n PUBLIC SAFETY
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VOL. 5, NO. 31
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n OUR TOWNS
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n OBITUARIES
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n PUBLIC NOTICES
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JUNE 25, 2020
Women’s Shelter Sees Record Need During COVID-19 BY PATRICK SZABO
pszabo@loudounnow.com
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Jeff Garbie pours a drink behind the bar at Tuscarora Mill Restaurant in Leesburg.
Northam: Phase 3 Reopening Starts July 1 As Case Numbers Improve, Loudoun Sees Spike in COVID-19-Related Deaths LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that Virginia will enter Phase Three reopening on Wednesday, July 1. That means restaurants and retailers may return to full capacity; community swimming pools, childcare centers and
entertainment venues may open; and visitation at senior living communities may be allowed under certain conditions. All activities must still comply with physical distancing and disinfecting protocols, with face coverings required in indoor public spaces. Social gatherings will be limited to 50
percent of occupancy space, up to a maximum of 250 participants. Gyms may resume operations up to 75 percent of capacity. The announcement comes two weeks
For 10 weeks this year, Virginians were asked to stay home to a great extent—a quarantine that might have helped to reduce serious crime in Loudoun, but increase occurrences of domestic abuse. Gov. Ralph Northam issued his stayat-home guidance on March 30. That encouraged residents to remain at home as much as possible during that time, keeping them off the highways and away from bars, restaurants and other social venues but, for some, trapped at home with abusive family members. According to Sheriff ’s Office Public Information Office Kraig Troxell, the number of crimes classified as major offenses decreased by about 13 percent from Jan. 1 to May 31 compared with that same time last year. But conversely, the Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter reported an alltime high in the number of people it sheltered from mid-March to mid-June. Troxell said serious crime, like homicide and rape, in the first five months of 2020 decreased by 11 percent compared to the first portion of 2019. He said the county also saw a 15-percent decrease in less-serious crimes, like DUIs, so far this year. The Sheriff ’s Office isn’t directly attributing those decreases to the coronavirus crisis and subsequent state mandates, though.
PHASE 3 continues on page 29
COVID CRIME continues on page 39
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PAGE 3
Three Months In, Many Still Waiting on Unemployment Checks BY PATRICK SZABO
pszabo@loudounnow.com
Three months ago, unemployment claims in Virginia surged to record levels. Although those numbers are now on the decline, many Virginians are still struggling to get the money they need to live amid the coronavirus crisis. Alexandra Koussis of Leesburg is one of the people who is still looking for that money. She was poised to begin working four different jobs before the coronavirus crisis hit, but now instead has had no income for months. Koussis said she was hired to work for Instacart, at various jobs at Oatlands Plantation and the Dulles Town Center, and to help with wedding catering. “Everything was ready to rock and roll and ‘bam,’ coronavirus hits,” she said. Once Koussis felt comfortable filing for unemployment a few weeks into the crisis, she said she initially received a letter from the state notifying her that she was ineligible for unemployment. Then, after re-applying, she said the state informed her that she was eligible to receive $158 a week for 39 weeks, in addition to the extra weekly $600 from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security or CARES Act
But, Koussis said, she has yet to get a single paycheck in the mail. And she is not alone. Koussis’ case is one of 849,486 initial claims for unemployment benefits the Virginia Employment Commission has processed since March 15. The state has approved and issued payments to three quarters of those claimants, paying out a record $4.2 billion in the past three months. VEC Spokeswoman Joyce Fogg said the other 25 percent of claimants have not received checks either because of their own user error while filling out forms, because of errors within the state’s system or because the claimant simply didn’t qualify. By the end of the first week in April, the Virginia Employment Commission reported that the number of initial unemployment claims from the previous three weeks totaled 306,143—a number that equaled the total number of claims filed from January 2018 to March 2020. Those numbers began to fall the second week in April. Weekly continued claims—applications from people who file each week for ongoing unemployment benefits—from mid-March to mid-May also rose from about 22,000 to 404,000, but have been falling for a month. But out of all those hundreds of thou-
sands of claims for unemployment benefits, a large portion of claimants have either received only some of the money they felt they were entitled to or have yet to receive any of it. Del. Wendy Gooditis (D-10) said the emails and calls to her office regarding unemployment benefit issues are coming in constantly and that the problem is only getting worse. Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-33) said 150 different people have contacted her with concerns surrounding the matter. For Gooditis, assisting people like Kousis feels “helpless,” since the Virginia Employment Commission, she feels, is “woefully underfunded” and therefore understaffed. Gooditis said that’s why the state might be inadequately processing unemployment claims and appeals. She pointed to the close to 80,000 unemployment benefit appeals the state now faces. “People want what they have been told they are owed,” she said, noting that it’s hard to blame the state for the disarray because it has been tasked with processing close to a million unemployment claims since March. Gooditis said she’s working to get more funding to the commission to address with the problems. Boysko echoed Gooditis’ comments
toward the state, emphasizing that the commission has paid unemployment benefits within 14 days to 91 percent of the Virginians who qualified. Boysko said that when looking at the scale of what’s being asked of the state right now, occasional issues are understandable. “I’m very proud of the employment commission for the work that they have done,” she said, noting that the state will be launching a revised Virginie Employment Commission website within days. To help her constituents, Boysko has reached out to the Virginia Employment Commission directly and is working with the state to address issues surrounding eviction concerns, food insecurity and more. She’s also asking the governor’s team to clarify questions on the matter. “There’s a whole myriad of things we’ve been trying to advocate for our residents,” she said. “They’re not a number, this is whether or not somebody can put food on their table.” Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (DVA-10) is also working to help her constituents through the state-run process. She said the number one issue she has heard of UNEMPLOYMENT continues on page 29
Zurn Faces Calls to Resign After ‘Uncle Tom’ Joke BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
Loudoun County Treasurer H. Roger Zurn sparked outrage June 17 with a joke on Facebook about plans to change the name of the Aunt Jemima brand of breakfast foods, posting “Wondering if Aunt Jemima will change to Uncle Tom’s?” before deleting the post minutes later. That post prompted backlash and statements from other elected officials and public figures condemning Zurn for the joke, including calls from Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) and the Loudoun NAACP for Zurn, Loudoun’s longest-serving elected official, to resign. The post also immediately drew ire on social media, which prompted apologies from Zurn. “It was a sincere mistake, and I apologize,” he said. “Within five minutes, I realized I
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Loudoun County Treasurer H. Roger Zurn.
made a mistake,” Zurn said. “I took it down. It was a stupid joke.” The Quaker Oats Company, which owns the Aunt Jemima brand, and which is itself owned by PepsiCo, announced last week it would change the name and imagery of the brand. The Aunt Jemima imagery and brand is based on a racist
“mammy” stereotype of black women dating back to at least the 1800s. “Uncle Tom” is an epithet originating from title character of the 1852 novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” an enslaved person, and refers to a black person who is exceedingly subservient, particularly because of his or her race. “The argument that this is just a joke in poor taste and that his apology and removal of the joke should be enough is part of the slippery slope that has lead us to our current reckoning with structural racism as a nation,” the NAACP wrote in a statement. “Public officials should hold themselves to a higher standard. We should hold them to a higher standard. Dismissing racist comments as unfortunate gaffes creates the space that allows for racist attitudes and behaviors to grow. There is a direct line between ignoring racist jokes and the dehumanization of an entire group of American citizens that allows for their murder by agents of the
state.” The NAACP also questioned Zurn’s ability to serve minority populations as treasurer, and wrote Zurn “must resign immediately so that Loudoun can elect a Treasurer who thinks all Loudouners are worthy of respect.” “The residents of Loudoun County deserve better representation from our leaders and should be able to trust that the officer who collects and invests county tax dollars is meting out his or her duties with integrity and without racial bias,” Briskman wrote in a statement. She pointed out past instances in which Zurn has made jokes on social media that drew public backlash. “Mr. Zurn should have learned from this and his many other blunders that brought community backlash,” Briskman wrote. “It is clear Mr. Zurn is not taking to heart the lessons from our past nor the ZURN continues on page 38
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JUNE 25, 2020
Loudoun
ON THE agenda
Supervisors Eye New Cluster Development Rules to Protect Farmland
Supervisors Pay $6M for Intersection Improvement
BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
County supervisors have launched an effort to help preserve Loudoun’s remaining farmland through amending the county’s sometimes controversial rural cluster development rules. In the county’s agricultural zoning districts, developers who plan clustered developments—with most of the land left empty, and homes clustered together, rather than spread evenly across large lots— can put more homes overall on the land. The cluster option, intended to leave more land undisturbed, has caused concern among conservation and farmland advocates. Developers and farmers compete for the best soils—the soil that makes for the best farmland also makes for the best development, because it percolates well for septic systems. Cluster development has allowed developers to put more
homes on the rural west, and concentrate those homes on the best farmland. Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) and County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) brought forth the initiative “In 2003, our previous General Plan said that it was important to us as a county to protect our farms, and our prime agricultural soils, and our rural economy, however our zoning was never really subsequently updated to enforce that,” Buffington said. And, he said, projections of Loudoun’s development in the rural area point to losing as much as half of Loudoun’s rural lands to development between 2002 and 2040. “We’re losing them at the rate of four square miles per year,” Buffington said. “That is really fast, if you think about it.” The initiative directs county staff members to begin a public process to develop new rules around cluster development, and to prioritize that work to get it done in
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a timely manner. “The goal is to make sure that when development happens in rural Loudoun County, it will not be on the most prime agricultural soil [which] actually needs to be set aside for, obviously, growing,” Randall said. “And so that’s the goal for this [board member initiative]. As Mr. Buffington said, we stated the process, it can be a long process, we will have a lot of public input through the process. And so this starts it, it doesn’t end it.” The proposed changes to county ordinances include requiring a percentage of rural land to be in active agricultural use, requiring a certain percentage of open space in cluster developments to be left in a natural state, setting aside some publicly available land, encouraging contiguous open spaces for larger farmable areas, min-
County supervisors have unanimously approved a $6 million contract with four design firms to design fixes to some of the county’s worst intersections as part of the ongoing intersection improvement program. That makes those firms available as needed as the county works through its intersection improvement program without holding a vote at the Board of Supervisors before each project. It continues a project begun in 2017 to identify and fix the county’s most dangerous intersections. Transportation staff members and consultants have ranked the county’s intersections according to their safety; impacts on pedestrians, bikes and traffic; impacts on property access and rights-of-way; and whether they meet the Virginia
CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT continues on page 5
ON THE AGENDA continues on page 7
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County to Consider Central Water Extension to Rural Policy Area
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Supervisors have begun work amending the county’s comprehensive plan to allow central water and sewer service to connect to government-owned sites in the Rural Policy Area, but bordering the Transition Policy Area. Central water and sewer provided by Loudoun Water are not permitted outside of towns in the county’s rural policy area, stopping at the western edge of the Transition Policy Area—which divides it from the Suburban Policy Area to the east and cuts the county roughly in half at Leesburg, then follows the county’s southern border to the east. Supervisors voted unanimously June 16 to begin amending the comprehensive plan to make an exception for publicly owned facilities that border the transition area, potentially saving the county government some money on new sites. Western supervisors Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) and Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) were cautious. “We hear a lot from our constituents when folks start talking about bringing public water and sewer past the Transition Policy Area, where it’s currently allowed, into the Rural Policy Area,” Buffington said. “Because that brings pressure— whether you want to admit that or not— that absolutely brings pressure for development of other things such as homes,
Cluster development continued from page 4 imizing new road connections, and other ideas. The project was lauded by rural advocates. “Preserving Loudoun’s remaining farmland and countryside benefits the entire county, including by attracting dynamic businesses and a talented workforce, holding down tax rates and putting a brake on traffic congestion,” said John Ellis of Save Rural Loudoun. John Adams, a farmer and member of the Loudoun Farm Bureau, said Loudoun sits on some of the most fertile land on the East Coast, and which has been identified by the Virginia Department of Conserva-
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cluster development, anything near that area, because the water’s already there.” Buffington proposed and found support for a motion to begin work that specifically targets publicly owned facilities bordering the transition area, and excludes any other connections to that water and sewer extension. But the work of crafting the new comprehensive plan language is still ahead; beginning a comprehensive plan amendment kicks off a process that includes draft language by county planners and public hearings at both the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission before coming back to supervisors for a final vote. The proposal comes after the Loudoun County Public Schools staff identified potential sites for future school buildings at the border of the Rural Policy Area. n
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The State Corporation Commission has opened signups for public comment on the Dulles Greenway’s request to raise toll rates faster than they have in years. The Greenway is asking the state to be granted annual toll increase for the next five years, ranging from a 5-percent increase on off-peak traffic for 2022 to a 6.8-percent increase on peak hour traffic in 2025. If approved, tolls would stand at $6.15 per one-way trip in off-peak hours, and $7.90 in peak hours by 2025. A commuter traveling twice a day on the Greenway during rush hour, five days a week, 52 weeks a year would pay $4,108 in tolls annually. Today those tolls are $4.75 and $5.80. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SCC, which reviews those rate hikes, is conducting the public hearing remotely. Anyone who would like to provide up to five minutes of comment by telephone may sign up by filling out a form on the commission’s website at scc.virginia. gov/pages/webcasting, sending an email to SCCInfo@scc.virginia.gov, or by calling 804-371-9141 during normal business hours. The deadline to provide the contact information to the SCC is 5 p.m. on Friday, June 26. The public hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30. This year, legislation that guaranteed limited toll increases on the Greenway every year expired. Although Loudoun’s state delegates and senators pledged before this year’s General Assembly term to take action on Greenway tolls, this year the state legislature once again took no action despite the efforts of some of those representatives, including on a bill first introduced in 2015 by then-Del. David I. Ramadan and reintroduced this year by Dels. Suhas Subramanyam (D-87) and Wendy W. Gooditis (D-10). In 2022, that bill never made it out of committee, and this year nobody brought any bills on the Greenway’s tolls to the state Senate. Some local legislators, including Sens. Jennifer B. Boysko (D-33) and Barbara A. Favola (D-31) have voted against increased state oversight of tolls on the state’s only privately-owned highway in previous sessions. That left the battle over Greenway tolls once again in the hands of local government, organizations and people. The
county government joined the suit before the State Corporation Commission to oppose the new toll increases; when the government asked for an extension on deadlines due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Greenway argued against that. “There is no need to suspend this proceeding simply because resources may need to be allocated differently than initially envisioned or practiced in the past,” the Greenway’s lawyers wrote. The State Corporation Commission sided partially with the county, delaying deadlines. Subramanyam and Gooditis published a joint statement opposing the proposed toll increases Thursday, June 11. “Commuters who have been discouraged from using the road due to high prices have flooded alternative routes,” they wrote. “Increasing traffic on public roads creates a burden on the surrounding communities and VDOT, as maintenance costs for these roads are passed on to Northern Virginia taxpayers.” They also asserted that now is the wrong time to increase the cost of commuting. “Many workers who were furloughed due to the pandemic are starting to return to work,” they wrote. “Residents who travel the Greenway already spend hundreds of dollars a month to simply commute to and from work in a reasonable time frame. The proposed increase will hurt middle-class and working-class families across Northern Virginia, as well as many small businesses that rely on our transportation infrastructure. “ Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge), too, sent out an email encouraging residents to “oppose massive greenway rate hike request!” and offered a number of talking points for people who sign up, including the damage to Northern Virginia, the “an important engine for the Virginia economy,” of higher costs for already-struggling workers, and that “high rates already unreasonably discourage travel on the toll road.” Also this year, the Greenway ended its Drive for Charity, which previously dedicated one day of toll revenues to nonprofits and last year raised close to $327,000. The Greenway’s ownership, Toll Road Investors Partnership II, is owned by Australian multinational firm Atlas Arteria. More information about the proposed rate hike, including links to documents associated with the case, is on the SCC’s website. n
JUNE 25, 2020
ON THE Agenda continued from page 4
Department of Transportation’s standards for installing a traffic signal. Currently, 45 intersections without traffic signals, 20 signalized intersections and two roundabouts are listed in the highest-priority category for improvements. Those contracts will go to Gorove/ Slade Associates Inc., HNTB Corporation, Dewberry Engineers Inc., and Rummel, Klepper & Kahl LLP.
County to Ask Voters for $308M in Debt Authority Supervisors have voted unanimously to request authority from the voters to take on up to $308.3 million in debt in the form of General Obligation bonds with a referendum in November. If approved by the Circuit Court—as those requests routinely are—that will put four questions on the November ballot for voters. One will ask voters for authority to issue $123,755,000 in bonds to finance school projects including work on renovating the Douglass School, school secu-
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rity improvements, a Student Welcome Center at Sterling Elementary School, and other projects. Another will ask to issue $29,516,000 in bonds to finance public safety projects, including expanding the Fire and Rescue Training Academy and replacing the Philomont Fire and Rescue Station. Another will ask to issue $3,825,000 in bonds for parks and recreation projects, including work on Philip A. Bolen Memorial Park and Scott Jenkins Memorial Park. And the fourth will ask to issue $151,210,000 in bonds to finance transportation projects such as work on Braddock Road, widening Loudoun County Parkway, work on Rt. 15 north of Leesburg, and other projects. The county now also phrases bond questions broadly enough to allow the government to use the money from those bond sales on other projects if it is available. Loudoun County currently maintains a triple-A credit rating from all three major bond ratings agencies on its General Obligation bonds, the highest possible credit rating.
PAGE 7
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PAGE 8
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JUNE 25, 2020
Leesburg
Historic Glenfiddich House Seeks Permission for Larger B&B Use BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ
krodriguez@loudounnow.com
There could be a bed and breakfast coming to a prominent historic district property, should the Leesburg Town Council approve changes to its Zoning Ordinance. David and Melanie Miles, the owners of the Glenfiddich House and the Stables at 205 N. King and 206 Wirt streets, respectively, have requested a Zoning Ordinance text amendment that would amend the definition of a bed and breakfast to allow more rooms and to modify use standards and parking requirements. Currently, a maximum of five bedrooms is permitted in bed and breakfast facilities in town, which are allowed in the historic district, with special exception approval required in the residential area. Scott Parker, senior planning projects manager for the town, explained that had the applicants just pursued a special exception out of the gate the plans would not have met the ordinance requirements
Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
Leesburg’s historic Glenfiddich House off King Street could become a bed and breakfast if the town approves zoning changes.
for a bed and breakfast because of the additional bedrooms, plus the Miles’ plan to use three buildings on the property to house the rooms.
