Loudoun Now for June 29, 2023

Byard Acquitted

School District Spokesman Found Not Guilty in Perjury Case

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Following two days of testimony, the jury in the perjury trial of long-time Loudoun County Public Schools Public Information Officer Wayde Byard took just two hours to return a not guilty verdict Thursday, June 22.

Byard spoke to the media outside the courthouse after the verdict.

“I can’t say I’m really happy because I expected this. Jennifer made sure this would happen, she assured me every step of the way. I felt confident in this, I felt confident in Judge Fleming and I felt confident that the jury was going to reach an impartial and fair verdict,” he said. “And really, as far as happiness or elation, no, I feel relieved obviously.”

He thanked his wife, Brenda.

“It’s quite a thing after 42 years when your wife invests your life savings into your defense. She is courageous and I couldn’t ask for a better life partner. She’s just reaffirmed why I love her and she stayed by me,” Byard said.

He said it was his wife’s budgeting and planning that helped get them through the last six months while he was on unpaid leave from the division.

Byard said during his extended time off he did a lot of reflecting and decided he was no longer going to “put quarters into the outrage machine.”

“I’m not going to make incendiary statements, I’m not going to give counter points to political views because that is what has got our community here and our nation here and I just don’t want to be part of it,” he said. “I really feel like I can put things behind me. I don’t know what my future will be, my future is day to day.”

Asked if he would return to the school division as the public information officer he said he would think about it tomorrow.

ACQUITTED continues on page 35

Chip Beck

Hillsboro got a jump on Independence Day fireworks Sunday night, but there are plenty of more opportunities to watch the pyrotechnic displays across the county in the coming days. See the full schedule of events on Page 18.

Law Camp Returns: Students Put on Trials

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Twenty-four rising high school seniors on Friday completed a week-long deep dive into the inner workings of the court system as part of the 20th annual Thomas D. Horne Law Camp.

Organized by the Loudoun County Bar Association, with attorneys Amanda Stone Swart and Bryan Turner serving as this year’s camp chairs, the program allowed the participants to go through all the steps lawyers follow to prepare for and conduct a trial, while also meeting with local judges, Virginia Supreme Court Senior Justice William C. Mims. Rep. Jennifer Wexton; touring the U.S Supreme Court and U.S. Capitol; and even squeezing in a team-building rafting trip.

Horne launched the immersive camp in 1999 and the bar association picked up its management following his retirement from the bench. This year, the program returned after a three-year pandemic hiatus.

“We’re happy to bring it back. It’s a great experience for the kids,” Turner said.

Planning for this year’s camp started last year. “It’s been a months-long undertaking. We started in 2022. There’re so many subcommittees. Organizing the entire thing takes a huge group effort,” Turner said.

“Law Camp is unlike any other program in Loudoun County. The members

of the Loudoun County Bar Association dedicate their own time and resources to fully immerse the students in legal practice. Students get hands-on experience from some of the most talented attorneys in Loudoun County—all without any costs to the students,” Stone Swart said. During the week, the students were

housed at the Foxcroft campus near Middleburg. They participated in sessions covering the steps of trial preparation, techniques for interviewing witnesses, and how to construct opening statements and prepare pretrial motions. The students were divided into eight groups, with four preparing to prosecute or defend a suspect in criminal trails and four to argue the sides in a civil case. On Thurday, the participants presented pre-trial motions to Loudoun County District Court judges. On Friday morning, they were back in the courtrooms with Circuit Court judges—including Horne—presiding and dozens of community volunteers—including County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large), Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk, and Chamber of Commerce President Tony Howard—serving on the juries. Other bar members played the roles of the witnesses in the cases.

Both criminal trials ended with acquittals for the defendents. In the civil side, the plantiffs prevailed, with the juries differing in their assessment of damages; one awarded $250,000 while the other only $10,000. n

Region Housing Advocates Pitch Ideas at Chamber Forum

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Leaders in government, corporate and nonprofit affordable housing initiatives pushed regional solutions to high housing cost during a Loudoun Chamber PolicyMaker Series breakfast Thursday morning.

“This job to create housing is increasingly complex, and you layer in the pandemic on top of what was already in some ways a system that was stacked against us being able to pull capital together—doubling interest rates, 20%, 30% escalation costs every year now, budget constraints at the locality level—the only way we’re going to solve it is through innovation,” Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing President and CEO Carmen Romero said. “Green taping, doing a pilot, seeing if the pilot works, when you have an opportunity, seize it and maximize it, and collaborate.”

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Executive Director Clark Mercer said his organization can be a home for that collaboration, pointing to its Regional Fair Housing Plan which Loudoun supervisors approved this month.

“We have 1,500 elected officials that

come through our doors every month to talk, on everything from the mutual aid agreement, which allows Virginia state troopers to respond to incidents in Maryland or DC, to wastewater issues, stream

restorations, anything that crosses borders where it makes sense to coordinate,” he said. “… We talk about tools in the toolbox. We need a lot of tools across the region to meet the affordable housing goals

that our elected officials have articulated.”

“I think folks like Clark and COG having the conversations and bringing

Norman Styer/Loudoun Now

Student attorneys question a witness during a Friday morning mock trial in Loudoun’s historic courthouse.

Courtesy Blue Lion Multimedia

Affordable housing advocates from the region speak at a Loudoun Chamber PolicyMaker Series breakfast Thursday.

Supervisors Hurry New Data Center Rules, Likely Delaying Zoning Rewrite

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

County supervisors have accelerated a project to lay out new rules on where data center development will be permitted, likely at the cost of further delaying the ongoing Zoning Ordinance Rewrite because of staffing constraints.

Supervisors had previously agreed to changes to zoning and the comprehensive plan to limit some places data centers would be allowed today, such as along Rt. 7. That work will also include new regulations such as design standards for the buildings, and would be part of the ongoing Zoning Ordinance Rewrite. But on Tuesday, the board voted narrowly to move changes to the comprehensive plan to limit where new data centers will be permitted to the front of the line, likely delaying the rest of the county’s planning work. They also set aside $90,000 to hire a consulting firm to help with that work.

County planners advised supervisors not to do that.

Planning and Zoning Director Dan

Galindo said staff members, including those who would have to lead the consultant work to amend the comprehensive plan, are already short-staffed and at capacity.

“They are already having difficulty, not just with helping with the rewrite, just with keeping up with basic referrals and other required legislative actions,” Galindo said.

“So if nothing were to change, I’m not entirely convinced right now that they would

FAA Still Silent on Airport Noise

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

County staff have still had no luck engaging the Federal Aviation Administration in talks about jet noise around Dulles International Airport, they reported to a county Board of Supervisors committee June 21.

When county supervisors approved a controversial update to the zoning ordinance’s Airport Noise Impact Overlay district, they also directed staff members to connect with the FAA on the options to address community concerns about airport noise. But so far, the federal agency has been largely unresponsive to that outreach, county staff have said. County staff members have been trying to engage the FAA since January.

Most recently, staff members reported they spoke to the FAA Eastern Region Community Engagement Officer Veda Simmons on the phone and were told a response to the county’s written commu-

nications would be sent by May 12. As of the June 21 report to the county Transportation and Land Use Committee the county had received no response.

But Principal Planner Josh Peters said staff members remain optimistic they will be able to engage the FAA.

In the meantime, the county has hired a consulting firm, Vianair, to study airport noise and propose new mitigations such as new rules for planes taking off from Dulles Airport. That work is expected to take nine months and cost the county $70,000. Committee Chair Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) said the consultant came with the recommendation of Birchwood residents.

The committee also recommended the Board of Supervisors sign off on a letter providing feedback to the FAA’s open comment period on its noise policies.

The letter says Loudoun County supports efforts to integrate into those policies research on the health and economic impacts of aviation noise. And it suggests

have capacity to further help out on the rewrite itself. But the further that division gets behind on things, it has effects that cascade through all the other projects we work on.”

Some supervisors agreed.

“Zoning Ordinance Rewrite is number one priority,” Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) said. “I don’t want anything to take away from the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite, and I don’t know that the gain from this is worth distracting us from the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite.”

Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) pointed out many of the same supervisors and staff members who worked on the 2019 comprehensive plan—the planning vison that the zoning ordinance codifies and enforces—are still with the county. The same may not be true on the next board, with staff turnover and Deputy County Administrator Charles Yudd, who guided the comprehensive plan work through its final phases, planning to retire this year.

ZONING REWRITE

continues on page 5

the FAA schedule regular updates to catch up on the latest research.

And among other requests, the county urged the FAA to develop a grant funding program for landowners affected by airport noise to support noise abatement work.

The letter also requests some airports, including Dulles, be required to publish two noise studies: One for long-term planning, based on the airport’s full potential buildout and traffic, and a nearer-term study based on the airport’s current operations.

Similar studies were conducted around Dulles, including a federally-required near-term study and the longer-term projections Loudoun planners used to draw the Airport Noise Impact Overlay. In the highest-noise areas of that overlay, residential development is forbidden, and other areas require more sound insulation in homes and notifying buyers that the home is in the airport noise overlay.

The committee endorsed that letter 4-0-1, Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) absent. n

Planners Recommend Lower Road Impact Offsets for Developers

County planners are recommending an update to the decade-old formula used to calculate how much money developers would contribute to offset their impact on the road network. The changes would move more of the cost of those road projects to taxpayer-funded local, state and federal sources.

The proposed new formulas would cut more than half off most contributions developers would be expected to make through rezoning proffer agreements.

Currently when developers apply to rezone land to allow new residential construction, negotiations for an associated proffer agreement start at $6,000 per unit, regardless of type. That standard was set in 2014 based on an estimate of the average costs to mitigate new units’ impacts on the regional road network, according to a report prepared for the county finance committee.

New formulas proposed by county staff would cut that contribution by anywhere from $2,100 to $4,900 per unit, depending on unit type. Those formulas were developed based on average cost per mile for Loudoun to build roads and the number of vehicle trips associated with various housing types. New contributions would be $1,100 per age-restricted apartment unit, $1,700 per apartment unit, $2,200 per stacked unit, $2,400 per townhouse, and $3,900 per single-family detached home.

A theoretical 597-unit example development calculated in the

ON THE AGENDA

continues on page 5

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

A view of traffic on Rt. 7.

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian).

Wexton Announces $13.9M Grant for Green Transit

On Tuesday Rep. Jennifer Wexton (DVA-10) announced $13.9 million in funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to upgrade Loudoun Transit buses to low- or no-emission vehicles.

The grant funding comes from the Transit Administration’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Program. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivered a $5.5 billion funding boost for the program, more than six times greater than the previous five years of funding, according to Wexton’s office.

“Thanks to our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, federal funding is on its way to Loudoun County to reduce our carbon footprint and modernize our local public transportation,” Wexton stated. “This is a major investment in a key transit priority for Loudoun that will benefit the entire

ON THE Agenda

continued from page 4

report would be expected to pay roughly $1.1 million in road contributions under the new system, $2.5 million less than the current system. Other capital offsets, such as the $1,000 per unit transit contribution, are unchanged.

Landfill Waste Disposal Fee to Increase July 1

The waste disposal fee at the Loudoun County Solid Waste Management Facility is scheduled to increase to $71 a ton effective Saturday, July 1, 2023.

The waste disposal fee at the gate will increase from $68 to $71 per ton; all other fees will remain the same, including the minimum charge for waste disposal of $7 per customer. A complete list of

Zoning rewrite

community by providing a cleaner and quieter transit fleet. I’m excited to see our once-in-a-generation infrastructure law continue to deliver for Virginia.”

Funding from the Low or No Emission Vehicle Program is distributed to localities to help local transit agencies purchase low- or no-emission vehicles and necessary facility renovations and equipment upgrades to support those vehicles, such as electric batteries and workforce development.

County supervisors previously approved a plan to begin replacing some of the county’s lighter-duty vehicles, such as cars and SUVs used by administrative personnel, with electric vehicles.

More information about the Low or No Emission Program is online at transit.dot.gov/lowno. n

continued from page 4

“It’s kind of passing the buck a little bit if this board doesn’t get Zoning Ordinance Rewrite done,” Randall said. “I think if we don’t get it done this year, it probably won’t get done for two more years because it’s going to be so much catch up that a new board would have to do.”

But others said they see an urgent need to get new rules on data center development in place amid a rush of development applications.

“This is the higher priority for me, getting this mapping done and getting this moving forward, because the repercussions of not doing this—the repercussions of not working on this and doing this—are going to impact this county for decades,” Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) said.

landfill fees, including surcharges for specific items including tires, propane tanks and refrigerated appliances, is available at loudoun.gov/landfill.

The fee increase follows the annual financial review by an outside consultant of the landfill’s current and forecasted revenues, expenses and estimated tonnage receipts. The most recent analysis recommends the waste disposal fee be adjusted to remain market competitive and to ensure the long-term viability of the landfill.

More information is online at  loudoun.gov/landfill.

Economic Development Details Tech-Heavy Workforce

Loudoun has more than double the national average number of people working in computer and mathematical jobs for a community its size, according to a report from the county Department of Economic

Cochran Family Dental

Development.

The numbers, prepared by consulting firm Chmura, reflect the large number of people working in software and computer systems development, according to the department. There are 13,946 people working in Loudoun in that category.

That category of jobs has also grown by 7.2% annually over the last five years and is Loudoun’s fastest-growing career sector. Within that category, Loudoun has 5,828 software developers alone, more than twice the national average.

More working-age Loudouners are also at work or looking for a job compared to national and state averages.

Labor force participation, the share of non-institutionalized people 16 years and older who are working or looking for work, is 75.3% in Loudoun, well above the 65.2% participation in Virginia and 63.2% for the nation. n

“We’re getting one application, after another application, after another application, reading it in the papers where deals are being made,” Vice Chair Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) said. “Things are not being discussed above board here and in private. We find out about things later on in articles that we were told were different circumstances. So I think this is this will be a good signal to those folks.”

Supervisors voted for that funding and schedule change 5-4, with Randall and supervisors Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg), Caleb E. Kershner (R-Catoctin) and Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) opposed. County planners will return to the board with a schedule and work plan to get that comprehensive plan amendment done.

“I am as frustrated as I could be by the data center community that I don’t believe I can say are being good neighbors anymore,” Randall said. “I think that they used to be really good neighbors, and I’m not able to say that anymore.” n

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) speaks at a Juneteenth celebration in Leesburg Monday, June 19.

Leesburg

Kaine, Wexton Briefed on Air Traffic Control Status at Airport

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) met with town leaders at Leesburg Executive Airport on Monday to review the status of efforts to maintain air traffic control operations following the FAA’s decision to shutter the remote tower operation there.

Since 2015, the airport has been a testing ground for a remote tower system developed by Saab Inc. that uses high-definition cameras and displays, maneuverable optical and infrared cameras, microphones, and a signal-light-gun to provide data to air traffic controllers at a remote tower center located just outside airport property on Miller Drive. Controllers used the system to direct aircraft movements and space in the air and on the airport grounds.

