into the county’s rural reaches, in part through a partnership that would run fiber optic cable along electric company utility poles. “I hope when we look back on this last year a half, and all of its trials and tribulations, we see we actually did something big,” she said. Some attendees pointed out there are barriers remaining despite the infusion of cash—whether that be difficult geography, regulatory red tape, inaccurate service maps, a shortage of trained technicians, or just incumbent internet service providers standing in the way. Representatives from the Loudoun
Broadband Alliance pushed to make the most of the funding. “We have to look at it long-term,” said Vice President Kevin Noll. “If we spend our money well, it will go away. If we don’t, we will revisit this problem again in about 10 years.” In particular, he said, the county should not rely on wireless connectivity for rural areas. “Wireless has a cyclic process. Every five years or so, there is an upgrade that is required to keep up,” Noll said. “But we can’t ignore wireless. We can’t have one without the other. I’m not going to sit here and say we have to do fiber to every home, because I’m not sure that’s feasible, but we really have to think long term.” It was Rosenworcel’s first public, in-person event since the onset COVID-19 pandemic, she said. n
MAY 27, 2021
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
School challenges
find some type of lodging, and we ended up staying at my aunt’s place for a couple of weeks,” Akinotcho said. “And if I wasn’t at home to pick up my sisters and make sure that they were getting the work done, it probably wouldn’t have happened.” Still, she said, there were challenges with the schools. “I felt that there was an obvious disconnect [w]here students would tell the administration that they were overwhelmed and oftentimes ignored,” Akinotcho wrote. “I think they could’ve been more considerate to the situation. Outside of that there were some teachers that really did make it easier on students that I personally couldn’t have made it through without.” And even as she was able to be on hand for emergencies and also found some time to focus on herself, she said, “I think I’ve definitely missed out on some really important things just because it was my senior year.” “I really do wish that everything just
turns out what it was before 2020 hit us like the hammer that it was,” Akinotcho said. “There’s a lot of kids who are social, who are adaptable, and are going to adapt just fine—they adapted okay to distance, they adapted okay to getting back into the hybrid and then more full-time, and they’ll adapt to this,” said licensed professional counselor and author Neil McNerney. “And then there’s the kids that are not as well versed socially, who are more introverted maybe, and they’re going to struggle more with it.” He said the biggest advice he is giving to parents is to be patient, since distance learning could have been “quite a relief ” to many kids. “I think particularly from a policy standpoint, we’ve got to be more patient and more flexible, because the adjustment is going to be very difficult,” McNerney said. “And from a parenting standpoint, it’s the same thing—we need to not push them too hard to get back with your friends, et cetera, because for kids with social anxiety and anxiety in general, diving back into this is going to be difficult.” Some students have thrived under distance learning, Goldman said. “When you have groups of students that have anxiety about going to school, whether it’s bullying, social pressure or [they’re] ostracized or some other piece that’s in their world, when all of that was removed for online learning, they thrived and they could focus on school,” he said. The current plan is for the school system to move all students back into the classroom for business as usual in August. School administrators have said they will use testing data from this semester to
guide how best to support students next semester. “Our recommendation is not to throw out the baby with the bathwater, but for students who are anxious about returning to school to do so on their own schedule,” Goldman said. As for how to get back into crowded school settings, McNerney said he will be suggesting young people start getting adjusted now—go to social gatherings over the summer so school crowds won’t be overwhelming in the fall. “It’s a matter of finding small steps that you can take to get adjusted to that,” he said. “Don’t avoid the crowds, necessarily, this summer. Put yourself in situations where it’s not going to be overwhelming when you have do it.” The largest issues middle and high schoolers reported in a survey for the commission were bullying and the availability of drugs—the same issues they have reported in previous years. The county also continues to see racial disparities among its students. This year, Attorney General Mark Herring, after an investigation prompted by the Loudoun NAACP, set up a series of commitments with Loudoun County Public Schools to address admissions policies at the Academies of Loudoun, which had had a racially discriminatory impact. Meanwhile, Hispanic students continue to drop out at a rate several times higher than other students, with around a 10% drop out rate for Hispanic students versus rates at or below 2% for white and Black students. “Everyone should be thanking our youth for all the sacrificing they have done in 2020,” Goldman said. “They have had their worlds turned upside down.” n