Parker said their plan calls for more than 20 guest rooms, including suites GLENFIDDICH continues on page 10
Town Leaders Celebrate Completion of Sycolin Road Project BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ
krodriguez@loudounnow.com
The end of the road for the four-phase, years-long Sycolin Road improvement project was celebrated by Leesburg’s leaders Monday. Town Council members cut the ribbon to signify the completion of the fourth and final phase of the $30.2 million Sycolin Road improvement project. The final phase saw the road widened from two to four lanes from south of Tolbert Lane to the town’s southern corporate limits, a distance of 1.5 miles. The phase four project began in the summer of 2018 and recently wrapped up with milling and paving of the road. Before cutting the ribbon on Monday, Mayor Kelly Burk noted that the road has seen a dramatic increase in traffic over the past two decades, up from 1,000 daily vehicle trips in 2001 to 18,000 now. Improvements to the one-and-a-half
Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
Leesburg Town Councilman Neil Steinberg, Public Works and Capital Projects Department Director Renee LaFollette, Mayor Kelly Burk, Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-33) and Del. David Reid (D-32) cut the ribbon to celebrate the completion of the fourth and final phase of the $30.2 million Sycolin Road widening project.
mile stretch of Sycolin Road began more than a decade ago, and included improvements to its intersections with Battlefield Parkway, Tolbert Lane, and Hope Parkway. Funding for all four phases has come from a variety of sources, including proffers and developer contributions,
Loudoun County Gas Tax funds, VDOT, town bonds, and the Utility Fund. “This is exactly the kind of success I’m happy to be a part of,” said Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-33), who was recently appointed to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. n
Town Council Considers How to Fill Vacancy BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ
krodriguez@loudounnow.com
It could be another month until the Town Council dais is again full. Council members Monday night considered the process they will use to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Josh Thiel in May. They have 45 days from the effective date of Thiel’s resignation, May 31, to fill the seat, or the Circuit Court could do it for them. That puts their deadline to take action on Wednesday, July 15. Eighteen town residents applied to be considered for the seat, although two later asked for their names to be removed from consideration. Remaining candidates are Zach Cummings, Kari Nacy, Marantha Edwards, Tom Marshall, David Miles, Nicholas Clemente, Todd Cimino-Johnson, Gladys Burke, Sharon Babbin, Eric Christoph, Andy Jabbour, David Kirsten, Dianne Kellum, Zachary Klares, Peter Lapp, and Sean MacDonald. The council in 2016 set a process under which each council member selected his or her top three candidates among the names submitted and the top three among all six council members’ choices were asked to give presentations before the council. The council then moved into closed session for discussion and voted to make its selection after coming back into open session. But on Monday there was not majority support to follow that process, or other suggestions made by council members, until Vice Mayor Marty Martinez’s suggestion for each council member to come up with their top five choices and to discuss those names in closed session before voting on appointing someone. There was also majority support for that new council member to not take his or her seat until two weeks following the appointment, allowing them time to meet with the staff and get up to speed on issues before joining the council. Among the applicants, only Cummings and Nacy have filed to run in November’s Town Council election, when this seat will be on the ballot for a new four-year term, along with the seats held by council members Tom Dunn and Ron Campbell and Mayor Kelly Burk. Dunn expressed his support for not considering any candidates for appointment who have stated their intentions to run in November. The council is expected to discuss the appointment during closed session at its July 14 meeting. The chosen applicant will serve until Dec. 31, when Thiel’s term expires. The new council takes office Jan. 1. n
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JUNE 25, 2020
PAGE 9
Town Council Appears Unlikely to Support Westpark Purchase BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com
A proposal to acquire the majority of the former Westpark Golf Club property is not catching the interest of a majority of Leesburg Town Council members. And the lack of majority support could spell the end of any potential deal. On Monday night, Town Council members again discussed the offer from JK Moving Services CEO Chuck Kuhn to purchase a little more than 134 acres of the property from him, for a price tag of $3.4 million. Kuhn has been under contract to purchase the property for several months, and has stated his intention to place the 134 acres into a conservation easement and then sell it to the town. He would retain the eight acres of the former golf club property that are commercially zoned for a hotel use. He has said he is unsure of his plans for the commercial land. Kuhn recently extended the deadline for the town to sign a letter of intent to agree to a purchase to Sept. 15, back from the original date of July 1. Prior to Kuhn signing purchase con-
tract for the property, it was under contract to CalAtlantic Homes, which later merged with Lennar. The home builder sought a rezoning to allow construction of 96 townhomes. That application included a proposal to give to the town of the same land now under consideration for a purchase, to be maintained as open space or a park. In the face of strong neighbor opposition to the project, the council denied the application last year. Several council members made reference to that Monday night. Councilwoman Suzanne Fox pointed out that had the council approved the rezoning and taken the land as a gift, town staff members had projected the development would result in $64,000 annual increase in costs to provide public services to the area. The staff had recommended denial of the rezoning. “Why are we worried about $64,000 when we’re thinking about shelling out $3.4 million upfront,” she said. “There seems to me to be an inconsistency there. Six months ago, town staff said it wouldn’t be good for us because of the loss of $64,000 a year, but we’re taking a look at making a big lump sum payment here.” Councilman Ron Campbell said pursu-
ing a purchase of the financial magnitude of the Westpark property would need to be “the right deal, the right time, the right place and for the right price.” He suggested one option worth exploring may be a deal that allows Kuhn to develop some residential properties on the land, which could lessen or negate any funds the town would have to contribute to keeping the open space as town-owned property. “Let’s be clear, residential feeds his interest in making a profit. Right now, the town feeds his interest in making a profit, but that’s not a good deal for the town,” he said. Campbell also said it was not reasonable for the council to commit to a purchase before carefully studying the proposal. Town Manager Kaj Dentler said the staff has not ordered an appraisal or engineering study of the property, and awaits council direction on whether it should expend funds or staff time on further studying the proposal. Mayor Kelly Burk said that the council continuing to discuss Kuhn’s proposal was an effort to gather more details to make an informed decision. She also shot back at a suggestion that entertaining residential
development on the property was a good move for the town. “I will tell you if you’re looking at building houses there, that’s why we turned it down to begin with. It was not free,” she said, referring to Lennar’s proposal to gift the town the 130-plus acres. “Anyone that says that property before was free is not accurate. It would cost us 96 townhomes, and the impact to schools and transportation. It was never free and it’s not free now and it’s never going to be free.” “Whether you think it’s a good opportunity or a bad opportunity it’s one we need to assess,” Councilman Neil Steinberg said, in agreeing with Burk. But it does not appear that is a direction the Town Council will take, as there was not a majority Monday willing to move forward with studying the land purchase. Only Burk, Steinberg and Vice Mayor Marty Martinez cited a desire to keep moving forward. Currently, the council has one vacancy on the dais as it has not yet filled the seat formerly occupied by Josh Thiel, who resigned from the council in May. An appointment is expected within the next month. n
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JUNE 25, 2020
Loudoun Churches Called to Do More to Promote Racial Justice, Equality BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
Pastors and parishioners from a dozen Loudoun churches gathered in a field at Ida Lee Park in Leesburg on Saturday morning to pray for racial justice, equality and unity. There were no chants or marches that have characterized many of the community rallies in the weeks since George Floyd was killed while in police custody. Instead, speakers took the microphone for two minutes each to offer a prayer, a short sermon or reflection. A frequent “amen” was the only words uttered by members of the crowd, which was safely scattered across the field. During the just over hour-long program, speakers said churches must to do more to promote racial justice and build community unity. Here’s a selection of their comments. “We ask ‘what?,’ but God you’ve told us over and over again, so we ask ‘how?’ God, show us how, through the power of the Holy Spirit, what it looks like to not just talk about justice, but to do justice. God, let us, with the power of your Holy Spirit, not just talk about what it means to think about love, but to live loving lives toward those who look and act differently and those who look and act exactly like we do. God, get us off the social media. Get us off the keyboards and get us into peoples’ lives. … Help us to be people who do justice and love mercy and then God let us listen.” “God, we’ve been too long the opposite of what you’ve called on us to do in the book of James. We’ve been quick to talk and slow to listen. Let us be quick to lis-
Glenfiddich continued from page 8 that can accommodate up to six people. The Miles’ are also pursuing a boundary line adjustment, which would relocate the property line and allow more options for parking for the B&B use. The Glenfiddich property has been for sale since 2016. The Miles family has owned the property since the early 1990s and has used it to house a human resources consulting practice and as an executive training facility, where clients can stay on the property for a week or more to take consulting and coaching programs. According to a staff report, there is a buyer
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
Pastor Drew Clyde of Headway Church and Apostle Shawn Stephens of Ignite Church address the crowd gathered at Ida Lee Park on June 20 for the One Church event.
ten and slow to speak to our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ who have not had the experiences and the blessings in this country that many of us who carry the skin that’s called white have had. God, help us to be the people you’ve called us to be. Help us to walk humbly and in a way that does exactly what you called us to do.” “We ask for forgiveness for our indifference, God, for holding on to excuses, God, for trying to hold on acting like we have a sense of righteousness. God, forgive us for that. Forgive us for trying to hold on to arguments, for trying to hold on to ideas instead of chasing after what you’re chasing after, God, and that’s people.” “The world is watching. Our children are watching. I ask in Jesus’ name that you help us be an example of what it is that you fight for, God. Father, that our children would look toward us as a group of people interested in purchasing the property if the changes are approved to accommodate the bed and breakfast use. The property has a storied history in Leesburg, having been used as both a working farm and plantation in the mid1800s and as a hospital for officers of the Southern armies during the Civil War. It is a popular stop on the Loudoun Museum’s Hauntings tours, where tour guides regale guests with tales of Colonel E.R. Burt, a soldier of the 18th Mississippi who was taken to the Glenfiddich House to recover from a gunshot wound but died within days. Many guests have reported stories of encountering Burt’s spirit or other paranormal happenings during the years. The property was the site of a devastating fire in 1978 and was sold at
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
Members of the crowd watch, the One Church rally speakers safely scattered in the field at Ida Lee Park.
who are chasing after your heart, chasing after your mind and chasing after what you care about, Lord. May the next gener-
auction two years later to the LeHane family, who would later discover many of the Civil War relics that still existed in the house. The Miles purchase the property from the LeHane family, and have lived onsite at the Carriage House on the Wirt Street side of the property for 28 years, according to a letter submitted by the applicants. The council was expected to vote Tuesday, after this paper’s deadline, to initiate the text amendment to consider the Miles’ request. The application will go before the Planning Commission for review and a recommendation before returning to the council for a final decision. n
ation succeed better because of the work we do now, God. Not for just a moment. Not for just a time, as season, Lord, but how we push our lives forward to bring unity in your church between black, white and every race. … that they would be able to see your church united in a different way than we’ve had in our history, Lord. Instead, that they would see a church that is united, one flesh, one heart, one mind.” “For more than 60 years, I have served your church. I’ve loved your church. I’ve given my life for your church. And I am so saddened by where your church is and our country is. We have failed. We’re in trouble and you have seen that. You allowed something that was truly unanticipated to stop us on our tracks. And then you allowed us to see something you will never forget. I truly believe that in my entire lifetime that we are at a new place.” “We have failed. Because of our lack of seeing this unity that [Jesus’ death on the cross] was to change the world, we have failed. Instead of the angels being released to support your cause, instead of the demons being put to outer areas of the Earth, the revel in the disunity. Satan himself has put his knee on the neck of the church. So, Lord, we can’t breathe, we’re not breathing. And with a gasp of the breath we have left, we committee to becoming the church you have called on us to be. We commit to listening. We commit to learning. We commit to loving. We commit to action” “I believe that this is the beginning of a revival in this county. I believe the fire of God is going to descend on the churches of this county. … When you walk into our churches, which is the most segregated place on Sunday morning, we want to see black, white, Asian, Korean. You’re going to see all nationalities in heaven. Heaven won’t be a white heaven, we gonna be there. ... We are one people. We’re called God’s people.” The event was quickly organized by Pastor Drew Clyde of Headway Church and Apostle Shawn Stephens of Ignite Church over a five-day period last week. They are planning another One Church event in August. Participating churches included: City Hills, World of Life, Community Church, Ignite Church, Dulles Community Church, Reston Bible Church, Life Ticket Church, Destiny Church, Christ Community Church, Leesburg United Methodist Church, Christian Fellowship Church, Headway Church, and 3C Community Character Courage. n
JUNE 25, 2020
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Education
Reopening Plan Panned by Parents BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
After months of brainstorming options to safely resume classes next fall, the recommended plan to blend in-class and at-home learning is being roundly criticized by parents. A week after Superintendent Eric Williams presented his plan to have students attend in-person classes two days each and participate in beefed up distance learning at home on other days, dozens of parents joined the School Board’s virtual meeting Tuesday night to reject that concept. Critics of the plan also staged a protest outside the School Administration Building in Broadlands on Monday. Over the course of two hours Tuesday night, with more than 900 viewers logged in to watch the proceedings online, speaker after speaker panned the plan. Callers said it amounted to ineffective, part-time education. They said students, in an age group unlikely to be seriously impacted by COVID-19 infections, require both more in-person learning and more social interaction with peers. And they worried about the daunting challenges of helping to teach their children at home or finding—and affording—adequate childcare during at-home school
days while parents are working. Others said it was far from clear that the state of the pandemic would make it safe for any student or teacher to return to class. While some worried about the risks to exposure to the virus, other speakers said there was greater risk of students suffering mental health problems from being isolated from their classmates and teachers. Under the concept presented to the School Board last week following weeks of focus-group meetings, most students would go to school either on Tuesdays and Thursdays or Wednesdays and Fridays for in-person instruction. On their off days, they would have at-home assignments with a daily online check-in with a teacher. Provisions are proposed to allow special education and English learners to go to class more frequently because of the challenges they face with distance learning. Compared with the distance learning program that was quickly rolled out after schools closed in March in response to the pandemic—which several parents addressing the board Tuesday described as disastrous—students next year would have to meet higher standards. The online coursework would have greater structure and a more consistent schedule. There will be more live interactive instruction.
And most notably, the work will be graded and participation mandatory—two elements not included previously. Instead of the two-day in class/three days at home “hybrid” plan, speakers pushed for an all-in/opt-out model or simply committing to an all-distance learning plan. The clear majority favored pushing ahead with fulltime, five-daysa-week classes, with provisions to allow parents to have their students participate only in online learning. In addition to the feedback at the meeting, the School Board is awaiting the results of a survey sent to parents and teachers asking if they would likely participate in in-person learning given the state of the COVID-19 response. Those results were not expected to be available until next week. The School Board had scheduled a special meeting on June 29 to focus on the reopening plan. Last week, Williams expressed hope the board would formally endorse the broad concepts of the hybrid plan so that administrators could hammer out the details over the next several weeks. The School Board typically does not meet in July and is not scheduled to reconvene until Aug. 11. Classes are scheduled to begin Aug. 27. n
Crime Commission Awards $1K Scholarship BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
The Loudoun County Crime Commission has awarded graduating senior Makayla Davis a $1,000 scholarship as she pursues a career in law enforcement. The scholarship is funded by donors and crime commission members who work to local county law enforcement agencies, victim relief efforts, youth programs, and other community awareness an educational activities. Davis also participated in the Administration of Justice program at Monroe Technology Center. Crime Commission vice chairman and former Capitol Police officer Frank Holtz presented the check at Davis’s home in Leesburg on Friday. n
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Loudoun Crime Commission Vice Chairman Frank Holtz presents a $1,000 check to Makayla Davis on June 19.
JUNE 25, 2020
Alums Petition for Removal of LCHS Mascot BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ
krodriguez@loudounnow.com
Two alumni of Loudoun County High School in Leesburg are asking the School Board, and the greater community, to support a change of their alma mater’s mascot. Deidre Dillon and A.J. Jelonek, from the classes of 2009 and 2010, respectively, started an online petition calling for the removal of Raiders as the school mascot. According to the petition, the mascot is in homage to the Mosby’s Rangers, the 43rd Battalion of the Virginia Calvary for the Confederacy during the Civil War, and was chosen as the mascot by the majority-white student body after the high school was desegregated in 1954. Until 1980, the school logo depicted a mounted cavalry man holding a Confederate battle flag. “Like Confederate monuments, choosing the Raiders as the mascot was a result of the Lost Cause Movement to commemorate the South and rewrite history. A mascot gives a community an identity, and glorifies its chosen entity. As long as Loudoun County High School’s mascot is known as “Mosby’s Raiders” or simply “The Raiders,” no matter what positive traits come with the association, the school will be promoting slavery, the Confederacy, racism, and white supremacy. These are values we believe future generations of students should not uphold,” the petition read. As of Tuesday, the petition had garnered more than 1,000 signatures, and both Dillon and Jelonek were expected to speak in support of the change at Tuesday’s School Board meeting. Jelonek said the two had felt uncomfortable with the mascot for some time, but the current environment of protests against racial injustice and police brutality—some of which have called for the removal of Confederate monuments— further pushed them to publicly call for the change. “We will be advocating for changing the mascot, as well as calling for the current student body of LCHS to make the final decision. The students enrolled at LCHS are the current owners of the school and its spirit. They are the community that this decision affects the most. Therefore, we believe the student body needs to voice their own opinion and vote whether or not they think it should be changed,” Jelonek wrote on the petition. n
JUNE 25, 2020
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Politics Andrews Chosen to Challenge Wexton; Higgins, Delgaudio Tapped BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
Marine Corps veteran and federal defense intelligence contractor Aliscia Andrews has won a drive-through convention in Winchester for the Republican nomination to challenge Rep. Jennifer T. Andrews Wexton (D-VA-10) in November. Andrews won a closely contested fourway race that went three rounds to find a majority vote. In the final round, she defeated fellow Marine veteran Rob Jones with 57.5 percent of the vote to his 42.5 percent. Jones had won the most votes in every previous count. Andrews also serves on the Loudoun Crime Commission, as well as having worked in other volunteer capacities such as with Loudoun South Little League baseball. She lists on her resume work on the Trump campaign and inauguration committee, and says she supports Trump in
calling for a wall at the U.S. border, advocates for the Second Amendment and supporting “Second Amendment sanctuaries” that have pledged not to enforce new state gun laws, and oppose any taxpayer support of Planned Parenthood, a nonprofit that provides reproductive healthcare services and education, but draws attacks for providing birth control and abortions. Meanwhile, two former supervisors were also picked for roles in the party. Former supervisor Geary M. Higgins, who from 2012 to 2020 represented the Catoctin District on the county board, won nomination to chair the GOP’s 10th District Committee. Former supervisor Eugene Delguadio, who represented the Sterling District from 2000 to 2016, is one of three delegates to the Republican National Convention. He will go with Fairfax’s Ginni Thomas and Loudoun’s Jo-Ann Chase, who has long been active in Republican politics including a primary race in the 87th District for state House of Delegates. She lists on her resume working as a surrogate for the White House Office of Communications and the Republican National Committee on CNN, Telemundo and Univision TV, chairing the Republican National Hispan-
ic Assembly of Virginia, and serving as Virginia State Director of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump, among other work. Other Loudouners selected at the convention include Loudoun County Republican Committee First Vice Chairman Cathy McNickle, who will serve as the 10th District’s presidential elector; and former Loudoun County Republican
Committee Chairman and current Second Vice-Chairman Mark Sell, who will serve as one of three 10th District representative on the Virginia GOP Board of Directors. The convention had been delayed from May 30 due to concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic, and ultimately was held as a drive-through convention, with Republicans dropping off their ballots at Shenandoah University in Winchester. n
APPARENTLY, EVEN LOVE REQUIRES INNOVATION.