The remote technology was developed as an alternative to building a brick-andmortar air traffic control tower at the airport. However, the Federal Aviation Administration notified the town in February that the remote tower operation would be shut down, a decision made after Saab determined it would not move forward with full certification of the system after a change to FAA rules.

The town’s congressional delegation has played a key role in helping to extend the deadline for the closing the remote system, standing up a temporary mobile control tower at the airport, and helping to advance plans for construction of a permanent tower.

“I’ve followed the whole dynamic and, you know, it’s gotten to not an optimal place, but a better place than everybody was worried about in March,” Kaine said. “This is one where if the delegation had not joined together and pushed, I don’t think it would have been.”

“It was a sea change in the tenor of our negotiations with them once you guys got involved,” Town Attorney Chris Serpa said.

Kaine said the legislators were caught off guard by the FAA action after years of reports that the remote system was working well.

“And the pilots loved it. They were very pleased with it, and I know you were and

we were. So, we were shocked when it got notified that like in a week it’s gone,” Mayor Kelly Burk said.

In the months since, the FAA agreed to extend the deadline for shuttering the remote tower, brought a mobile tower to airport and committed to funding the operation for the remainder of the fiscal year. The next challenge for the town will be securing additional appropriation for that tower over the next five years as the town works to designs. funding and construct permanent brick-and-mortar tower.

Air Traffic Manager Michael Link said it was important to keep control operations at the airport, which now handles more than 80,000 flight operations annually. But he noted the mobile tower would be a step back from the service provided by the remote system.

“The decision to take away the R-tower, from an operational standpoint, never made sense to me at all,” he said. “They let us work in it for five years and it was perfectly safe. Then they said, OK, this is unsafe and you’re no longer going to be able to work in it … From our standpoint, as

operators, there’s nothing unsafe about it.

He said operating in the mobile tower will be more challenging for controllers who will be leaving “basically state-ofthe-art system with everything at our fingertips.”

“We’ve got the radar. We’ve got zoom cameras. We can easily see everything we need to see without any problems. And then we’re going to spend three to five years in a mobile tower. The mobile tower has everything we need operate. However, it doesn’t have the height that a regular tower would. So that reduces how far out we can see … and the other tool that we don’t have yet, that they’ve said will come, is the radar. The radar has been invaluable to us. When you’re mixing business jets and personal jets with single engine props, you’re talking aircraft that are doing double the speed coming in, you know, without the radar that makes it even more difficult. Don’t really want to say unsafe, I mean, because that’s our job is to keep that safe, but

AIRPORT VISIT

continues on page 7

Private Property Options Floated for Amphitheater

The Parks and Recreation Commission has weighed in on the Town Council effort to identify a location for an outdoor performance center.

In a report presented Monday, the panel concluded there are no locations on town-owned park property that would be suitable for a 14,000 square foot facility with accommodations for up to 500 spectators. However, the commission did identify four privately owned parcels that might.

The council agreed to explore options for the development of an outdoor stage during its planning retreat early this year. The idea started as a small band shell, perhaps located at Ida Lee Park, to provide performance space for symphonies, chorale groups, and community theater groups.

While nixing Ida Lee Park and other town properties, the commission suggested the council look at land just north of the park, land near Veterans Park, undeveloped property north of the Meadowbrook neighborhood, and a lot currently for sale on Morven Park Road near Ida Lee Park.

The commission also suggested the council conduct a formal needs assessment for an outdoor performance venue as the best next step.

Fieldstone Dr. Traffic Light to Get Another Study

The Leesburg town staff will take another look at the Battlefield Parkway/Fieldstone Drive intersection to determine whether a traffic light can be installed there.

According to a report presented to the Town Council this week, a new study will be conducted once schools reopen in the fall.

The intersection has been a neighborhood concern for several years, but traffic studies conducted in 2021 and 2022 found that traffic conditions did not meet VDOT requirements for a traffic light. A recent crash at the crossing has put the issue back on the priority list of

AROUND TOWN continues on page 7

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now From left, Vice Mayor Neil Steinburg, Town Attorney Chris Serpa, Airport Manager Scott Coffman, Sen. Tim Kaine and Mayor Kelly Burk discuss the air traffic control system during a June 26 meeting at Leesburg Executive Airport.

Damage Estimated at $7M in Leesburg Airport Hangar Fire

A hangar at Leesburg Executive Airport caught fire at around 2 a.m. Sunday, damaging nine planes, the Town of Leesburg reported. No injuries were reported.

Damages were estimated at more than $7 million, including the structure, aircraft, vehicles and other contents, according to the Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office, which continues to investigate the cause of the fire.

The fire occurred in the B T-hangar on the north end of the airfield. A Leesburg Police officer on patrol noticed smoke and reported it to dispatchers. Loudoun Fire-Rescue units from Leesburg, Ashburn, Lansdowne, and Moorefield responded and found heavy smoke and visible fire on all sides of the building. Incident command requested a Rapid Intervention

Airport visit

continued from page 6

it makes our job even more difficult.”

Link said the radar system also has been critical in reducing the number of security violations by pilots crossing into secure airspace around the national capital. Before the airport had radar capability, there were eight to 10 violations a week. Since then,

AROUND Town

continued from page 6

the town’s Residential Traffic Commission.

The town has earmarked funding to start design of the $1 million traffic light project in its Capital Improvements Program, starting in FY 2029. Depending on the results of the new study, that project could be accelerated, according to the report.

Town Assesses Tree Canopy Loss

The Town of Leesburg has completed its first 10-year tree canopy study, finding the loss of 27 acres of trees during the period from 2005 to 2015.

The study was conducted by the Department of Public Works and Capital Projects.

Contributed

The

Task Force, bringing additional fire and rescue units from Leesburg, Hamilton, and Kincora.

Crews extinguished the fire shortly afterward.

The airport remains open for business. n

violations have dropped to two or three a month, he said.

The FAA has committed to providing radar for the mobile tower, but installation may not be complete until next year. Link said he was hopeful that could be accelerated.

“I don’t know what we could do to help but if there would be a way Jennifer and I could definitely work on that,” Kaine said. n

According to the report, tree canopy covered 2,062 acres in 2005 and 2,035 acres in 2015.

Urban Forester Noble Atkins said the canopy loss during this period was the result of land development in town. To offset the impact of construction, the town plans to plant more trees in medians, parks, schools, and other public and private spaces.

“We will also minimize canopy loss during the next 10-year period by requiring that more individual trees be saved during land development activities,” Atkins stated. “Tree preservation plans and related measures will be necessary to preserve many more individual trees during town capital projects and private development.”

The next 10-year study will end in 2025 and will compare the canopy data from 2015 to 2025. n

remains of a Cessna Cardinal, one of three aircraft destroyed in a June 25 fire in a hangar at Leesburg Executive Airport.

Education

Inova, Schools, GW Open Mobile Health Clinic

BY MAGGIE MCCABE

Loudoun County Public Schools, Inova Loudoun Hospital, and the George Washington University School of Nursing on Thursday unveiled the LCPS Mobile Health Clinic, offering health care and connections to Loudoun students and families.

The Mobile Health Clinic will provide free school physicals and wellness checks for students, as well as connecting families to accessible medical resources in the Sterling community. It was established with more than $355,000 through the Virginia Department of Education and the Community Schools Implementation and Development Grant.

The school district will hire its first nurse practitioner to oversee the Mobile Health Clinic.

This summer, the clinic will have a rotating schedule visiting six Title 1 elementary schools in the Sterling area: Sterling, Sully, Sugarland, Forest Grove, Guilford, and Rolling Ridge.

“The bus will travel two to three days per week during the summer to meet families within their own community in a

location where they can easily get to and where they feel safe,” Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Asia Jones said.

There are physicals and wellness checks required for children at many different grade levels as well as when they first en-

roll in LCPS. That medical care can be hard to access, and may have significant financial barriers, which can delay a child from attending school, she said.

“Our goal with the clinic is to provide free and necessary health care services to students so they can begin school on time

with a healthy start,” Jones said.

“Inova has been Loudoun’s nonprofit community hospital for more than 110 years, and we see ourselves as the guardians of our community’s health,” Inova Assistant Vice President of Campus and Clinical Operations April Brown said.

Through Inova’s community health needs assessment, the hospital identified three areas of focus: access to care, mental health, and economic stability.

“The mobile health clinic will help break down these barriers and provide improved access to our students and our families,” Brown said. “Our hope is that each student and their family members will find a permanent medical home.”

The George Washington University School of Nursing is providing nursing students to help staff the mobile clinic.

“This is an opportunity for us to show nursing students that nurses actually provide care in the community to the public to support the public health and the community care needs,” said GWU Associate

Legally Blind Aldie Teen Awarded $10K College Scholarship

Aldie teen Kenneth Calhoun was awarded a $10,000 scholarship from Lighthouse Guild in New York City to attend William and Mary University this fall.

Calhoun was one of 15 legally blind recipients across the country who are entering college or attending graduate school in the fall to receive the scholarship.

“This scholarship would allow me to learn as much as possible without worrying about costs and limitations. However, what is most important to me is answering the question: How can I give back to all the communities that swerved and helped me grow? Exploration and further understanding of the world will enhance current and future societies,” Calhoun said. “I want to participate in that movement and contribute as much

as possible.”

Calhoun took 42 college credits including more than 190 hours in computer camps and courses and volunteered as

a way to enhance his overall skillsets.

Calhoun said he initially wanted to pursue a career in math, but that changed after attending a summer academy at NASA’s Langley Research Center.

During the weeklong program, Calhoun said he collaborated with the Science and Surface Operations team and saw the impact of teams working together on a large project.

“The experience made me realize I wanted to pursue a career in physics, not just that, but an occupation at NASA. The massive jump from math to physics was triggered by the realization that I could learn about the world and mathematics,” he said. “Pursuing a career in physics has helped me realize that a better understanding of the order of the universe increases my appreciation of the world.”

Lighthouse Guild scholarships are

awarded to legally blind students to help with their transition into college or graduate school. They are awarded based on academic accomplishment and merit. The 2023 recipients will be attending some of the nation’s most competitive universities, according to the announcement.

Lighthouse Guild’s Scholarship Program has awarded over $2.7 million in scholarships to students from around the country since 2005. Former scholarship recipients have gone on to careers as nurses, attorneys, teachers, engineers, chemists, composers, musicians, neuroscientists, social workers, business owners, investors, epidemiologists, physician assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, journalists, and computer scientists.

Learn more at lighthouseguild.org. n

Contributed/Lighthouse Guild Kenneth Calhoun

MOBILE CLINIC continues on page 10

Maggie McCabe/Loudoun Now Dorri O’Brien, Adele Tierney, Lauren Cianciaruso, April Brown, and Leigh Guarinello, Inova leaders who helped launch the project, pose in front of the Mobile Health Services Bus.

Designed to Serve Your Charitable Vision

From personalized family foundations, to memorial funds, to scholarship funds, to donor-advised funds, we can help you make a difference that never ends.

Fire Marshal, Fire-Rescue Donate Fire Safety Books to Elementary Schools

The Loudoun Fire Marshal’s Office and Loudoun Fire and Rescue donated more than 100 books about fire safety and 911 to Loudoun elementary schools.

Fire Marshall Seaver Miller and his team visited three elementary schools to deliver the books and meet with students, according to the school division.

“We are so thankful for the partnership between LCPS and the Fire Marshal’s office, and it’s a pleasure to show our appreciation by donating these books,” Miller stated. “We are donating these books with the hope that stu-

Mobile clinic

continued from page 8

Dean for BSN Programs Crystel Farina said.

School District Director of Student Services Clark Bowers said in the beginning, the LCPS team had big dreams for the grant money but had no idea where to start. He met with LCPS Outreach Services Supervisor Sarah Eaton and drew out the idea on a napkin. Then, they began reaching out to people in the community who could assist their efforts.

With the help of the Loudoun Education Foundation, LCPS partnered up with Inova and GW to turn the dream into a reality. It not only will help students get necessary physicals and wellness checks, but help connect the rest of the family to medical care, Inova Community Health Programs Director Leigh Guarinello said.

“Because the students’ families need to be with them for them to be seen, it is an opportunity for the conversation making sure the whole family is receiving the care they deserve and need,” Guarinello said.

Organizers said the Mobile Health Clinic team is using the trust families have in their children’s schools as a way to introduce and connect them to a permanent medical home. During every mobile health clinic checkup, the whole family is provided information about the Inova Cares Clinic in Sterling, which provides comprehensive primary care services to children and families with a low financial burden. The clinic serves as a medical home for patients of all ages who qualify for Medicaid, FAMIS, or Inova’s Financial Assistance Program, as well as uninsured

dents will use these resources to learn about fire and life safety while enjoying reading.”

Some of the books were created in Loudoun County specifically to help students learn about safety, according to division Media Services Supervisor Elissa Moriz.

Those books include “Beamer Learns About Fire Safety” and “Sophie Needs an Ambulance” by Cindy Chambers and “Dolley the Fire Dog” by Lisa Gerry.

“Stories are powerful tools to help our youngest students learn and understand the world around them,” Moriz said.

The books are available in Loudoun elementary schools.  n

patients.

The school district plans to continue the clinic through the 2023-24 school year, with hopes of expanding in the coming years. Through the first few months of the program by talking with children and their families, Bowers is hoping the program uncovers new ways to support the mission of community schools and to remove barriers for students so all they have to do is go to school and learn.

“We want to make sure that there are no barriers in the way of our students having every advantage of becoming who they have the potential to be,” he said.

Find the clinic’s summer schedule at lcps.org/Page/249673 n

Maggie McCabe is a rising sophomore at Davidson College interning at Loudoun Now.

Maggie McCabe/Loudoun Now Mobile Health Clinic driver Charles Medland behind the wheel of the bus.

Nonprofits

Loudoun Cares Plans Week-Long 20th Anniversary Celebration

Nonprofit Loudoun Cares will celebrate 20 years in operation with a weeklong celebration July 2-8.

Incorporated in late 2002 and operational since 2003, Leesburg-based Loudoun Cares offers the ConnectLine, connecting people in need with resources, information and referrals to other local services; and the Volunteer Center, an online portal connecting would-be volunteers with local nonprofits. The center currently has more than 265 nonprofits registered and gets 80-100 new volunteers registering each month.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Loudoun Cares has also helped keep more than 1,000 families in their homes and the lights on by distributing more than$1.76 million in rent and utility assistance.

Meanwhile Loudoun Cares was named 2021 Nonprofit of the Year and Small Business of the Year by the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce, and Executive Director Valerie Pisierra received the 2022 Loudoun Chamber Community Leadership award in the nonprofit executive category.

Pisierra cited a statistic from the Na-

tional Center for Charitable Statistics that about 30% of nonprofits cease to exist after ten years.

“Given these statistics and the significant changes in Loudoun’s landscape in the last 20 years, we really do have reason to celebrate,” she stated. “As the County has changed, we too have changed to stay relevant and keep to our mission. We’ve certainly had our ups and downs, but in the end, we’ve not only survived, but we have prevailed.”