said. “So, if the new paradigm is different, then we’ve got to make sure that we’re adjusted to that, and not just what we did pre-pandemic.” It could also mean transit in the DC regions looks more like it does around the world. “When you look internationally, that is what transit does,” Wiedefeld said. “In the U.S., we tend to be much more peak, work-oriented, but in international travel, it tends to be a product that you use for all types of purpose at all times of the day, and I think we need to start to think that way, and I think the public is going to ask for that.” He said that would have to mean being able to hop on a train within a few minutes at any time, rather than showing up to a station and waiting 20 minutes for a train to arrive. Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau
(R-Dulles), who serves on the Metro board, also said that authority leaders are looking to simplify Metro’s rate structure. But no matter who is riding Metro in the future, Wiedefeld and supervisors agreed, somebody has to pay for it. Until recently, Metro was the only major transit agency in the country that didn’t have a dedicated source of funding, such as a dedicated tax—funding was on a year-to-year basis from each of the participating jurisdictions. Now, there is a dedicated capital funding source, but it doesn’t grow with inflation and costs. But the worst offenders on underfunding Metro are still the people on Capitol Hill. Although Washington, DC is at the heart of Metrorail, and a large chunk of the federal workforce gets to work on the trains, Congress has not provided major capital funding for Metro, only a contribution for operating costs. That has been felt
particularly keenly as other jurisdictions have made major investments to catch up to years of neglected maintenance and improvements. “The entire country relies on Metro whether they know it or not because they’re moving the federal workforce,” said County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large). Currently, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which is building the Silver Line extension into Loudoun, expects to be substantially finished with that work in the third quarter of this year. When the stations actually open to riders will depend on how long testing takes. According to Wiedefeld’s presentation to Loudoun supervisors, Metro assumes two months, plus another 90 days of work between testing and the day passengers can step aboard a train in Ashburn, putting the likely date for a Silver Line grand opening in early 2022. n
continued from page 1 room. … Probably the first semester might be a little bit lacking, but it’s just going to take understanding on both sides.” Loudoun’s young people have continued to do exceptional things even over the 14 months since schools closed. The Advisory Commission on Youth report highlights people like Colby Samide, the Woodgrove High School student who built desks for students while they were distance learning; Kamran Majid, Varun Pasupuleti and Rahul Kumar who created an international a research fellowship program; or former Briar Woods High School student Trace McSorley who made his National Football League debut this year as a quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. Teenagers took a leading role in protests over the summer of 2020 as long-simmering frustration over racial injustice boiled over into protests across the country— such as Ocean Akinotcho, a high school student who organized the largest Black Lives Matter protest in Loudoun, bringing thousands of people to Algonkian Regional Park. Akinotcho, who is graduating high school and will be going to school in Paris, isn’t just a leader in public. “I decided to stay at home simply because I’m the main pillar of my family,” Akinotcho said. She said it was good to be studying from home because it made her more accessible during emergencies—such as when her parents caught COVID-19 in January. “I was the only adult at home at the time. We had to find a way, because my parents couldn’t be with us, so we had to
Metrorail continued from page 1 day, said General Manager and CEO Paul Wiedefeld, 80% of all trips across the system aren’t for work. “What we haven’t done is necessarily provide the quality of service for those types of trips,” Wiedefeld told members of the Loudoun Board of Supervisors during their May 25 Transit Summit. “We’ve provided a higher quality of service for those peak, to-work trips, but again, people may be working different hours than they’ve done, and they may be doing other trips.” That will mean taking another look at who Metro is serving. “It’s understanding the marketplace— trying to understand what the marketplace is so that we don’t put out service that reflects where the world isn’t,” Wiedefeld
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Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Ocean Akinotcho leads a Black Lives Matter protest in June 2020 that brought thousands of people to Algonkian Regional Park.
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MAY 27, 2021
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