Republicans Pick Gade to Challenge Warner BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
Republicans have chosen Daniel M. Gade to try to unseat Virginia’s senior senator in November. Gade, 45, of Mt. Vernon, is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and professor. The 1997 graduate of Gade West Point is retired from more than 20 years of military service during which he was awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. An attack while deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom left him severely wounded, with his right leg amputated. When he went on to earn a master’s degree and doctorate in public administration. He taught political science, economics, and leadership courses at West Point before his retirement from the Army in 2017. He is currently a professor at American Univer-
sity. His campaign themes center on protecting individual liberties and civil rights, maintaining a strong national defense, and promoting free market systems. At press time, Gade was easily outpacing his primary opponents, Thomas A. Speciale II, of Woodbridge, and Alissa A. Baldwin, of Lunenburg County in southern central Virginia. According to unofficial results, with 89.5 percent of precincts reporting across the state, Gade was bringing in 67.2 percent of the vote. Baldwin was trailing a distant second with 18.2 percent of the vote. Gade also won Loudoun. With every precinct reporting, Gade brought in 55.6 percent of the vote, 6,063 votes. Baldwin was second with 25.6 percent, followed by Speciale, with 18.7 percent. He will challenge Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), a former venture capitalist and businessman as well as the former governor of Virginia. Warner has served in the senate since 2008 and is vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee as well as the Senate Democratic Caucus. n
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JUNE 25, 2020
Nonprofit
The Unique Challenges of COVID for Adults with Disabilities BY VALERIE BURTON
ECHO Director of Day Support Services
Three months ago, there was a festive atmosphere in the air at ECHO, a Leesburg nonprofit providing life-long skills training, employment, day support, and transportation for adults with disabilities. Shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day adorned every wall of the LIFE Day Support Program. Cupcakes were ordered to celebrate ECHO’s 45th anniversary, also in March. Almost 200 participants worked daily at job sites throughout the county and attended day programs. As with the rest of the world, it was impossible to anticipate how much everything would soon be changing. The news was filled with the spread of COVID-19, and with the governor’s stay-at-home order being issued through June 10, it was with heavy hearts that ECHO decided to temporarily close its doors to participants on March 19. The loss of daily services for participants at ECHO, whose independence is affected in varying degrees by intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities,
has had impacts that mirror those experienced by the community at large. However, there is an added layer of interruption of the hard-fought attainment of empowered, self-directed lives for people with disabilities. Participants don’t like to miss a day at ECHO, even for holidays. The camaraderie and sense of purpose they experience provide a great deal of meaning in their lives, and for many it is a challenge to understand how an invisible but deadly virus could so drastically disrupt their daily routines. Without jobs and programs to attend, they are at heightened risk of isolation and setbacks. Scott, who has worked at various job sites through ECHO’s Group Supported Employment program, has found his quality of life impacted by being home every day. “Work keeps me busy and the day goes by fast. I get to see my friends and other people I know at work. Now the days go by slow.” He has also been struck by the same fear so many other people impacted by the fallout from the virus are facing: lack of a regular paycheck. “I don’t feel like I should spend money right now,” he said. “I’m
afraid we won’t have enough money to buy essentials. I’m afraid to spend it on things we don’t really need.” For Michael, who participates in both employment and day support and is currently at home, his parents find it challenging to provide the structure and purpose ECHO provides daily. “ECHO has been a Godsend to us,” Michael’s mother stated. “He looks forward to leaving the house every morning wanting to learn and do something new.” Now, in addition to missing his friends and his activities, Michael’s progress towards his goal of being an independent and productive member of society has been impeded by ECHO’s closure due to COVID-19. For many people with developmental disabilities, consistent routines are an essential aspect of a successful life. Unexpected changes can make them feel like the rug has been pulled out from under them. For Spencer, who attends the LIFE Day Support Program four days a week, his sister stated, “His world has been turned upside down. ECHO has become his home away from home. He’s been thrown out of
whack from his routine, thus adversely affecting all areas of his life, but specifically, his behavior and activity level.” She went on to say that, “Spencer’s days at ECHO are thoughtfully structured with training, activities, social interaction, and community outreach. These vital components provide him with a personal quality of life and a sense of pride that enables him to thrive as a somewhat independent adult. I believe that he feels a genuine sense of belonging when he’s at ECHO.” Even though COVID-19 is impinging greatly on interaction and activities, as well as the growth that comes with independence and learning, ECHO’s participants are digging deep to find astounding new levels of resilience as they adjust to new routines. Many are practicing wearing face masks at home as they wait for it to be safe to return to services. Some have been able to stay in touch through social media and Zoom gatherings facilitated by staff, but they are eager to see each other in person and get back to their familiar routines. COVID & DISABILITIES continues on page 15
Local ‘Project Support’ Helps Out with Meal Delivery Across the US BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
The idea for the Project Support Initiative began when Akshath Mahajan, then an intern, volunteered to drop off some groceries. “I was talking to my research mentor one day in the lab, and he was telling me about how he was scared to go the grocery store because his wife was a threetime cancer survivor, so she is definitely very immunocompromised,” Mahajan said. “I was free that day, so I was like, ‘I can drive and get your groceries if you want.’” From there, the Rock Ridge High School student got a few of his friends together to help out delivering groceries for people who don’t want to head to the store amid the COVID-19 pandemic, word got around—and now Project Support has around 150 volunteers in 21 chapters across the country. “We’ve gone pretty big pretty fast,”
Mahajan said. When someone asks for help, the local coordinator puts out the call for volunteers. When one steps up, they contact the person asking for help to get their grocery list, pick up those groceries, and make sure their shopping list was right. Then, clients pay them back for the groceries on apps like the Cash App or Venmo, the volunteer leaves the bags for a contactless delivery, and then watches from the car to make sure the client picks them up. All that shopping and delivering is done while masked up and taking precautions to hinder the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. And as of last Friday, Mahajan said, volunteers have made around 450 such deliveries. “I didn’t really think I was going to grow it,” Mahajan said. “… then more friends wanted to join.” For more information, to volunteer, or to ask for a delivery, contact projectsupportinitiativeva@gmail.com. n
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Akshath Mahajan, right, shops for a client who asked for grocery delivery from Project Support, which now has volunteers across the country.
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JUNE 25, 2020
PAGE 15
Community Foundation Distributes $100K from Relief Fund The Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties has announced $100,000 in grants from its Community Emergency Relief Fund to 16 nonprofit human service organizations. The Community Foundation established the fund in March to bolster the COVID-19 emergency response and relief efforts in Loudoun, and on June 18 the foundation announced $100,000 in grants to members of the Loudoun Human Services Network. “The Loudoun Human Services Network’s values of collaboration, public-private partnership, and advocacy for our community’s vulnerable and at-risk residents are closely aligned with the Community Foundation’s priorities for grantmaking from the Community Emergency Relief Fund,” stated Foundation President Amy Owen. Grants were prioritized for organizations that saw increased demand for their services as it relates to COVID-19, that needed to adjust service models to accommodate social distancing or other safety measures, and organizations that have lost revenue as a result of the pandemic. “These grants were designed to provide an infusion of general support funding to
COVID & disabilities
The following organizations were selected to receive grants:
continued from page 14
$10,000 grant to The Arc of Loudoun $6,000 grant to Crossroads Jobs $7,500 grant to ECHO $10,000 grant to Friends of Loudoun Mental Health $2,500 grant to Fenwick Foundation $2,500 grant to Good Shepherd Alliance $4,000 grant to INMED Partnerships for Children $10,000 grant to Legal Services of Northern Virginia $3,500 grant to Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter (LAWS) $10,000 grant to Loudoun Cares $10,000 grant to Loudoun Free Clinic $4,000 grant to Loudoun Literacy Council $5,000 grant to Northern Virginia Family Service $2,500 grant to Volunteers of America Chesapeake and Carolinas $10,000 grant to Windy Hill Foundation $2,500 grant to Women Giving Back
“We had to cancel our anniversary cupcakes, but we’ll have an even bigger celebration when we are able to fully open our doors back up. We can’t wait to get back to fulfilling our mission of providing the services we know are essential for our participants and that empower them to thrive and maximize their potential in life,” stated Zanelle Nichols, ECHO’s Chief Operating Officer. When that day comes, Scott will be ready. “I’m looking forward to leaving old stuff behind and starting a brand new chapter with ECHO.” ECHO’s funding has been severely impacted due to billing reimbursements which are based solely upon headcount – despite ongoing expenses, including payroll. The number of participants in its programs has been reduced dramatically as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. ECHO is appealing to our community to make a donation to help keep the organization fiscally healthy to weather this crisis. To donate, go to echoworks.org/donors or contact Bob Pizzimenti, Director of Development, at 571-707-8249 or bobp @echoworks.org. n
our local nonprofits,” Owen stated. “We’re incredibly grateful for the individuals and businesses across our community who donated to the fund and made these grants possible. Our community is still facing great need because of the pandemic. We encourage Loudoun to keep giving so that we can continue to take care of our most vulnerable neighbors.” The fund, along with Visit Loudoun
Foundation’s Tourism and Hospitality Relief Fund, has also been used to distribute $165,000 to fund rental assistance through the COVID-19 Emergency Fund and Helpline, a program run in collaboration with Loudoun Cares and Catholic Charities of the Dioceses of Arlington. Gifts to the Community Emergency Relief Fund may be made at communityfoundationlf.org/emergencyrelief. n
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JUNE 25, 2020
Public Safety Chapman Joins Trump for Policing Order Signing BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
Loudoun Sheriff Michael L. Chapman joined President Donald Trump at the White House on June 16 for the ceremonial signing of the president’s Executive Order on Safe Policing for Safe Communities. The executive order incentivizes higher standards of training for use of force and de-escalation tactics. Chapman said the executive order is “the first step to ensure that high standards and law enforcement accountability are promoted nationwide.” “I have remained committed in Loudoun County to the training of our deputies to protect and preserve life and to meet or exceed nationally recognized best practices,” Chapman wrote by email. The Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office already puts all uniformed deputies with two or more years on patrol through Crisis Intervention Training, a program of de-escalation that the sheriff ’s office cred-
Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office
Loudoun Sheriff Michael L. Chapman joins other law enforcement executives and President Donald Trump for a ceremonial signing of the president’s Executive Order on Safe Policing for Safe Communities.
its with reducing use of force by deputies, particularly when dealing with people who suffer mental illnesses. The 40-hour course introduces students to the social, psychological, and legal aspects associated with
mental illness, along with Asperger’s, autism, and the Wounded Warrior Program. Amid nationwide protests over police violence, especially against Black people, Trump in his remarks at the signing said incidents of police killings and violence against black people are down to “a small number of bad police officers.” “I use the word ‘tiny.’ It is a very small percentage, but you have them,” Trump said. Chapman backed those comments.
Police Arrest Suspect in Racist Damage Spree After receiving more than 30 reports of destruction of property in the Meadows Lane neighborhood over the past month, the Leesburg Police Department has arrested a suspect. Numerous victims reported damage to their vehicles—including having swastikas and “KKK” carved into their paint—as well as their tires being punctured. Jose Baltazar Flores, 59, of Leesburg, is charged with nine counts of destruction of property. He was held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. LPD investigators determined that Flores acted alone, and it is not believed to be associated with any hate groups. County court records show Flores has a long history of arrests, including more than 20 citations for public swearing or intoxication over the past decade, as well
“Considering there are over 800,000 law enforcement officers nationwide, approximately 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States, and tens of millions of police-citizen encounters annually, the actual number of violent incidents against African Americans by bad police officers is very small,” Chapman wrote. The order also makes no mention of race. “The Executive Order was designed to provide solutions to areas considered problematic to some agencies and is a good first step for law enforcement nationwide to adopt high professional standards,” Chapman wrote. The executive order has been criticized by reform advocates for not going far enough—including in a statement from Amnesty International. Kristina Roth, the senior program officer for Criminal Justice Programs at Amnesty International USA, said the executive order “amounts to a band-aid for a bullet wound, and the public will not be easily fooled by half measures when this moment is calling for transformational change of policing,” pointing out that in cases such as the death of Eric Garner at police hands, the chokehold used by New York policeman Daniel Pantaleo was already banned by department policy. n as charges of trespassing, impersonating law enforcement and probation violations.
Target Shooter Cited for Errant Rounds Another target shooter has been cited for illegally discharging of a firearm under a new county ordinance. On Sunday afternoon, Loudoun deputies were called to Georges Mill Road near Lovettsville where a resident found that trees on his property and a neighboring property had been struck by gunfire. Deputies located the person who was target shooting in the area and issued two summons for the improperly discharge of a firearm under a county ordinance that was enacted in December following several instances in which homes and property—and one person—were struck by rounds that left the property where target shooting was being practiced.
JUNE 25, 2020
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PAGE 17
NAACP Pushes for Transparency, Policy Changes Following Fitz Thomas’ Death LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
Community leaders are questioning the events surrounding the death of the Loudoun NAACP president’s son and are calling on the county’s 911 system and the Sheriff ’s Office to take some responsibility. The Loudoun NAACP and the family of Fitz Thomas, the 16-year-old who drowned in the confluence of the Potomac River in River Creek Club on June 4, held a press conference last Friday at the river’s edge to address circumstances surrounding Thomas’ death, the investigation into it and what they feel are needed policy changes within the 911 emergency response system. On hand to speak were Phillip Thompson, the former president of the Loudoun County NAACP and current president of Diverse Engagement; Leesburg Town Councilman Ron Campbell; Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax; and Michelle Thomas, Fitz’s mother and the current president of the Loudoun NAACP. On the evening of June 4, Fitz Thomas was pulled from the water near the confluence of the Potomac River and Goose Creek. First responders arrived nearly 40 minutes after the first 911 calls were made, according to Thomas, because those calls went to dispatch centers in both Loudoun and Montgomery County, MD. Recordings of those 911 calls obtained by Loudoun Now through a Freedom of Information Act request tell a story of people calling desperately for help, and furious or heartbroken that it isn’t coming. Callers can be heard trying to explain to dispatchers that they are calling from the Loudoun side of the river, and that they can see Montgomery County rescue units looking on the wrong side of the river. “It’s River Creek community,” said one caller. “God, it’s, guys, come on, can you please—Confluence Park, River Creek, we’re in Loudoun County, Leesburg, Virginia. How are you not getting this?” On other calls, a young woman can be heard running to the street looking for an ambulance as she calls 911 repeatedly for help, and other people can be heard trying to administer CPR. According to timestamps of those calls, the first call received in Loudoun came in at 6:21 p.m. That was the first call provided from Loudoun to answer the FOIA request; earlier calls had gone to Montgomery County. “They went the Maryland side of River Creek and we’re on the Virginia side, and someone’s drowning,” the caller said. They were transferred to Montgomery County dispatch. During the last call at 7:44 p.m., 14 minutes later, help still had not come. Earlier calls had gone to Montgomery County. “It’s been over 30 minutes, this kid’s going to die, OK,” said one caller transferred
Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
Loudoun NAACP President Michelle Thomas, alongside her daughter talks about what she says are needed changes to the county’s 911 emergency response system following the drowning death of her 16-year-old son, Fitz.
from Montgomery County dispatch, possibly the same person. “I’m just telling you guys, it’s been 30 f—ing minutes.” On Friday, Thompson said the investigation into Fitz’s death, which is being led by the Sheriff ’s Office, was not as transparent as it could be and that the office, to his knowledge, had yet to provide Michelle Thomas with any updates. Sheriff ’s Office Public Information Officer Kraig Troxell said the Sheriff ’s Office “has maintained regular contact with the victim’s family throughout this investigation” and that it “will share all results with the family once the investigation is completed.” Thompson said it was concerning to hear that Sheriff Michael Chapman joined President Donald Trump at the White House for Trump’s signing of the Executive Order on Safe Policing for Safe Communities early last week and that the investigation into Fitz’s death “needs to be transparent.” “We’re holding Sheriff Mike Chapman responsible for that,” he said. “Mike Chapman needs to be transparent about what’s going on here.” He noted that a press release the Sheriff ’s Office put out a day prior to Friday’s press conference did not specifically name Fitz, but instead read “the tragic drowning of a 16-year-old.” “That was completely unacceptable,” Thompson said. Thompson asserted that Fitz’s death is still a mystery, since Fitz was “a strong swimmer” and was “chiseled like a rock” but drowned in 5- to 8-foot-deep water. Fairfax, who said he was at the press conference not as Virginia’s lieutenant governor, but as a private attorney and friend of the Thomas family, said the 911 calls on the evening of Fitz’s death contained “nothing but miscommunication and a lack of empathy, a lack of urgency.” Fairfax said he reviewed the calls with
Michelle Thomas and that they were “shocking.” He said the 911 dispatchers expressed a “nonchalance” and were “deliberately” not listening to the callers. “It is an injustice that must be corrected with justice,” he said. “Justice delayed is justice denied.” Fairfax urged people with any information on the events surrounding Fitz’s death to step forward.