Loudoun Cares Week begins Monday, July 2 at the Purcellville Pub. Owner Kevin Bednarz has pledged to donate 10% of the day’s food sales to Loudoun Cares. And at 6 p.m., Pisierra will take over tending the bar.

Celebration will wrap up Saturday, July 8 with an anniversary party at Ocelot Brewing Company from 2 – 5 p.m. Owner Adrian Widman has also pledged to donate a portion of sales to Loudoun Cares.

The nonprofit is also still planning other events for the week, with updates and more information online at loudouncares.org. To get help finding resources in the community, call 703-669-4636. n

Resilience Awards Support Front-line Mental Health Professionals

The Loudoun County Trauma-Informed Community Network recently presented its inaugural Resilience Awards to outstanding professionals working to improve mental health for Loudoun County residents.

Resilience Award recipients are residents recognized for putting others first. This first annual event centered around the theme “Helping Helpers,” recognizing social workers, clinicians, and mental health professionals working with vulnerable families and youth.

Over 100 Loudoun TICN members from 45 organizations were invited to nominate colleagues going above and beyond for the community. The eight awardees are frontline professionals at LAWS Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services, the Northern Virginia

Rotary Club of Leesburg Awards $45,000 in Scholarships

The Rotary Club of Leesburg awarded $15,000 scholarships to three graduating seniors as part of the program started 38 years ago by club member Perry Winston.

chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Loudoun County Public Schools, Newport Healthcare, and Northern Virginia Family Services.

They were presented with a well-being experience—an Equine-Assisted Learning session in partnership with Project Horse of the Arc of Loudoun, Stop Child Abuse Now of Northern Virginia, and Greater Richmond SCAN.

“We see a lot of burnout and vicarious trauma in survivor care,” stated Laurie Tasharski, lead facilitator of the Loudoun TICN. “It’s important to care for those who care for everyone else. This experience was designed to be a restorative and meaningful ‘thank you’ to those who help others.” n

This year’s scholarship winners are Pushti Bhagat, of Heritage High School, who will be attending George Mason; Kathryn Homa, of Loudoun County High School, who will be going to Duke University; and Daniel Bruno, of Tuscarora High School, who has chosen Michigan State University.

The Rotary Club of Leesburg Perry Winston Scholarship is awarded annually to seniors from Loudoun County High School, Tuscarora High School, or Heritage High School who have been accepted to an accredited college, university, or community college. The criteria for the scholarship are demonstrated community service, academic achievement, and financial need. All applicants are required to complete a 500-word essay and, if selected as a finalist, participate in a personal interview.

The original funding to the scholarship was contributed by Winston, who was a prominent Leesburg banker, and

two anonymous Rotarians. Through the years, other Rotarians—including Ellen Wall, owner of the former Laurel Brigade Inn, and Jewell Emswiller—contributed to growing the principal through large bequests to the fund.

As part of the program, each student is assigned a Rotary mentor throughout their college experience. The three mentors this year are Valerie Beaudoin, Ernie Carnevale and Ashley Ivey. n

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Loudoun Cares Executive Director Valeria Pisierra accepts the 2022 Loudoun Chamber Community Leadership award in the nonprofit executive category.

Contributed

From left, 2023 Perry Winston Scholarship recipients Pushti Bhagat, Kathryn Homa, and Daniel Bruno.

Griffiths to Challenge Mahedavi for School Board Seat

Deana Griffiths, a 16-year Ashburn resident, has joined the race for the Ashburn District School Board seat, challenging incumbent Harris Mahedavi.

Griffiths said she is running to rebuild the trust and confidence for students and parents.

“Our parents and students have lost faith in the Loudoun County School Board’s commitment to parents and students. As a result of its outrageous policies, all of which have been supported by Mr. Mahedavi, our School Board has become a national political punchline. My candidacy is about restoring our community’s trust and confidence in our Board and the school system,” she said in an announcement.

Griffiths said her focus would be on reviving the excellence of the school division and serving as a strong and vocal parent advocate on the School Board.

She vowed to allow parents to be more involved in the “administration of their children’s education.” Griffiths said she would fight for a budget that prioritizes teacher pay and benefits over excessive administrative positions and that provides “vital ancillary educational services for special needs students.”

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

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

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

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

fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov www.fairhousing.vipnet.org

Politics

“Loudoun County teachers are among the best in the country, we need to support them at every level,” she said. Griffiths said she would also support polices that build teacher morale and retention and that help make students and teachers feel safe in school by supporting full funding for school resource officers, anti-bullying programs, and mental health services.

She also wants a focus on academic rigor and merit-based academic recognition and to bring back “the basics” by putting more emphasis on reading, writing and arithmetic and teaching full and accurate U.S. history. Griffiths said she also supports STEM and STEAM education and would work to expand these programs “in all educational settings and with full funding.” Additionally, she said she supports the expansion of vocational education programs.

Learn more at deana4ashburn.com. n

Contributed/Deana Griffiths Deana Griffiths is running for the Ashburn District School Board seat, challenging incumbent Harris Mahedavi.

Stryker Spine Division Makes Way for Teen to Pursue Dance

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

“Bent, not broken … now titanium,” were the words that teen Sofia Insogna used about her spine during a June 23 panel hosted by Stryker at its Leesburg headquarters.

Insogna was diagnosed with scoliosis at age nine. She was referred to Rady Children’s Hospital Chief of Orthopedics and Scoliosis and surgeon-in-chief Peter Newton, where she began a seven-year journey for treatment.

Scoliosis is a disease that causes a curvature of the spine and is found in approximately 3% of healthy teenagers, Newton said. He prescribed a brace for Insogna to wear 20 hours a day. Her only reprieve was when she was able to take it off for her dance classes.

“It was like a failed art project,” Insogna said of the brace. “It looked like one, at least. It was a cast at my torso with all these holes and pads and it was meant to configure my body into something it just wasn’t.”

While braces can help some patients with scoliosis, Insogna wasn’t one of them, she said. She said over the years she

tried many forms of treatment including Caltrate pills, physical therapy, and scoliosis boot camp.

After years of trying various treatments and wearing a brace, Insogna’s spine curvature continued to deteriorate resulting in Newton suggesting spinal fusion surgery—a six-hour surgery that inserts bone or bone-like material in the space between the spinal bones and uses metal plates, screws, or rods to hold the bones together. They then fuse and heal

New Operator Plans to Revive Beacon Hill Course

the bone together.

On May 26, 2021, Newton performed the surgery on Insogna, and six months later she attended her first post-operation dance class. Two years later as a senior in high school, she and her dance team won their national competition. This year she plans to attend the University of Miami and qualified for the college’s dance team.

“Scoliosis is really something that made me who I am,” Insogna said.

Newton performed Insogna’s surgery using products manufactured by Stryker’s Spine Division which is headquartered in Leesburg. The company purchased Leesburg-founded K2M for $1.4 billion in 2018. Today their Leesburg facility includes the division’s Human Resource department, Research and Development, Marketing, Customer Service and Operations. It also has an in-house lab that offers Stryker products and cutting-edge technology for surgeons across the world to test out.

“On behalf of all my patients like Sofia, I would like to say ‘thank you,’” Newton said to the room of Stryker employees. “… I want you to understand what an impact your work has on the lives of every day people.” n

CyrusOne Lands Powerhouse’s ABX-1 Data Center

PowerHouse Data Centers has secured a 30-year lease with CyrusOne for the entire spec-built data center, ABX-1 in Ashburn.

PowerHouse, a joint venture between American Real Estate Partners and the Harrison Street investment management firm, offers powered shell and buildto-suit data center solutions.

Substantial completion of this inaugural purpose-built data center is scheduled for October. The two-story, 265,000-squarefoot powered shell is located at 21529 Beaumeade Circle in the heart of Data Center Alley.

“Now more than ever, hyperscalers and operators are looking for real estate solution providers to handle everything from land identification and acquisition to data center design and construction,” stated co-founder and CEO of AREP and PowerHouse Doug Fleit.

ABX-1 is the first of PowerHouse’s six data center build sites, representing 2.1 million square feet of data center space under construction in Loudoun County.

“This transaction demonstrates the value of ABX-1’s strategic location within Data Center Alley and Powerhouse’s commitment to further provide innovative high-performance solutions to its hyperscale customers,” stated Avison Young principal Rob Walters.

“Northern Virginia is the most active data center market in the world and we are excited to be able to deliver data center solutions to end users and operators such as Cyrus One, to fit-out and support their customers,” stated Michael Hochanadel, Managing Director and Head of Digital Assets for Harrison Street. “We look forward to working closely with PowerHouse to develop more data centers in the region.”

PowerHouse Data Centers worked hand in hand with Dominion Energy to secure bridging power to the site, while also planning the development of a unique GIS on-site substation. ABX-1 will eventually feature the 300 MW substation, which will deliver more than 60 MW of power to the facility, with the rest available for the surrounding area. The substation commenced construction in February and is expected to be energized by the end of 2025.

“Without Dominion Energy’s strong commitment to our site and dedicated partnership, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Fleit stated. “We are focused on addressing rising data center demand, and we are fortunate to have a power partner in Dominion Energy that works tirelessly to deliver power solutions to the broader community.”

Learn more at powerhousedata.com. n

Haymarket-based Resort Development Partners has acquired the former Golf Club of Virginia property in the Beacon Hill neighborhood west of Leesburg with plans to restore and reopen the course originally designed by Hall of Fame golfer Johnny Miller.

Opened in 2001, the renamed Beacon Hill Golf Club closed in 2006.

Resort Development Partners has entered into an agreement with the Beacon Hill Community Association to revive the 27-hole course with a view to reopening next year as The Preserve at Beacon Hill. Plans include converting the 27-hole golf course to 18 holes with the later addition of a nine-hole family course, a new clubhouse and a golf practice and improvement center.

“Our sleeves are rolled up and work begins immediately to transform this property into an extraordinary golf experience commensurate with the beauty and prestige of the community,” Resort Development Partners co-founder and managing partner Frank Denniston stated in the announcement.

“The commitment and support to reinstate golf have led to this opportunity to finally fulfill the promise that Beacon Hill was founded upon more than 20 years ago,” Beacon Hill Community Association President Sid Rudolph stated.

Resort Development Partners provides expertise in operations and planning for hotels, clubs, residential and resort communities. It operates The Country Club of Indianapolis, in Indiana; Hidden Valley Country Club in Salem; Pine Island Country Club in Charlotte, NC; Out Door Country Club in York, PA; Timacuan Club in Lake Mary, FL; and Cat Island Club in Beaufort, SC.

Learn more about Beacon Hill at  resortdevpartners.com. n

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Sofia Insogna, who was diagnosed with Scoliosis at age nine, speaks at a panel with Dr. Peter Newton June 23.

Chess Joins MWAA Board

Taylor Chess is the newest member of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board of directors. He is an appointee of Gov. Glenn Youngkin a for a term expiring in November 2026.

at approximately $660 million and assisted in the acquisition of 140 commercial properties.

Chess studied at California State University, Northridge. He serves on numerous philanthropic boards and committees including Joe Gibbs’ Youth for Tomorrow, Fairfax County’s Sports Tourism Tax Force and the Fairfax Founders Board.

Public Safety

High Threat Team Brings Sheriff’s Office, Fire-Rescue Together

Chess

Chess is the president of development for The Peterson Companies and serves on the company’s investment committee.

Prior to joining The Peterson Companies, Chess was senior vice president of investments at Regency Centers, where he established the mid-Atlantic and northeast offices. During his eight-year tenure, he developed 11 shopping centers valued

The MWAA board is comprised of 17 members who establish policy and provides direction to management for the operation of Dulles and Reagan National Airports and the Dulles Toll Road. The governor of Virginia appoints seven members, subject to confirmation by the Virginia General Assembly; the governor of Maryland appoints three members; the mayor of the District of Columbia appoints four members, subject to confirmation by the D.C. Council; and the President of the United States appoints three members with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate. Members’ terms are for six years. n

Home Prices High, Inventory Low, Dulles Realtors Report

Home sales remained sluggish and prices high last month, the Dulles Area Association of Realtors reported in its May 2023 Loudoun County Market Indicators Report.

“As we head into the summer months, tight inventory, mortgage rates, and continually rising prices are still heavily at play, making it quite challenging for many would-be homebuyers,” DAAR President Allan Marteney stated. “Because there is less than a month of inventory available here in the county, properties continue to receive multiple offers, in turn driving the prices upward.”

The report, produced by Virginia Realtors, indicated sales in May were down 29% from a year ago, with 208 fewer sales. The biggest dips were in the

Ashburn 20148 ZIP code and Leesburg 20176 ZIP code. Pending sales also decreased 27% compared to last year, signaling continued slow market conditions.

Meanwhile, prices were up, with a median sales price of $710,000 in May, up 1.4% or $10,050 compared to last May. Prices climbed the most in the Purcellville 20132 ZIP code, Leesburg 20175 ZIP code and Chantilly 20152 ZIP code.

And supplies remain tight, with 25% fewer listings on the market compared to last year. The biggest drop in listings was in the Ashburn 20147 ZIP code, which saw 60% fewer listings, 42 fewer.

Find the full report at dullesarea.com. n

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office and the Combined Fire and Rescue System partnered in 2021 to create a High Threat Team responsible for preparing for acts of violence. Two years later, team members say it has led to a closer-than-ever working relationship between the two agencies.

The team has developed new levels of integrated training, policies, and combined response initiatives.

Members of both the Sheriff ’s Office and Fire-Rescue regularly participate in simulations where they are charged with forming a unified command and directing units to deploy onto the scene for patient care and extraction.

Battalion Chief Daniel Neal, a member of the High Threat Team, said that while the team was formed to improve the county’s response to high threat situations, they quickly realized that an improved relationship between the two agencies would be an additional result.

“We work very, very closely, and we’ve got a terrific relationship with fire and rescue,” Sheriff Michael Chapman said.

He referenced the recent incident at Dulles Town Center where a Leesburg man shot an internet video prankster who was harassing him as an example of a situation that the two entities worked together to respond quickly and effectively.

“We all worked together to clear that mall and it just goes to show you the unity that we have,” he said.

“In the past, we’ve had two silos—law enforcement and fire and rescue, and we’ve each had our jobs to do,” Sheriff ’s Office Lt. Tom Mengel said. “But we very seldomly crossed, and when we did cross there was a lot of joking around and giving each other a hard time. But as these acts of violent incidents are occurring more frequently, we realized that we had to do something. So, we put all that aside and came together to focus on what the real mission is.”

Neal said that the collaboration is rare and that not many communities are practicing it.

“Unified command is something that if you go take any command class, they’ll talk about it. But then the big question

is how do you implement it? How do you operationalize that? And not many agencies are actually practicing it regularly,” he said.

Neal said that the close relationship between the organizations led to quicker and more organized responses—one of many unexpected benefits from the team.