Thomas emphasized that the case about “gross negligence and incompetence.” She urged the emergency response system to reassess its policy and see what went wrong the evening of June 4. “We’re going to hold your feet to the fire for that policy,” she said. Thomas said that aside from never being able to get her son back, the kids who were with Fitz when he died will be traumatized for life. She said those same kids gave her family what the 911 call response system and EMS workers couldn’t give them—a chance for her son to survive. “For that I am forever grateful,” she said. Although there already exists a sign that reads “use of dock, boat launch and swimming at your own risk” on the banks of the confluence, Thomas urged the River Creek Club to also install signs warning about the dangers of swimming in the water, noting that she saw dozens of kids swimming in the river at that same spot the day after her son died. When asked if there were any hints of criminal activity at play surrounding Fitz’s death, Fairfax said that is still being looked into, adding that there are still questions of whether Fitz’s death was a natural event. Thompson said that the truth will come out. n
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JUNE 25, 2020
Business
Loudoun’s Hospitality Industry Shifts Focus as Region Reopens BY PATRICK SZABO
pszabo@loudounnow.com
Northern Virginia will soon enter the third phase of reopenings, meaning more people will feel comfortable enough to spend not only the day in Loudoun, but also the night. And when they do, they’ll be greeted by a brand-new set of safety protocols. Last Thursday, Middleburg’s Salamander Resort & Spa reopened its doors to guests after about three months of closure that forced General Manager Reggie Cooper to furlough all but six of his 420-person staff. Last weekend, the resort returned to 70-percent capacity. This weekend, it will be back to 80 percent capacity. To make that happen, the resort staff has committed to sanitizing more than ever—an adjustment that will most likely change the face of the hospitality industry forever. Visitors to Loudoun’s hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and other private homestays should expect a slightly different type of experience from now on. At Salamander, Cooper said the resort has changed the way it turns rooms over from guest to guest. His staff now disinfects and fogs each of the 168 hotel rooms when guests check out and even takes extra steps to disinfect television remote controls, which have been known by many as the most germ-ridden parts of hotel rooms. Now, the resort staff sanitizes those remotes with ultraviolet light and then wraps them in sleeves. Salamander Resort guests will also have peace of mind that their rooms are thoroughly cleaned before they insert their keys in the door, since those doors will be sealed with a sticker to show they were cleaned and sanitized. “We clean this place all day long, every day,” Cooper said. “There’s been a lot of changes.” Loudoun Bed & Breakfast Guild President Ellen Goldberg, who also owns and operates the Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Inn near Middleburg, said the most common changes among the close to 30 guild members include the elimination of breakfasts in common areas and the requirement for everyone to wear masks indoors and practice social distancing measures. Now, many B&Bs are offering self-serve breakfasts or delivering meals straight to
Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
Salamander Resort & Spa General Manager Reggie Cooper and Owner Sheila Johnson cut the ribbon to reopen the resort after months of closure on June 18.
guests’ bedroom doors. Goldberg said the majority of guild members are following American Hotel and Lodging Association health safety protocols. “That has made our potential guests feel a lot more comfortable,” she said. Goldberg said that while Briar Patch isn’t close to hosting the percentage occupancy that Salamander Resort is, it is seeing an increase in reservations and has been fortunate lately to lodge a few wedding parties. Last weekend, Goldberg’s bed and breakfast hosted a 30-person wedding. This weekend, it will fill up for another small wedding. “I really, really enjoy having those wedding folks back,” Goldberg said. Those types of small weddings have become a sort of trend amid the pandemic. Salamander Resort Sales and Marketing Director Douglas Camp said the resort is seeing more weddings featuring parties of less than 50 than it ever has before. And in addition to amending cleaning procedures to prepare for the return of guests, the Salamander Resort staff also performed tens of thousands of dollars of renovations to the property during the resort’s closure, including staining the wood
floors, painting, renovating the kitchen, draining the pools and repainting the bottoms, installing new furniture and more. “We kept ourselves pretty busy,” Cooper said. “We really made the most of that time to try and get ahead.” Moving into the next phases of reopenings, Cooper said the fall season looks to be a feasible time for when the resort might again host weddings and banquets in addition to meetings, which, he said, account for about half of Salamander’s revenue. Goldberg agreed, noting that “things will improve a lot” in the fall. She added that the hospitality industry most likely won’t return to 2019 levels until at least this time next year. In general, Goldberg said the bed and breakfast owners who are renting out rooms and cottages on more long-term bases are doing better than most, since the days of spending the weekend in the country have yet to return in full force. Goldberg said bed and breakfasts also have a leg up on hotels right now because they offer guests more acreage to roam and social distance. “I do think we have somewhat of an advantage,” she said. n
BUSINESS Announcements Preleasing Begins at Kincora’s The Jameson With plans for opening in midto late-summer, the 333-unit The Jameson at Kincora is offering virtual tours and virtual pre-leasing of its one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts. Developed by TRITEC Real Estate Inc. and managed by Greystar, The Jameson is pet-friendly and will provide its residents a range of amenities, including a rooftop patio with grills and firepits; a conference room; a 24-hour fitness center; a club room with bar, lounge and games; five outdoor courtyards; a swimming pool; storage and secure garage parking. Kincora, co-developed by TRITEC Real Estate, Inc. and Norton Scott LLC, is a community of 424-acres on the west side of Rt. 28 south of Rt. 7. The master plan provides for millions of square feet of Class A office and retail space, hotels, the future home of the National Museum of Intelligence and Special Operations and the Children’s Science Center, and 1,400 apartments and condominiums. Go to thejameson.com to schedule a virtual tour.
Warwick Reappointed to Accountancy Board Laurie Warwick has been appointed by Gov. Ralph Northam to a second term on the commonwealth’s Board of Accountancy. The Ashburn Warwick resident is a CPA with Ernst & Young. She served as the board’s vice chairwoman. The board was established in 1910 and is charged with regulating certified public accountants in Virginia through a program of examination, licensure, consumer protection, continuing professional education and peer reviews.
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PAGE 19
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HELP WANTED AT FAMILY PRACTICE Large family practice in Loudoun County with 6 locations and 28 providers looking for FT LPN’s or MA’s with a dedication to excellence. New LPN graduates welcome to apply. Pediatric and or family practice experience preferred. EHR experience highly recommended. We offer competitive pay rates, health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401K and many other benefits. Please send your resume to: lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-726-0804 attention Lisa
Patient Service RepresentativeFamily practice in Ashburn is seeking friendly, compassionate individual to join our growing patient care team. Duties include greeting patients, scheduling appointments, collecting co-pays, scanning documents and coordinating patient care needs. If you are detail-oriented, enjoy interacting with clients and are passionate about providing excellent customer service, we strongly encourage you to apply. Bilingual skills a plus. Fax resume to (571)223-1797 or email mabarca@lmgdoctors.com.
Home Care Agency needs CAREGIVERS in Vienna! Call 703-530-1360 and ask for Anne. homestead.com/507/homecare-jobs to begin!
Town of Leesburg Employment Opportunities Please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs for more information and to apply online. Resumes may be submitted as supplemental only. EOE/ADA. Regular Full-Time Positions Position
Department
Salary Range
Communications Technician (Police Dispatcher)
Police
$45,136-$75,961 DOQ
6/26/2020
Controller
Finance
$79,227-$135,636 DOQ
Open until filled
Utility Plant Operator: Trainee, I, II or Senior
Utilities – Water Supply
$41,353-$89,790 DOQ
Open until filled
Utility Plant Technician: Trainee, Technician or Senior
Utilities
$44,905-$89,790 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.
Closing Date
Office Nurse/Medical AssistantSeeking full-time office nurse/medical assistants to assist Nurse Practitioners and Physicians in a growing family practice with multiple locations. We offer competitive salary and a full benefit package including 401K and paid time off. Great supportive work environment for new nurse grads and those just returning to the medical work force. Fax resume to: (703)858-2880 or email to bwilkes@lmgdoctors.com.
Attention Loudoun County! Home Instead Senior Care is looking for caring and compassionate CAREGivers to become a part of our team and join our mission of enhancing the lives of aging adults throughout the Loudoun county community. Home Instead provides a variety of nonmedical services that allow seniors to remain in their home and meet the challenges of aging with dignity, care and compassion.
Why should you join Home Instead Senior Care? • Very rewarding - meet wonderful people, build fulfilling relationships, and make a difference in the lives of our clients. • Paid training in healthcare-industrybest practices. • Flexible scheduling - perfect for retirees, stay-at-home moms, or students. • Great supplemental income Call us today at 703.530.1360 or visit homeinstead.com/507/home-carejobs to begin!
See the full job listings at NowHiringLoudoun.com
PAGE 20
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JUNE 25, 2020
TOWN notes
Our Towns
LOVETTSVILLE Mayor, 3 Council Members Sworn into Office Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens swore in the mayor and three newly elected Town Council members on Monday at the Walker Pavilion. Mayor Nate Fontaine, who won election to a second two-year term, was sworn in for a new term that expires June 30, 2022. Clemens also swore in newly elected Town Council members David Earl, Joy Pritz and incumbent Buchanan Smith. Their terms expire June 30, 2024.
Town Reports More Revenue Amid Crisis
Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
Rt. 9 through the town of Hillsboro will remain closed to through traffic until Aug. 15 for Archer Western Corp. construction crews to complete more work in a time of less traffic and longer days.
Rt. 9 in Hillsboro Closed Through Aug. 15 BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com
Hillsboro-area residents, business owners, visitors and commuters will have to continue detouring around the town until mid-August. VDOT this week approved Hillsboro’s request to extend the full closure of Rt. 9 in town through Aug. 15 so that Archer Western Corp. construction crews can complete more work on the town’s traffic calming and pedestrian safety project. The initial closure permit had been scheduled to expire Friday. According to a town statement, the extended closure eliminates the need to close the highway again later this year. Mayor Roger Vance stated the extended closure could allow the town to reopen the highway to two-way traffic by late November, when area agribusinesses are busiest, according to the town’s statement. “It’s simply common sense and good governance to maximize productivity during this extraordinary time when traffic remains light, schools are closed, the
weather is favorable, and we have extended daylight,” Vance stated. Once the highway is reopened on Aug. 16, a period of partial closures will begin, allowing for eastbound traffic to pass through town from 4-9:30 a.m. on weekdays and westbound traffic to pass through town from Friday afternoons to Sunday evenings. Come 2021, Rt. 9 through town will be closed in its entirety one final time for a “short period,” according to the town’s statement. That will happen closer to the project’s completion in early spring. The town’s $14.33 million Rt. 9 road project—which is installing two roundabouts on either end of town, burying utility lines and filling in missing sections of sidewalk—began March 4 but was sidelined less than a month later when work on the water project broke the town’s water main in multiple spots. The Virginia Department of Health subsequently required the town to fix the issue immediately. To do that, town leaders opted to close both lanes of the highway through town starting May 4. While work on that main should wrap
up this Friday, according to the town’s statement, town leaders midway through that process realized that extending the closure would allow for more work to get done in a safer, less-traveled time of year. Before the project began, Hillsboro leaders announced that Rt. 9 through town would remain open with only flagging operations in place through late summer or early fall. Partial and full road closures through town at that time were scheduled to begin after that point and stretch through May 2021. From the beginning, several area business owners have expressed concern about the work and how closing the highway through town for any amount of time would be detrimental to their businesses. Once the town last month announced a tentative plan to extend the current full closure through mid-August, some business owners became even more vocal about their concerns and frustrations, claiming town leaders have changed closure plans on a whim, been unresponsive to their concerns, and have neglected to announce such decisions in a more public manner. n
According to the Town of Lovettsville’s May financial report—which details revenues and expenditures for all of Fiscal Year 2020 up to May 31— the town has pulled in more sales and meals tax and utility fee revenue than it budgeted for, even amid the coronavirus crisis and subsequent business closures. The town has already collected 103 percent of the sales tax revenue it budgeted for, which is about $19,000 more than it generated this time in Fiscal Year 2019. The town has also pulled in 115 percent of the meals tax revenue it budgeted for—about $14,000 more than it generated this time in the previous fiscal year. The town has pulled in nearly 110 percent of its projected water fee revenue, which comes in to be about $75,000 more than what it generated this time in Fiscal Year 2019. The town has also pulled in about 111 percent of its projected sewer fee revenue—about $120,000 more than what it generated this time in the last fiscal year.
PURCELLVILLE Outgoing Council Members Recognized, New Council Members Sworn In The Purcellville Town Council recognized three outgoing council members and had three new council members and the mayor sworn during at a special meeting at Town TOWN NOTES continues on page 23
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TOWN Notes continued from page 22
Hall on Tuesday. The council recognized council members Chris Bledsoe, Ryan Cool and Nedim Ogelman, none of whom sought re-election earlier this month, for their four years of service on the dais. All three were elected for a first time in 2016. Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens also swore in Mayor Kwasi Fraser, who won election to a fourth term in the June 4 elections, and newly elected council members Christopher Bertaut, Stanley Milan and Mary Jane Williams. All three ran on a slate alongside Fraser. The terms of all four will begin July 1. Fraser’s term will expire June 30, 2022 and the three council members’ terms will expire June 30, 2024. In this year’s election, Williams received 1,283 votes, Milan received 1,157 and Bertaut got 1,153. Fraser received 1,149 votes win over challenger Beverly Chiasson, by 222 votes.
Town Independence Day Parade is a Go While most community holiday events have been canceled because of COVID-19 concerns, the Town of Purcellville announced this week it will hold its annual Independence Day Parade as scheduled. from 12-1 p.m. on Saturday, July 4. Setup and assembly will begin at 11:15 a.m. at Loudoun Valley High School. The parade will then follow the traditional route, from Loudoun Valley to Emerick Elementary School on Nursery Avenue. To apply to participate in the parade, go to the town’s website or email events@purcellvilleva.gov and include a phone number for a return call.
Milling, Paving Work to Complete this Week The town’s paving contractor, Stuart M. Perry, is expected to complete milling and paving work this week. That work began last week and included Silcott Springs Road from A Street to Glendale Drive; 32nd Street from Glendale Drive to Davis Drive; Locust Grove Drive; North 16th street; School Street; South Maple Avenue from Stephens Drive to G Street; and 20th street from the Bush Tabernacle to A Street. The work is generally occurring from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays only. During that time, the roadway is remaining open with temporary lane closures during normal work hours. Parking is restricted. For more information, call the town at 540-338-7421.
ROUND HILL Evers Resigns from Council, Town to Appoint Replacement Councilwoman Amy Evers will resign from her seat at the meeting table on June 30 before a move out of town. The council will need to appoint someone in the interim until a special election is held this fall. Those interested in applying for the spot may send their applications to Town Administrator Melissa Hynes at mhynes@ roundhillva.org or 23 Main Street, P.O. Box 36, Round Hill, VA 20142 by Aug. 1. If no applications come in by then, the town will extend the deadline by 30 days. The town will then hold a special election on Nov. 3—the same day as the 2020 General Election—for residents to vote in a council member who will remain in the seat until Evers’ term was set to expire, on June 30, 2022.
Town Discusses Reopening Community Garden The Round Hill Town Council is considering a resident’s request to reopen the town’s community garden. Town Administrator Melissa Hynes said a resident recently expressed an interest in reopening the 0.13-acre garden, which is located off Falls Place and has sat fallow for several years. Hynes said the town staff needs to reach out to the resident who was originally responsible for the garden to see how it was handled at that time. She said the town will need to ensure whoever runs it would be fully responsible for it so that it does not become a town staff project. The council on July 1 could take a vote on how much water the town should provide the garden.
American Disposal to Take Over on July 1 Round Hill residents will have a new garbage and recycling company beginning July 1. American Disposal Services will take over for Patriot Disposal at that time. The last day Patriot will pick up trash and recycling will be this Wednesday, June 24, at which point it will also pick up residents’ trash and recycling containers. Residents are asked to leave their containers on the curb that day. American will deliver trash and recycling containers to residents this Saturday, June 27. The collection day will remain on Wednesdays. The new service is the product of a joint negotiation between American and the towns of Round Hill, Hillsboro and Middleburg.
PAGE 23
Obituaries Bethenia Esdelia Caison
Age 62 of Manassas, VA formerly of Aldie, VA. Departed this life on Monday, June 15, 2020 at Prince William Medical Center Manassas, VA. She will always be remembered for her love of her family and
friends. She is survived by her children, Kevin Jackson of Poolesville, MD, William Caison (Marianne) of Charlotte, NC and Temeka Caison of Henrico, VA; brothers, Garrett Jackson (Thomasena) of Ashburn, VA, Silvanus Jackson of Martinsburg, WV, Lawrence Jackson (Michelle) of Amissville, VA, and Kermit Jackson of Aldie, VA; sister, Eartha Minor (Randolph) of Leesburg, VA, husband, William R. Caison,
Jr., four grandchildren, Anthony Jackson, Alexis Jackson, Trinity Caison and William Caison,II; one great grandchild, Andre Jackson and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and family friends . Viewing and visitation was held on Friday June 19, 2020 at Lyles Funeral Chapel, 630 South 20th Street, Purcellville, VA 20132 Graveside services and Interment was held at the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Cemetery, Aldie, VA. on Saturday June 20, 2020 with Rev. Eugene Pearson officiating. Arrangements by LYLES FUNERAL SERVICE, Serving N. Virginia. Eric S. Lyles, Director. Lic. VA/ MD/DC. 800-388-1913.
William Sanford Smith
William Sanford Smith, 76, of Berryville, Va., died Sunday, June 21, 2020, at his home. Mr. Smith was born August 20, 1943, in Elizabeth City, N.C., the son of Walter Powell Smith, Jr. and Nancy Iva Twiford Smith. He retired as a branch chief with the United States Department of Agriculture. He previously employed as a social worker and parole officer in Virginia. Bill was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing and boating and a machinist. He attended Ferrum College and graduated from The College of William and Mary with a degree in American history. He was a member of Harmony United Methodist Church, Tanner Hunt Club and the Izaak Walton League. He married Mary Lee Martin on July 15, 1967, in Arlington. She died on July 18, 1998. He married Diane Ford on Dec. 8, 2002, in Hamilton. Surviving with his wife are two daughters,
Death Notice Stephen J. Lamb, age 70, of Sterling, VA passed away on Monday, June 15, 2020. Steve is survived by his son, Technical Sgt. Matthew Lamb, US Air Force, and daughter-inlaw Technical Sgt. Jamie Lamb, US Air Force, four grandchildren, Adrienne, Rory, Dean, and
Carrie Abell (Brian) of Middleburg and Jessica Ramirez (Devon) of Purcellville; two step-sons, Allen Ford (Wendy) of Front Royal and Bobby Ford (Donnell) of Stephens City; a sister, Betty Schutte of Sandston; a brother, Walter Smith III of Richmond; and six grandchildren, Savannah Ford, Noah Ford, Ethan Ford, Hudson Ramirez, Hazel Ramirez and Marshall Abell. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Nancy Lickey. A graveside service will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 25, 2020, in Hillsboro Cemetery, Hillsboro with the Rev. Debra Lucas officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork St., Winchester, Va. 22601. Arrangements are being handled by Enders & Shirley Funeral Home, Berryville, VA. To view the obituary and send condolences online, please visit www.endersandshirley.com. Abigail Lamb and his beloved brothers Dorrance W. Lamb of Rochester, NY and Bruce W. Lamb of Rockville, MD. During the COVID environment, arrangements will be private. Steve will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery and there will be a memorial service to celebrate Steve’s life at a later date. Online condolences may be sent to www.loudounfuneralchapel.com
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PAGE 24
Purcellville Police Report 2019 Crime Statistics
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CommunityFoundationLF.org (703) 779-3505
JUNE 25, 2020
Purcellville’s 2019 crime statistics were both up and down compared with 2018, according to the town’s annual police report. Aggravated assault was down by 14 percent, drunk in public was down by 37 percent, property destruction was down by 35 percent, auto theft was down by 54 percent, trespassing was down by 56 percent, disorderly conduct was down by 50 percent, and weapons violations were down by 83 percent. Most notably, rape and robbery were down by 100 percent to zero cases for both, from four rapes and one robbery in 2018. Burglaries were up by 71 percent, curfew violations were up by 50 percent, narcotics-related offenses were up by 43 percent, DUIs were up by 43 percent, runaway reports were up by 33 percent and simple assaults were up by 19 percent. The number of arrests totaled 173—154 for misdemeanor charges and 19 for felonies. Police were dispatched 2,538 times, down by 24 calls from 2018. The number of times officers initiated activity was up by nearly 3,000 over 2018, to 17,163.
On the roads, officers wrote 1,268 traffic tickets in 2019—1,068 written summons and 200 parking tickets. They also issued 1,271 warnings. In all, officers took close to 300 more traffic enforcement actions in 2019 than in 2018. According to Chief Cynthia McAlister’s report, her department faces challenges from the nationwide 60-percent drop in applicant pools, although it was able to hire four new officers last year. But, she wrote, those hires did not keep up with the attrition the department experiences. The department entered 2020 with five sworn position vacancies and one officer over hire vacancy. McAlister wrote that she is working with Town Manager David Mekarski and the Town Council to find the best approach to finding a new police station— one that offers a necessary work area, and features storage capacity, community space and emergency operations center, as well as a safe and professional facility. View the full report at purcellvilleva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9276/ PPD-2019-Annual-Report. n
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Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at FAVORITE Conveniently located Cochran Family Dental are in Dr.of Brian Cochran and his staff at The Village Leesburg to providing a comprehensive dental office Dr. Brian Cochran and his For staff atand What we offer committed Dr. Brian Cochran at Discounts Available Patients Conveniently located inhis staff 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 Cochran Family Dental are Conveniently located in Conveniently located in with aCochran caring and gentle style that will serve most all of Cochran Family Dental areFAVORITE Without Insurance! Family Dental are • Cheerful, serene, state of the art office The Village Leesburg Leesburg, VA 20175 Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff atto Theof Village Leesburg your family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance committed providing aofcomprehensive dental The Village of Leesburg committed to providing a comprehensive dental office office • Digital x-rays (reduces radiation by 90%) 1503 committed to providing apayment comprehensive dental office 703-771-9034 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 Dodona Terrace #210 Cochran Family Dental are friendly office offering budget wise options. Dr. with a caring and gentle style that will servemost most all with a caring and gentle style that will serve allofof 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 Leesburg, VA 20175 Dr. Brian Cochran and20175 his staff at most • We file all dental benefit claims withhasa provided caring and gentle style that will serve allInsurance of your family’s dental needs under one roof. Cochran trusted dental care to the citizens Leesburg, VA committed to providing a comprehensive dental officeone roof. Insurance your family’s dental needs under Leesburg, VA 20175 703-771-9034 • Cosmetic Dentistry (veneers, whitefamily’s fillings, Zoom Whitening) Cochran Family Dental are friendly office offering budget payment options. Dr. of Loudoun for 13 and years. your dental needs under one roof. wise Insurance 703-771-9034 HOURS: WHITENING SPECIAL with a caring and gentle style that will serve most all of friendly office offering budget wise payment Dr. WHITENING Cochran hasTeeth provided trusted dental care tooptions. the office citizens 703-771-9034 • Crowns and Bridges, all phases of Implants, Root Canals and Dentures Conveniently located in FREE Whitening Kit committed to providing a comprehensive dental friendly office Dr. Mon. & Wed.: 8amoffering - 6pm budget wise payment options. SPECIAL of Loudoun for 13 years. with every scheduled The Village at Leesburg facing Cochran has provided trusted dental care to the citizens your family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance • We offer periodontal therapy to restore your health well asbenefits oralHOURS: cancer screening. Tues. - Thurs.: - 4pmas WHITENING Use your before the end will with aoral caring gentle style that serve mostSPECIAL all of Cochran has7am provided trusted dental care to the citizens cleaning or procedure. WHITENING Wegmans and and 1503 Dodona Terrace Route 7 between located in- 6pm FREE Teeth Whitening Kit of Conveniently the year receive a FREE Mon. &and Wed.: 8am Fri.:Fitness 8am - 1pm of Loudoun for 13 years. Offer Expires 8/31/16. LA friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Dr. SPECIAL with every scheduled The Village at Leesburg facing Teeth Whitening Kitunder with every HOURS: your family’s dental needs one roof. Insurance Suite 210 Conveniently located in the Village of Leesburg WHITENING SPECIAL of Loudoun for 13 years. Tues. Thurs.: 7am 4pm Please present coupon to Sat.: 8am 1pm (once/month) Use your benefits or before the end Mon & -Wed: 8-6pm cleaning procedure. HOURS: Route 7 between Wegmans and WHITENING scheduled cleaning or procedure. WHITENING SPECIAL Terrace Leesburg, 20175 located in FREE Teeth Whitening of the year and receive a FREE Kit receive the Not to bepayment Fri.: 8am -1,citizens 1pm Cochran hasTerrace provided trusted dental care to the TuesEmergency &1503 Thurs: 7-4pmConveniently 1503VA Dodona #210 • Dodona Leesburg, VA&20175 •LA 703-771-9034 Mon. Wed.: 8am -offer. 6pm WHITENING January 2016. Offer Expires 8/31/16. Fitness 24hr Service friendly offering budget wise options. Conveniently located inOffer Expires FREE Teeth Whitening Teeth Whitening KitKit with everyDr. Suite 210office
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LoudounNow
al of them are now having follow-up tests performed. The testing cost the town $7,500 in setup fees, which it pulled from its $891,932 allocation CARES Act funding. But Aperiomics reimbursed $4,680 of that payment to the town. Under the agreement between the two, Aperiomics was required to pay the town back $30 per patient for the first 250 patients. n
LoudounNow
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Route 7 between Wegmans and Fri.: 1pm Offer Expires WHITENING 1503 Dodona Terrace LA Fitness Not to be combined with any8/31/16. other offer. Dr. friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com whom also tested positive for antibodies. 703-771-9034 FREE of the year and receive a 24hr Emergency Service of Loudoun for 13 years. Visit our website: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Fri.:Fitness 8am - 1pm Conveniently located in LA Teeth Whitening KitDr. with every Suite 210 Offer Expires 8/31/16. friendly offering budget wise payment options. Please present coupon toDr. Sat.: 8am 1pm (once/month) Mon & -Wed: 8-6pm friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Teeth Whitening Kitcleaning with every 210office scheduled or procedure. SPECIAL WHITENING TheSuite Village at Leesburg facing Please present coupon to Aperiomics—a Sterling-based bioVisit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Sat.: 8am 1pm (once/month) Leesburg, VA 20175 Mon & -Wed: 8-6pm Visit our website: TheLeesburgVADentist.com receive the offer. Not to be Conveniently located in Cochran has provided trusted dental care to the citizens Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm scheduled cleaning or procedure. Offer Expires January 1, 2016. 24hr Emergency Service Use your benefits before the end Leesburg, VA 20175 receive the offer. Not to be Cochran has provided trusted dental care to the citizens Tues &Village Thurs: 7-4pm Route 7 between Wegmans and Offer Expires January 1, 2016.to w/any SPECIAL Please present coupon receive the offer. combined other Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) 24hr Emergency Service The at Leesburg facing 1503 Dodona TerraceCochran technology company—conducted the has provided trusted dental care to the citizens of the year and receive a FREE Please present coupon to receive the offer. w/any other Not toyour be combined any other Fri: 8-1pmRoute • Sat: 13 8-1pm (Once/month) 703-771-9034 Use benefitswith before the offer. end Emergency Service and combined LALoudoun Fitness of for years. 724hr between Wegmans Teeth Whitening Kit with every Not to be combined with any other offer. 1503 Dodona Terrace Suite 210 703-771-9034 24hryears. Emergency Service of Loudoun for 13 testing, which consisted of RT-PCR tests of the year and receive a FREE Mon & Wed: 8-6pm LA Fitness scheduled cleaning or procedure. Teeth Whitening Kit with every forwebsite 13 years. Suite 210 Visit our at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Leesburg, VA 20175 of Loudoun Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm Conveniently located in to show cases of active infections and Offer Expires January 1, 2016. Mon & Wed: 8-6pm Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com scheduled cleaning or procedure. Conveniently located in Leesburg, VA 20175 Please present7-4pm coupon to receive the offer. Conveniently located in Fri: 8-1pm •The Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) Tues & Thurs: Offer Expires January 1, 2016. Village atFri:Leesburg facing IgM/IgG Antibody tests to show virus Not to be combined with any other offer. 703-771-9034 TheConveniently Please present coupon to receive the offer. located in 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) 24hr Emergency Service Village at Leesburg facing Use your benefits before theoffer. end Not to be combined with any other The Village at Leesburg facing Route 7 between Wegmans 703-771-9034 24hr Emergencyand Service antibodies. 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Patients covered by Medicare Suite 210 Teeth Whitening Kit with & Thurs: 7-4pm Suite 210 OfferPlease Expires January 1, 2016. present coupon to receive theevery offer. Mon & Wed: 8-6pm Tues Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) scheduled cleaning or procedure. Mon & Wed: 8-6pm Please present coupon to receive the offer. Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) scheduled cleaning or procedure. Not to be combined with any other offer. were required to pay nothing. Everyone Leesburg, VA 20175Leesburg, VA 24hr Emergency Service Tues20175 & Thurs: 7-4pm 24hr Offer ExpiresNot January 1, 2016. to be combined with anyJanuary other offer. Tues & Thurs:Service 7-4pm Offer Expires 1, 2016. Emergency who was tested should have received rePlease present coupon to receive the offer. Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm Fri: (Once/month) Please present couponbefore to receivethe the offer. 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) Use your benefits end sults within 12 to 72 hours. NotService to be combined offer. withthe Notany to beother combined any other Use yourwith benefits before endoffer. 24hr Emergency Service24hr Emergency According to Aperiomics Co-foundofyear the and yearreceive and receive a FREE of the a FREE er and CEO Crystal Icenhour, the tests Whitening Kit every with every TeethTeeth Whitening Kit with yielded a positivity rate of about 9 perMon & Wed: 8-6pm scheduled cleaning or procedure. Mon & Wed: 8-6pm scheduled cleaning or procedure. cent, which is slightly higher than the Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm Offer Expires January 1, 2016. Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm 7-percent positivity rate reported by the Offer Expires January Please coupon1,to2016. receive the offer. Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month)Please presentpresent state. Icenhour said she personally called coupon to receive theother offer. offer. Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) Not to be combined with any 24hr Emergency Service all the COVID-positive individuals to let Not to be combined with any other offer. 24hr Emergency Service them know of their status. She said sever-
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WHITENING WHITENING Conveniently located in Conveniently located in 703-771-9034 SPECIAL 703-771-9034 The Village at Leesburg facing SPECIAL The Village at Leesburg facing Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Route 7 between Wegmans and 703-771-9034 Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com 703-771-9034 1503 Dodona Terrace Route 7 between Wegmans and 1503 Dodona Terrace LA Fitness LA TheLeesburgVADentist.com Fitness Suite 210 Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Visit our website at: Suite 210 Leesburg, VA 20175 Leesburg, VA 20175
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JUNE 25, 2020
Loco Living
Small Town Pride
Western Loudoun’s “Rainbow Houses” Create Community BY JAN MERCKER
jmercker@loudounnow.com
It started with an inflatable rainbow Christmas tree on Purcellville’s Main Street. Jane Turner and her fiancée, Tiffany Burtt, have been adding rainbow flags and bunting to their house since last summer. Being LGBTQ in western Loudoun can be lonely, Turner said, but in the past year, the Rainbow House has turned into a beacon for young people and a touchpoint for allies. After Turner put up the illuminated rainbow tree last December, she got a joyful shout-out on a local social media page. That post snowballed and inspired Turner to launch the Purcellville Pride Facebook group for LGBTQ community members, family and allies. “To me the flags are for the kids who aren’t out yet,” Turner said. “I’m not out not because I need everybody to know who I am but because of that one kid who might walk by and feel like it’s OK. ... It’s about love.” As the rainbows continued to pop up, notes started to pour in, often simply addressed to The Rainbow House. A college student wrote to share that she brought her girlfriend home to Purcellville for the first time and immediately drove by Turner’s home. A high school counselor wrote to say the house comes up in conversations
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Jane Turner and her fiancée Tiffany Burtt sit outside their house on Purcellville’s Main Street, sometimes known simply as “the Rainbow House.”
with LGBTQ students struggling to express themselves. A local mom posted that her 5-year-old calls it “the house that loves everybody.” Rainbow paintings from young kids and bouquets of flowers with grateful notes appeared on the porch. The house and the Facebook group have turned the couple into local “celesbians,” Turner said with a laugh. They get recognized while running errands in town and were stopped by a mom in a local Dollar
Store who shared her own story of moving from fear to acceptance with her own teen daughter’s coming out. “People have left flowers on the porch,” Turner said. “People will drive by with their windows down and scream out the windows, ‘We love your house!’” In Lovettsville, another high-profile couple, Sheryl Frye and Kris Consaul, are taking a page from Turner’s book. Last weekend, they turned their familiar white picket fence in the middle of town into a
Organizers Cancel Waterford, Bluemont Fairs In the interest of public health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers of two of Loudoun’s longest running annual community festivals have made the tough call to not hold the events this fall. The Waterford Foundation Board of Directors voted last week to cancel the 2020 Waterford Fair, originally planned for Oct. 2-4. This would have been the 76th year for the celebration of Americana, one of the longest running craft festivals in the U.S. “After closely monitoring the CDC and state official’s advice, polling our artisans and vendors, and seeking the expertise of
our county visitor’s bureau, the Fair Committee made the recommendation to the Board to cancel the 2020 festival. We do not take this decision lightly. It is devastating to our budget and to that of our artisans, vendors, and many community partners, who rely on the Fair as a major fundraiser,” said Fair Director Tracy Kirkman. Organizers are hoping to support the juried fine craftsmen and artisans who were selected to participate in the festival with the first ever Virtual Waterford Fair, the details of which are being worked out. In the meantime, participating artisans are featured on the Foundation’s
online shop at waterfordfoundation.org/ shop-our-artisans. “The festival depends on the work and passion of hundreds of artists, volunteers, vendors and Waterford residents, many who fall into the “at risk” category. These groups come together each year to showcase the beauty and history of the National Historic Landmark of Waterford, now celebrating its 50th anniversary, and to educate fairgoers on traditional arts and fine craft. While we are heartbroken about this decision, we feel it is the right decision for 2020,” said Foundation Executive Director Stephanie Thompson. It would have been the 51st year for the
brightly colored rainbow. “It largely came from seeing Jane and Tiffany’s house and watching them get the letters they got from the young people— helping them to know they matter,” Consaul said. “It’s a good thing to let the kids in the community know that if they ever need somebody to talk to, here’s a place they fly the flag.” The couple, who got married on Valentine’s Day in 2019, invited community members to come out and help paint. “We wanted to make sure that everybody and anybody felt like they could come and help,” Frye said. “That it really was about the love in Lovettsville. ... The response was tremendous.” Being openly gay in conservative western Loudoun isn’t always easy. But there’s far more support than animosity, both couples say. Turner, who owns a well-known equestrian facility, said that when she came out six years ago, there were some personal and professional upheavals. “I think it was a shock to many of the people who knew me. It was very lonely,” Turner said. Turner lost a few clients and a few friends. She has three children in local public schools, and there have been some canceled playdates and schoolyard aggresSMALL TOWN PRIDE continues on page 28 Bluemont Fair, which had been scheduled for Sept. 19-20. Organizers noted a tradition of holding the festival regardless of weather or other extraordinary circumstances, including numerous hurricanes, copious mud, fallen trees on the main street, and loss of electricity. The fair was even held the weekend following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which provided residents with a much-appreciated distraction from the sorrow and fears of the time. However, the worldwide pandemic, and its threat of serious—even fatal—illness, has proved insurmountable, organizers said. For more information or inquiries about Bluemont Fair, go to bluemontfair.org. n
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JUNE 25, 2020
ARTS roundup LOCO LIVE Live Music: The Jared Stout Band Duo Friday, June 26, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Hillsboro Details: facebook.com/harpersferrybrewing High energy Americana with soul, funk, country and rock from Jared Stout and Robby Carden.
Live Music: Steel Drum Friday Friday, June 26, 6-9:30 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com Get into the island spirit with Caribbean steel drum music. No reservations are available, and seating capacity is limited.
Live Music: Tyme & Lace Saturday, June 27, noon-2 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. 50 West Vineyards, 39060 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg Details: facebook.com/50westvineyards This acoustic duo covers James Taylor, Colbie Caillat, Stevie Nicks and other mellow favorites. Contact the winery about reservation requirements.
Live Music: Matty D Saturday, June 27, 1-5 p.m. Bear Chase Brewing Company, 18294 Blue Ridge Mountain Road, Bluemont Details: bearchasebrew.com Matt Davis plays favorite tunes from a range of genres and eras.
Live Music: Pete Lapp Saturday, June 27, 1 p.m. Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro Details: doukeniewinery.com Acoustic interpretations of classic and alternative rock songs from Bon Jovi to Mumford and Sons. Contact the winery for reservation details.
Live Music: Tim Marcum Saturday, June 27, 4-7 p.m. Hillsborough Vineyards, 36716 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro Details: hillsboroughwine.com Soak in one of Loudoun’s best view’s and country tunes from a LoCo cowboy.
Live Music: 8 Track Jones Saturday, June 27, 5-8 p.m. Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts Details: vanishbeer.com Celebrate summer with ’80s and ’90s party covers from Northern Virginia.
Live Music: Phil Rossi Saturday, June 27, 5-8 p.m. 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro Details: 868estatevineyards.com Rossi serves up top tunes from the ‘60s through today, featuring loops, percussion and tasty grooves.
Live Music: The Derailleurs Saturday, June 27, 6 p.m. B Chord Brewing, 34266 Williams Gap Road, Round Hill Details: bchordbrewing.com Enjoy gypsy jazz with an old timey groove on B Chord’s sprawling lawn.
Live Music: Torrey B Saturday, June 27, 6 p.m. Crooked Run Brewing, 22455 Davis Drive #120, Sterling Details: crookedrunbrewing.com Saturday evening fun with R&B, funk, soul, rock and blues from a Crooked Run favorite.
Live Music: The Willing Saturday, June 27, 8 p.m. The Horseshoe Curve, 1162 Pine Grove Road, Bluemont Details: facebook.com/ Courtesy of The Willing horseshoecurve This acoustic trio covers a range of genres from classic rock to country to folk with a soulful, energetic vibe. Seating is limited. Call for a reservation.
PAGE 27
Live Music: Andrew O’Day Sunday, June 28, noon-2 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. 50 West Vineyards, 39060 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg Details: facebook.com/50westvineyards O’Day is known for soulful tunes with influences from R&B to country. Contact the winery about reservations.
Live Music: Jimmy Lee Sunday, June 28, 2 p.m. 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro
ARTS ROUNDUP continues on page 28
FIREWORKS SAFETY ATTENDING A PROFESSIONAL FIREWORKS SHOW MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE THIS 4TH OF JULY, BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE CONSUMER FIREWORKS A SAFE ALTERNATIVE. FIREWORKS CAUSE THOUSANDS OF SERIOUS INJURIES EVERY YEAR. THE LOUDOUN COUNTY COMBINED FIRE AND RESCUE SYSTEM ENCOURAGES YOU TO FIND FUN AND CREATIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY WITHOUT FIREWORKS. IF YOU DO USE CONSUMER FIREWORKS, KNOW THE RISKS AND FOLLOW THESE TIPS!
DON'T use illegal fireworks! DO use only legal fireworks purchased from a stand with a Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office permit.
NEVER use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol! DON'T light fireworks indoors! DO use fireworks a safe distance away from homes, and steer clear of brush, leaves and flammable substances.
NEVER allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks and maintain constant adult supervision. DO light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance.