“The branch commander that we had running [the response to the Dulles Town Center incident], right when he first got on scene and the battalion chief that arrived on scene had gone through one of these [simulations] together so literally, they saw each other [and said hello] and shook hands and unified command was established and they were off and running,” Sheriff ’s Office Capt. Bryan Wacker said.

In the simulations, members of the Sheriff ’s Office and Fire-Rescue are placed in the “hot seat” and tasked with managing the response together for a simulated high threat scenario, such as an active shooter. The combined team of two or three is responsible for decisions such as determining where to set up the temporary command center, which roads and buildings are closed and locked down, how soon Fire-Rescue enters the building, pursuit of the suspect, and coordinating communication. They receive constant radio communications and make immediate decisions on how to respond to the posed threat.

Their goal is to coordinate a timely and effective response and recovery, and they succeed when all patients are removed from the scene.

The scenarios have been run every quarter and since the team’s inception they have conducted over 125 active shooter simulations. Opportunities to sit in the “hot seat” have also been provided to members of the Leesburg Police Department, Purcellville Police Department and Northern Virginia Community College Police.

“It’s really changed how both of our agencies operate for the better,” Neal said.

Team members said they have seen dramatic improvement in the quality of response to threats since beginning the training, starting with simple scenarios moving to more complicated ones as the responses get better. n

Lovettsville Council Reallocates ARPA Funds to Support CIP

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Lovettsville Town Council has reallocated funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act to align with the town’s fiscal year 2024 budget and Capital Improvement Plan.

The town received its first portion of its $2.28 million in COVID-19 relief money in June 2021 and adopted a funding plan three months later. In July 2022, the council adopted a spending plan for the second portion of the ARPA funding. That plan assigned a majority of the funding for CIP projects, divided between the town’s general and utility funds and some to provide nonprofit and business grants.

The amendment adopted by the council on June 8 reallocates $767,160 from the General Fund to the Utilities Fund.

Town Manager Jason Cournoyer said the shift would provide adequate funding for the town’s full five-year CIP plan, which includes 14 general improvement projects and 11 utility projects.

The council awarded two contracts at the meeting—for the Municipal Complex Drainage and Parking Improvement project at a cost of $164,239 and for the South Church Street and East Pennsylvania Avenue watermain replacement project at a cost of $328,954.

Cournoyer said that the reallocation of

Independence Day the Hillsboro Way

funds included taking $60,000 of the previously allocated $65,000 for utility assistance grants. He said the town had only awarded $150 of those funds to date.

Mayor Christopher Hornbaker noted that the reallocation also would eliminate a planned second round of ARPA funded grants for nonprofits and small businesses.

Hornbaker asked if allocating funds to the town’s planned Quarter Branch Road improvement project would make it less likely to receive funds via the federal Community Project Funding Grants.

The Town of Hillsboro got a jump on the Independence Day celebrations Sunday with a day of music and fireworks at the Old Stone School. Highlights of the annual Independence Day the Hillsboro Way program included concerts by Joey & The Waitress, Circa Blue and Calgary, and a reading of the full Declaration of Independence by a roster of town residents and elected representatives including County Chair Phyllis Randall, county supervisors Tony Buffington, Caleb Kershner, Sylvia Glass and Kristen Umstattd, County Treasurer H. Roger Zurn and Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens.

The free family event brought a large crowd that filled the lawn of the Old Stone School and surrounding fields for fireworks watching. n

Cournoyer said it shouldn’t because in its application, the town had listed more projects than the Quarter Branch Road project.

“It listed that as ‘including but not limited to’ so there are a lot of other areas and linear watermains that could be used with that grant funding,” he said.

He said the staff had identified approximately 5,000 linear feet of pipe that could be replaced if the funding is available.

The council voted unanimously to amend the spending plan. n

MIDDLEBURG Council Approves Low Bid for Town Hall Cleaning

The completion of the new Town Hall is still months away, but town leaders are preparing for its operations.

Last week, the Town Council approved a contract for janitorial services, following an unusual debate.

Council members worried that the cost proposed by the winning bidder might be too low.

The town received nine responses to its invitation for bids to clean the Town Hall and the public restrooms on Liberty Street. The highest bid was for $84,000 annually. The lowest was for $19,800.

After assurances from the staff that the low bidder, J.V. Cleaning, had complied with all the contract requirements and would be held to specific performance standards, the council unanimously approved the contract award.

PURCELLVILLE

Water Department Seeks Public Help in Survey

The town’s Water Department is undertaking a project to identify the water service line material type on the customer side of all its customers in order to comply with federal requirements.

While lead is not found in Purcellville’s treated water, it may dissolve from lead service lines and plumbing fixtures owned by residents.

The town previously mailed letters to all affected residential customers, which includes homes constructed before August 1, 1978. Residents who have not yet responded can expect a door hanger asking for participation in a survey to determine their service line material. Once the information is gathered the town will develop a database that shows town and customer side service line material.

Questions can be emailed to leadtest@purcellvilleva.gov. n

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Lovettsville Town Manager Jason Cournoyer speaks with the Town Council during its June 8 meeting.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now County Chair Phyllis Randall joins a roster of local elected representatives and town residents in a reading of the Declaration of Independence during Hillsboro’s June 25 program.

At Youth Football Camp, Allen, McSorley Instill a Love for the Game

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

A pair of Loudoun County football legends was back on the high school field this month to help the next generation of players develop their skills—and love—for the game.

The first Jonathan Allen Summer Football Skills & Fundamentals Camp was on its second day June 16, with more than 100 kids running through drills at Briar Woods High School in Brambleton under the direction of former NFL linebacker Eddie Mason and the coaches at the Pro Elite Football Academy and the Ashburn Youth Football League.

Joining Allen, the Commander’s Pro Bowl defensive end, in the crowd of kids was New England Patriots quarterback Trace McSorley. While Allen was a 2012 graduate of Stone Ridge High School, McSorley was on home turf. As a four-year starter for the Falcons, he led the team to three consecutive state championships before having a record-setting career at Penn State.

“It’s cool to be able to come back and do something for the kids,” McSorley said. “I remember doing these camps when I was their age. Eddie was running them. One of the things I looked forward to every summer was these camps. I’m excited to be able to come back and be on the other side for these kids to get them excited about football, get them loving it, and get the next generation of the game in good hands.”

Allen was drafted in the first round by the Washington football team after building a reputation as the nation’s top defensive player during his career at Alabama. With the team’s headquarters just down the road, Allen stays in contact with the Bulldogs’ program.

“I like working with the youth. I feel we are so blessed to say we play football for a living. Anything I can do to give back and spread the word of God and bring passion to the youth of tomorrow,” Allen said.

For his inaugural camp, Allen said he wants to have a lasting impact on the participants.

“I hope they have fun. I hope they have a memory for the rest of their lives. I know for me, whenever I got to meet an NFL player growing up it was always one of the coolest moments of my life and I hope I can do that for them,” he said.

Other members of the Commanders also joined in the program over its three days.

McSorley said his football career is rooted in the similar summer camps—with

Mason leading the drills.

“I just want the kids to have fun and start developing the love for the game. This is where it kind of all started for me. I’ve always wanted to be out on the field playing the game and having a good time,” he said. “And I want them to learn some skills, live lessons that they can carry on with them.”

During water breaks between drills, Allen and McSorley met with the participants in small groups to answer questions and banter about video games. Allen asked which teams they use with playing Madden NFL. “And don’t tell me the Chiefs,” he joked.

“It’s really just the smallest thing, being able to talk with the players,” Allen said. “They don’t seem like real people when you watch them on TV or play with them on the game. Just being able to hang out with them and joke with them like their one of your boys.”

For Mason, the camp is a return to the field after a break during the pandemic. For many years, he ran the summer camp with cornerback Shawn Springs.

In working with Allen and McSorley, Mason is working to bring the next generation into the training effort.

“We need some young new blood in the room and these two are the ones to lead the future of this football community in Loudoun. We’ve had some great players— not just great players, but better people,” Mason said. He noted that both the Commanders and the Patriots just wrapped up their offseason training activities and are preparing for training camp in a few weeks.

“They’ve got busy schedules. Trace drove down from Boston. It shows you kind of who they are as men and this matters to them,” Mason said.

Learn more at ayfl.org or masetraining.com. n

HOUSING IS ABOUT LOUDOUN’S FUTURE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY

WORKFORCE

45% of Loudoun renters are spending more than 30% of their monthly income on housing.

More housing options for Loudoun’s workforce are essential to the future of Loudoun.

Workforce Housing Now is not an issue about charity. It’s about the future economic prosperity of Loudoun.

Let’s shape Loudoun’s future. WON’T YOU JOIN US? workforcehousingnow.org

Workforce Housing Now is an initiative of the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties.

Sheila Johnson & Lewis Parker

2023 Laureates

Lansdowne Resort

Friday, September 22, 2023. Almost Sold Out!

For tickets, please visit bit.ly/3us0rrQ or scan:

The Loudoun Laurels Foundation Gala Honoring

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Jonathan Allen and Trace McSorley talk with participants the inaugural Jonathan Allen Football Camp at Briar Woods High School on June 16.

GETOUT

LIVE MUSIC

TEJAS SINGH

Thursday, June 29, 5 to 8 p.m.

MacDowell’s Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE. macsbeach.com

SHANE GAMBLE

Friday, June 30, 2 to 5 p.m.

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

MILTON J: 3RD ANNUAL LEGALIZATION CELEBRATION

Friday, June 30, 4 to 8 p.m.

Cannabreeze CBD Hemp Farm, 13530 Breezy Meadow Lane, Lovettsville. cannabreezehemp.com

THE HUME-FRYE DUO

Friday, June 30, 5 to 8 p.m.

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

PETER MCDERMOTT

Friday, June 30, 5 to 8 p.m.

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

DOMINICA KNAPP

Friday, June 30, 5 to 8 p.m.

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

SELA CAMPBELL

Friday, June 30, 5 to 8 p.m. Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont. dirtfarmbrewing.com

SUMMER & ERIC DUO

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

JASON MASI

Friday, June 30, 6 to 10 p.m. Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

ANTHONY SEMIAO

Friday, June 30, 6 to 9 p.m.

Otium Cellars, 18050 Tranquility Road, Purcellville otiumcellars.com

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 22

Fireworks and More: Loudoun’s Independence Day Celebrations

America’s 247th birthday will be celebrated across Loudoun County with community gatherings, parades, and lots and lots of fireworks.

The Town of Leesburg gets things rolling starting at 10 a.m. with a parade from Ida Lee Park down King Street to Fairfax Street. In addition to showing their community spirit, local businesses, youth organizations, dance and music performers will be in the running for Loudoun

Now’s Patriot Cup, judged by members of the Leesburg Daybreak Rotary Club and awarded to the best parade entry. Expect downtown street closures from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Crowds will return to town starting at 6 p.m. for the town’s Independence Day festival at Ida Lee Park. That event includes a live performance by Old Skool Cleveland—a high-energy Ohio band that pays tribute to ‘80s and ‘90s hip hop, R&B, dance, pop, rock and funk—starting at

6:30 p.m. A food court will be onsite with festival foods, funnel cakes, ice cream, hot dogs, and more. One of the region’s largest fireworks displays will light up the sky beginning at 9:30 p.m. choreographed to music. In the event of rain, fireworks will be rescheduled for July 5 at 9:30 p.m.

The Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services has four events planned for Independence Day beginning Friday, June 30.

The Sterling Community Center will hold its annual Star-Spangled Sterling from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday at Sterling Middle School. Enjoy various games, including a balloon water toss and potato sack races, live entertainment, balloon twisting, and food for purchase. Fireworks begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. Sterling Middle School is located at 201 W. Holly Avenue in Sterling. The event is free.

The Independence Day Celebration at Lovettsville Community Center and

Lovettsville Community Park will be held Monday, July 3, starting with a hometown parade sponsored by the Lovettsville Community Center Advisory Board and a Pool Bash for the entire family. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Lovettsville Community Park and travel down Broad Way turning onto South Loudoun Street and ending at Lovettsville Elementary School. The pool party begins at 6:30 p.m. with $5 per person admission fee. The festivities continue at the Lovettsville Community Park with food for purchase and a fireworks show at approximately 9:30 p.m.  A public reading of the Declaration of Independence will take place at St. James Church July 4 at 10 a.m.

On Tuesday, July 4, Claude Moore Park hosts its annual Claude Moore Park 4th Fest featuring live music, crafts, nature

FIREWORKS AND MORE continues on page 20

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

The playground at Hillsboro’s Old Stone School offers a coveted close-up and above-the-crowd view of the town’s fireworks display Sunday night.

From Jazz to Sacred to Pop: The Hunt Country Music Festival Returns This Weekend

The Middleburg area will feature three days of special musical performances this weekend as part of the Hunt Country Music Festival.

The event runs Friday through July 2 at the Middleburg Community Center and in churches in Middleburg and Upperville. The event brings music lovers together to enjoy inspiring performances amid the bucolic setting of rolling hillsides, vineyards, and historical sites.

The concert series was founded by Linda Taylor and Leah Ferguson through the nonprofit Middleburg Concert Series to bring quality music performances to the southwestern Loudoun.

“This meant residents had to travel long distances to enjoy performances aside from the summer rock and bluegrass concerts. Middleburg is a magnet for visitors, so this absence of concerts also meant a vacuum for them,” Taylor said. “Our concerts have been greeted with many expressions of thanks from residents and wonderful support from

local sponsors, including the Town of Middleburg—proof that we are providing a desired service and amenity to a wonderful area.”

The event opens June 30 with a Jazz Club featuring Quentin Walston Trio at the Middleburg Community Center.

On Saturday, a music crawl features mini concerts of music from the 1770s to 1970s and a performance by the U.S. Fleet Forces Band. Sunday opens with a fundraising starring Abby Middleton, a Loudouner who earned a Hele Hayes Award nomination for her performance in The Little Mermaid. In the afternoon, Nathaniel “Nat” Gumbs, the director of chapel music at Yale University, performs a solo organ recital and leads area singers in a Gospel Sing.

Festival pass provides access to all events and tickets may be purchased to individual concerts.

Full details are at huntcountrymusicfestival.org. n

Fireworks and more

continued from page 18

exhibits, historic tours, carnival games, and more. The free event runs from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees should use the Loudoun Park Lane entrance to the park. Claude Moore Park is located at 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road in Sterling.

In Middleburg, the town government is organizing the celebration this year. Activities will be held on Tuesday starting at 6 p.m. at the Middleburg Community Charter School and include music by Native Wind, food available for purchase from Divine Swine and the American Legion/Middleburg Lions, bouncy houses courtesy of Middleburg Baptist Church, free glow sticks and bracelets from the town, and fireworks scheduled at 9:15 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs.

Communities Celebrate

Star Spangled South Riding will be held Friday from 5:30 to 9:30. Activities include a bike/wagon/stroller parade leaving from the Town Hall at 5:30 p.m. to walk to the South Riding Golf Club. There Driven to Clarity will perform and food trucks will be set up. Fireworks will close out the evening.