DON'T light fireworks in your hand! DO Place fireworks on stable ground, never in a container, and ensure it won't tip when firing.
SPARKLERS ALONE CAUSE MORE THAN 25% OF EMERGENCY ROOM FIREWORKS INJURIES!
NEVER point or throw fireworks at anyone! DON'T try to re-light "a dud" or malfunctioning firework! DO soak spent fireworks in water for several hours before discarding into a fire-proof container. Keep the container outside, away from the home. DO Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby in case of fire.
For additional fire and life safety information, visit loudoun.gov/firemarshal or call 703.737.8600.
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PAGE 28
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VOTED yet?
Small town pride
that’s very engaged around events and town politics and people coming together to do continued from page 26 things really makes this feel like home to us,” Frye said. The couple and their family are regulars sions. But there also are upstanders and allies. And so far, the couple have only gotten at Lovettsville’s restaurants and the local coffee shop. “I’ve never gotten a sideways one anonymous negative note. “I didn’t feel angry about that. I felt sad glance or a comment,” Frye said. But Consaul, who works as a real estate for the person that they believed that so agent, said there have been moments where much they felt the need to tell me,” Turner she wasn’t quite as sure about speaking out said. “The overwhelming majority were so loudly on LGBTQ and political issues. positive. ... Once we started getting feed“I had a decision to make. Do I stay back, we realized this is helping kids. ... I think being true and being honest is how quiet or do I go public about my political feelings and thoughts? I decided it was just change is going to happen.” Burtt is a Mississippi native, mom of too important,” she said. “I lost a client or an adult son and technology entrepreneur two, but I also gained clients. Since we’re who has lived in the D.C. area for 30 years. in a position to be public about what we She was living in Ashburn when she met think and feel, I feel that we ought to do it. Turner last year. The couple is planning a The rainbow fence is just another step in upping the presence, upping the statement. small wedding later this summer. For Burtt, the small displays of allyship The more people who speak out publicly, in Purcellville, like posting rainbow stick- the more people who want to speak out but ers in local shops and homes, are inspiring. are a little afraid, it gives them the support “I don’t think people need to hang flags to do so as well” In addition to the fence, the couple and do what we do. Just showing support and solidarity,” Burtt said. “And voting is is planning a “social justice installation” in their yard with flags from Black Lives huge” Frye and Consaul are well-known com- Matter, the Human Rights Campaign and munity leaders and ubiquitous volunteers American Indian Movement and other orfor town events and community organi- ganizations. The couple are also inviting zations. Both have run for local elected community members to add protest signs office, and Consaul currently serves on to the installation. “Being in a red part of a purply counthe Lovettsville Planning Commission. Consaul has two grown children and Frye ty, it’s definitely our responsibility to make has two children at local schools. Frye is sure that people around us know that a former cheerleading coach and youth LGBTQ doesn’t mean different, doesn’t sports volunteer and said sometimes sup- mean other. The people who know us port comes from unexpected places, like know us, regardless of our relationship,” cheer squad moms and local youth football Frye said. “We want to make sure that we’re responsibly holding that flag and giving leagues. “Being engaged, being in a community people a touchpoint.” n
ARTS roundup continued from page 27
Details: 868estatevineyards.com Musical favorites from the ‘70s through today from the versatile Jimmy Lee.
Live Music: Just South of 7
LoudounNow
Sunday, June 28, 1-4 p.m. Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts Details: vanishbeer.com The Leesburg-based rockers return to Vanish for their post-shutdown debut.
Live Music: Stealing Dawn 2 0 2 0
LOUDOUN’S
FAVORITE loudounnow.com/favorites Voting ends on July 11th.
JUNE 25, 2020
Sunday, June 28, 1 p.m. Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro Details: doukeniewinery.com Relax with blues, jazz, rock, pop and beyond. Contact the winery about reservations.
Live Music: Bob Hale Sunday, June 28, 2-5 p.m. Maggie Malick Wine Caves, 12138 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro Details: maggiemalickwinecaves.com California Bob brings an eclectic classic rock sound.
KEEP ON STREAMING Quarantined Coffee Concerts: Emma Rowley Friday, June 26, 7-8 p.m. facebook.com/kingstreetcoffee Purcellville-raised, Nashville-based pop artist Emma Rowley performs in King Street Coffee’s latest Quarantined Coffee Concert.
Quentin Walston Trio Streams Live Saturday, June 27, 7-8:30 p.m. facebook.com/barnsofrosehill Quentin Walston is joined by Daniel Kelly II on drums and Benjamin Rikhoff on upright bass for their first online performance with The Barns of Rose Hill.
JUNE 25, 2020
Unemployment continued from page 3 in recent weeks involves Loudouners not receiving their unemployment checks. Wexton said she was working to help her constituents in multiple ways—by walking them through the application process to ensure they make no errors in their paperwork, by nudging the state and by working through Congress to pass the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions, or HEROES, Act. Helping Virginians through the filing process has proven beneficial for some, Wexton said, since many claimants simply are inputting incorrect information in the state’s online system. Fogg said one noticeable mistake many claimants make is entering their social security numbers
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incorrectly. Another problem relates to continued weekly claims. Wexton said that one of her constituents wasn’t getting her checks because she was updating the same week with new information every seven days, rather than updating the current week with that information. For reasons like that, Wexton has volunteered to help people through the entire filing process from beginning to end. “Sometimes that will solve a lot of issues,” she said. For cases that involve error on the state’s side, Wexton also sometimes contacts the Virginia Employment Commission directly to better grab the state’s attention. But, she said, that doesn’t always work. Congress in May also passed the HE-
PAGE 29
ROES Act, which proposes to extend the period people receive an additional $600 in their unemployment checks through January 2021. Wexton said Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell appeared before the House Committee on Financial Services last week and asserted that it would be detrimental to the nation’s economy to not extend those $600 weekly payments to the unemployed. “We are definitely fighting for that,” Wexton said about the bill, which is now under review in the Senate. For now, those grappling with the unemployment system will be forced to continue living the most frugal lives they can. Koussis said she has been living “very, very carefully” and that while she has saved some money, her funds have been dwindling.
Phase 3 continued from page 1 after Loudoun and Northern Virginia entered Phase Two, which allowed a return to restaurants, places of worship, salons and tasting rooms on a reduced-capacity basis. During that time, the number of new COVID-19 cases and the percentage of positive test results have continued to decline locally and statewide. The move to further reduce restrictions comes at a time when many states are experiencing sharp increases in caseloads. Northam said Virginians have done well in efforts to curb the spread of the virus and said residents remain safest at home, teleworking when possible and wearing face coverings. While Loudoun County’s COVID-19 case reports continue to improve, with a downward trend in new cases and the percentage of positive tests for the infection, there also are troubling numbers. According to the latest tabulations, the number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations and deaths have spiked over the past week, nearing the highest levels since the outbreak began in March. There have been 13 deaths reported since June 15, bringing the countywide total to 84. It represents the largest spike since May, when, during two weeklong spans, more than a dozen people died. Eighteen people died between May 8 and May 15, and 14 died between May 15 and May 28. The seven-day moving average for hospitalized coronavirus patients in Loudoun reached 7.3 over the weekend, up from
Aperiomics
Nearly 200 people were tested for COVID-19 at a drive-through testing event in Purcellville last Friday.
a previous high of 5 on June 11. Sixteen hospitalizations were reported on Saturday, the highest daily figure so far. Of the 3,612 cases reported in Loudoun, 255 have required hospitalization, according to the figures. Nearly 45 percent, 144, of the hospitalized patients are of Latin descent; 83 are white and 17 are Black. Among the fatal cases, nearly three out of four deaths are white patients, most age 80 or older. Also, more than 70 percent were residents of senior living centers. Other measurements continued to show improvement. Monday’s seven-day average of confirmed patients—237.6— was the lowest since May 8. The average rate of positive results among those tested also continues to decline, falling below 8 percent for the first time. Overall, health department figures show there have been 3,612 COVID-19 cases in Loudoun since the outbreak began in March.
Senior Living Center Data Released After months of stating that a Virginia law prohibited the disclosure of COVID-19 case information at individual nursing homes, state authorities on Friday released that data. In Loudoun, a total of 376 cases and more than 60 deaths have been attributed to outbreaks at eight area senior living centers, as of June 22. More than 70 percent of Loudoun’s coronavirus-related deaths have involved residents at senior living communities. Only one facility, Heritage Hall in Leesburg, has an active outbreak. According to the report, the outbreak began May 19 at the nursing home and has resulted in 90 residents testing positive for the virus; 14 have died. That is the largest outbreak since April 10, when infections spread in the Potomac Falls Health and Rehab Center. There, 86
“Sometimes you have to go hungry,” she said. Those struggling can also apply for one of thousands of jobs now available in Virginia. According to the Virginia Employment Commission, there were 400,000 job vacancies posted on the Virginia Workforce Connection website as of June 19. While those jobs and more exist, the state has flagged for review more than 12,000 reports of claimants who have been offered, but have declined, opportunities to go back to work. More than 79,000 cases are pending administrative review, many of which involve circumstances in which a claimant reported being out of work for a reason other than being laid off or furloughed, or in which an employer has disputed the claimant’s reason for being out of work. n residents became infected and 21 died. The Johnson Center at Falcons Landing was the first to report an outbreak, on March 28. There, 48 residents tested positive. The number of deaths was not reported because it was a low number and because the community suppressed the information to preserve anonymity. During the second week of April, outbreaks occurred at the Ashby Ponds multi-care community, the Sunrise at CountrySide assisted living center, and the Potomac Falls Health and Rehab Center. At Ashby Ponds, the county’s largest senior living community, 62 residents tested positives and 10 died. At Sunrise, 14 residents were infected and five died. The following week, two more communities were hit with outbreaks. Waltonwood at Ashburn had nine cases, with the number of deaths not reported for privacy reasons. Forty-one residents at Tribute at One Loudoun tested positive and 10 died. On April 23, an outbreak was reported at the Atria Sterling assisted living center. There, 19 residents tested positive, with the number of deaths suppressed for privacy reasons. With the exception of the active outbreak at Heritage Hall, all the other cases are listed as “pending closure” by the state health department. Phase Three protocols allow—for the first time since March—family members to meet with residents of senior living centers. In centers that meet those conditions, visitors would be allowed inside after being screened for illness and rubbing up with hand sanitizer and putting on face coverings. Physical distancing will be required. n
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JUNE 25, 2020
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, July 15, 2020 in order to consider: AMENDMENTS TO SECTIONS 209 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY Changes to Satellite Absentee Voting Locations Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-1427, 24.2-306, 24.2-307, and 24.2-701.2 the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intention to propose for passage amendments to Section 209, Voting Precincts and Polling Places, of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County. The proposed amendment includes the following: 209.56 CENTRAL ABSENTEE VOTER ELECTION PRECINCT: 1. In addition to the Office of the General Registrar the following locations are proposed as satellite absentee/early voting locations; a. Ridgetop Office Building – 21641 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling, 20166 b. Dulles South Senior Center – 24950 Riding Center Drive, South Riding, 20152 c. Carver Senior Center – 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville, 20132 For November General Elections the Office of the General Registrar and each satellite location shall be open at a minimum of two Saturdays preceding the election. 2. Additional dates and hours of operation, if any, for the Office of the General Registrar and all satellite absentee voting locations will be determined and published no later than 55 days prior to each November General Election . 3. For all other elections, including Special Elections, Primary Elections, and General Elections in months other than November, the Office of the General Registrar shall be open at a minimum of two Saturday’s preceding the election. Satellite locations to be utilized for the election as well as dates and hours of all absentee voting locations will be determined and published no later than 55 days prior to the election. A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed amendments to Chapter 209 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County and maps showing precinct boundaries and polling places are on file and available for public inspection at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m.. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703777-0200. In addition this information is available for inspection at Loudoun County’s Office of Elections website at www.loudoun.gov/vote.
PROPOSED RESCISSION AND REPEAL OF ORDINANCE ADOPTED ON APRIL 15, 2020 TO ADDRESS CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS DURING COVID 19 PANDEMIC DISASTER On April 15, 2020, the Board of Supervisors, acting pursuant to authority granted by Virginia Code § 15.21413, adopted an Ordinance to Suspend Certain Deadlines and to Modify Public Meeting and Public Hearing Practices and Procedures to Address Continuity of Operations During COVID -19 Pandemic Disaster (“Continuity Ordinance”). In accordance with Virginia Code § 15.2-1427(D), the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intention to rescind and repeal the Continuity Ordinance effective September 1, 2020. Upon the effective date of the proposed rescission and repeal, the County of Loudoun, the Board of Supervisors and other public entities within the County would resume the normal practices and procedures of government, as required by Virginia Code § 15.2-1413. A complete copy of the full text of the proposed ordinance rescinding and repealing the Continuity Ordinance is on file and available for public inspection in the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call (703) 777-0200 to request hard copies or electronic copies. 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 CONVEYANCE OF COUNTY OWNED PROPERTY FROM BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO BLUE MOUNT NURSERY, INC. The Board of Supervisors on March 11, 2020 previously approved the conveyance of an approximately 0.4537 acre residue parcel located adjacent to and south of Riverside Parkway, as designed, to Blue Mount Nursery, Inc., subject to all easements and right-of-way required for the construction of Riverside Parkway. The residue parcel has been surveyed and platted and the 0.4537 acre residue parcel actually consists of a 0.4248 portion of Tax Map Number /63/D/2////91/ (PIN # 057-49-5583) and a 0.0289 acre portion of Tax Map Number /63/D/2////92/ (PIN # 057-49-6689). The March 11, 2020 action by the Board of Supervisors did not include 0.0289 acre portion of Tax Map Number /63/D/2////92/ (PIN # 057-49-6689). Therefore, the purpose of the public hearing is for the Board to consider the conveyance of the 0.4537 acre residue parcel as correctly described in order to include the 0.0289 acre portion of Tax Map Number /63/D/2////92/ (PIN # 057-49-6689) subject to all easements and right-of-way required for the construction of Riverside Parkway. The property is currently vacant and the proposed conveyance is being considered as partial consideration for Blue Mount Nursery, Inc.’s conveyance of right-of-way and other easements to the County of Loudoun for the construction of Riverside Parkway. The subject property is on the west side of Smith Circle (Route
823) and north of Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7) within the Algonkian Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as being a portion of Tax Map Number /63/D/2////91/ (PIN: 057-495583) and a portion of Tax Map Number /63/D/2////92/ (PIN # 057-49-6689). Copies of the plat(s) illustrating the easement proposed to be granted and associated documents are available for review and may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).
PROPOSED CONVEYANCE OF COUNTY PROPERTY FOR THE NORTHSTAR BOULEVARD (ROUTE 50 TO TALL CEDARS PARKWAY) PROJECT Pursuant to Virginia Code § 15.2-1800, the Board of Supervisors shall consider conveying approximately 30,056 square feet of County owned property to the Commonwealth of Virginia for improvements to Route 50 associated with the Northstar Boulevard (Route 50 to Tall Cedars Parkway) project (“Project”). The Project proposes intersection improvements to include a turn lane from Route 50 southbound onto Northstar Boulevard, and an acceleration lane from Northstar Boulevard eastbound along Route 50. Route 50 in Virginia is part of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT’s) primary system of highways intended to provide regional transportation mobility. As such, VDOT maintains Route 50, and the rights of way for primary highways are owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia (“Commonwealth”). Virginia Code Section 24VAC30-92-130 states that when an existing state maintained road is widened, if the existing right-of-way is titled in the name of the Commonwealth, the additional right of way shall also be deeded to the Commonwealth, consistent with the title of the existing right of way. The right of way associated with Route 50 is titled in the name of the Commonwealth, therefore any additional right of way needed for Route 50 is required to be deeded to Commonwealth. The subject property is located south of Route 50, north of Millstream Drive, and west of the intersection of Stone Springs Boulevard and Route 50 in the Dulles Election District. The subject property to be conveyed is more particularly described as being a portion (0.16787 acres) of Tax Map Number 100////////59B (PIN # 203-15-3714) and a portion (0.52211 acres) of Tax Map Number 100////////50/ (PIN # 204-47-0343). Since the Project is listed as a County transportation project under the Adopted FY 2019 Capital Improvement Program, the County is being asked to waive its right to receive compensation for the right of way being conveyed. Copies of the plat(s) showing the location(s) of the proposed right-of-way conveyance(s) and associated documents are available for review and may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).
PROPOSED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CONDEMNATION AND “QUICK TAKE” OF FEE SIMPLE RIGHT OF WAY AND TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT EASEMENTS ON THE PROPERTY OF: 41887 Mosby Properties LLC and 41859 Mosby Properties LLC Pursuant to Virginia Code Section 15.2-1901 et seq., and Chapter 3 of Title 25.1 (Sections 25.1-300 et seq.), the Board of Supervisors shall consider the adoption of a resolution approving a proposed public use and directing the acquisition of real property for such public use by condemnation (eminent domain) and authorizing entry onto the acquired property to initiate construction before the conclusion of the condemnation proceedings. The subject property consists of portions of two (2) parcels located along the south side of John Mosby Highway (Route 50) in Aldie, Virginia, Dulles Election District, of Loudoun County, Virginia. The subject property is proposed to be used for public street right-of-way, drainage easements, temporary construction easements, and utility easements required for the Project. The property to be acquired is more particularly described as follows: Property to be acquired from 41887 Mosby Properties LLC: Approximately 17,254 square feet of fee simple right of way; 737 square feet for a temporary construction easement, 4,438 square feet for a permanent storm drain easement; 4,105 square feet for a Verizon easement; and 11,999 square feet for a Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) easement;
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JUNE 25, 2020
PAGE 31
Legal Notices all located on the property of 41887 Mosby Properties LLC, which is more particularly described as a portion of PIN 203-15-7708. Property to be acquired from 41859 Mosby Properties LLC: Approximately 38,368 square feet of fee simple right of way; 6,734 square feet for a temporary construction easement; 5,920 square feet for a permanent storm drainage easement; 512 square feet for a Loudoun Water easement; 7,761 square feet for a NOVEC easement; and 4,647 square feet in fee simple for an uneconomic remnant; all located on the property of 41859 Mosby Properties LLC, which is more particularly described as a portion of PIN # 204-45-3260. A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed resolution, as well as a plat and vicinity maps serving to further identify the subject property, is on file and available for review and may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200 to request hard copies or electronic copies. 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”).
ORDINANCE TO DECLARE A BLIGHTED PROPERTY TO CONSTITUTE A NUISANCE AND TO ORDER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SPOT BLIGHT ABATEMENT PLAN 20576 ASHBURN ROAD (PIN: 085-47-1204) Pursuant to Chapter 650 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, Loudoun County Government Administrative Policies and Procedures Number PZ-01 entitled “Blight Abatement Program”, and Virginia Code §§ 15.2-900, 15.2-1427, and 36-49.1:1, the Board of Supervisors hereby provides notice of its intention to propose for passage an ordinance to declare a blighted property to constitute a nuisance and order the implementation of a spot blight abatement plan generated by the Department of Planning and Zoning recommending the demolition and removal of such blighted property. The subject blighted property is located at 20576 Ashburn Road, Ashburn, Virginia, in the Broad Run Election District, and is more particularly identified as PIN: 085-47-1204. The Department of Planning and Zoning issued a Notice of Preliminary Determination of blighted property on August 5, 2019, and the property owner failed to timely submit and/or implement an acceptable spot blight abatement plan. Any costs incurred by the County under the spot blight abatement plan for the demolition and removal of the blighted property shall be a lien on the blighted property that shall bear interest at the legal rate of interest established in Code of Virginia § 6.2-301, as amended, beginning on the date that such demolition and removal is completed through the date on which the lien is paid. On December 11, 2019, this matter was heard by the Board of Supervisors and was continued to the July 15, 2020, Public Hearing in order to allow the owner to either sell the property or obtain historic designation.
ZRTD-2020-0001 BUSINESS COURT
(Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District) Pilot Virginia LLC c/o Sackman Enterprises Inc. of New York, New York, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 8.14 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development-Industrial Park) zoning district under the 1993 Zoning Ordinance to PD-IP under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, in order to permit all principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance at a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.6 (up to 1.0 by Special Exception). The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, within the Route 28 Optional Overlay District, and within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, between the Ldn 60-65 aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 8.14 acres in size and is located west of Pacific Boulevard (Route 1036), on the west side of Business Court (Route 1037) and east side of Underwood Lane (Route 866) at 45195 Business Court, Sterling, Virginia, in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 046-38-6144. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment Place Type)), which supports a broad array of employment uses at a recommended FAR of up to 1.0.
ZRTD-2019-0006 DIGITAL STERLING PREMIERE
(Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District) Digital Sterling Premiere LLC., of San Francisco, California, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 22.07 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development-Industrial Park) zoning district under the 1972 Zoning Ordinance, 1993 Zoning Ordinance and Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, to the PD-IP (Planned Development-Industrial Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, in order to develop all principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-IP (Planned Development-Industrial Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance at a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.6 (up to 1.0 by Special Exception). The subject properties are located within the Route 28 Tax District, Corridor Office (CO) Optional Overlay and partially within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, between the 60 and 65 Ldn noise contour and also partially within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contours. The subject properties are approximately 22.07 acres in size and are located on the east side of Pacific Boulevard (Route 1036), on the west side of Sully Road (Route 28) and north of South Sterling Boulevard (Route 846) in the Broad Run Election District. The subject properties are more particularly described as follows:
PIN
PROPERTY ADDRESS
045-29-9249
N/A
045-39-6350
N/A
045-39-6211
N/A
045-49-8712
22590 Relocation Drive, Sterling, Virginia
The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment Place Type)), which supports a broad array of Employment uses at a recommended FAR of up to 1.0.
SPEX-2019-0028 ROLLINS PROPERTY (Special Exception)
Robert B. Rollins, III of Middleburg, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Special Exception to permit a data center use in the CLI (Commercial Light Industry) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 3904(CC). The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, within the Ldn 65 or higher and between the Ldn 60-65 aircraft noise contours, and is also located within the QN (Quarry Notification) Overlay District – Chantilly Crush Stone Note Area. The subject property is approximately 9.55 acres in size and is located on the south side of John Mosby Highway (Route 50) and the north side of Eastgate View Drive (Route 3010), at 43735 and 43743 John Mosby Highway, Chantilly, Virginia, in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 09736-1753. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Commercial Place Type)), which designates this area for larger format retail Commercial establishments and smaller Commercial establishments within a “main street” style environment.
ZMAP-2018-0015, SPEX-2018-0037 & SPEX-2018-0038 JK TECHNOLOGY PARK #1 (Zoning Map Amendment Petition and Special Exceptions)
JK Land Holdings of Sterling, Virginia, has submitted applications for the following: 1) To rezone approximately 71.56 acres from the R-1 (Residential–1 ), CR-1 (Countryside Residential–1), PD-GI (Planned Development – General Industry), and PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning districts under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to permit the development of all principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance at a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.60 (up to 1.0 by Special Exception); 2) A Special Exception to permit an increase to the maximum FAR from 0.60 to 1.0; and 3) A Special Exception to permit an increase to the maximum lot coverage from 0.45 to 0.60. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the proposed uses are listed as Special Exception uses under Section 4506(A) and (C). The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, within the Ldn 65 or higher and between the Ldn 60-65 aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 71.56 acres in size and is located south of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621) and north of Racefield Lane (Route 877) in the Blue Ridge election district. The subject property is more particularly described as follows: PIN
PROPERTY ADDRESS
202-28-5740
N/A
202-18-8046
N/A
202-26-0981
N/A
202-17-7155
N/A
202-19-2262
41567 Briarfield Lane, Aldie, Virginia
202-29-1015
N/A
202-19-0181
N/A
The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Neighborhood Place Type)), which support primarily Single-Family Residential uses with limited supportive Retail and Service uses at recommended densities of four dwelling units per acre (du/ ac), up to 6 du/ac for infill development, and FAR of up to 1.0 for Non-Residential uses.
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JUNE 25, 2020
Legal Notices ZMAP-2019-0008, ZCPA-2019-0014, SPEX-2019-0015, SPEX-2019-0017, ZMOD-2019-0015, ZMOD-2019-0016, ZMOD-2019-0017, ZMOD-2019-0018, ZMOD-2019-0019 & ZMOD-2019-0023 BELMONT GREENE REVITALIZATION (Zoning Map Amendment, Zoning Concept Plan Amendment, Special Exceptions & Zoning Modifications)
Belmont Greene Commercial LLC., of Baltimore, Maryland, and Belmont Greene Development LLC., of Baltimore, Maryland, have submitted applications for the following: [ZMAP-2019-0008] (1) To rezone approximately 10.68 acres from the PD-H3 (Planned Development-Housing 3) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the R-8 ADU (Single Family Residential-8) Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) Development Regulations (R-8 ADU) under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop 97 Residential units, consisting of a maximum 30 single family detached units, a maximum of 27 single family attached units and a maximum 40 multifamily residential units, at a density of approximately 9.08 dwelling units per acre; [ZCPA-2019-0008] (2) An application to amend the existing Concept Development Plan (CDP) approved with a ZCPA-2003-0001, Belmont Greene, in order to modify setbacks along Belmont Ridge Road; and [SPEX-2019-0015 and SPEX-2019-0017] (2) two Special Exceptions to permit the modification of the minimum yard requirements for ADU developments in the R-8 ADU zoning district, and to permit an approximately 5,000 square foot Automobile Service Station. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 4-204(B).
§7-803(C)(1)(c) R-8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Single family detached, suburban and traditional, Rear.
§7-803(C)(2)(a) R-8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Single family attached units, Front.
§7-803(C)(2)(b) R-8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Single family attached units, Side.
The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s): ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION
PROPOSED MODIFICATION
§1-205(A) Interpretation of Ordinance, Limitations and Methods for Measurements of Lots, Yards and Related Terms, Lot Access Requirements.
Allow single family detached structures to be erected on lots having frontage on a Class III road within the R-8 ADU zoning district.
§3-511(A) R-8 Single Family Residential, Development Setback and Access from Major Roads, Private Streets.
Allow single family detached structures to be erected on lots having frontage on a Class III Road within the R-8 (ADU) district.
§4-205(C)(1)(b) PD-CC Planned Development - Commercial Center, Lot Requirements, Yards, Adjacent to Roads, Community Center (CC).
Reduce building and parking setbacks from 35 feet to 30 feet adjacent to Portsmouth Boulevard.
§7-803(B)(1) R-8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Lot width, Single family detached, suburban.
Reduce the minimum required lot width for single family detached structures from 40 feet to 30 feet. Reduce the minimum required building and parking setbacks along Belmont Ridge Road (Route 659), as follows:
§5-1403(B) Landscaping Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans. Road Corridor Buffer and Setbacks Matrix, Other Arterial Roads
And
Reduce and/or eliminate the Buffer Requirements between dissimilar uses along the R-8 ADU and PD-H3 Boundary
The modification of the lot and building requirements for affordable dwelling unit developments is authorized by Special Exception under Section 7-803, pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following Zoning Ordinance modifications:
§7-803(C)(1)(b) R-8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Single family detached, suburban and traditional, Side.
§7-803(C)(3)(b) R-8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Multi-family structures, Side.
And Eliminate the minimum rear yard requirement for accessory structures. Reduce the minimum front yard from 15 feet to 5 feet. And Eliminate the minimum front yard requirement for accessory structures. Reduce the minimum side yard from 8 feet to 5 feet. And Eliminate the minimum side yard requirement for accessory structures Reduce the minimum rear yard from 15 feet to 10 feet. And Eliminate the minimum rear yard requirement for accessory structures. Reduce the minimum front yard from 20 feet to 5 feet. And Eliminate the minimum front yard requirement for accessory structures. Reduce the minimum side yard from 10 feet to 5 feet. And Eliminate the minimum side yard requirement for accessory structures.
§7-803(C)(3)(c) R-8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Multi-family structures, Rear.
Reduce the minimum rear yard from 25 feet to 15 feet. And Eliminate the minimum rear yard requirement for accessory structures.
The property is located entirely within the Quarry Notification (QN) Overlay District - Luck Note Area. The subject property is approximately 22.73 acres in size and is located east of Belmont Ridge Road (Route 659) and south of Portsmouth Boulevard (Route 1937) in the Ashburn Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as follows: PIN
PROPERTY ADDRESS
PROPOSED MODIFICATION
152-19-4543
N/A
Reduce the minimum front yard for from 15 feet to 5 feet.
152-20-2382
N/A
152-10-2961
N/A
And
152-20-4210
42920 Piccadilly Plaza, Ashburn, VA
152-20-4348
N/A
ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION §7-803(C)(1)(a) R-8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Single family detached, suburban and traditional, Front.
§7-803(C)(3)(a) R-8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Multi-family structures, Front.
Within the R-8 ADU Zoning District, decrease the building setback to 70 feet
In the PD-H3 administered as PD-CC(CC) Zoning District, decrease the building setback to 80 feet and the parking setback to 35 feet §5-1404(A) & (B) Buffering and Screening, Buffer Yard and Screening Matrix, Buffer Yard.
§7-803(C)(2)(c) R-8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Single family attached units, Rear.
Reduce the minimum rear yard from 25 feet to 10 feet.
Eliminate the minimum front yard requirement for accessory structures. Reduce the minimum side yard from 8 feet to 5 feet. And Eliminate the minimum side yard requirement for accessory structures.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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PAGE 33
Legal Notices The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)) which designate this area for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural and Recreational uses at recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.0. 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). All members of the public will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, members of the public are encouraged to view and/or participate in the public hearing
electronically. Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23, Open Band Channel 40 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/webcast. 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. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on July 2, 2020, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on July 15, 2020. 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, CHAIRMAN LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
06/25 & 07/02/20
LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR: COORDINATED SPECIALTY CARE SERVICES, RFP No. 255782 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, July 16, 2020. DULLES SOUTH RECREATION CENTER: PHASE 4 COMPETITION POOL HVAC DEDICATED OUTSIDE AIR SUPPLY (DOAS), RFP No. 246782 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, August 12, 2020.
TOWN OF LEESBURG ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID IFB NO. 100313-FY20-54 SNOW AND ICE REMVOAL SERVICES SEALED BIDS for the above project WILL BE RECEIVED by the Town of Leesburg, either by mail or hand delivered to the Procurement Office, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176, UNTIL BUT NO LATER THAN 3:00PM P.M. ON JULY 21, 2020. Bids shall be marked “Sealed Bid for Snow and Ice Removal Services Bid Date – Tuesday, July 21, 2020 – 3:00 P.M.” A non-mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on JULY 9, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the Town Shop Conference Room located at 1393 Russell Branch Parkway, SE, Leesburg, VA 20175. Attendance at the pre-bid meeting is encouraged but not mandatory. The non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will also be made available by WebEx and a link for the WebEx will be posted to the bid board. At the bid due date and time, bids will be opened and read aloud in the Lower Level Conference Room 2 of Town Hall located at 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176. All questions regarding this bid must be submitted in writing via email to CapitalBidQuestions@leesburgva.gov until but no later than 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. Work includes providing labor, equipment, and materials necessary to clear snow and ice from Town- owned property, public streets and right-of-way and all incidentals related thereto. The Town reserves the right to perform all, part, or none of the work. This is a renewable contract for up to four additional one-year periods. The initial one-year contract is estimated to begin in September, 2020. Bid Documents are available from the Town’s Bid Board at http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard. Contact Cindy Steyer at 703-737-2302 or csteyer@leesburgva.gov with questions about obtaining bid documents. Any addenda issued for this project will be posted on the Town’s Bid Board and eVA (https://eva.virginia.gov) with a courtesy email to those firms who have registered on the Town’s Bid Board. It is the bidders’ responsibility to provide a correct email address and to be aware of any addenda. Renee LaFollette, P.E., Director Department of Public Works & Capital Projects
LoudounNow.com
ON CALL SURVEYING SERVICES, RFP No. 245782 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, July 29, 2020. OPERATIONAL MEDICAL DIRECTOR, RFP No. 244782 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, July 14, 2020. A virtual Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on June 24, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Attendees must contact the Contracting Officer to register by 12:00 p.m. on June 23, 2020. Solicitation forms may be obtained 24 hours a day by visiting our web site at www.loudoun.gov/ procurement. If you do not have access to the Internet, call (703) 777-0403, M - F, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. WHEN CALLING, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCUREMENT. 06/25/20
Town of Leesburg Continues Water Valve Exercise and Maintenance Program Public Notification 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. 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. 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. The valve exercising will occur April 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. 6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25, 7/2, 7/9, 7/16, 7/23 & 7/30/20
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PAGE 34
Legal Notices
JUNE 25, 2020
Resource Directory Tax Preparation (Individual & Business)
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316
Case No.:
JJ039889-06-00 ,
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316
Case No.:
Stewart C. Petchenick Certified Public Accountant
JJ039941-19-00 ,
(703) 901-2494
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
petchenickstewartcpa@gmail.com
Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Karley Bryner-Kerr
Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Andy Anthony Alas
VIRGINIATAXPREP.COM
Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v. Michael Smith, putative father
Loudoun County Department of Family Services
The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Karley Bryner-Kerr. It is ORDERED that Michael Smith putative father appear at the above-named Court and protect his interests on or before July 21, 2020 at 2:00 pm.
The object of this suit is to hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-282.2 for Andy Anthony Alas. It is ORDERED that the defendant, Maria Alas, mother (aka Maria Luisa Alas), Enoch Rivera, stepfather; and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect their interests on or before July 14, 2020 at 2:00 pm. 6/18, 6/25, 7/2 & 7/9/20
6/11, 6/18, 6/25 & 7/2/20
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PAGE 35
Resource Directory Fencing
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PAGE 36
JUNE 25, 2020
Opinion How Far Will They Push? The Board of Supervisors has launched an examination of the comprehensive plan change that would permit the extension of central utilities to the Rural Policy Area. Ostensibly, this is to allow the school division to buy cheaper land needed for new school sites. Let’s be clear, the action would result in a reduction of the Rural Policy Area—something that was supposed to be off the table during the several years of work to write the new comprehensive plan. The work, nevertheless, resulted in a whittling away of the RPA, with the extension of the Transition Policy Area south of Leesburg, clearing the way for data center developers to push westward in their search for land. Now it is the school division looking to push the boundaries. Who’s next? How far will they push? Every exception made to the long-standing commitment to protect the RPA from encroaching development pressures makes it more difficult to achieve that goal. It becomes easier for future
LETTERS to the Editor
boards to justify changes and, likely, harder to withstand court
Essential Freedom
challenges should landowners or developers press to extend utility
Editor: Our Bill of Rights is the most significant document of its kind ever conceived. The freedoms it guarantees are taken for granted by many. Of the five essential freedoms in the First Amendment, the freedom of speech and press are under assault (religion being currently persecuted by the state), and they have been for years. For those who value true journalism, we were astonished by the recent resignation of the New York Times editorial editor. He wasn’t canned by government edict or a jealous publisher. He didn’t tweet something heinous. He didn’t drive drunk or have an affair with a staffer. His thought crime was publishing an op-ed which his infantile news room didn’t approve of.
lines to their similarly situated properties. There is another concern with this request. Public facilities, especially schools, shouldn’t be built far afield from the residents they serve. They should be integral and integrated parts of neighborhoods, serving as focal points of civic life. Building schools in the Rural Policy Area to accommodate enrollment growth in eastern Loudoun isn’t good planning and doesn’t strengthen those communities. While county leaders may be looking for a bargain to meet the obligations of continued development, they risk setting a precedent that could have costly ramifications in the years ahead. n
Norman K. Styer, Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC 15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 • Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723
EDITORIAL Renss Greene, Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com
Jan Mercker, Reporter jmercker@loudounnow.com Kara C. Rodriguez, Reporter krodriguez@loudounnow.com Patrick Szabo, Reporter pszabo@loudounnow.com
When reporters decide which opinions are suitable to publish vs. which are not, we, as a free nation are in a bad place. Newspaper publishing has a jaded history in America as most of us know. True journalism is cherished by freedom lovers. In Loudoun, we’re extremely fortunate to have local papers. They increase our awareness and bring community into our homes. They serve as our public square by exposing us to the free expression of others. Most importantly, they’re our watchdogs against corruption and malfeasance by local government. A 2018 study, “Financing Dies in Darkness? The Impact of Newspaper Closures on Public Finance,” determined when a local newspaper shutters, the cost LETTERS continues on page 38
ADVERTISING Susan Styer, Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.com Tonya Harding, Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.com
Loudoun Now is delivered by mail to more than 44,000 Loudoun homes and businesses, with a total weekly distribution of 47,000.