In Waterford, the community celebrates over two days. On Monday, events include a potluck dinner at the Bond Street Barn, a pie baking contest, and fireworks in the Water Street Meadow. On Tuesday there will be a parade down factory street starting at 11 a.m. followed by music, remarks and children’s games at

EAT,DRINK & be LITERARY!

Where to Watch:

These are the approved reworks displays registered with the Fire Marshal’s Of ce:

FRIDAY, JUNE 30

Sterling Park Golf, 333 South Sterling Blvd., Sterling Greens at Willowsford, 41085 Willowsford Lane

South Riding, 43237 Golf View Dr., Chantilly

SATURDAY, JULY 1

Greene Mill Preserve (Private)

SUNDAY, JULY 2

Lansdowne Resort, 44050 Woodridge Pkwy.

the Bond Street Tanyard.

The Lincoln Community League will hold its parade from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday through the village on Lincoln Road.

For the more energic celebrants, MB LoGistics & Events is putting on the second annual Red White ‘n Brew 5K Tuesday morning at House 6 Brewing Company in Ashburn starting at 8 a.m. Participants are encouraged to run decked out in red, white and blue for the 3.1-mile race. New this year, runners may also participate in

MONDAY, JULY 3

Trump National Golf (Private)

Waterford, 40266 Water St. Lovettsville, 57 East Broad St. Segra Field, 42095 Loudoun United Dr. TUESDAY, JULY 4

Creighton Farms (Private)

Middleburg, 500 North Pendleton St. Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Dr. Ida Lee Park, 60 Ida Lee Dr.

the Stars & Stripes Fun Run and the RWB Hot Dog Mile. The Stars & Stripes Fun Run, approximately a 1K in distance, will begin at 9 a.m. The RWB Hot Dog Mile kicks off at 9:30 a.m. for four laps around the brewer after eating one hot dog before each lap. The event is highlighting HeroHomes Loudoun—a nonprofit established to build homes for those who have fought for the preservation of freedom and democracy for Loudoun Country.

For more information or to register go to redwhitenbrew.com. n

OldStoneSchool.org DOORS

p.m. Featuring Local Wines &

$15 in advance,

$20 at the door, light hors d'oeuvre served

Morven Park Hosts Team USA, Team Morocco Polo Match

Morven Park’s hosted a special match-up at its weekly Saturday night Polo in the Park on June 24: A contest between Team USA and Team Morocco. Team USA defeated Team Morocco, who were playing on horses they hadn’t ridden before. It was the first game of two games that night, with Polo in the Park always offering a double-header.

Friends

— Photo by Renss Greene.

Best Bets

THE DARBY BROTHERS

Friday, June 30, 7 p.m. Hillsboro Old Stone School oldstoneschool.org

The Darby Brothers return to the Gap Stage on Friday night to open Hillsboro’s free summer concert series recreating epic songs from Journey, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Foreigner, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and more.

GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 18

PANIC FOR THE VIBE

Friday, June 30, 6 to 10 p.m. MacDowell’s Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

GARY SMALLWOOD

Friday, June 30, 6 to 9 p.m. Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

THE SURF JUNKIES

Friday, June 30, 6 to 9 p.m. Village at Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. villageatleesburg.com

JAZZ CLUB WITH QUENTIN WALSTON TRIO

Friday, June 30, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Middleburg Community Center, 300 W. Washington St., Middleburg. $40. huntcountrymusicfestival.org

MYSTERY MACHINE

Friday, June 30, 8 to 11 p.m. Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

THE JUNIOR BRYCE BAND

Friday, June 30, 8 to 11 p.m. Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com

THE LEGWARMERS

Saturday, July 1, 6 p.m. Tarara Winery tararaconcerts.com

Remember the Eighties? Sure, we all do... but the Legwarmers don’t just remember the Eighties-they relive them. From the Simmons electronic drum kit to the checkered vans and skinny ties, the Legwarmers are the Eighties you remember.

2MB BAND

Saturday, July 1, noon to 4 p.m.

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

PAN HANDLE DAN

Saturday, July 1, 12 to 6 p.m.

Forever Farm and Vineyard, 15779 Woodgrove Road, Purcellville. foreverfarmandvineyard.com

TAKE 4 JAZZ

Saturday, July 1, 1 to 4 p.m.

Otium Cellars, 18050 Tranquility Road, Purcellville otiumcellars.com

B.EN @ BLEU FROG VINEYARDS

Saturday, July 1, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com

PATTY REESE

Saturday, July 1, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

8 Chains North, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford 8chainsnorth.com

JASON MASI

Saturday, July 1, 2 to 6 p.m.

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

ZAC QUINTANA

Saturday, July 1, 2 to 6 p.m.

Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike,

POLO IN THE PARK

Saturday, July 2, 6 to 10 p.m. Morven Park International Equestrian Center polointhepark.org

Pack a picnic and join the Saturday night party watching Morven Park’s fast-paced arena polo series. Reserve your car pass.

ELTON & BILLY FACE TO FACE

Saturday, July 1, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

Elton John tribute band Philadelphia Freedom and Billy Joel tribute band Hudson River Line take to the Leesburg stage to create the special chemistry the two legendary performers enjoyed on stage.

Darby Brothers Open Music in the Gap Series

Hillsboro kicks off the new season of its Music in The Gap free summer concert series Friday with a performance by The Darby Brothers. That will be followed by eight more Friday evening concerts as crowds gather on the Old Stone School lawn for a night of live music, food trucks, and local beer and wine. The lawn and Gap Bar open for concert goers at 6 p.m. While admission to Music in The Gap is free and guests are encouraged to bring their own blankets and chairs, tables on the Locust Grove Verandah and Lawn picnic tables may be reserved at OldStoneSchool.org, where more details on the

Hamilton. fireflycellars.com

GARY SMALLWOOD

Saturday, July 1, 2 to 5 p.m.

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

JIM STEELE

Saturday, July 1, 2 to 5 p.m.

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

ROWDY ACE

Saturday, July 1, 2 to 5 p.m.

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

ADRIEL GENET

Saturday, July 1, 2 to 5 p.m.

Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane,

performers, food trucks, beers and wines on sale also is available.

HERE’S THIS YEAR’S LINEUP:

June 30 - The Darby Brothers

July 7 - Born Cross-Eyed

July 14 - Texas Chainsaw Horns

July 21 - Dunlap & Mabe

July 28 - Jules & The Agreeables

Aug. 4 - The Dara James Band

Aug. 11 - Rick Reaves Jazz Band

Aug. 25 - Don’t Look Up

Sept. 1 - Mostly Fab

Lovettsville creeksedgewinery.com

DAVID ANDREW SMITH

Saturday, July 1, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Old Farm Winery at Hartland, 23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie. oldfarmwineryhartland.com

BRIAN JOHNSON

Saturday, July 1, 4 to 8 p.m.

The Lost Fox Hideaway, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. lostfoxhideaway.com

CARLY RATCLIFF

Saturday, July 1, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

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

JUST SOUTH OF 7

Saturday, July 1, 6 to 10 p.m.

MacDowell’s Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

ALL JAMMED UP

Saturday, July 1, 6 to 9 p.m.

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

TRIBUTE BAND FESTIVAL

Saturday, July 1, 6 to 11 p.m. Ion Arena, 19201 Compass Creek Parkway, Leesburg. $40 ionarena.com

THE LEGWARMERS

Saturday, July 1, 6 to 9:30 p.m.

Tarara Winery, 13648 Tarara Lane, Lucketts. $12 to $60 tararaconcerts.com

TORREY B

Saturday, July 1, 7 to 10 p.m.

Bungalow Lakehouse, 46116 Lake Center Plaza, Sterling bungalowlakehouse.com

U.S. FLEET FORCES BAND

Saturday, July 1, 7 to 8:45 p.m. Middleburg Community Center, 300 W. Washington St., Middleburg. huntcountrymusicfestival.org

FACE 2 FACE - ELTON JOHN & BILLY JOEL TRIBUTE

Saturday, July 1, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $25 tallyhotheater.com

Please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs for more information and to apply online. Resumes may be submitted as supplemental only. EOE/ADA.

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.

MUSIC

GET OUT LIVE

continued from page 22

NO LAUGHING MATTER

Saturday, July 1, 8 to 12 a.m. Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

STEEL DRUMMIN’ ON THE BEACH

Sunday, July 2, 12 to 3:30 p.m. MacDowell’s Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

CHRIS BOWEN

Sunday, July 2, 1 to 5 p.m. Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

DEANE KERN AND ERIC SELBY

Sunday, July 2, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. 8 Chains North, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford 8chainsnorth.com

KARAOKE WITH MICHELLE

Sunday, July 2, 2 to 5 p.m.

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

JASON MASI

Sunday, July 2, 2 to 6 p.m. Doukenie Winery, 14727

Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com

SCOTT KURT

Sunday, July 2, 2 to 5 p.m.

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

NATHANIEL GUMBS

Sunday, July 2, 2:30 to 3:45 p.m.

Trinity Episcopal Church, 9108 John S. Mosby Highway, Upperville. $40. huntcountrymusicfestival.org

JEREMIAH PROPHETT

Sunday, July 2, 4 to 7 p.m.

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

DANIEL MENSH

Sunday, July 2, 4 to 7 p.m.

Bungalow Lakehouse, 46116 Lake Center Plaza, Sterling bungalowlakehouse.com

THE SURF JUNKIES

Sunday, July 2, 5 to 8 p.m.

MacDowell’s Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

B.EN

Wednesday, July 5, 5 to 9 p.m. River Creek Club, 43800 Olympic Blvd., Leesburg. facebook.com/b.band.18

DANIEL MENSH

Thursday, July 6, 5 to 8 p.m. MacDowell’s Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

SATISFACTIONINTERNATIONAL ROLLING STONES SHOW

Thursday, July 6, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St. SW., Leesburg. $20 to $30. tallyhotheater.com

HAPPENINGS

COMEDY NIGHT BY THE DC IMPROV

Friday, June 30, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St. SW., Leesburg. $22 to $32. tallyhotheater.com

LOUDOUN UNITED FC VS. HARTFORD ATHLETIC

Monday, July 3, 7:15 p.m. Segra Field, 123, Leesburg. $20 to $70. loudoununitedfc.com

PRESCHOOL WEDNESDAYS ON THE FARM

Wednesday, July 5, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Heritage Farm Museum, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling. $5 heritagefarmmuseum.org

TOM TEASLEY: THE DRUM–ANCIENT TRADITIONS TODAY

Wednesday, July 5, 11 a.m. to noon Franklin Park Performing & Visual Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville. $5 franklinparkartscenter.org

Legal Notices

JOINT PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FY2024-FY2029 SECONDARY ROAD SIX-YEAR PLAN AND FY2024 CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENT BUDGET PRIORITY LIST

In accordance with Virginia Code §33.2-331, the BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LOUDOUN COUNTY and the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION will jointly hold a combined PUBLIC HEARING on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, to consider adoption of the FY2024 - FY2029 Secondary Road Six-Year Plan and the FY2024 Construction Improvement Budget Priority List developed for the secondary roads in Loudoun County.

All projects in the Secondary Road Six-Year Plan that are eligible for federal funds will be included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which documents how Virginia will obligate federal transportation funds.

Citizens are invited to be present and express their views regarding the above-mentioned documents.

VDOT ensures nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The list of highway improvement projects in the proposed Six-Year Plan, and the proposed annual Construction Improvement Budget Priority List, taken from the Six-Year Plan, are 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 (703) 777-0200, and at the Virginia Department of Transportation Leesburg Residency Office, 41 Lawson Road, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or call (703) 737-2000.

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

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

BY ORDER OF:

Phyllis J. Randall Farid Bigdeli Chair Assistant District Administrator

Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Virginia Department of Transportation

6/29 & 7/6/23

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE BIDS FOR:

STREET CLEANING FOR VARIOUS COUNTY PARKING LOTS AND ASSOCIATED SHORT ACCESS ROADS, IFB No. 592785 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, August 8, 2023.

Solicitation forms may be obtained 24 hours a day by visiting our web site at www.loudoun.gov/procurement. If you do not have access to the Internet, call (703) 777-0403, M - F, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

WHEN CALLING, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCUREMENT.

6/29/23

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 12, 2023, in order to consider:

COMCAST CABLE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT RENEWAL

The Board of Supervisors shall consider the renewal of the Comcast Cable Franchise Agreement between the Comcast of California/Maryland/Pennsylvania/Virginia/West Virginia, LLC and the County of Loudoun.

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

PROPOSED RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PUBLIC USE AND NECESSITY OF ACQUIRING CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY AND AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION BY EMINENT DOMAIN

Northstar Boulevard Phase 1 (Route 50 to Evergreen Mills Road)

Pursuant to Virginia Code Section 15.2-1901 et seq., the Board of Supervisors shall consider the adoption of a resolution approving the public use and necessity for the acquisition of real property for the Northstar Boulevard Phase I (Route 50 to Evergreen Mills Road) road project in Arcola, Virginia, by eminent domain (condemnation and “quick take”). The subject property consists of portions of 13 parcels located along the planned roadway corridor. The property interests to be acquired include public street fee simple right-of-way, various permanent easements, and temporary construction easements for the construction of the project located on the following properties:

PIN # PROPERTY OWNER ELECTION DISTRICT

203-26-1951-000 Arcola Tech LLC

202-16-1713-000 JK-Racefield Lane LLC

202-15-9451-000 JK-Racefield Lane LLC

203-37-1445-000 Yondr JK2 LLC

203-26-0981-000 Yondr JK1 LLC Dulles

River and Dulles

River and Dulles

River and Dulles

River and Dulles

202-17-7155-000 Yondr JK1 LLC Little River

202-28-2993-000 Yondr JK1 LLC Little River

202-28-5740-000 Yondr JK1 LLC Little River

202-47-2720-000 Northern Virginia Electric Coop Little River

203-47-9574-000 Youngwood Lane LLC Dulles

203-38-1269-000 Briarfield Estates HOA Dulles

203-37-8437-000 Papazian, Edward Y & Judith C Dulles

203-37-7428-000 Papazian, Edward Y & Judith C Dulles

A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed resolution, as well as plat and vicinity maps further identifying the subject property to be acquired, is 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 (703) 777-0200. Documents may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). Project details may also be viewed at the County’s Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure website link: www.loudoun.gov/5789/ Transportation-Projects-Programs.

CREATION OF NEW SECTION TO CHAPTER 6 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY

Chapter 656.

Conduct in WMATA Facilities and Vehicles

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-1427 and 15.2-958, the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intention to adopt a new Chapter 656, Conduct in WMATA Facilities and Vehicles, of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County. The purpose of this addition is to regulate conduct in Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) facilities and vehicles to provide for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the County and for the preservation of peace and good order by regulating conduct in and around certain modes of public transportation operated by WMATA. Chapter 656 will be effective upon adoption by the Board of Supervisors.

A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed ordinance amendment is on file and available for public inspection at the Office of the County Administrator, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-777-0200. Documents may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the

public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE FY 2021-2025 CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND THE FY 2024 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN

On April 14, 2021, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved the County’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-2025 Five-Year Consolidated Plan (Consolidated Plan), which requires the submission of an Annual Action Plan (AAP) for each year. A substantial amendment to the Consolidated Plan is now required to add the HOME Investment Partnerships Fund (HOME) grant award and to amend high priority funding activities, and to the CDBG FY 2024 AAP to enable reprogramming of funds.

On February 3, 2023, the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development was notified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that Loudoun County has met the congressional appropriations threshold to receive HOME funds in the amount of $750,000 for FY 2024.

HOME is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households and is regulated in Title 42 of the U.S. Code section 12701 (42 U.S.C. §12701), and Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations (24 CFR Part 92), as amended.

The proposed substantial amendment includes changes to the following components of the Consolidated Plan:

• The Strategic Goals

• Project and activity descriptions

• HOME and CDBG Budgets

• Citizen Participation Plan

• Adding The Loudoun County Fair Housing Plan/Analysis of Impediments

High Priority Activities:

• Projects that are shovel ready for affordable housing construction

• Acquisition (24 CFR 570.201(a))

• Projects that promote energy efficiency and conservation through rehabilitation or retrofitting of existing buildings

• Public Facilities (24 CFR 570.201(c))

• Tenant Based Rental Assistance (24 CFR 92.209)

Unallocated CDBG funds to be reprogrammed to the following FY 2024 eligible high priority activities

HOME Investment Partnerships Funds proposed for FY24 eligible high priority activities.

Copies of the draft amendment to the FY 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan and the substantial amendment to the FY 2024 Annual Action Plan will be available and may be examined at the offices of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), 106 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, VA 20175, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm. The draft amendment will be available online at www.loudoun. gov/cdbg through and including July 12, 2023. Members of the Public are invited to comment. Written comments may be submitted to: CDBG Program Manager at the Department of Housing and Community Development, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177 or by e-mail at housing@loudoun.gov by no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 12, 2023.

CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE

Legal Notices

AMENDMENTS TO SECTIONS 209 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY

Voting Precincts and Polling Places

(Affects the Middleburg Precinct in the Little River District)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-1427, 24.2-306 and 24.2-307, et seq., the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intention to propose for passage amendments to Section 209, Table: Voting Precincts and Polling Places, of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.

In the Little River District:

1. The polling place for the Middleburg precinct will be moved from the Middleburg American Legion Post 295 located at 111 The Plains Road, Middleburg to the Middleburg Town Hall located at 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, VA 20117.

A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed amendments and maps showing precinct boundaries and polling places are on file and available at the Office of the County Administrator, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents 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, this information is available for inspection at Loudoun County’s Office of Elections website at www.loudoun.gov/vote

AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 209 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY

Voting Precincts and Polling Places

Realignment of Precinct Boundaries

(Affects the Carter and Rock Ridge Precincts in the Sterling District)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-1427 and 24.2-305 et seq., the Board of Supervisors gives notice of intent to propose for passage amendments to Chapter 209, Voting Precincts and Polling Places, of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County. The purpose of the amendments is to adjust the precinct boundary of two precincts to eliminate a split precinct.

In the Sterling Election District:

1. The boundary of the existing Carter and Rock Ridge Precincts will be realigned along the new House District boundary. The Carter and Rock Ridge Precincts will retain their current polling places.

A complete copy of the full text of the above referenced amendments and maps showing precinct boundaries and polling places are on file and available for inspection at the Office of the County Administrator, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents 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, this information is available for inspection at the Loudoun County’s Office of Elections website at www.loudoun.gov/vote

ZMOD-2022-0076

The Human Bean (Zoning Ordinance Modification)

J & P Coffee LLC., of Fairfax, Virginia, has submitted an application for a zoning ordinance modification to allow an increase in the number of signs, along with an increase in the aggregate sign area for an existing drive-through restaurant (The Human Bean) in the C-1 (Commercial-1) zoning district under the 1972 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, within the Route 28 Optional Overlay District Corridor Office (CO)and partially within the AIOD (Airport Impact Overlay District) between the Ldn 60-65 and within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 0.85 acres in size and is located on the north side of West Church Road (Route 625) and west of Atlantic Boulevard (Route 1902) in the Sterling Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as 2205 Rail Car Drive, Sterling, Virginia PIN: 044-40-8989-000; Tax Map #/80/R/1CM///3/. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)), which designate this area for a mix of residential, commercial, entertainment, cultural, and recreational uses at a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0.

ZCPA-2022-0011

LOUDOUN

WEST

(Zoning Concept Plan Amendment)

Nova 1 Owner LLC c/o TA Realty of Boston, Massachusetts, has submitted an application to amend the existing Proffers approved with ZCPA-2018-0003, Loudoun West, to remove ZCPA-2018-0003 Proffer XII.33 limiting building height in relation to a former property line, and to amend ZCPA-2018-0003 Proffer XIII.34.8 to allow a proposed generator location to be ground level or elevated/stacked, with no resulting change in density. The subject property is located within the AIOD (Airport Impact Overlay District), outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approxi-

mately 94.88 acres in size and is located north of the Dulles Greenway on the south side of Cochran Mill Road (Route 653) and east side of Sycolin Road (Route 625) at 42049 Nova Park Dr, Leesburg, Virginia, in the Leesburg/Little River Election Districts. The subject property is more particularly described as 42049 Nova Park Dr.; Tax Map # /60////////41/; PIN: 193-27-9018-000. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Transition Policy Area (Transition Light Industrial Place Type)), which designates this area for predominantly data center, contractor service establishments, and small-scale assembly production uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 0.6.

ZRTD-2022-0006

BROAD RUN BUSINESS CENTER

(Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District)

BCal PCP PROPERTY II LLC, of Boston, Massachusetts, has submitted an application to zoning conversion of approximately 32.52 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development - Industrial Park) zoning district under the 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance, to the PD-IP zoning district under the current Zoning Ordinance, in order to permit the development of all principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-IP zoning district at a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.6 (up to 1.0 by Special Exception). The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, the Route 28 Corridor Business Optional Overlay District, the AIOD (Airport Impact Overlay District) within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 noise contour, and partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District) minor floodplain. The subject property is approximately 32.52 acres in size and is located north of Dresden Street (Route 1119), and east of Broderick (Route 1070) in the Sterling Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as follows:

PIN Tax Map # PROPERTY ADDRESS

044-26-2662-000 /94//28/////2A

22265 Pacific Boulevard, Sterling, Virginia

22341 Dresden Street, Sterling, Virginia 044-26-7923-000 /94//28/////2B

044-16-3380-000 94//28/////2C

22275 Pacific Boulevard, Sterling, Virginia

The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment Place Type)) that support a broad array of employment uses at a recommended FAR of up to 1.0.

CMPT-2022-0001 & SPMI-2023-0001

DTC SUBSTATION

(Commission Permit & Minor Special Exception)

Dominion Energy, of Richmond, Virginia has submitted an application for Commission approval to permit development of one Utility Substations (Distribution) in the PD-OP (Planned Development - Office Park) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance and requires a Commission Permit in accordance with Section 6-1101. The subject property is located within the AIOD (Airport Impact Overlay District), within one (1) mile of Ldn 60-65, aircraft noise contours, and located within the Route 28 Taxing District. The subject property also contains moderately steep slopes. The applicant has also submitted an application for a minor special exception t of the Additional Regulations applicable to the proposed Utility Substations is authorized by Minor Special Exception under Section 5-600, Additional Regulations for Specific Uses (the Minor Special Exception application is not subject to consideration by the Planning Commission and requires approval only by the Board of Supervisors), pursuant to which the applicant requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s):

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§5-616(D), Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, Utility Substations.

Substitute the required Type 4 buffer yard with a 12’ tall 95% opacity architectural screen wall.

The subject property is approximately 8.17 acres in size and is located east of Route 28 and south of Route 7 in the Sterling Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as follows PIN 02945-5622-000; Tax Map # /80//36/////3/. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)), which designates this area for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural and Recreational uses at recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.0.

SPMI-2023-0005

Wee Whales Child Care Home (Minor Special Exception)

Cyndi Solbach of Wee Whales Home Daycare, LLC of Ashburn, Virginia, has submitted an application for a minor special exception to modify the Additional Regulations of Section 5-609(A)(14) of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance regarding Child Care Home uses, in order to allow more than nine children in a townhome located on a lot that is less than 5,000 square feet in size, in the PD-H4 (Planned Development – Housing 4), administered as R-8 (Single Family Residential), zoning district. The proposed use is listed as a Permitted use under Section 3-503 of the Zoning Ordinance. The subject property is approximately .06 acres in size and is located on the north Ashburn Farm Parkway (Route 625) and west of Claiborne

CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE

Legal Notices

Parkway (Route 901), at 43017 Gatwick Square, Ashburn, Virginia in the Ashburn Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as 43107 Gatwick Sq., Ashburn, Virginia; Tax Map # /79/H/2////91/; PIN: 117-45-9969-000.

Unless otherwise stated in the above notices, copies of the proposed plans, ordinances, or amendments for each of the items listed above 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 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies, or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. The opportunity for public input via this link will be temporarily unavailable during the upgrade of the County’s online land management system. However, other opportunities for public comment remain available as described below. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). In addition, for detailed instructions on how to access documents using LOLA, to request that documents be emailed to you, to receive physical copies of documents, or to arrange a time to view the file at the Loudoun County Government Center, please email DPZ@loudoun.gov or call 703777-0246 (option 5).

Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings. All members of

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046978-01-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Jimmy Mendez Jr. Loudoun County Department of Family Services

Taya Selner, mother and Jimmy Mendez, father

The object of this suit is to hold an adjudicatory hearing in Child in Need of Services matter pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-228 and 16.1-241 for Jimmy Mendez Jr.

It is ORDERED that the defendants Taya Selner, mother and Jimmy Mendez, father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before July 5, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.

6/22 & 6/29/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ041604-09-00; JJ043080-05-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Diana Gissel

Medina Lainez and Gabriela Medina Lainez, 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 Diana Gissel Medina Lainez and Gabriela Medina Lainez,

It is ORDERED that the defendant Jose Medina, Putative Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his interests on or before August 2, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. 6/22, 6/29, 7/6 & 7/13/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ038626-17-00; 18-00; 20-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Zachary William Wells Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Unknown Father

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

It is ORDERED that Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before July 27, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

7/6, 7/13, 7/20/23

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

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

BY ORDER OF: PHYLLIS RANDALL, CHAIR

LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 6/29 & 7/6/23

Public Notice – Environmental Permit

PURPOSE OF NOTICE: To seek public comment on a draft permit from the Department of Environmental Quality that will allow the release of treated wastewater into a water body in Loudoun County, Virginia.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: June 30, 2023 to July 31, 2023

PERMIT NAME: Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit – Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit – Wastewater issued by DEQ pursuant to applicable water laws and regulations.

APPLICANT NAME, ADDRESS AND PERMIT NUMBER: Town of Round Hill, PO Box 36, Round Hill, VA 20142, VA0026212

NAME AND ADDRESS OF FACILITY: Round Hill Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), 17749 Lakefield Rd, Round Hill, VA 20141

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Town of Round Hill has applied for a reissuance of a permit for the public Round Hill WWTP. The applicant proposes to release treated sewage wastewaters from the Town of Round Hill at a rate of 0.75 million gallons per day into a water body. The sludge will be disposed by dewatering and hauling the dewatered solids to the landfill. The facility proposes to release the treated sewage wastewaters in the North Fork Goose Creek in Loudoun County in the Potomac River watershed. A watershed is the land area drained by a river and its incoming streams. The permit will limit the following pollutants to amounts that protect water quality: bacteria, nutrients, organic matter, solids, inorganics and physical & chemical properties.

HOW TO COMMENT AND/OR REQUEST A PUBLIC HEARING: DEQ accepts comments and requests for public hearing {on the draft permit} {on the draft modifications to the permit} by handdelivery, e-mail, fax or postal mail. All comments and requests must be in writing and be received by DEQ during the comment period. DEQ must receive hand-delivery and postal mail by close of business and email and fax comments by 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the comment period. Submittals must include the names, mailing addresses and telephone numbers of the commenter/requester and of all persons represented by the commenter/requester. A request for public hearing must also include: 1) The reason why a public hearing is requested. 2) A brief, informal statement regarding the nature and extent of the interest of the requester or of those represented by the requestor, including how and to what extent such interest would be directly and adversely affected by the permit. 3) Specific references, where possible, to terms and conditions of the permit with suggested revisions. A public hearing may be held, including another comment period, if public response is significant, based on individual requests for a public hearing, and there are substantial, disputed issues relevant to the permit.

CONTACT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, DOCUMENT REQUESTS AND ADDITIONAL

INFORMATION: The public may review the draft permit and application at the DEQ-Northern Regional Office by appointment or may request electronic copies of the draft permit and fact sheet.

Name: Samantha Sifre

Address: DEQ-Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge, VA 22193

Phone: (571) 866-6047 E-mail: Samantha.Sifre@deq.virginia.gov

6/29 & 7/6/23

Legal Notices

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Public Notice

An enforcement action has been proposed for Hiway MHC, LLC for violations of State Water Control Board statutes and regulations and applicable permit at the Hiway Mobile Home Community sewage treatment plant located in Leesburg, Virginia. The proposed Consent Order is available from the DEQ contact or at www.deq.virginia.gov/permits/public-notices. The DEQ contact will accept written comments from July 4 to August 3, 2023. DEQ contact: Jim Datko; email - james.datko@deq.virginia. gov; or mail - DEQ Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge, VA 22193.

6/29/23

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING

TO CONSIDER SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSE-2022-0008 MEADOW GLEN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY EXPANSION

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on THURSDAY, JULY 6, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Special Exception application TLSE-2022-0008, Meadow Glen Assisted Living Facility Expansion.

The subject of the application is the existing assisted living residence at 315 Dry Mill Road SE. The property is zoned R-4, Single-Family Residential and is further described by Loudoun County Parcel Identification Number (PIN) 217-20-6669-000.

Special Exception Application TLSE-2022-0008 is a request by Cali Meadow Glen Operations, LLC amending Special Exception application TLSE-1999-0001 to allow an overall total 1,850 square foot addition to accommodate an increase in the number of beds from 40 to 42, yielding 13.1 beds/acre pursuant to Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance Section 5.4.2 Use Regulations.

Additional information and copies of this application are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Christopher Murphy, Senior Planning Project Manager by telephone at 703-737-7009, or by email at cmurphy@leesburgva.gov

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

6/22 & 6/29/2023

TOWN OF HAMILTON TOWN COUNCIL VACANCY

The Town of Hamilton has a vacancy on the Town Council. All interested qualified Town residents are encouraged to submit a letter of interest or a resume to the Town Office, 130 E. Colonial Highway, PO Box 130, Hamilton, VA 20159, or e-mail to hamiltonva@hamiltonva.gov by the close of business, July 5, 2023. The Town Council will appoint a qualified candidate who will serve until a November 2023 special election. The appointed candidate may also register as a candidate for the special election. Candidates must be residents of Virginia for at least one year immediately preceding the appointment, a Town resident and registered to vote in the Town of Hamilton.