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JUNE 25, 2020
PAGE 37
The Peoples’ Constitution
The Long Fight for Racial Equality
BY BEN LENHART
Every month this column explores how the Constitution impacts the daily lives of all Americans. What can the Constitution add to the current discussion about racial justice following the recent killing of Georgy Floyd and the resulting nationwide protests? Certainly, no law by itself, not even the Constitution, can address all of the many issues involved in this complex and enduring problem. But the Constitution has long played a key role in the struggle for racial equality— often for better, sometimes for worse. As America tries to chart the path forward toward “a more perfect union,” history provides invaluable guideposts. Knowing the key events from the racial struggles of our past better equips us to fight for a more just future. This article first provides a quick recap of key Constitutional events dealing with race and equality in America, and then looks to the future. All Men Are Created Equal Versus Slavery In 1776, the Patriots set out a radical new conception for society, one where the people themselves held the power, and where “all men were created equal.” But this beautiful vision was shunned by the original Constitution. When drafted in 1787, the Constitution referred to slavery four times: (1) the “three-fifths” compromise in Article I, where only 60 percent of slaves were counted for determining representation in Congress, (2) the fugitive slave clause, in Article IV, (3) the ban on any attempt to outlaw the slave trade prior to 1808, in Article I, and (4) the ban on amending the Constitution to alter the slave trade timeline, in Article V. The references to slavery in 1787 echoed the tragic reality that slavery had existed in the English North American colonies since at least 1619. At birth, the young American nation held these two polar opposites—liberty and slavery—together in its founding document, and this irreconcilable conflict set the stage for centuries of struggle. Abolition and Dred Scott American abolitionists seeking to outlaw slavery were vocal even before the 1787 Constitution, but their numbers grew in the early 1800s, especially in the Northern states. Many states had banned slavery during the first decades of our new nation, but many others had not, and the battle be-
tween the two opposing sides grew more intense. In the 1850s, violence between the two sides was growing, including in what became known as “Bleeding Kansas,” where pitched battles between pro- and anti-slavery forces led to many deaths. In campaigning for the 1860 presidency, Abraham Lincoln talked about “the ultimate extinction” of slavery, and the Southern states took note. In this tense tinderbox, the Supreme Court threw a spark with its infamous Dred Scott ruling. Dred Scott, a former slave, had traveled from a slave state to a free one, and believed he was a free man. The Court ruled against Scott, holding that current or former slaves were not citizens under the Constitution and that slaves could not gain freedom by entering free territory. With this ruling, war seemed inevitable. Civil War and Equal Protection More than 600,000 people died in the Civil War, and slavery died with them. A guarantee of equal protection of the law for all Americans was not included in the original Constitution, but was borne from the ashes of the Civil War. The 13th Amendment banned slavery (1866), the 14th Amendment guaranteed due process and equal protection (1868), and the 15th Amendment ensured that the right to vote could not be denied based on race (1870). Here is the key language of the 14th Amendment: “. . . nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, with due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” This bedrock guarantee of equal protection is enormous and powerful and has produced many court rulings striking down government actions that violated this promise of equality. It means that no government law or action—whether by a federal, state or local government—can treat people differently based on race. Applying this to current times, if the police officer who killed George Floyd treated Mr. Floyd differently because of his race, then this is unequal protection of the law. And since that officer was acting not as a private citizen, but under the authority of the State, the officer’s conduct would violate the Equal Protection clause itself (along with violating many other laws). Plessy to Brown Following the Civil War, Jim Crow was a broad and deadly effort to deny former
slaves their legal rights, including the right to equal protection under the law. In 1896, Homer Plessy, an African American, was arrested for demanding sit in a “white only” rail car. The Supreme Court, in Plessey v. Ferguson, ruled against Plessy and introduced the idea of “separate but equal” holding that segregation by race—called “apartheid” in other lands—was constitutional. Plessy and Dred Scott are now considered among the Supreme Court’s gravest mistakes. The Civil War effectively reversed Dred Scott in short order, but Plessey took longer to reject. The NAACP and other civil rights organizations, led by Charles Houston and Thurgood Marshall among others, filed court many cases that chipped away at separate-but-equal. But in 1954, the Supreme Court finally and resoundingly rejected it in one of the most famous cases of all time: Brown v. Board of Education, where a unanimous court held that racial segregation in schools was “inherently unequal” and violated the core principal of Equal Protection. Many similar rulings followed, and today any law that facially discriminates based on race would virtually automatically be considered unconstitutional and struck down. Martin Luther King to President Obama Perhaps no person furthered the cause of racial equality in America more than Martin Luther King. He fought against bough “public” racism (racism encoded in laws or government actions) and “private” racism” (racial discrimination in private businesses). Using non-violent civil disobedience—such as sit-ins by African Americans and “white only” lunch counters—King was victorious on many fronts. His work led to landmark civil rights legislation, such as the 1964 Civil Rights Act banning racial discrimination in employment, voting, restaurants and hotels, and in many other areas. (An interesting side note: the ability to strike down racial discrimination by the government arises under the 14th Amendment and the Equal Protection clause, while the ability to ban private discrimination, such as by hotels or restaurants, is based on Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause of Article 1.) The decades following the 1964 Civil Rights Act were filled with struggles to enforce its promise of equal civil rights for all regardless of race. The 2008 election of President
Obama, our first African American president, was another landmark in the history of racial equality in America. Today: the Unmet Promise of Equal Justice As this briefest of history shows, great progress has been made, but the promises of equal justice and racial equality under law remain distant. Dr. King fought to eliminate both public and private racial discrimination in America, but both persist today. While there are no easy solutions, two cases highlight possible paths to get closer to racial justice. In Washington v. Davis, African American police officers sued claiming a police entrance exam discriminated against them by producing much higher failure rates for African Americans than for non-minorities. The Court’s majority rejected their claim, finding that racially disparate impact alone was not enough to show a Constitutional violation. But the dissent sided with the African Americans, and proposed a different legal test that would strike down employment practices that discriminate against minorities unless the employer can meet a high burden to show the test is necessary for the job. In Yick Wo v. Hopkins, no racially discriminatory law was “on the books,” but San Francisco had denied laundry permits for 100% of the applications from Chinese nationals, while approving nearly 100% for non-Chinese. The Court inferred racial discrimination from these statistics, and ruled the city’s actions unconstitutional. Yick Wo and the dissent in Washington v. Davis provide tools for the courts, if they have the will to use them, to help push toward racial equality. Dr. King said that “the arc of the moral universe is long but bends toward justice.” But as one civil rights leader recently said: “the arc does not bend by itself.” In other words, everyone has a role to play in pushing the nation closer to achieving its promise of equal justice for all. n Ben Lenhart is a graduate of Harvard Law School and has taught Constitutional Law at Georgetown Law Center for more than 20 years. He lives with his family and lots of animals on a farm near Hillsboro.
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LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 36
of government soars. None of us would be mistaken to point out the cost of our local governments have increased despite our newspapers. I for one, long for our local journalists to be more aggressive in their reporting on the chicanery at Harrison Street and various town halls. Yet, imagine the schemes and scandals that would have gone unnoticed by the people without our local papers. In an era where far too many receive “news” in 140 characters or via corporate hacks working in total collusion with political hacks, our local newspapers are more essential than ever. Our local news must resist all forms of intimidation and threats to meet the standards of journalistic integrity. The way that’s accomplished is by the people-atlarge strongly supporting our Loudoun papers. Politicians should be nervous when a local reporter approaches them for comment. They should know The People are asking the questions. Running and working for an independent newspaper is tough business. Unlike corporate owned entities, they lack the means to subsidize their operations. It’s up to us, the People of Loudoun to demonstrate that support. I donate to local journalism because it educates us about our community, and reminds us that we must all be involved in that community if it’s to be successful. Join me in strongly supporting those who provide us essential freedom. — Chris Manthos, Leesburg
Zurn continued from page 3 atmosphere in our country today where thousands upon thousands are calling for racial justice in the face of systemic racism in all levels of government and society. If he cannot learn from his past mistakes and the loud and angry protesters who have been in the streets for the past three weeks, it is time for him to step down.” Briskman said if Zurn does not resign, she would support an effort to recall him from office. To do so would require a petition to the Circuit Court with 11,310 signatures, 10 percent of the total number of votes cast in Zurn’s last election in 2019. It is not Zurn’s first time courting controversy online. In a statement to Loudoun Now, Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) pointed to past instances in which Zurn has made off-color jokes on social
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Racist Motives Editor: Loudoun Now reported recently that The Young Republicans of Loudoun County are petitioning or suing to remove Loudoun County Chair At Large Phyllis Randall from her position for speaking at the downtown Leesburg march held to memorialize George Floyd and protest his suffocation and murder by police in Minneapolis. The march was organized to demand justice and peace and to end systematic racism. Phyllis J. Randall was elected Chair At-Large of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors in November 2015 and reelected in November 2019. Her election was historic as she became the first woman of color in Virginia’s history to be an elected chair of a county board. The march was totally peaceful and gave me a sense of hope and calm amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and senseless murder we all witnessed on TV. Phyllis Randall was there as a black citizen marching with over 1,000 locals in harmony to protest police violence in the USA. Anyone who knows the racist history of Virginia needs to recognize the courage of all black participants to march in the street unarmed. We were all moved by the turnout and solidarity of the mostly white marchers young and old to say we want to support equal justice under the law. Freedom of speech is guaranteed to all citizens and the right to peaceful assembly and protest. Phyllis Randall and other black local citizens spoke to the crowd spontaneously at the courthouse steps. Phyllis Randall has two sons and worries about their safety. She had every right to speak. In 2018, the citizens of Loudoun media, deleting them afterward. In one such case, Zurn posted on March 27 “China has released the names of the first two people to contract Corona virus,” with “Sum Ting Wong” and “Ho Lee Fuk.” “We should not be expecting these types of comments from an elected official,” Saines said in a phone interview. “He should know where those terms, Uncle Tom and Aunt Jemima, the origins and the meaning behind this type of language, come from, and what they’re about, and what they symbolize. And for him, at his mature age, if he doesn’t know those things, then we need to get him some history lessons.” “I would like to say I am surprised by Mr. Zurn’s most recent racist Facebook post,” wrote Supervisor Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run) in a statement. “Sadly, I am not. He, like so many other seemingly well-intentioned white men of a certain generation, appear to be tone deaf to their
County voted Chair Randall Favorite Public Official, an honor which she is most humbled by and proud of. The Young Republicans need to examine their racist motives to remove our elected favorite public official. Their actions reflect a modern-day lynching. — Gail Pean, Leesburg
JUNE 25, 2020
Editor: There have been a number of opinions expressed about Loudoun County’s need for affordable housing. Much of the discussion has centered around the traditional approach of estimating a “need” and augmenting existing or proposed development projects to include units that are considered “affordable.” I would like to suggest the supervisors consider an alternative approach to this issue. A previous letter to the editor characterized affordable housing “needs” as housing for individuals or families that intend to live and work in Loudoun, perhaps in community service such as law enforcement, healthcare, education or other community services. This characterization is important because it frames the affordable housing need in a way that would be most valuable for Loudoun County. The traditional approach to affordable housing focuses on new home development and often results in a rental situation in a new neighborhood generally situated in a growth area of the county. The “need” is more distributed and diverse. Location, commuting distance, neighborhood, schools, lot and home size, and of course price are all factors people consider when
buying or renting. So perhaps the county should consider existing homes. In my neighborhood of Lovettsville, there are several small detached residences that are vacant, have recently been renovated, listed, or sold after the former resident has moved into a different living situation or passed. For developers, these existing homes represent an opportunity to replace a small structure with a much larger upscale version which often is not consistent with the rest of the neighborhood but offers a substantial incentive from a pricing standpoint. In contrast, everyone’s interests may be better served if the county were to identify, acquire, and renovate the existing home as a source of affordable housing targeted for those working in Loudoun County community services. The housing could be used as part of an overall compensation package as a way of attracting families from outside the area to make a home in Loudoun for the long term. Such an approach does not require changes in density to any policy area defined by the current comprehensive plan. It does not overtax the existing infrastructure. The housing would be located throughout the county as opposed to the most densely populated areas. Neighborhoods would view this type of affordable housing as community revitalization and an investment in maintaining Loudoun County’s lifestyle. For such an approach to work, the supervisors need to recognize that it is not their job to solve the affordable housing issue in Loudoun County. It is their job to provide some level of affordable housing targeted for the needs of Loudoun County. — Paul Swanson, Lovettsville
white privilege and have been allowed to say, ‘I was only joking’ for too long.” “The murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and on and on and on, coupled with the misery wrought by COVID-19 seem to have finally brought our nation to a new moment of reckoning,” she added. “Change is hard. It is harder for those who have enjoyed the seat of power for 400 years. But change is necessary and it is coming. I hope that all leaders of Loudoun County can walk hand-in-hand to usher in this change together.” Saines suggested Zurn contact the NAACP, and encouraged other white people to reach out. “I encourage my white neighbors to reach out and ask questions, go to some NAACP meetings, email them if you need a better understanding on why these terms are offensive,” Saines said. “Talk to your neighbors, have a better understand-
ing, because enough is enough.” Some Republicans came to Zurn’s support, including former county supervisor Geary M. Higgins. “The hypocrisy of the Loudoun Democrats in this controversy is staggering” Higgins wrote in a statement. “Roger Zurn is no racist, but Governor Ralph Northam is. If Supervisor Briskman truly wants to fight racism in Loudoun County, she should start by leading an effort to recall the Governor.” He also wrote that Zurn’s years of elected service “made Loudoun a model for economic development and made us one of the richest counties in the country.” Zurn first stepped into elected office in 30 years ago after winning a special election in 1990 to take the Sterling District seat on the Board of Supervisors. n
Target the Needs
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JUNE 25, 2020
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Claude Moore Park: Home to 300 Years of Loudoun History scholarship funds for young students to attend summer day camps and to support Scout projects. The group also supports other educational projects, building new trail facilities, the purchase of equipment for a natural playground for children, and to sustain natural and cultural resources in the park. A significant fund-raising effort led to the 2014 restoration of the schoolhouse. Membership in the Friends is open to all interested persons. Being a volunteer in the group is a rewarding and satisfying activity, and the public and park staff are highly appreciative of volunteers’ efforts. Information about the Friends, Friends’ events, and how to join is available at the Visitor Center or online at FriendsOfClaudeMoorePark.org. The Park is located at 21544 Old Vestals Gap Rd in Sterling. n
1825. Vestal’s Gap Road played prominent roles during the French and Indian Wars, the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812. The original one-room Lanesville house was expanded, and by 1807, it housed a
post office and an ordinary (overnight tavern) for travelers. The ordinary remained in operation until the 1820s, when Leesburg Pike opened. Union Major General John Reynolds used the Lanesville house as his headquarters in June of 1863 on his Army Corp’s way to Gettysburg. The historic area also includes a signal station on Bridges Hill, and a restored schoolhouse from the 1880s. Lanesville house and the schoolhouse are opened monthly for tours (currently suspended by the coronavirus). In addition to the park’s historic areas, its amenities include the Claude Moore Recreation and Community Center, sports fields, the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum, outdoor pavilions, Frogshackle Nature Center, and the Visitor Center. The park has over 11 miles of hiking trails and natural landscapes, including ponds, streams, forests, and fields. These areas are home to native wildlife, including deer and other small mammals, reptiles and amphibians, fish, insects, and more than 150 bird species. Today, the Friends of Claude Moore Park assist the park staff with various annual events and by raising funds to supplement the park budget when appropriate. Subject to COVID-19 reopening policies, such events will include their annual 5-kilometer trail run, an evening event identifying and learning about the park’s six species of bat, assisting with the park’s Fourth of July celebration, their annual photography show held in conjunction with the Fall Festival, and help for Holiday in the Park in December. They regularly contribute
numbers,” he said. The numbers represent only those domestic assaults that have been reported. Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter Executive Director Judy Hanley said her organization has seen the most dramatic spike in the number of people it sheltered yearover-year than it’s ever seen before. From March 12, 2019 to June 16, 2019, LAWS sheltered 14 people fleeing imminent danger from domestic violence— seven adults and seven children. During that same period this year, it sheltered 68 people—30 adults and 38 children. LAWS has never sheltered that many people during a three-month span. “It’s a huge increase in seriousness of the number of people who need to flee their home,” Hanley said. “That to me speaks volumes of the difference COVID has made.” Hanley said the 12-bed shelter prior to the coronavirus crisis met LAWS’ needs well, but now it’s too small. She said the
organization is sheltering 29 people in safe housing. “Our shelter is not big enough at this time,” she said. And some people may have needed help, but have been unable to ask for it. Hanley also pointed out that the number of calls to the LAWS hotline noticeably increased once Northern Virginia entered the second phase of reopenings June 5. She said that most likely was the result of people having the chance to leave their homes to make calls in privacy. In addition to an increase in the number of people fleeing domestic abuse, the Sheriff ’s Office has reported an increase in the number of auto thefts and robberies in the first five months of 2020. Auto thefts are up from 55 incidents to 65, and robberies are up from 10 to 19. Troxell said this year’s robberies, however, are mainly drug-related and aren’t the types of crimes that might come to most peoples’ minds— like someone robbing a convenience store
at gunpoint. Troxell said now that Loudoun is in the second phase of reopening and Northam’s stay-at-home order has expired, it will be tough to say whether a potential rise in the number of crimes committed in the coming months can be attributed to those factors or the warmer weather bringing more people out of their homes. But in general, Troxell said the Sheriff ’s Office continues to see a year-over-year drop in crime. Hanley said LAWS is conducting a needs assessment to determine if its existing shelter is adequate, which should wrap up this fall. She said she expects the assessment to confirm the need for more space, which will prompt LAWS to form a committee to find a more appropriate shelter. Those seeking shelter from domestic abuse are encouraged to call the LAWS hotline at 703-777-6552. n
BY JOHN KEITH AND HARRISON CRECRAFT
continued from page 1 The Sheriff ’s Office also reported a decrease in the number of traffic citations written in the past few months. But according to Troxell, deputies aren’t out trying to pull more drivers over now that state mandates have been lifted a bit. Just as the governor’s stay-at-home order could have led to a decrease in a good deal of crime and traffic offenses, it also might have led to the 12-percent rise in domestic assaults. The Sheriff ’s Office reported 262 such incidents from Jan. 1 to May 31 this year, compared with 234 during those same five months in 2019. Troxell said this year’s higher number of domestic assaults are at about the same level as they were by the end of May in 2018. “That [stay-at-home order] definitely could be attributed to those
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1770s Lanesville House, Claude Moore Park.
BACK
Claude Moore Park is a unique treasure in eastern Loudoun County. The park’s 357 acres preserve outstanding natural beauty in the midst of a densely populated urban area. The park also is a major county facility for natural history education, historic sites, and recreational facilities. The park’s property was originally granted to two families in 1729. Fifty years later, the park’s historic area was conveyed to William Lane, whose descendants owned and added to the property, until 1941 when Dr. Claude Moore purchased it. Dr. Moore lived in the historic 1770s Lanesville house until just prior to his death in 1991. In 1975, Dr. Moore donated the property to the National Wildlife Federation, subject to his life estate, and in 1986 the Federation sold the property to a developer. A group of local citizens, led by Helen and Carl MacIntyre, petitioned the Board of Supervisors to purchase the property. Voters approved a referendum, and in 1990, the county opened Claude Moore Park. Members of the original citizens group became the Friends of Claude Moore Park, a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to assist the park staff in carrying out park programs. The park includes the only preserved section of the historic Vestal’s Gap Road. This road was the primary route from Alexandria westward beginning in the 1690s until the Leesburg Pike (Rt. 7) opened in
John Keith is a long-time member of the Friends of Claude Moore Park and current board member. He has been a volunteer naturalist since 1992 and has maintained a record of all the bird species in the Park. Harrison Crecraft is treasurer and past president for Friends of Claude Moore Park, and has been a member and volunteer with the Friends since 2001. For more information on the Friends, go to FriendsOfClaudeMoorePark.org. In Our Backyard is compiled by the Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition. For more information about the organization, go to loudouncoalition.org.
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JUNE 25, 2020
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