Hamilton Town Council 6/22 & 6/29

Hamilton Town Council Notice of Intent to Amend Ordinance

Please take Notice that on Monday July 10, 2023, the Hamilton Town Council intends to amend the Codified Ordinances of the Town of Hamilton, Virginia, Chapter 10, §§10-1 and 10-2 to change the Town polling place and absentee drop off place from Hamilton Baptist Church, E Colonial Highway, Hamilton VA to Hamilton Elementary School, 52 S. Kerr Street, Hamilton, Virginia 20158. The implementation of Loudoun County’s election and precinct boundary changes resulted in polling place location changes. Copies of the proposed amendments and draft Ordinance may be viewed on-line at hamiltonva.gov, or at the Town Office, 53 E Colonial Highway, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.

Kenneth C. Wine, Mayor Hamilton Town Council

NOTICE OF ABANDONED BICYCLES

Notice is hereby given that the bicycles described below were found and delivered to the Office of the Sheriff of Loudoun County; if the owners of the listed bicycles are not identified within sixty (60) days following the final publication of this notice, the individuals who found said bicycles shall be entitled to them if he/she desires. All unclaimed bicycles will be handled according to Chapter 228.04 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.

with rust on handle bars

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES

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

6/29/23

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will conduct a public hearing during its work session on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia. The items proposed for public hearing during this work session are as follows:

ZMAP-2022-0014, ZMOD-2022-0051, ZMOD-2022-0052, & ZMOD-2023-0019

DEFENDER WEST

(Zoning Map Amendment and Zoning Modifications)

JLB Realty LLC has submitted applications for: a zoning map amendment and zoning ordinance modifications for approximately 20.77 acres of land located on the south side of Defender Drive (Route 1279), east side of Elk Lick (Road Route 621), and the west side of South Riding Boulevard (Route 2201) in the Dulles Election District (the “Subject Property”). The Subject Property is more particularly identified as:

ZMAP-2022-0008, SPEX-2022-0024, SPMI-2022-0024, ZMOD-2022-0028, & ZMOD-2022-0083

ALIGNED ENERGY DATA CENTER

(Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception & Zoning Modifications)

For ZMAP-2022-0014, the applicant seeks to rezone the Subject Property from PD-H4 (Planned Development – Housing 4) zoning district to the R-24 (Multi-family Residential) zoning district to develop up to 262 multifamily attached units at a density of up to 25.3 units per acre. For ZMOD-20220051, ZMOD-2022-0052, & ZMOD-2023-0019, the applicant seeks zoning ordinance modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property, including but not limited to: increase the maximum building height from 60 feet to 70 feet; reduce the required active recreation space requirement from 50,000 square feet to 38,155 square feet; and modify the Type 2 Road Corridor Buffer requirements along Defender Drive to permit up to 75 percent of the required landscaping to consist of shrubs.

ZMAP-2021-0010, ZMOD-2021-0039, ZMOD-2021-0040, ZMOD-2022-0003, ZMOD-2022-0072, ZMOD-2023-0004 & SPEX-2022-0025

DOGWOOD FARM STATION (Zoning Map Amendment, Zoning Modifications, & Special Exception)

U.S. Home Corporation and the Board of Supervisors of Loudoun County have submitted applications for a zoning map amendment, zoning modifications, and a special exception for approximately 20.05 acres of land located north of Leesburg Pike (Route 7), west of Bonnie Court (Route 823), and south of Riverside Parkway (Route 2401) in the Algonkian Election District (the “Subject Property”). The Subject Property is more particularly identified as:

057-48-9129-00020052 GARDEN CENTER CT., ASHBURN, VA 20147/63/D/1/////6A

057-49-4102-00020080 BONNIE CT., ASHBURN, VA 20147/63/D/1/////4/

057-39-2064-000 N/A /63/D/1///RA1/

057-39-3060-000 N/A /63/D/1///RA2/ N/A PORTION OF COUNTY-OWNED RIGHT-OF-WAY N/A

For ZMAP-2021-0010, the applicant seeks to rezone the Subject Property from the A-3 (AgriculturalResidential) zoning district to the R-24 (Multifamily Residential) zoning district to develop up to 485 multifamily units at a density of 24 dwelling units per acre. For SPEX-2022-0023, the applicant seeks a special exception to permit a Child Care Center use in the R-24 zoning district. For ZMOD-2022-0003, ZMOD-2022-0072, and ZMOD-2023-0040, the applicant seeks zoning ordinance modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property including but not limited to: permit structures to be erected upon a lot that has frontage on open space; allow access to Riverside Parkway (Major Collector Road) from existing Bonnie Court (Local Road) and Garden Center Court (Local Road); increase the maximum building height from 45 feet to 70 feet without additional setbacks; permit an internal private street to serve a childcare center; reduce building setback from Riverside Parkway from 75 feet to 40 feet; and reduce the building setback from Route 7 from 200 feet to 150 feet and the parking setback from 125 feet to 100 feet.

ZOAM-2020-0002

PRIME AGRICULTURAL SOILS AND CLUSTER SUBDIVISIONS (Zoning Ordinance Amendment)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-2204, the Planning Commission will consider proposed amendments to Zoning Ordinance regulations governing the Cluster Subdivision Option in the AR – 1 (Agricultural Rural – 1) and AR – 2 (Agricultural Rural – 2) zoning districts. The proposed amendments will establish new and clarify, revise and/or delete existing regulations and definitions in regard to the preservation of prime farmland soils, rural cluster development design, and uses for the Cluster Subdivision Option. A complete copy of the text of the proposed amendments may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, as described below.

Aligned Data Centers (Relo) PropCo., LLC submitted applications for a zoning map amendment, special exceptions, and zoning modifications for approximately 10.14 acres of land located on the west side of Relocation Drive (Route 869) and north of Executive Drive (Route 885) in the Sterling Election District (the “Subject Property”). The Subject Property is more particularly identified as 22715 Relocation Dr., Sterling Virginia (Tax Map No. /94////////10/; PIN 045-27-9612-000). For ZMAP-2022-0008, the applicant seeks to rezone the Subject Property from the R-1 (Single Family Residential-1) to the PD-OP (Planned Development – Office Park) zoning district to develop a data center. For SPEX-2022-0024, the applicant seeks to increase the Floor Area Ratio from 0.6 to 1.13. For SPMI-2022-0024, the applicant seeks to reduce the building setback from 75 feet to 58 feet from South Sterling Boulevard and to reduce the parking setback from 35 feet to 15 feet from South Sterling Boulevard. For ZMOD-2022-0028 and ZMOD-2022-0083, the applicant seeks zoning ordinance modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property including but not limited to: allow a 99.5-foot tall building within the 75-foot setback, remove the required sidewalk along South Sterling Boulevard, replace the Buffer Type 3 and six-foot berm for data centers with Buffer Type 2 along South Sterling Boulevard and Buffer Type 1 along Relocation Drive; and by providing plant types and percentages of plant units required under Section 5-1408(B)(2) in lieu of the required plant types and percentages of plant units specified for data centers.

Copies of the proposed plans, ordinances or amendments for each item listed above may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Office of the County Administrator, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday or call 703-777-0220, or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola The opportunity for public input via this link may be temporarily unavailable during the upgrade of the County’s online land management system. However, other opportunities for public comments will remain available as described below. Additionally, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically the week before the work session at www.loudoun.gov/ pc. For further information, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246.

All members of the public who desire to do so may appear and present their views on any matters scheduled for public hearing. Members of the public are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak during the public hearing portion of the work session. Public comment will be received only for those items listed for public hearing. If you wish to sign up in advance of the work session, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the work session. Speakers may also sign up at the work session. Any individual representing and/or proposing to be the sole speaker on behalf of a citizen’s organization or civic association is encouraged to contact the Department of Planning and Zoning prior to the date of the work session if special arrangements for additional speaking time is requested. Such an organization representative will be allotted 6 minutes to speak, and the Chair may grant additional time if the request is made prior to the date of the work session and the need for additional time is reasonably justified. Written comments concerning any item before the Commission are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 3rd Floor, MSC #62, Leesburg, Virginia 20175, or by e-mail to loudounpc@loudoun.gov If written comments are presented at the work session, please provide ten (10) copies for distribution to the Commission and the Clerk’s records.

The public is encouraged to call the Department of Planning and Zoning on the day of the work session to confirm that an item is on the agenda, or, the most current agenda may be viewed on the Planning Commission’s website at www.loudoun.gov/pc. Regularly scheduled Planning Commission work sessions are held on the second Thursday of each month. In the event the work session cannot be conducted on that date due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the work session, the work session may be continued to the third Tuesday of the month. In the event the work session may not be held on the third Tuesday due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the work session, the work session may be continued to the Thursday following the third Tuesday.

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings at all other locations. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory, or mental disability to participate in this meeting, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246. Please provide three days’ notice.

BY ORDER OF: MICHELLE FRANK, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

Legal Notices

Case No.: JJ047405-01-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Acquyea Najet Bettie

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

/v.

Jill Dann, mother and Richmond Bettie, father

The object of this suit is to hold an adjudicatory hearing pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-252 for Acquyea Najet Bettie; and hold a dispositional hearing for review of initial Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-278.2 and 16.1-281 for Acquyea Najet Bettie.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Jill Dann, mother and Richmond Bettie, father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before June 28, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. (Adjudicatory); and July 26, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. (Dispositional).

6/8, 6/15, 6/22 & 6/29/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046599-03-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Briston Love

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

/v.

Shakita Love, Mother

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 Briston Love.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Shakita Love, Mother appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before August 1, 2023 at 2:00pm

6/22, 6/29, 7/6 & 7/13/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: CL-23-3178

Loudoun County Circuit Court

18 East Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176 Forest Village, LLC /v.

The Unknown Heirs of Ariss Buckner, et al.

The object of this suit is to Relocate Abandon Cemetery ( Parcel ID #250291275000) pursuant to VA Code 57-38.1

It is ORDERED that The unknown descendants of: Ariss Buckner (1771-1847)

Lucy Hooe Buckner (1775-1885)

Spencer Ariss Buckner (1818-1874)

Richard Bernard Buckner (1794-1939)

Ella Alice Buckner (1830-1887)

Phillip Smith (b.1850)

Richard Bernard Smith (b. 1865)

Edward Warren Smith (b. 1865)

Thomas Turner Smith (b. 1866)

Eliza Ariss Buckner (b. 1833)

Louisa Bernard Gallaher

Richard Pratt Buckner (b. 1833)

Louisa Berryman Buckner (b. 1839)

Thomas Hooe Buckner (d. 1871)

Bettie Buckner (1833-1901)

Lyman Aldrich (b. 1868)

Sarah Davenport Aldrich (b. 1873)

Lyman Aldrich Smith (b. 1873)

Frances Elizabeth Smith (b. 1898)

Davis M. Buckner (b. 1841)

Mattie Buckner (b. 1851)

Jessie Buckner Robb

Anna Robb

Helen Robb

Florence Robb

Ida Robb

Joseph H. Robb

Jessie Buckner (b. 1875)

Bernard Hooe Buckner

Margaret Buckner

Jane Augusta Wash. Thornton (1825-1887)

Margaret Buckner Beck (1849-1870)

George Thornton Beck (b. 1856)

James Burnie Beck (b. 1858)

Mary Clark

Susan Clark Thompkins

Richard Clark

Mary Buckner

Caroline Rebecca Buckner

Bettie Blair Spencer Ariss Buckner, II (1871-1960)

John Fitzhugh Buckner (d. 1931)

Arthur Buckner Beall

Any individual buried in an unmarked grave in the Buckner Cemetery

Mary Buckner - Address Unknown

Martha Buckner - Address Unknown

William Buckner - Address Unknown appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before August 25, 2023 at 9:00 A.M.

PUBLIC NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) COMPREHENSIVE ENGINEERING

SERVICES

WATER AND WASTEWATER CONVEYANCE AND TREATMENT AND RELATED SERVICES

The Town of Leesburg will accept sealed proposals electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia.gov), until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 3, 2023, for the following:

RFP NO. 500610-FY24-05 COMPREHENSIVE ENGINEERING SERVICES

WATER AND WASTEWATER CONVEYANCE AND TREATMENT AND RELATED SERVICES

The Town of Leesburg (the “Town”) is soliciting sealed proposals from qualified firms to provide comprehensive engineering services for water and wastewater conveyance and treatment and related services.

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

15

The Impasse

Once a body known for its strict fiscal discipline, this General Assembly appears certain to carry its months-long budget impasse into the next fiscal year.

decisions on all 140 seats in November.

PO

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

EDITORIAL

RENSS GREENE Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com

ALEXIS GUSTIN Reporter agustin@loudounnow.com

HANNA PAMPALONI Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

ADVERTISING

SUSAN STYER Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.com

TONYA HARDING Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.com

VICKY MASHAW Account Executive vmashaw@loudounnow.com

This inability to come to terms with an election-year spending plan isn’t linked to legislators’ fears over making tough or controversial belt-tightening choices; they simply have too much money. They can’t agree who they should give it back to or how to spend it.

It’s a problem rooted in conservative planning during a period of significant economic uncertainty when the biennial budget was created a year ago, resulting in a now $3 billion surplus. It’s a good problem to have as the economic uncertainty continues to grow. But that is a challenge that will be faced by the next legislature, after voters make their

Prudent fiscal policies suggest surpluses be dedicated to one-time expenses. Tax rebates, correctly, are on the table. There’s also a long list of infrastructure projects on state and local to-do lists that would fit the bill for surplus funding. Remember when the state government built roads? Perhaps more politically popular are the partisan pushes for tax rate cuts and increased spending on new programs and personnel. But these represent longer term obligations that effectively become baked into future budgets. They typically are not mid-course corrections, but deliberate policy commitments with an expectation of sustainability that has yet to be demonstrated.

Actions this legislature takes (or doesn’t) can help or hinder next year’s state leaders in preparing for potentially leaner times. n

LETTERS to the Editor

Distracted

Editor:

As many are already aware, downtown Leesburg’s posted speed limit has been reduced from 25 mph to 20 in several areas.

The study this decision hinged on notes pedestrian safety with narrow roads and limited intersection sight distances, both valid points. But it also shows an average speed of 21 mph prior to the change, and that NHTSA data reveals pedestrian deaths have increased 52.9 percent nationwide and 59.5 percent in Virginia between 2009 and 2018.

While great attention’s been paid to distracted driving, less has been given to distracted walking. Just the other day (outside Loudoun), I saw a pedestrian cross a gas station entryway staring down at his phone, completely oblivious to the car then turning in. He looked up only after reaching the other side, visibly startled at seeing it.

The awareness issue gets worse with quieter hybrid or electric vehicles. That’s why a few places in the states have made it illegal to cross the street while using

your phone.

Observations plus the NHTSA acknowledge their role with both drivers and pedestrians in causing accidents. Shouldn’t our laws?

— Charles Smith, Leesburg

AI Risks

Editor:

In the recent decade, artificial intelligence has continuously pushed past limits and unlocked endless possibilities, creating a more efficient and effective society.

AI is predicted to continue this unprecedented pace of progress and make the impossible possible. AI has served as a stepping stone toward a greater society, taking part in a plethora of advancements and unlocking numerous capabilities for the greater good. Artificial intelligence has been a leading factor towards advancing in a variety of fields, proving to expand the horizons of technology, but can leave a catastrophic impact on the human race when not properly controlled and regulated.

Artificial intelligence is considered

to be one of “the most revolutionary developments” in human history, and the world has already observed its transformative capabilities (Ashish Sukhadeve). However, as the technology is so advanced and powerful, when deployed carelessly, AI serves to be the biggest threat to humanity. With the introduction of AI, we have seen numerous benefits, highlighting the technology’s capabilities. If a machine is that powerful and has the ability to control society on such a large scale, it directly emphasizes that it also has the power to potentially destroy humanity.

The risks of AI have often been misrepresented by the general public. The difficulties that engineers are wrestling with AI don’t stem from the systems turning on us or considering us inferior, as the technology lacks any moral values. Rather, they come from the disconnect between what we tell our systems to do and what we actually want them to do.

Natural Language Processing, a sector of AI that revolves around aiding computers

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

continues on page 33

READERS’ poll CHIPshots

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION:

Now that the ballot is set, how are you feeling about November’s election?

57.1% Not very hopeful

Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls

LETTERS to the Editor

continued from page 32

to understand the way humans speak and write, plays a crucial role in this, but can only limit the risk to some extent. No matter the limitations enforced, AI is instructed to “complete a certain task” and will complete the task in the “most efficient way possible,” not taking into consideration the safety of humans (Karl von Wendt). Furthermore, recursive improvement, described as gains in AI capabilities enabling further gains in AI, allows a system that started out behind us to rapidly end up with abilities well beyond what was anticipated. This uncontrollable nature of AI highlights its dangers, no matter the benefits it may bring. To combat these risks, it should be imperative to set effective preventative measures to ensure the safety of society.

Risks are a factor of any revolutionary product and in the case of AI, the benefits clearly outweigh the preventable risks. Being in the early phases of AI, engineers are lucky enough to be able to prevent the potential predicaments before they are unable to be contained. If engineers were able to build such a powerful unit, maintaining its controllability and regulating its usage should not serve as much of a challenge as skeptics argue. As the technology has repeatedly proven, it will support generations to come while continuing to expand in a safe manner.

— Taran Srikonda, South Riding

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:

The Board of Supervisors has six months left in their term. What should be their top priority?

Affordable housing

continued from page 3

all the leaders together puts the right people in the room to understand where they can borrow and where there is a true unique need to innovate,” Amazon Housing Equity Fund Senior Product Manager KellyAnn Kirkpatrick said. “And I think not everything takes us having the resources to start from scratch when there’s somebody who’s a neighbor, irrespective of how far that neighbor is, someone who’s a neighbor who’s doing something right that we can look at and say, ‘now that’s an interesting idea.’”

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires localities that receive funding to adopt a Fair Housing Plan like the regional plan supervisors signed on to June 14. Mercer said the Regional Fair Housing Plan is a recognition by local governments that they must try different strategies today.

“They want to meet their fair housing requirements, provide better access to safe

and affordable housing, increase investment and resources in priority areas, and overcome past segregation patterns,” Mercer said. “That last point is a recognition that we don’t have a good track record of providing accessible and attainable housing for all in this country. There have been outright prohibitions for communities of colors to purchase homes in this country. Post World War II, our deployment of public housing was concentrated in parts of cities and urban areas where there was no small businesses. You don’t have small businesses, banks don’t show up in those areas, and you have a complete desert of financial activity. And there’s a recognition that that wasn’t the right way to provide affordable housing.”

He pointed out those inequities have persisted into the modern day.

“When you look at the financial collapse in ‘08 and all those risky mortgages that folks got, when you look at who got put in the most risky tranches, individuals of color despite their credit scores tended to be put in the riskiest tranches,” Mercer said.

That also means making housing available near other opportunities, such as transit, good schools and grocery stores, he said.

And Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development Director Thomas Fleetwood said localities must commit.

“Localities need to continue to invest even when times are not so good. A sustained, continued investment in affordable housing development and preservation in every budget environment over time is going to continue to bear incredible fruit,” he said. “We learned that lesson to some level in Fairfax County. In the wake of the great recession, we had to reduce our housing fund, and now here we are needing to catch up 15 years later.”

And today, panelists said, part of the work is about dispelling lingering stigma about publicly funded projects to provide attainable housing.

“Historically, when you hear affordable housing folks have a certain thought of what that might mean. It means housing for everybody,” Mercer said. n

Op-Ed

Employers Can Help Lower Student Loan Debt

BY KAREN G. SCHAUFELD

One in five Americans carries student loan debt that, together, equals $1.5 trillion. When President Biden announced he would cancel up to $10,000 in federal loan debt [and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients] for single earners who make less than $125,000 per year, many loan holders celebrated. That order remains entangled in the courts, and the Senate recently barred its implementation. President Biden has vowed to veto that. Meanwhile, the resumption of payments is set to begin 60 days after June 30. These millions of Americans, many of whom live in Virginia, are worried, especially if they sought a refund of payments during the pandemic. There is a way that Virginia employers can help, however.

According to the Education Data Initiative, it takes the average borrower 20 years to pay off their student loan debts. And student loan payments aren’t small—they can take up a large portion of a person’s wages making it harder for them to make ends meet.

There is another way for them to relieve the burden through tax-free payments of up to $5,250 every year made directly to their student loan holder by their employer through Section 2206 of the CARES Act, referred to as the Exclusion of Certain Employer Payments of Student Loans Act.

Extended through Dec. 31, 2025, the Act “applies to the payment by an employer, whether paid to the employee or to a lender, of principal or interest, on any qualified education loan incurred by the employee for the education of the employee.”

Implementing this benefit not only supports employees but also creates incredible benefits for the employer. Consider that Candidly recently reported that 75% of employees with student loan debt say that:

• Receiving tools to help them manage student debt would increase their commitment to their employer, and

• 86% of the respondents said they

would commit to a company for more than five years if they received student loan benefits.

Candidly also found that eight out of 10 professionals with student loans say their college debt is a source of “significant” or “very significant” stress, which can create a ripple effect impacting everything from sleep to relationships. It also can present itself at work. For example, a formerly high-performing individual begins showing up late or calling in sick with stress-related ailments, has a shorter attention span or pays less attention to detail, displays impatience or has a “shorter fuse.” According to Fearless Finance Founder Lori Atwood, CFP, a company could benefit immensely from learning to identify when employees are experiencing financial stress and creating ways to support them in ways that do not require pay increases.

Despite these statistics and existing tools to help, the Society for Human Resources Management found that only about 7% of U.S. organizations offer student loan repayment relief to employees.

Clearly, loan repayment relief is a potential win-win for workers and employ-

ers. In all the noise about student debt, this very important bipartisan tool for employers and employees deserves attention. As a small business owner, I was thrilled to learn about it and implement it for my employees.

Virginia Senator Mark Warner (DVA) has tried to create avenues toward affordable and attainable higher education for those who want to pursue a degree.

“The cost of higher education has risen exponentially over the last decade. While college is certainly not necessary to succeed in today’s workforce, many high-paying jobs require a degree,” Sen. Warner said. “As the need for higher education continues to rise, it is crucial that we find long-term, permanent solutions to the skyrocketing costs of education today.”

As part of his College Affordability & Student Debt Plan, Senator Warner worked with John Thune (R-SD) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) to introduce the Employer Participation in Refinancing Act of 2019 to help individuals pay down their student loan debt. The goal was to “provide a new tool to help employers

recruit and retain quality employees by allowing them to help qualified employees repay student loans with pre-tax dollars.” At the time, there was no option for relief for individuals who already had taken on student loan debt during their undergraduate or graduate careers.

His passion for creating innovative ways to help Americans pay down their student debt more quickly is long-held. “This commonsense bill will help employees tackle their debt, and ultimately put more of their hard-earned money toward buying a home, starting a business, or saving for the future.”

Adding student loan repayment to a total compensation package allows employers an avenue to bolster recruitment and increase retention, commitment and employee performance. A $5,250 investment creates loyalty, engagement and motivation and is likely to cost far less than the cost of recruiting, onboarding and training a new employee. n

Karen G. Schaufeld is a philanthropist, author, entrepreneur, and lawyer. She is the CEO and co-founder of Altor Locks.

Acquitted

continued from page 1

“I don’t want to make a decision when I’m tired. I’m going to talk to people next week,” he said noting that witnesses had spoken with him after they testified and that it was cordial.

Byard said he hadn’t spoken with anyone from the division since he was put on unpaid leave.

Byard was charged with perjury based on allegations he lied to the special grand jury that was convened last year to investigate the school division’s handling of two sexual assaults committed by the same student at two high schools in 2021.

The case centered around a statement Byard made in August 2022 to the special grand jury saying he was unaware that the first assault inside a girl’s bathroom at Stone Bridge High School on May 28, 2021, was sexual in nature until months after the second assault took place.

Jurors heard from eight witnesses called by Special Prosecutor Theo Stamos on Wednesday, including Stone Bridge Principal Tim Flynn, who testified he told Byard what had happened during a phone call the day of the first assault, and that “this is bad.”

On Thursday, jurors heard from several witnesses called by Leffler, attempting to show he was unaware of the first sexual assault until Oct. 7, 2021, when Byard said he learned of it.

After the verdict Byard said he wasn’t going to call into question Flynn’s testimony.

“Maybe I forgot things that Tim said to me, I have nothing against Timothy Flynn, there is no conflict between us we’ve been friends for years. We might have just remembered things differently,” he said.

Asked why he didn’t take the stand, Leffler said because she felt his testimony to the special grand jury spoke for itself.

“He testified before the grand jury and we felt it was truthful testimony. We knew the jury was going to see that so we didn’t see why we would put him on the stand to reiterate what he at the time thought was truthful,” Leffler said.

During closing arguments, Assistant to the Special Prosecutor Jason Faw argued Byard was aware before that date and knowingly and willfully lied to the special grand jury. He pointed to testimony to the special grand jury in August when Byard initially testified that he knew the man

who was arrested for disorderly conduct during the now infamous June 22, 2021, School Board meeting was the father of the first victim. He said Byard quickly pivoted mid-testimony to state he was unaware there was an alleged sexual assault in that case.

Byard testified to the special grand jury that he was standing 10 feet away from Scott Smith, the father of the first victim, when he was arrested.

Video evidence presented Wednesday of that arrest show Jessica Smith, the mother of the victim, shouting that her daughter was sexually assaulted in a bathroom at school.

When questioned further, transcripts show Byard then said he was trying to get his days straight and changed his answers to say he was unaware of the alleged sexual assault until later.

Faw argued that as part of his job, Byard would know what was going on in

because he was the face of Loudoun County Public Schools. She said she believed he “took a stab” at telling the truth when questioned by the special grand jury and that his memory failed him, that he “made a mistake.”

She questioned Flynn’s credibility in not being able to recall the time and place he participated in a video conferencing call on May 28, 2021. Flynn testified before the special grand jury and again on Tuesday that he participated in a Teams meeting with Ellis, Ziegler and Sahlgren at 7:30 p.m. that day from home. Testimony given by several witnesses contradicted Flynn, saying the meeting was at 3:30 p.m. that afternoon and he was at the school.

Leffler said that the commonwealth was giving Flynn the benefit of the doubt in his mistake and she asked the jury to do the same for Byard.

Byard later said outside the court room Leffler was right and he was trying to recreate things. He said he was advised by division counsel to pull his emails from the dates in question and confirmed to the media nothing said sexual assault.

“What I meant when I testified to the grand jury, to me, having done your job and having been in this job for a long time, you have rumor, you have hearsay, you have opinion, and you have fact. When a charge is levied by a law enforcement agency you have fact, then it becomes an allegation and that was really my thought at the time,” he said.

the division and was the designated “touch point” with Principal Flynn the day of the alleged sexual assault, and the day the father of the victim showed up at the school and angrily yelled at administrators.

Stamos argued that Byard’s job as the public information officer is to know what is going on in the school division. She said Leffler’s argument that he did his best wasn’t good enough, adding there is an expectation of truth in a courtroom.

Leffler argued Byard had nothing to do with disciplining students or placing students and that he wasn’t privy to information that his boss, Director of Communications and Community Engagement Joan Sahlgren, was. She said Byard was not in the loop of communication between Sahlgren, then-superintendent Scott Ziegler, and Deputy Superintendent Ashley Ellis.

In her closing arguments, Leffler said Byard was being made to be a fall guy

Byard said he didn’t see himself as the fall guy or victim but more of a surrogate.

“The day I left the administration building I told my colleagues if it had to be somebody it might as well be me because this is something I’ve done for years. To be a spokesman, to be out front, to learn how to take the heat, things like this and I felt I was equipped to do it,” he said.

Byard said he agreed with the special grand jury’s final report that it was a multi-agency failure and said there were several points along the way where things could have been done differently, and said he might speak with the administration about what he learned from reading the transcripts from the special grand jury, but overall said he changes would be made so it didn’t happen again.

Byard faced a maximum sentence of up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500 if convicted.

Stamos and Faw declined to comment as they left the courthouse. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Longtime Loudoun County Public Schools Public Information Officer Wayde Byard speaks to reporters outside the courthouse Thursday, June 22.

FREE!

FRIDAY NIGHTS

HILLSBORO’S GAP STAGE

Lawn Opens at 6 p.m. Local Beer, Wine, Food

JUNE 30 THE DARBY BROTHERS

Epic Rock & Roll

JULY 7 BORN CROSS-EYED

Bringing the Dead Alive

JULY 14 TEXAS CHAINSAW HORNS

High Octane Brass

JULY 21 DUNLAP & MABE

Next-Generation Progressive Bluegrass

JULY 28 JULES & THE AGREEABLES

Pop, Rock & Southern Swamp Blues

AUG. 4 DARA JAMES & THE SOUL DISCIPLES

Blues, Soul, Funk, Guitar Shredding Rock

AUG. 11 RICK REAVES JAZZ BAND

Big Band, High-Powered Hot Jazz

AUG. 25 DON’T LOOK UP BLUES BAND

Hard-Driving American Roots & Blues

SEPT. 1 MOSTLY FAB

The Beatles Beat Goes On

Scan for Hillsboro

Event Info

Scan to Reserve Verandah & Lawn Tables